Police Protection
Dear Crime Victims:
Here at themail, we are always looking for ways to improve our lives in
the District. One of the common complaints that everyone has is how hard it is to get
adequate police protection. Everyone has a story about waiting a half hour for police to
respond to an emergency call, or waiting in vain forever for police to respond to a minor
complaint. Well, last night I discovered the secret to getting much more than adequate
police coverage. Dorothy and I were at the corner of 14th and U Streets, NW, at about
10:00 p.m. One man, a little bit drunk or drugged, waved down a passing police car and
pointed the policeman to another man who was significantly drunk or drugged. The second
man came over to the police car and cursed at the policeman. Within five minutes — by
actual timing — a dozen police cars — by actual count, twelve police cruisers
— had responded to the scene. So that's the tip. If the police are ignoring you, and
not responding in adequate numbers, curse a cop and you'll soon be drowning in blue
shirts. Of course, you'll still have to find that first policeman to curse at. Well, no
tip is perfect.
Vaguely related to this is the query that was forwarded to DCWatch from a
friend of the web site who monitors the dc.general newsgroup. Someone there is seeking
information on why the squad cars of the DC School Police have license plates from the
state of Virginia. Does anyone here know for sure that at least some of the school police
cars do have Virginia plates? If so, two suggestions about why have been made in the
dc.general newsgroup: first, that the cars might be long-term rentals from a Virginia
firm, even through they were marked cars, painted with the DC Schools' insignia; second,
that the cars were take-home cars, licensed in the school police officers' home state,
even though they should be licensed in the state of the owner and even though the feds
have practically forbidden the use of DC government cars for take-home use. Dorothy's bet
is that the company that has the privatized contract to provide security to the DC school
system is under no legal or contractual obligation to register its cars in DC, and, like
any commuter, prefers to make its money in DC and spend it in the suburbs. Does anyone
here have a better explanation?
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Whoa, now let's get this straight: Lorenzo McCrea, a D.C. band teacher, 39
years old and married, has a months long “affair” with a 15-year- old student at
the school where he taught. She gets pregnant, and he helps with the abortion. He is
nailed and sentenced to five years. However, the Principal of Shaw Junior High School,
Erma Withers, and the Assistant Principal, Wilson Morgan, write to the judge in order to
praise the band-leading Lothario as a “role model.” Isolated incident? This
after a previous story in the Post about how the District schools failed to fire a
convicted sex offender who was teaching as a substitute, even AFTER running a background
check on him. And that after too many stories about leaky roofs, no bathroom doors, no air
conditioning, beating up newspaper reporters, etc.
Now, some questions for all of you on this list who have kids in DC
schools. Please respond: how does this make you feel? Should Withers and Morgan keep their
jobs? Why? How much faith do you have in the people who teach your kids? Is your heart at
rest when you send them off in the morning? Are you satisfied with the education they are
getting, and with the character of those who educate them? Also, those of you who are not
outraged by this, please ask yourselves why. Perhaps it is because you are used to hearing
about more bad news coming out of the chamber of horrors that is the DC school
administration. Isn't the fact that you are too numb to care frightening? And what are you
going do about it? Probably nothing. But as for me, it all the more reason to support
perestroika for DC education: more charters and a voucher system. Forget about trying to
“save” the failing current system — it is time to drag it 'round back of
the barn and put it out of its misery.
###############
Tom Sherwood reported in The Northwest Current today that Walter
Washington suggested a street be named after Hilda Mason. Sherwood suggested it face
Congress as a reminder to people like Kay Bailey Hutchinson, who at the recent budget
hearing said she likes DC's “special” status — being over represented by
535 members of Congress and all (Both The Post and The Times missed that
part in their hearing stories...).
As I recall, the feds during the Reagan years named an alley next to a
Russian embassy on 16th St. after a Russian dissident (AND... it was only a matter of
years before they got their freedom). Since locals are paying for the lousy streets, they
might as well try to name a few. It might take fifteen years (i.e., Rhodes Tavern...),
but... while we're waiting, we could start putting up bronze plaques all over the city (on
private buildings, of course) to entertain the tourists: “Near this site Kay Bailey
Hutchinson of the great Execution state caused an uprising among DC subjects when she
claimed to represent them and repealed DC's gun control laws and instituted the death
penalty.” Mockery could be very hip.
###############
I am writing in the hope that you don't have to be a prude to feel that a
movie advertisement suggesting a boy and a man urinating against a wall is too crude and
offensive to have a place in the Metro system. At least that was my reaction when I saw
the poster advertising the next Adam Sandler movie “Big Daddy” throughout the
Metro system. I E-mailed Metro about this and wonder if other readers feel the same way. I
understand that Metro is hesitant to censor ads in the system for content, but this ad
crosses too many lines involving good taste, public order and even gender sensitivity to
ignore. Distasteful imagery of this sort should not have to be part of my morning commute,
and is symbolic of the reason why some seek the “privacy” of their cars instead.
If you have seen the posters and agree, E-mail
Metro through their web site at http://www.wmata.com
###############
Dreams of Streets Paved with Ingots of Gold or
Silver
Mark-David Richards, mark@bisconti.com
Who owns the streets of DC? What proportion of the streets are maintained
by DC; by the federal government? As you recall, Washington made an agreement with the
original 19 local landowners in which he took their land in trust while L'Enfant drew the
plan for the Federal City. The agreement stated that “The President shall have the
sole power of directing the Federal City to be laid off in what manner he pleases. He may
retain any number of squares he may think proper for any public improvements or other
public uses, and the lots only which shall be laid off shall be joint property between the
trustees on behalf of the public and equally divided between the public and the
individuals as soon as may be after the city shall be laid off. For the streets the
proprietors shall receive no compensation...” (The towns of Carrollsburg and Hamburgh
were not affected by this agreement.) Washington had instructed L'Enfant to remove as much
land as possible to reduce the overall cost. In total, the feds paid $36,000 for 10,136
lots (half), 540 acres for public buildings and parks, and 3,606 acres for streets. (Over
the years, they sold their lots to raise money for federal buildings and gave some to the
DC government to pay DC for services.) All told, to get Washington City up and running for
the arrival of the government in 1800, the feds “spent” a total of $110,000 in
loans, which were repaid with interest by the city.
Only one original proprietor, David Burnes, benefited significantly from
the presence of the Federal City. In 1837, Daniel Carroll of Duddington, also an original
landowner, wrote to Henry J. Brent: “In answer to yours I fear that the deeds will
fully express the relinquishment of right in the streets to the government, I nevertheless
perfectly remember that the general opinion was that so great was the gift that the
citizens would never be subject to taxation for the improvement of the streets —
having relinquished every alternate lot to the government. Indeed some were so wild as to
suppose that the donation was so great the government might pave the streets with ingots
of gold or silver. After nearly half a century the result is now fully known; the
unfortunate proprietors are generally brought to ruin, and some with scarcely enough to
buy daily bread for their families. This subject is so truly frightful to me that I hate
to think of it, much less to write of it.”
###############
Let There Be Light
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
The three week delay in replacing the burned out street light at the busy
intersection of Fordham Road and Massachusetts Avenue (Crate and Barrel corner) was due to
the fact that the light is one of the old “white” lights in contrast to the new
fixtures which give off a very bright orange and yellow light. At some point all the lamps
will be of the same design as the “white” lights will be being phased out and
the fixtures will be modified to accept the new bulbs. The “white” lights are
not carried in stock and have to be ordered.
###############
Non-Registering Parking Meters
Ann Loikow, Cleveland Park, johnl@erols.com
I've had similar problems getting parking meters to give me the time their
labels indicate they should. I assumed (based on something I once read, where I can't
recall) part of the problem was feeding the coins too quickly so they didn't register. I
suspect most folks, like me, didn't complain because how could you prove anything even if
you knew to whom to complain.
###############
Parking Meter Classic
Bee Wuethrich, bee@intr.net
My best parking meter story is this: one day I drove to work (I work on
the Mall at the National Museum of Natural History) and I parked on a street that had no
meters, just headless meters, that is, just the steel poles. Parking was allowed until
4:00 pm, so I knew I had to come out and move my car later. When I went to move my car,
brand new heads were on the meters, and my car had a ticket for parking at an expired
meter! There you have it, a DC classic I think.
###############
Granting No Quarter
Gabe Goldberg, gabe@acm.org
I lost two quarters in a new meter, they didn't register. Then three more
quarters registered properly. I didn't bother filing for a $0.50 refund, clearly a losing
proposition. This seems right up there with the “scanner tax,” a low-level
widespread rip-off. Has anyone experimented to see whether it's the new state-backsided
quarters that don't register on meters? Has anyone had trouble with those quarters in
vending machines?
###############
On a stroll the other day down 7th St. NW near the MCI arena I saw a
curious thing ... a man polishing the meters. Not sure if it was a city employee or a red
brigade guy. Of course its nice to see such attention to detail — the area had been
looking kind of seedy as little as sixteen months ago. (We used to try and count the
number of working meters on the stretch from M St. to Mass — finally there were
none.) But I'm a little miffed that there's so much focus on the beautification of the
business/tourist district while just a few blocks north in Shaw the municipal trash cans
are emptied so infrequently that they are regularly overflowing with trash. I had come to
not expect much in the way of city services in the ten years I've lived here. But the
transformation of 7th street (albeit at the expense of some authentic Chinese
restaurants/retail) has set a new standard. Too bad it hasn't expanded into the
residential neighborhoods north of it.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS AND CLASSES
Ward Two Democrats Election — Saturday, June
19, Washington Plaza Hotel
Andy Litsky, Alitsky@aol.com
We are building a party and all registered Democrats in Ward Two are
invited to lend a hand! The Ward Two Democrats will hold their biennial Convention and
election of officers this Saturday, June 19, at the Washington Plaza Hotel on Vermont
Avenue and Thomas Circle. Registration will be open for one hour only, between 9:30 and
10:30 am. Convention proceedings begin at 10:00 am; voting begins at 10:30. Only attendees
who have registered may be counted as delegates. Any Democrat who is registered to vote in
Ward Two may become a member of the organization that morning by signing up during that
hour. They will then be able to participate fully and cast a vote in this crucial
election. For more information, call chairman Andy Litsky at 554-8070.
###############
Shakespeare Free for All
Lorraine Swerdloff, swerdloff@juno.com
Don't miss Merry Wives of Windsor at Carter Barron Ampitheater. It's
hysterically funny and creatively staged. Acting is so good that I had no problem
understanding the dated language. And the price is right. Bring a sandwich and arrive
early to get in line for a seat in the front.
###############
Library of Congress Computer Workshops for Teachers
Sara Cormeny, sara@paperlantern.com
The Library of Congress National Digital Library (NDL) has some great
teacher training workshops coming up in June in their Learning Center, located at the
Madison Building on Independence Avenue SE. This newly built, state-of-the-art computer
learning center means that this is an opportunity to see some excellent technology at work
and learn about one of the best resources for educators now on the Web, the American
Memory Collections. It's summer break, I know, but this is a great opportunity to do a
little professional development! June 23, 9-10:30 a.m., Introduction to the American
Memory “Treasure Hunt,” repeated June 24, 9-10:30 a.m. June 29, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.,
“Science and Innovation Treasure Hunt” using the American Memory Collection,
repeated June 30, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
The workshops are free. Participation in each workshop is limited to 16.
Those who sign up for the June 23 or 24th workshop can and are encouraged to sign up for
the June 29th or 30th workshop. Please contact Karen Needles at 202-707-8151 or knee@loc.gov to sign up. Registration is open until
sessions are full.
###############
French Happy Hours
Aysegul Acar, AysegulA@aol.com
The Compagnons de la Parole Francaise meets every Thursday from 5.30 until
7 pm for a 'happy hour' in French at the United Methodist Church at the corner of 20th and
G Streets, NW. The group usually goes to dinner afterwards. Directions: walk up the
driveway on G Street (NO parking) and knock on the window facing you. Please do not ring
the door bells since we do not want to disturb other Church meetings. For further info
contact Aysegul, AysegulA@aol.com
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
Convertible sofa bed in very good condition. Like new (hardly used)
mattress. $250.00. 203-337-4906; 202-328-1083. Or E-mail Erklein@aol.com
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — FOR FREE
Desk — Free to Good Home
Clare Feinson, cfeinson@erols.com
Old-fashioned wooden desk, 34" x 60", three drawers on the
right, one drawer in the middle, and a stowable storage table, originally intended for a
typewriter, on the left. Excellent condition, virtually indestructible. If you can take it
away, you can have it. Contact Clare, (202) 667-4701 or cfeinson@erols.com
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Housing Wanted.
Cheryl Donahue, cdonahue@iol.ie
Professional woman looking for small apartment, room to rent, or
house-sitting situation on Capitol Hill from mid July to the end of August. References,
details, etc., at cdonahue@iol.ie . Thanks for any
info.
###############
For Rent, Historic Mt. Pleasant
Anne Drissel, adrissel@aol.com
English basement apartment available July 1 — $625. One bedroom,
kitchen, living/dining room, full bath, W/D, AC. Private front/back entrance, access to
patio.
Quiet, friendly block, across from Rock Creek Park near the Zoo. Access to
cross-town bus and Cleveland Park Metro; plenty of off street parking. Contact Anne at (h)
232-6517 or E-mail adrissel@aol.com
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — CITY PAPER PREVIEW
Dave Nuttycombe, webmeister@washcp.com
From washingtoncitypaper.com's LOOSE LIPS column, appearing this Friday:
TAGGED OUT? Paul Strauss absorbs his share of indignities as D.C.'s nonvoting shadow
statehood senator. He has to raise money to pay his own salary and hire staff. He can't
sit on the Senate floor and shoot the breeze with his “colleagues.” And he makes
the papers only when the powerlessness of his position comes into full, comical relief.
Like now.
According to Capitol Hill sources, Strauss may soon lose the prize perk of his elected
office: D.C. tags proclaiming him “U.S. Senator.”
Read the entire Loose Lips column this Friday at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html
From washingtoncitypaper.com's CITY LIGHTS page, here are a few early
warnings for upcoming events:
Saturday, June 19: Dennis Lehane discusses and signs his latest detective novel, Prayers
for Rain (with local writer George P. Pelecanos on hand) at 1 p.m. at Mystery
Bookshop, 7700 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Free.
Monday, June 21: U. Booze, which teaches everything from the subtleties of gin to the
contents of a Woo Woo, at 6 p.m. at J. Paul's Restaurant, 3218 M St. NW. $20 (proceeds
benefit Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care).
More details and more critics' picks are available online at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/pix/pix.html
###############
themail@dcwatch is an E-mail discussion forum that is published every
Wednesday and Sunday. To subscribe, to change E-mail addresses, or to switch between HTML
and plain text versions of themail, use the subscription form at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/subscribe.htm
. To unsubscribe, send an E-mail message to themail@dcwatch.com
with “unsubscribe” in the subject line. Archives of past messages are available
at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail .
All postings should also be submitted to themail@dcwatch.com , and should be about life,
government, or politics in the District of Columbia in one way or another. All postings
must be signed in order to be printed, and messages should be reasonably short — one
or two brief paragraphs would be ideal — so that as many messages as possible can be
put into each mailing.
