Bumpy Roads Ahead
Dear Constituents:
Two Councilmembers, in their postings below, raise issues for your
consideration, should you desire to comment. First, what do you think about managed
competition — will or won't it work in DC, and what does the government need to do to
make it work? Second, what do you think about speed bumps and rumble strips for DC's
streets? Don't just write your Councilmembers; write us, and let the rest of us know the
truth about these issues.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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News you didn't read in the Post [on Sunday]: the Management
Supervisory Service, subject of the Post's lead item, was a policy proposed in
February 1997 by Mayor Marion Barry. At-will managers paid competitive salaries. It was a
major part of the personnel reform bill Barry's administration produced, one of two bills
before the Council, and was a policy embraced by the working group of Council, executive,
Control Board, and labor, and part of the omnibus bill we enacted in 1998. The hold up
thus far this year: funding the pay raises that are the quid pro quo for managers losing
civil service protection. The Williams Administration declined to budget the funds in the
FY 2000 budget, and identifying funds this late in the budget cycle has been difficult.
Second part of what wasn't in the Post lead story [Sunday]:
managed competition has been put on hold by the Williams Administration. Four pilots were
to take place in FY 99 — in Corp Counsel, Recreation, and two in Public Works. The
Corp Counsel demo was shelved by the point person on managed competition, Cher Calloway,
when she hit town earlier this year. The new Rec and Parks Director, Robert Newman,
shelved the demo at Rec on his arrival, opting to try his hand as a manager before moving
to contract out. And there's no movement at DPW. A more reasoned approach, as this appears
to be, is good news, not bad news, but is, nevertheless, news. FYI, all the above was
shared with the Post reporter in three conversations over the last two weeks.
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New Water Meters
Kenneth Nellis, nellisks@aol.com
Except for a 2-year period (2/94-1/96) when my wife paid the bills and one
in '98 that is lost, I have all my DC Water and Sewer bills since November 1992 when I
received my last “actual” bill; all bills since have been estimates. So, in May
of this year, when they replaced my old analog meter with a new digital one with an
initial readout of 0000.00, I thought it would be interesting to see how DC reconciles
seven years of estimates with the final readout of the old meter.
What made the meter change-out interesting was that the meter man made no
attempt to show me the final reading. I asked to see it and wrote it down as he was
leaving. As I read it out loud, the man disagreed with my interpretation of the analog
dials, in particular with the most significant digit. His mistake was like that of a
school child learning to read the clock where the minute hand is on the 11 and the hour
hand appears to be on the four. His mistake was analogous to the school child reading the
time as 4:55 instead of 3:55. When I politely corrected him, he made it clear that he was
the water meter man, so I let it drop.
So, this tale ends now — perhaps — with the receipt of my latest
bill. It simply shows water consumption since the new meter was installed with no
reconciliation for the old meter. So, I went back to my old bills and tallied up the
stated estimated water consumption. For the missing bills, I looked up my canceled checks
and back-calculated my consumption from the amounts paid. Surprisingly, after seven years
of estimates, their last estimate was off (short) by only 455 cu. ft. or $18.61. I await
my final bill, where I will have the opportunity to make this final payment. Hopefully,
they won't overcharge me for 100,000 cubic feet of water ($4090) as my meter man would
have.
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Reply to Alan Teitzman on Irving Street Traffic
Jim Graham, grahamwone@aol.com
I read your recent message in themail. I have become an advocate for
what's know as “traffic calming devices,” e.g. speed bumps and rumble strips.
Indeed, my work resulted in the installation of the only known rumble strips in DC at
Bruce Monroe school, also on Irving off Georgia. You might drive over there and see what
you think. Alas, I have little or no hope for the police enforcement. We can barely get
them to respond to crimes in progress! So I think what we have to rely on to slow cars
down are these devices. It's not going to easy, since DPW is no fan of this approach. But
if sufficient pressure is brought to bear (I surely will help) there may be more of these
in DC. Let me know.
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Did anyone notice the celebration of the newly created Don King Day? I
didn't realize Don King was worthy of his own day here in DC or that he was such a great
role model for DC's youth. Why did Jack Evans feel this was necessary and does anyone
care?
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Mohandas K. Gandhi and the Holocaust
David Sobelsohn, dsobelso@capaccess.org
I don't know which is more ridiculous, Mohandas K. Gandhi's statement that
European Jews should've committed collective suicide to avoid what Gandhi himself called
“the greatest crime of our time,” the Holocaust, or Larry Seftor's suggestion
that Gandhi's statement shows the Mahatma was anti-Semitic or in some way minimized or
contributed to the Holocaust. Gandhi believed in the symbolic power of self-denial and
self-destruction. He regularly fasted for dangerous lengths of time in order to manipulate
public opinion and coerce government action. Without more, that Gandhi thought European
Jews should've followed the example of our ancestors at Masada — who committed
collective suicide to avoid capture by the Romans — shows only the consistency of
Gandhi's philosophy. I think that philosophy wholly inadequate to combat an evil as
immense as Hitler. But I'd need a lot more to convince me Mohandas Gandhi was
anti-Semitic.
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Gandhi and Brits, Jews and Germans
Ed Dixon, jedxn@erols.com
In response to Larry Seftor's attribution to Mohandas Gandhi's comments on
the Holocaust, I must say that sounds like something Gandhi could have said. Is that
surprising? I don't think so considering he was asking Indians to walk head up into
British gunfire in his own homeland. Gandhi promoted civil disobedience through passive
resistance. He lived in a country controlled by a foreign power. He hoped good would
prevail when injustice was exposed through public demonstrations of passive resistance and
civil disobedience. He hoped the British reaction to protest would reveal the error in
their rule. Martin Luther King, Jr. (not Malcolm X or Huey Newton) acknowledged Gandhi's
political influence on his protests in this country.
Wherever the 1946 quote attributed to Gandhi came from, it is doubtful
Gandhi is speaking as a Goebels or any other of Hitler's “final solution”
cheerleaders. Gandhi was a politician, a lawyer, an enemy of the British Crown, and had a
year to go before his country would see the British armies leave his country. If Hitler
had been in charge in India, he would have shot Gandhi. However, the British were
complacent and fading. Their atrocities in India began about 150 years before Hitler was
born.
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Cabs and Alternatives
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com
Luck using them varies. Yellow's number is often busy and they only take
time calls for Union Station and the airports. Diamond and the others are not great
either. If you have to go to VA (or perhaps you can go there and then have them bring you
back to the District), Red Top is great .. on time and they take time calls to anywhere in
VA. We've resorted to a car service for many of the
“have-to-be-there-at-a-certain-time” appointments — though clearly pricier
than a cab, we don't have to spend hours agonizing and on the phone hoping.
By the way: I've even called the taxicab commission and talked with them.
They believe we have great taxi service in DC!
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Calling a Cab in DC
Jean Lawrence, Chandler, Arizona, JKELLAW@AOL.COM
A lifelong nondriver (until hesitant first steps now — don't ask), I
used to live by cabs when I was in DC. Diamond used to answer, don't know the story now.
Yellow — forget it. Barwood used to be OK sometimes. And when you are going someplace
in Virginia, call a Virginia Yellow. They can't come into DC to get you, but if they are
already in DC from another run, they can get you (get it?). They know where things are and
won't turn somewhere in Arlington and ask, “Have you ever been to this place
before?” That's your Sinking Feeling Virginia Moment.
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Innovative taxi companies would have, in addition to operator-assisted
request for service, a well designed web form. This would be best used for trips that
could be planned in advance. A confirmation number and driver cell phone number would be
generated when a particular driver's booking is established. Many great cities throughout
the world now have such capability, such as Singapore (with competing cab companies!)
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Gary, as a possible solution to his taxi dilemma, you advised Phil Shapiro
that maybe he should call a pizza deliver company to order a delivery to his desired
destination, and then hitch a ride. Well, unfortunately, if that pizza company happens to
be Domino's that won't work either, particularly given that Phil's original destination is
“somewhere over in southeast.” As reported in the Washington Post,
“Team Washington” Domino's seems to be reluctant to deliver to houses in certain
neighborhoods within DC (guess where?!) and is facing a number of discrimination lawsuits
because of those decisions. At any rate, maybe the Taxi Companies are not answering their
phones because they agree with one of Domino's defense attorneys, the current Ward 7
Councilmember, who contends that the crux is driver safety in a still violent city. For
future reference I suggest Phil should call Sandra Seegers about Taxi concerns. I'm sure
our good Taxi Commissioner, Sandra, can give us some insight on which companies are
actually operating in DC and what to about Taxis refusing to service certain
neighborhoods.
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In the last issue, someone queried [about which prison was seeking book
donations]. This was the Alexandria City jail. I know because the Washington Post reporter
called our library system to comment on the story. (The Fairfax County Public Library
system is separate from the Alexandria City system, and we do not have anything to do with
the Alexandria City jail's inmate promotion.)
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Old College and Legal Textbooks
Rachel Hines, rhines@altavista.net
For some reason or another, I saved almost all of my college and law
school textbooks. I now want to get rid of them, but hate to throw them in the
trash/recycling. It's too late to sell them back to the university bookstores because the
books are older editions. Does anyone have or know of any use for them?
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
On Saturday, October 16, 1999, John Eaton Elementary School will hold its
annual Block Party from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. It's a wonderful opportunity for neighbors to
meet and greet each other, let their children run wild, and eat some of the best food
around. Kids will love making sand bears, spin art, jumping in the moonbounce, and playing
with friends, new and old. Come join us for this day of fun. (Rain or shine.) Eaton is
located at the corner of 34th and Lowell Streets.
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An Evening at the Embassy of the Czech Republic
Michael J. Karlan, michael@dcyoungpro.com
Thursday, October 14. Hosted by the DC Society of Young Professionals.
Includes a buffet of unique Czech delicacies, wine and beer, a live Czech musical
performance, an optional film festival of popular Czech shorts, and a tour of the Embassy.
$50. 7-9:30 p.m. 3900 Spring of Freedom St., NW (between the Cleveland Park and Van Ness
Metro Stations). For more information, to RSVP, or to be added to the DCYoungPro email
list, go to http://www.dcyoungpro.com, call (202)
686-6085 or E-mail michael@dcyoungpro.com.
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NIJL Roundtable
Amanda Chorowski, amanda@dcjcc.org
The National Institute for Jewish Leadership cordially invites you to join
us at the NIJL Roundtable Discussion, “Religious Influence on Public Policy,”
October 11, 7:00 pm, DCJCC Library. Please RSVP to (202) 518-9400, x271. We are honored to
have Rabbi Barry Freundel of Kesher Israel to lead our discussion. We will explore the
differences between established religious stances and those formulated after political or
strategic judgments, how they are developed and how they are interpreted.
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Forum on Teaching and Organizing for Justice
Sharon Meagher, SMeagher@tui.edu
Marvin Surkin, Graduate Faculty member at The Union Institute, and Jerome
Scott, League of Revolutionary Black Workers and Project South, will be doing a dialogue
about Detroit: I Do Mind Dying: A Study in Urban Revolution on Thursday, October
21, 1999, 5:30-7:30 at Howard University Blackburn Center, Hilltop Lounge, 2nd Floor (main
campus — 2400 block 6th Street, NW).
Surkin's book, Detroit: I Do Mind Dying (co-authored with Dan
Georgakas) has been recently reprinted by South End Press with a new forward by Manning
Marable. The book is a study of DRUM, the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement, and is
considered a classic study of urban revolt and activism. Copies of the book are available
from Project South and at the forum. For more information, contact Project South:
Institute for the Elimination of Poverty and Genocide. Washington Office, 6617 Millwood
Road, Bethesda, MD 20817. 301 320-4034.
The event is part of Project South's Washington Book Forum on Teaching and
Organizing for Justice, and some of the co-sponsors of this event are Howard University,
American University Sociology Department, Community of Hope, and Montgomery County Rainbow
Coalition.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Quiet 2+ bedroom Cape Cod near Metro in Takoma Park's Old Town
neighborhood. Walk to Metro, library, farmer's market. Suitable for 1-2 adults, no pets.
$1300/mo. available Dec. 1. 301-270-0110 eves.
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CLASSIFIEDS — WANTED
Would like to buy a Toyota or Honda full-size station wagon from original
owner. Please call 202-337-4906 if interested.
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Seeking quality futon and frame prior to Christmas invasion by relatives.
Must be in clean, (cat-free) condition. Frame-only considered if replacement futon
obtainable.
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Would like to find others interested in doubles tennis, locally.
(Currently am commuting to an open game out past Alexandria 2 or 3 times a week.) If
enough interest, would be glad to organize, i.e. find workable times, public courts, etc.
Am free days. The way the two such groups I've been in work is with 10 to 15 interested
players, a fixed schedule, you show up when you can make a scheduled time, and whoever
comes plays, changing partners every four games (one group) or when one partnership has
won four games (other group.) Call 202-337-4906 if interested.
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Origami Activities and Organizations Sought
Jon Katz, katz@erols.com
Does anyone know about any origami activities, organizations, or exhibits
in the Washington, DC, area? I recently became interested in the art, and started folding
peace cranes and other figures following the diagrams in a how-to book in Japanese only,
which I can't read. Thanks for any information you may have. I'll also check with the
Japanese embassy, etc.
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CLASSIFIEDS — CITY PAPER PREVIEW
Dave Nuttycombe, webmeister@washcp.com
From washingtoncitypaper.com's LOOSE LIPS column, appearing this Friday:
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: Longtime politica Hilda H.M. Mason is in danger of losing her second
title in as many years. In last fall's elections, the octogenarian Mason lost the D.C.
Council seat that she held for two decades. Now, Mason faces a challenger for her
self-proclaimed status as “grandmother to the world.”
The heiress apparent to D.C.'s grandmatronly throne does all the things Mason did, like
attend tons of meetings and talk passionately about children, without a trace of the
former councilmember's political temper. That's because, unlike Mason, the new Grandmother
doesn't have a platform beyond smiling and waving.
And as the city's entire political class learned months ago, she sings, too. Without
invitation, without provocation, just for the hell of it, 72-year-old Virginia Williams,
mom of Mama's Boy Mayor Anthony A. Williams, interrupts her musings about life, children,
politics, and her adopted son with arias from “Aida,” religious tunes, and soul
anthems.
Read the entire Loose Lips column here: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html
From washingtoncitypaper.com's CITY LIGHTS page, here are a few early
warnings for upcoming events:
FRIDAY: Bobby Manriquez and b-side blues CD release party, 9 p.m. Outta the Way Cafe,
17503 Redland Road, Derwood. $2.
SATURDAY: “Vampires and Mummies: The Truth Behind the Legends,” 10:30 a.m. at
the National Museum of Health & Medicine, 6825 16th Street, NW. FREE.
More details and more critics' picks are available online at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/pix/pix.html
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