No Papering

Dear Nolle Prosequi:

Michael Cushman, mcushman@hotmail.com, forwarded the last item in this week's Loose Lips column to themail [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html], commenting that it was too amazing to pass up. If you remember, this item was the letter from DC public schools to a potential employee, informing her that, since all of her previous eight arrests (three of them for assaults with dangerous weapons) had been dismissed, no papered, or nolle prosequi, she was eligible for employment by our fair city's school system. Loose commented that it left even her speechless, but Michael had something to say; he titled his E-mail, “gotta stop no-papering those arrests.”

Kerry Jo Richards, below, believes that Mayor Williams is doing a good job, and that we in themail are giving him a rough time. I remember that, at the end of Mayor Barry's first term, the Washington Post gave him high marks for his accomplishments and particularly praised him for two things: getting the water bills out on time and reforming the department of motor vehicles and making it work smoothly. Williams is obviously a student of history. Some DC citizens rely heavily on city services, but most of us have day-to-day contact with only a few departments and agencies. If you pick one or two of the worst-run agencies that affect a lot of people — say, the DMV — and devote inordinate staff and resources to them to get them to run smoothly, you can convince a lot of people that the government as a whole is being improved, and you can buy years of tolerance, even after things return to normal at DMV.

One of the worst-run parts of city government is special education for students in DC public schools. After years of special education's failure, the DC Council recognized that it was in a “crisis,” and created a special committee headed by Kevin Chavous and Vincent Orange to look into it. Twenty months later, that Committee is months behind its schedule for issuing a report, but DCWatch has a draft of it. Read the report and the story behind it at http://www.dcwatch.com/schools/ps0101.htm.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Improvement
Kerry Jo Richards, kjr1@yahoo.com

Over time I've noticed a trend here in themail that I find surprising. There seems to be a general agreement that Mayor Williams isn't a very good mayor — that he hasn't met all of his goals and that generally things in DC still stink. I won't pretend I've lived in DC forever — I'm from MD originally, and have lived in the District for only a few years. But everyone I know has noticed tremendous changes in the time that Mayor Williams has been in office. Every service that I use has improved -- from the DMV to trash pickup to mail to taxes to business permit services. Perhaps the Mayor isn't directly related to all of this improvement. And since I don't have children, I'm not terribly up to speed on the schools situation, which I understand is pretty horrible. But the city services have gotten better. I actually didn't expect the city to be at 100% yet — fixing a broke system takes time and won't happen overnight. But I appreciate what he has done for the city and hope he continues the job he started. Sign me Optimistic.

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Specifically, Why Police Chief Ramsey Is Dropping the Ball
Larry Seftor, lseftor@netscape.net

Bryce A. Suderow recently used the police as an example of my assertion that living in DC means telling oneself that everything is fine, and refusing to criticize. (Or, telling ourselves that “the Emperor is really fully clothed.”) For those who find it hard to criticize in the abstract, let me provide a detailed example.

I just finished a short trial as a juror in DC Superior Court. The context is that shots were fired about 3:00 AM in an area in which the police were out in force manning street blockades. Because of their presence in the vicinity, the police were able to stop a car, and found a handgun with 5 expended shells. The charge presented in this case was gun possession. Although a number of the jury members felt the defendant was guilty, he was found not guilt, in part due to poor Police work. Two areas of failure were notable. 1) Despite stopping a car with a gun inside minutes after shots were heard, no tests were done to see if the passengers of the car had recently shot a gun. Neither lawyer in the trial thought to ask this question, but jurors twice sent notes to the judge asking that the question be posed. When asked, the Police officer replied that MPD no longer does such tests, much to the surprise of the judge and both attorneys. A positive result on such a test might well have led to a conviction. 2) Of the three officers who testified, the one most involved in the case was hesitant, inept, and ill prepared. At one point he was asked to show on a map where the car was stopped. After multiple tries, he never did get it right. The result is that his critical testimony was not convincing. Importantly, while this officer was not new to police work, he was new to MPD, having been hired to the force under Ramsey’s watch. The naked truth is that, at least as shown in this case, the MPD under Ramsey is not only failing to improve, but is continuing to decline.

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Getting Off the Freeway
John Vocino, VocinoJ@gao.gov

I just wanted to E-mail you to voice my agreement on the 17th St. SE exit, or non-exit, of the SE/SW Freeway. I too don't know why that exit is off-limits to regular traffic, except that it's not built to handle it. But why can't it be built to handle regular traffic? It would be a benefit to those of us who live on the eastern end of Capitol Hill to get to and from downtown and the western portions of the city. Which is a better use of that roadway than serving suburbanites who are looking for fast ways to get out of the city.

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Score Cards, Tourist Signs, Windmills, Voters, and Neon on the Skyline
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com

I'm not very disturbed by the apparent slowness of improvements in municipal services in neighborhoods surrounding the Kingdom of Congress, as measured by the “Score Cards.” I was able to replace my license in under 15 minutes recently. O.K., so I'm not dealing with the complicated building licensing procedures I hear about. But one thing I'm sure about: one cannot easily change a bureaucracy, no matter where it is located. That takes time. Part of making improvements is measuring change from a baseline. If on the first follow-up measure D.C. scored 100 percent, I would assume it didn't set the goals high enough. At least things are being measured — that's a start. I hope Mayor Williams will continue Neighborhood Action to an even larger degree, and for citizens to participate. If that is where things that get measured are identified to put in the evaluation, start thinking about what to add and how to operationalize the goals in measurement. Some of what impairs local officials is Congressionally imposed. Look what it took for locals to push signage through the federal bureaucracy! (See article by Joe Sternlieb and Anne-Marie Bairstow from Sunday 12/31: http://www.washingtonpost.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?GXHC_gx_session_id_FutureTenseContentServer=
16eacc0dbe0f159a&articleid=A436-2000Dec30&pagename=article).  D.C. citizens have provided a service to visitors — a local effort that succeeded.

As for Tilting at Windmills, I think the role of D.C.'s national-level elected officials is to speak on behalf of District citizens on national issues -- not local schools, unless there is federal intervention when there shouldn't be. They should stay focused, even when the environment isn't favorable (which is nearly always). They can still work to understand interests and to build national support for statehood or equal constitutional rights across the various interests that transcend political party. The Mayor/Governor's office should also build state relationships. The GOP now controls 18 state legislatures, Democrats control 16, and 15 states are split: http://www.ncsl.org/statevote2000/legpartycontrol_post2000.htm. Maybe we should work to get state resolutions passed in support of equal constitutional rights for D.C. and introduced in Congress.

As for term limits, I tend to support elections as a solution to removing unwanted elected officials. Last thing: progress is often in the eye of the beholder. Fresh Fields has opened a nice new store at 14th and P NW, great! But, from the rooftop of The Cairo, it looks like they scarred the skyline with light pollution. Looks like a neon factory from above, much brighter than other buildings, even the Capitol. Two steps ahead, one step back.

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Readers Have the Last Word
Ted LeBlond, tedleblond@starpower.net

Several comments about the recent issue of themail: 1. If you don't like DC Cablevision, get Starpower. Although I know it's not available everywhere (yet), and even though I have problems with their billing office, their products are way better than DC Cablevision's. 2. Term limits: while I understand the argument in favor of them, what if you get a really good guy (or gal) in office? Should we turn them out? 3. I don't know about you all, but I think Mayor Williams has done a way better job than what's his name before him. My friend and I went to the DMV on C Street, and were in and out in about half an hour! And a DMV employee actually apologized to my friend when she made a mistake.

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Adoption
Judith Rosenfeld, jsr2@earthlink.net

I loved Leila Afzal's suggestion that D.C. be put up for adoption by a state threatened with the loss of congressional representation after the recent census, or simply desirous of greater congressional clout. I agree with her that New York is an attractive adoptive parent, although I tend to favor Vermont because (a) it's woefully short of African American residents and (b) I have a vacation place there.

I don't think the separation of parent state and adoptive district need be a deterrent (look at the Gaza Strip and the West Bank). And, frankly, I'd love to be represented by the likes of Bernie Sanders.

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Klingle Road Alternative Route
Laurie Collins, lauriec@lcsystems.com

With Klingle Road closed and Porter Street under construction, I have been traveling many routes to find the best way to get from Mount Pleasant to Georgetown, to St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, and to all the other places I need to get to west of the park. I've tried the Porter Street detour, Calvert Street to Cleveland. I’ve cut through the Zoo, taken a left on Connecticut to Garfield, but to my surprise and more direct, the best alternative is for me to cut through the Zoo, take a right on Connecticut Avenue and then a left on Devonshire Place. Following Devonshire to the end to Courtland, I take a right on Courtland. This takes me through the neighborhood that wants me off Klingle, and brings me out at the top of the closed portion of Klingle Road, near Woodley and 34th.

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Statehood without State Functions: Idaho and Wyoming
Timothy Cooper, Worldright@aol.com

On the continuing matter of DC statehood without state functions, Mr. Sobelsohn claims, when referring to the degree of financial solvency, or lack thereof, of various states admitted into the Union: “I’d bet…. at least some of these states [Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Alaska] at [the time of] admission were far from [being] ‘fully capable of supporting themselves.’” In the first instance, that expression of certitude certainly shouldn’t be applied to Idaho and Wyoming, according to Judy Austin of the Idaho Historical Society. Admitted as a pair into the Union in 1890, Ms. Austin claims that both territories were “no stepchildren of the federal government.” Indeed, they possessed “perfectly adequate revenue” streams, and were fully capable of supporting themselves. “If anything [the federal government] probably gained" by their admittance; they were "far from being wards of the federal government.” With regard to their capacity to support all state functions, Idaho, for example, assumed state financial responsibility for the federal prisons at the hour of its admittance into the Union. Ms. Austin also asserts that Idaho was politically prepared to become a state because the territory enjoyed a true territorial legislature, which made the transition to a state legislature virtually seamless.

If DC aspires to statehood, it is incumbent on the movement to map out a way to develop a new sustainability local economy in order to retrieve all its state functions from the federal government and to maintain the proper functioning of the state. “Statehood without economic self-sufficiency” is a contradiction in terms. The real choice for DC is between building a sustainable economy and then applying for statehood, or moving on an amendment for equal constitutional rights, which will not require District possession of all its state functions, at a politically opportune time. In my mind, at least, those two alternatives are far preferable to abandoning the District’s unique historical, cultural, and political identity by accepting retrocession to the state of Maryland, and thereby seriously diluting the District’s future political power in Congress, as well as compromising its jurisdictional independence to yet another alien governing body, i.e., the Maryland state legislature.

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Part III: Fragmented in a Great Storm
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com

South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860. Abraham Lincoln, called a “Black Republican” by southerners, had been elected President. Amidst a real estate market collapse, Washingtonians still hoped for political compromise. Citizens listened to rumors that Lincoln would bring "a reign of terror," and that southern states would take the city, hang the Black Republicans, and stop the inaugural. Some said there was a local Fifth Column. A House committee investigated the rumors, and General Scott claimed less than half the local militia was loyal. Enoch Lowe, former Maryland Governor, said that the District would return to Maryland in the case of secession. The Mayor denied charges that District residents would disrupt the inaugural, and D.C. citizens organized 33 companies of infantry and two troops of cavalry. In his inaugural address, President Lincoln called upon Congress to consider restoring the Virginia portion to the District through negotiation. The news of Fort Sumter in April shocked locals, and in late May, volunteers seized Arlington Heights and tore down the Confederate flag. A hotel owner killed Colonel Ellsworth, the first to die in the Civil War. In April 1862, a Congressional act emancipated the 3,100 District slaves and compensated owners, and blacks were recruited as troops after 1863. On April 9th, 1865, the war ended with the Surrender of General Robert E. Lee. Altogether, 16,534 (13,265 white, 3,269 black) District citizens fought for the Union. President Lincoln was assassinated in on April 14, 1865.

In January 1867, the bill for unrestricted manhood suffrage in the District passed Congress, but was vetoed by President Andrew Johnson after citizens of Georgetown and Washington held referendums in which less than 1% supported the measure. For the first time, Congress overrode a Presidential veto, and passed the Civil Rights Act. Shortly after, Congress passed the 14th Amendment; Tennessee was the only southern state to ratify it. In June 1867, blacks voted for the first time in the District. As the District struggled economically to rebuild, the House voted 11 articles of impeachment against President Johnson in 1868 for allegedly violating the Tenure of Office Act. He was acquitted in the Senate by one vote. That year, Sayles J. Bowen, a Radical Republican, was elected mayor. He advocated the integration of white and colored school system, alarming even Republicans. In March 1869, General Grant was inaugurated President. Later that year, Senator Halbert E. Paine, a Radical Republican from Wisconsin, submitted a resolution that was referred to the Committee of Elections in which he challenged the legality of seating Lewis McKenzie in the House as a representative of the 7th congressional district of Virginia because he believed retrocession had been unconstitutional. He requested that the Committee on the Judiciary inquire into the matter. By 1870, Washington's financial health was so bad that Mayor Bowen's furniture was seized in a judgment against the municipality. Alexander “Boss” Shepherd, a friend of the President, said the only way to solve the financial crisis was to merge the local jurisdictions and have the federal government appoint the District's chief officers. Opposition Republicans united with Democrats to beat Bowen. Shepherd and friends convinced Congress to pass the “Territorial” bill in 1871, merging all jurisdictions with a Presidentially appointed Governor and upper house, and an elected lower house. The Georgetown Courier complained about Grant's appointments: “Not one old resident, nor a Democrat, nor a Catholic nor an Irishman, yet we have three darkies, Douglass, Gray and Hall, a German, two natives of Maine and one of Massachusetts.”

Nationally, Liberal Republicans combined with Democrats and in 1874 the power of the Republican Party was broken and Democrats recovered the South. That same year, Congress abolished D.C.'s “Territorial” form of government for mismanagement and established a 3-commission system, appointed by the President. The next year, an effort by an Alexandria County citizen to obtain a decision from the Supreme Court about the legality of the 1846 retrocession, but failed. For twenty years, the matter was put on the back burner. In 1896, as images of a proud National Capital were revived, Senator McMillan introduced and the Senate adopted a resolution of inquiry asking the Attorney General for an opinion about the legality of retrocession. In 1902, a joint resolution introduced in both houses of Congress directed the Attorney General to bring suit to determine the constitutionality. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee, which responded that the case was a political, not a judicial question. “If it is desirable that Alexandria become a part of the District of Columbia again, the only way to accomplish it will be to open negotiation with Virginia and get her consent.” Virginia Representatives said they would “vigorously oppose” any such effort.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS AND CLASSES

Charlie Mason’s 90th Birthday Celebration
Peter Stebbins, pstebbins@hotmail.com

Well, fellow citizens, the following is certainly worth celebrating next Saturday. An open house style afternoon with food, music from All Souls Madrigal Singers and Duke Ellington students, and an unveiling of portraits of the Masons to be loaned to the UDC-DCSL. Sponsored by the Statehood Green Party and UDC-David A. Clarke School of Law, it's Charles N. Mason, Jr., 90th Birthday Celebration. Saturday, January 20, 2001, 2-5 p.m. (4-5 p.m. program), University of the District of Columbia Auditorium, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW. RSVP to make special presentations in word or music to Peter Stebbins, 319-7656 or jlibertelli@law.udc.edu. In lieu of gifts, please make a contribution to the charity of your choice.

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E-mail Marketing and Online Privacy Law Workshops
Jessica Leary, jessica@zeff.com

Join top Industry leaders for a new breed of information rich seminars in a small group setting. Zeff Group is hosting two intensive one-day workshops on Wednesday, January 31 in Tysons Corner. 1) Permission-Based E-mail Marketing with Kim MacPherson, president of Inbox Interactive, ClickZ columnist and author of the new book “Permission-based E-mail Marketing that Works” and 2) Online Privacy Law with D. Reed Freeman, attorney, Arent Fox Kinter Plotkin & Kahn. Participants receive seminar workbook, one-on-one access to instructors, and certificate of completion. Enrollment limited. Contact Jessica, 703-516-9091, jessica@zeff.com or go to http://www.zeff.com/bootcamp

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CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED

Housekeeper Needed
R. Seitz, rrs2623@aol.com 

I am looking for a housekeeper for 5-6 hours work, one day per week, in Woodley Park.

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Library Book Sale Volunteers
Martha Saccocio, MarthaNS@aol.com

The Friends of the Tenley-Friendship Library are looking for volunteers to help us get organized for our Spring Book Sale. We need help sorting books. You can work any hours that the library is open (including Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 9 p.m.). Please e-mail Martha Saccocio at MarthaNS@aol.com if you are interested.

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CLASSIFIEDS -- RECOMMENDATIONS

Computer
Mary Vogel, 547-7203, maryvogel@yahoo.com

I'm looking for a used CPU (computer processing unit) to replace the one that was swindled from me when I was told to send it in for repairs just as the company was going bankrupt. I need a PC that has a fax modem, a CD-Rom drive and perhaps even a Zip drive (which mine had). I don't need the monitor, the printer or anything else, just the CPU. Any ideas appreciated too.

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Reliable Painter Recommended
Sid Booth, SidBooth1@aol.com

Mike Johnson, a local painter whose name I found in themail a year or so ago, has lived up to his strong recommendations. He painted our main floor rooms and halls last summer and, now that the winter weather has warmed, is working on the outdoor trim. He made good suggestions on how we should paint and was considerate of ways to avoid excessive costs. Mike can be reached at mhcj1@yahoo.com.

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