Private Mail
Dear Correspondents:
I'm going to answer a few private E-mails in public. After my rant about
the Washington Post in the last issue, Eric Wemple wrote to ask me if I didn't
nominate Post reporter Kate Boo for Mayor just a few months ago for her series on deaths
in group homes for the mentally retarded. Actually, it wasn't me; it was David Reed, but I
seconded his motion. Eric's question points out one of the Post's real strengths.
A few times a year, they do excellent investigative series about the District, and they
devote extensive resources and endless column inches to them. It's in daily reporting
about the District that the Post falls down. The paper has more than enough
reporters and resources on the Metro beat. The Post's editors just don't think
that the stories these reporters gather on a daily basis are important enough to print, so
we never see them.
A television reporter who shall remain anonymous writes that it's true
that other stations get most of their news leads from reading the Post, but not
true of his station. I'll take his word for it.
Stephanie Faul wrote to say that she thinks themail used to be more
interesting when it had more neighborhood news and reporting about local, street level
events. I love those kinds of postings, but I pass on the messages you send. If you want
more local, street corner news, write it yourself and send it in today. Our real strength
is that we have more local reporters than even the Post, and that most of us
actually live in town.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Tax Cuts, Round 2
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
The City Council is preparing to drop the other shoe on Mayor Williams'
foot with a second round of proposed tax cuts. If there is to be a second round of tax
cuts, then let the cuts be made where they will do the most good. A very practical tax cut
would be to eliminate the sales tax in the city. As painful as this might seem to those
who collect these taxes, the cuts might just wind up being offset by the economic growth
that would follow such a tax cut. The real beneficiaries of such a cut would be those who
spend much of their income on taxable items and who live in the city — those who are
on the lowest rungs of the income ladder. Tax credits and lower tax rates don't really
help those who pay little in income taxes to the District.
Eliminating the sales tax would also encourage the largest dollar wage
earners who get their income working in the city, but who take that income out of the city
to spend it elsewhere, to spend some of it right in the District. Retail businesses now
located outside the city (like Circuit City, et al.) would be very encouraged to open
branches of stores in the District, to capture the increased sales that they are losing to
the Internet because of sales taxes. The increased business income would result in a
substantial increase in business taxes paid to the District, thereby offsetting the loss
of income form sales taxes. This is a win-win proposition for the District and its
residents.
[To get copies of the six different tax relief bills that have been
introduced in the Council, go to http://www.dcwatch.com.
— Gary Imhoff]
###############
Mark Richards' postings on DC history are one of themail's true delights.
However, if my memory doesn't fail me, he was off target in blaming Clinton for the
renaming of National Airport. I recall it being a congressional move not long after the
Republicans gained control of the House. Perhaps Clinton may be guilty of signing the
bill, but he certainly didn't initiate it. Coincidentally, I was about to send a message
to WAMU threatening to withhold my annual contribution if they don't stop referring to the
airport as Reagan National. The name Reagan is only one of the two names identifying the
airport. To me, the station's use of the term Reagan National is a politically motivated
move to avoid incurring the wrath (or garnering the favor) of the Reaganites who foisted
the name on us to begin with. Yeah, I know, practically everyone in the media now calls it
that, but at least we can make our voices heard at the non-commercial stations. And when
the Dems regain control of the House, down come those RN signs on the GW Parkway!
###############
Decentralizing the DCPS
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
Len Sullivan's posting last Sunday which suggests that several school
districts be formed, each with a School Board and with a central district Board overseeing
and providing support to the local Boards, seems to make some sense. Putting the control
of the schools more closely in the hands of those who have to make things work is
empowerment, and that works. The local boards would then be comprised of folks who live,
work, and have kids in their own community. That's a demonstrated way school boards can
work. These local Boards should be made up of elected members who would serve on a
volunteer basis, as do most of the school board members in local districts across the
country.
Sounds like this might work. How do we get a referendum on the ballot next
Fall to give this proposition a chance?
###############
For coverage of the day-to-day issues that affect many of us, the Northwest
Current, City Paper, and Common Denominator do a much better job than the
Post. The Current is the best, in my view, but even they have a narrow purview.
Although their masthead says "Serving THE Communities of Northwest DC," their
coverage (and distribution) is limited to the NW neighborhoods west of Rock Creek Park. In
fact, I can pick up a copy of the Current in downtown Bethesda, but not anywhere
in my NW community just a stone's throw east of the park.
###############
I was driving home late last night. I saw a D.C. Metro Police officer go
through two red lights. This officer slowed down first, then when the coast was clear,
went through. The officer was not in any pursuit (for the officer would have had the
lights on and would be driving faster). Basically my question is this: why can they do it,
but we “civilians” cannot? It's not a big deal; I'm just curious. Also, do cops
in squad cars ever get pulled over?
###############
NBC's “Fleecing of America” DC
Gloria White, GMarieW@aol.com
I wholeheartedly agree with the displeasure expressed by Ms. Eisenstadt
about last week's NBC “Fleecing of America” piece on DC. It was grossly unfair
and insulting. My husband had the misfortune to arrive home just after it finished running
and I was into full tilt in my outrage at the misrepresentation and incredible
over-simplification of the whole story. I enjoyed Ms. Persiflage's comments about the
media and feel that they tend to be either overly cautious or overblown. They seem often
to, unfortunately, promote the controversial and avoid the parts of the story that might
be more logical and reasonable. While D.C. certainly has its problems, it was unfair of
NBC to frame the story the way they did. D.C. surely doesn't need that kind of notice and
more attention should be given to the improvements occurring and the continuous meddling
(and role in the chaos) of Congress.
###############
Further thoughts on a residence for the mayor: I think as a progressive
community we should set the standards for how the different classes of people are treated
by government. Now normally this line of thought is directed toward the less wealthy and
less powerful, but this latest giveaway by the ruling elites prompted my previous letter.
I personally feel that NO politicians should be subsidized in their living expenses; if
the salary is not enough, don't take the job. This argument that we can't get GOOD people
if the perks are not gold plated is suspicious at best. The market is always open for more
competitors, go get an executive job in corporate America! When the law makers and rule
makers have to live within the same economic boundaries that we have to, perhaps real tax
reform will actually happen, perhaps the draconian and often stupid parking fines will be
revoked. When our elected officials only have as much money as the average household and
they have to use the educational and public facilities as we do, perhaps the playgrounds
and recreation centers will be fully funded and really functional, perhaps our schools
will never be short of books, toilet paper, instruments, telephones, Xerox machines,
science labs, and teachers! Now let me get to writing checks for the rent, electricity,
gas, insurance, water (up 200%) and hope they don't all get to the bank at the same time!
I am sure the mayor is worried, too!
###############
Whites Only Exhibit at National Building Museum
David Sobelsohn, dsobelso@capaccess.org
A couple of weeks ago, I wandered into the National Building Museum to see
their exhibit “See the U.S.A.: Automobile Travel and the American Landscape,”
running through May 7. The exhibit focuses on the years before “the 1950s and 1960s
[when] the interstate highway system bypassed the older highways and downtowns”
(quoting the exhibit brochure). It has several parts, including “gas,”
“food,” and “lodging,” and deals with its material with some charm.
The exhibit is also profoundly distorted. In the years before the 1950s and 1960s many
roadside establishments, especially in the American south, and including some of those
featured in the exhibit, refused to provide food or lodging to Americans of African
descent. For African-Americans, "see the U.S.A." was an empty slogan, almost a
bitter joke. Although white Americans could frequent any of the variety of picturesque
establishments portrayed in the exhibit, black Americans — whatever their wealth
— had to bring their food with them, and took their lives in their hands to travel
without a pre-arranged place to stay for the night.
The exhibit completely omits any mention of the experience of black
Americans in the time period it covers. There's a single, unexplained artifact: the cover
of a travel guide called The Negro Motorist Green-Book. The cover has on it the
warning “You May Need It.” Without context, “You May Need It” sounds
like just another advertising slogan. And the exhibit provides no context. It would be
easy enough to find a standard reference work and print up a brief text panel
acknowledging how difficult it was for racial minorities to “See the U.S.A.” for
much of the twentieth century. I wonder why the Building Museum hasn't done so.
Does this museum exhibit bother anyone but me? If so, I can provide
information on how to contact the Building Museum.
###############
Degraded by Internet Connections
Anne Drissel, drisselab@aol.com
Funny someone should mention degraded internet speeds. Last week I called
Bell Atlantic to complain that my connection in Mt. Pleasant had “suddenly”
dropped from an average close to 50,000 bps to 38,000 bps. I've had this happen when there
are conflicts on the line, producing “noise” that interferes with reception.
It's happening again. They sent out a service truck to check the outside connections, but
the problem persists.
###############
Violence in the Comics
Stephanie Faul, steph@intr.net
Memo to Ed Barron: You're worried about children being corrupted by
something they READ? How very, uh, quaint.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Sports Journalism with National Sportswriter!
Amanda Chorowski, amanda@dcjcc.org
The First Annual Shirley Povich Sports Journalism Lecture, with guest
speaker David Kindred, 1998 National Sportswriter of the Year! Monday, March 27 at 8:00
pm, DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th Street, NW. Members: $5/nonmembers: $10. Contact
Amanda, 518-9400, x382, amanda@dcjcc.org. More info:
http://www.dcjcc.org/adulthigh.htm.
“Povich brought to his work an elegance of language and a long view of history. Maybe
5-feet-6, Shirley was the truest Washington monument.” — David Kindred, June
1998.
###############
Olives Restaurant, 1600 K Street, NW, Thursday, March 9, at 6:15 PM. Hors
d'oeuvres, 2 courses and dessert, while tasting California Ravenswood Wines. Special
presentation by Ravenswood wine growers Joel and Mady Peterson. $90.00 per person. For
information, reservations and ticket sales, E-mail: fadia.jawdat@wholefoods.com.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED
Responsibilities include: Tracking book proposals and submissions,
maintaining our computer database, evaluating manuscripts, book promotion, researching,
writing books, talking with publishers and authors, sending proposals to publishers,
filing, and general office tasks. Adler & Robin Books is a book packager and
publisher. As a packager we create book ideas, write the proposals, then put a writer
together with a book publisher; we also publish books ourselves. You can find out more
about us at http://www.adlerbooks.com.
Requirements: Office skills, excellent language skills, superior writing ability,
attention to detail, proofreading ability, computer proficiency, Windows 98 expertise, and
a willingness to work hard. Salary: $25,000, plus fully paid health insurance, and other
benefits. Contact Bill Adler, Adler & Robin Books, Inc., 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW, job@adlerbooks.com.
###############
Humanist Congregation Seeks Sunday School Principal
(Part-Time Paid Position)
Peggy Robin, probin@adlerbooks.com
The Jewish Cultural School of Beth Chai, a Jewish Humanist congregation,
meets Sunday mornings, approximately 2-3 times a month, September through early June.
Planning for the 2000-2001 year begins this spring and the principal can begin work
immediately. The school accommodates between 35-60 students in 4 or 5 separate classes,
and is expected to grow. Students enter anytime between kindergarten and 5th grade and
continue until they complete the bar/bat mitzvah class (7th grade). Adult education is
conducted concurrently with the children's classes but is managed separately and is
outside the scope of the principal's responsibilities. Candidates should have an interest
in and commitment to Jewish education but are not required to have a scholarly background
or training in religious
education. More important is the ability to develop and implement a program along the
guidelines laid out by the congregation leaders. Interested candidates should contact
Peggy Robin, probin@adlerbooks.com, for a more
detailed job description and additional information.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
For Sale — New Queen Size Bed Frame
Greg Jones, gmon6612@aol.com
We recently bought a new box spring/mattress set, and they threw in a
metal, queen size frame, which we do not need, and which is still in its unopened box. I
have no idea what it's worth, but you can have it for $25.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Responsible Summer Housesitters
Jo Radner, jradner@american.edu
Our friends, a young couple with a newborn baby, will be returning from a
UN posting in Addis Ababa at the end of May and would like to house-sit for the summer
either in DC or Takoma Park. Beginning and ending dates are flexible, but they would be
available to house-sit from late May through September. We'll transmit any inquiries to
them.
###############
Duplex For Sale by Owner
Rhoma Battle, holsall@erols.com
My neighbor is moving to southern Maryland and wants me to help him sell
his duplex at 3425 Carpenter Street, S.E. His is one of only twelve duplexes in a
neighborhood of approximately 500 single family homes. Built in the 40's and 50's, every
home is different, and every duplex is different. We live in what is called the
“quietly kept secret” of Hillcrest/Penn-Branch. Like a suburb in the city, the
Penn-Branch neighborhood is quiet, clean and safe, with mature tree-lined streets,
surrounded by federal park lands and located at the intersection of Pennsylvania and
Branch Avenues, Southeast behind the Penn-Branch Shopping Center. Like my own, his duplex
has two bedrooms, one bath, living room, dinning room, kitchen, and basement. $115
negotiable. Believe me, homes that are selling from the high
100's to low 200's do not last long in our neighborhood. As it was for me in 1994, this is
an excellent opportunity for a first-time home-buyer. Drive through and see for yourself,
or E-mail me and I will answer what I can and pass your information along to the owner.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — CITY PAPER PREVIEW
Dave Nuttycombe, webmeister@washcp.com
From washingtoncitypaper.com's LOOSE LIPS column, appearing this Friday:
CREDIBILITY DEFICIT: Over the years, Americans have learned various approaches to
outfoxing legislative committees stacked with hostile inquisitors. First off is the Ollie
North model, which entails strapping on a uniform, wrapping yourself in the flag, and
looking like a puppy dog. On the other hand, if you don't have cut a sufficiently
telegenic figure, you could try the approach favored by North's Iran-Contra crony John
Poindexter — just say you forgot everything.
Local D.C. added a sly variation last year. Invited by a livid D.C. Council to testify on
the renovation of the Wilson Building, developer T. Conrad Monts simply blew off the
meeting.
None of those folks, however, possess the durable evasive acumen of Chief Financial
Officer Valerie Holt. A 14-year veteran of the District bureaucracy, Holt doesn't lie,
diss, or duck out. She simply strings together non sequiturs, sentence fragments,
tautologies, tangents, and afterthoughts designed to make her audience forget the question
that brought them all on.
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:
Monday, Feb. 28: “Salute to Richard Harrington: 20 Years of Style!” featuring
Ron Holloway, the Keter Betts Trio, the original Rosslyn Mountain Boys, Mike Auldridge,
John Jennings, Chuck Brown, the Billy Hancock Orchestra, Eddie & Earl Jones, Catfish
Hodge, the Orioles, and “surprise guests.” 7:30 p.m. at the Birchmere, 3701
Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. $12 (proceeds benefit So Others Might Eat)
Saturday: Ron Holloway performs his version of “The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever”
at 8 p.m. at Dumbarton United Methodist Church, 3133 Dumbarton St. NW. $24.
Tuesday-Saturday: Bob Somerby & Chip Franklin, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, to
Thursday, March 9, and at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11, at
the Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. $12-$15.
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.
