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January 21, 2001

The Name’s the Game

Dear Pen Pals

You get what you asked for in this issue of themail; the answer to the silo-like things mystery was sent in by an astounding five readers. If you haven't been interested in the McMillan Reservoir before, you will be by the time you finish reading themail.

Peter Wolff sent a message letting me know that I frequently misspell his name on his messages. Let me tell Peter and you how that happened. Messages from the InTowner come in without Peter's signature, but all submissions to themail have to be signed with an individual's name, so I add his. Now, for some reason, I just can't remember how it's spelled. What I can remember is that it's spelled exactly opposite from the way I think it's spelled. The problem is, I can't always remember which way I think it's spelled, so when I reverse it, I get it wrong as often as I get it right. Of course, I could look it up each time, but I'm much too lazy to do that. The moral is, for all readers, sign your submissions or — even if I recognize your E-mail address — you'll have to take your chances with the name I'll come up with.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Honor the Contract
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com

The District Government wants to move back into the Wilson Building on Pennsylvania Avenue, but they want to abrogate the contract they signed with a developer who completed restored the building. That contract was a bad one, but it is legal and binding. The contractor anticipated, for his work and money, a stream of rental income from the Federal Government and cash flow based on retaining the building under historical preservation status (which allows for additional tax write-offs). The Feds have agreed to let the D.C. Government move into the space that they originally planned to occupy if the D.C. Government would make up the rent payments. That's OK, but the Contractor and his financiers will not have the cash flow expected because the historical preservation status will be lost in the shuffle (along with some nice tax credits). The D.C. Government will lose this case in court, so they should make the contractor, who did all the good work, whole with regard to his expected income from the job he did. When you sign a contract (good or bad) you should honor that contract.

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A Tale of Two DMVs
Kelly Parden, kparden@yahoo.com

I moved from Washington to New York City about a month ago. I love DC, but I made the move for professional reasons. One of the things I dreaded the most was getting a New York drivers license. After ten years in DC, I figured the New York State DMV experience would have to be equal to or worse than DC. Boy was I wrong. In and out in 15 minutes. I talked to three people (a greeter/traffic director, a photo taker, and the payment clerk), two of whom told me “Welcome to New York.” All this during lunch hour at the downtown/Wall Street branch of the DMV. I pass this on not to rub it in to those in the last colony, but just for info. DC should some send people up to observe this operation. Best of luck.

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Hail to the District’s De Facto Governor!
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com

Each Presidential election culminates in the inaugural, the celebration of America's President. And, DC's de facto Governor. (I suppose D.C. citizens don't often admit this truth, and perhaps don't even accept it.) In the early years of Washington City, there was less distinction between the transient ruling class and locals. In fact, locals organized the inaugural celebrations. But when President Andrew Jackson (D) was elected in November 1828, he brought about changes in the social standing of The Federal City. For the first time, local officials were not the ones to organize the inaugural celebrations. At all levels, a distinction developed between those who thought of the District as home, and others. President Jackson, acting in his role as de facto "Governor," sent a message to Congress a few years after he was elected: “I deem it my duty again to call your attention to the condition of the District of Columbia. It was doubtless wise in the framers of our Constitution to place the people of this District under the jurisdiction of the general government, but to accomplish the objects they had in view it is not necessary that this people should be deprived of all the privileges of self-government. Independently of the difficulty of inducing the representatives of distant states to turn their attention to projects of laws which are not of the highest interest to their constituents, they are not individually, nor in Congress collectively, well qualified to legislate over the local concerns of this District. Consequently its interests are much neglected and the people are almost afraid to present their grievances, lest a body in which they are not represented and which feels little sympathy in their local relations should in its attempt to make laws for them do more harm than good. . . . . Is it not just to allow them at least a delegate to Congress, if not a local legislature, to make laws for the District, subject to the approval or rejection of Congress? I earnestly recommend the extension to them of every political right which their interests require and which may be compatible with the Constitution.” Some 170 years ago, Jackson called for equal Constitutional rights for D.C. citizens, to the degree compatible with that governing text.

51 Capitals. I found a book, The 49 Capitals of the United States, published in 1938. District of Columbia is on the first page. It says DC ranked 48th in area, 41st in population, and that DC “entered the Union on July 16, 1790.” Hummm. That's an interesting thought. It sounds to me like DC was the 14th state (I'm guessing), or virtual state I should say. As some character said to her girlfriend in some TV show the other night, “I'm going to do something to him that is illegal in seven states — and the District of Columbia.” Yes, DC, you are part of the Union and you even seem to have an identity. But they still haven't figured out what to do with you. Like many of his predecessors, President Bush appears to be taking the “ignore it and it'll go away” approach — or maybe that's what we should hope for. Because DC residents are the subjects of people living in the states (contrary to President William Henry Harrison's statement in his inaugural speech in 1841), they must have the backing of Congress for anything the propose — and the American people, who can pressure their elected members of Congress and their state legislators. One thing Republicans seem to agree on: local self-government. Let's encourage our new de facto Governor — President Bush — to implement that concept in DC, and even let our votes count in Congress! Residents of D.C. would like to become full citizens, too.

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Very Unimpressive
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com

The results of the standardized tests for students in the Charter Schools in D.C. show an alarming number below basic and almost a negligible amount of students above basic in both Math and Reading. What's next?

I am convinced that the time is right to accept our new President's challenge to make all those kids who can't read at grade level proficient in the next four years. It is timely for D.C. to make a proposal to the new administration to fund development of a whole new set of processes for a viable school system and to run a Pilot Program in some of the District's schools. It is clear that the “Statehood” quest is futile. Let's get the Bush Administration to provide the funding to develop an alternative to the current inner city schools that will produce a decent education for our kids.

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Those Towers
Carol Bessette, jcbessette@aol.com

I agree that “those towers” on North Capitol Street and Michigan Avenue are a bit strange looking, but they have an interesting history. (My info is courtesy of DC Preservation League.) They are part of the 1905 25-acre McMillan Reservoir Slow Sand Filtration Site, which was considered a “Washington public health milestone.” This was an innovative system of water purification, relying on sand rather than chemicals, and it is believed to have led to the elimination of epidemics of typhoid and other communicable diseases. The site consist of regulator houses, sand bins, washers, and underground sand filtration beds. It was purchased by the DC government in 1987; the present condition shows the lack of maintenance, and the site is now threatened with commercial and residential development. Several community organizations, along with the DCPL, are working to promote park and recreational use of the site.

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Those Things
Anne Anderson, psysrusa@cs.com

I am glad to know that some people are curious about the “two rows of short, brick, silo-like structures” at the corner of Michigan Avenue and North Capitol Street. Welcome to one of the more historic sites in Ward 5! They are the towers that used to hold the sand for the McMillan slow sand filtration water plant. I have been inside the wonderful arched vaults of the plant, walking on soft sand that makes up the floor. The vaults stretch out underneath the entire area of the blocks enclosed by the fence. It is very disturbing to see it so neglected.

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Sand Silos
W.J. Jones, wjjones@mail.clark.net

Lois Kirkpatrick’s inquiry has to do with the well known McMillan Sand Filtration Site. Here is information from two sites found by searching google.com for “McMillan Reservoir.”

“The 1905 completion of the McMillan Reservoir Slow Sand Filtration Site was a Washington public health milestone. Its innovative system of water purification, which relied on sand rather than chemicals, led to the elimination of typhoid epidemics and the reduction of many other communicable diseases in the city. The 25-acre site consists of regulator houses, sand bins, washers, and underground sand filtration beds. A legacy of the City Beautiful Movement, the complex is an engineering wonder that served its original purpose until 1986. Since its purchase by the District government in 1987, the site has deteriorated severely due to lack of maintenance. It is now threatened by pressure for commercial and residential development. McMillan Reservoir was designated a DC Historic Landmark in 1991.” D.C. Preservation League: http://www.dcpreservation.org/endangered/2000/mcmillan.html.  

Also, from a September 8, 2000, article in the Washington Business Journal, http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/09/11/focus6.html. “The McMillan Sand Filtration Site sits on 25 acres in the Northwest part of the District. In use for 81 years, the site has been closed since 1986, and the District of Columbia bought the property from the federal government a year later for $9.3 million. Now the question of what to do with the property is up for debate. . . . District officials have held two of three planned community meetings so far to figure out what to do with the property. These meetings are informational, to get an idea of what residents would like to see the site used for and what planners think is feasible. . . . The site is an open space with the water reservoir, and many residents want to see the majority of open space preserved. . . . Some proposals include retail or commercial space, something Sutherland thinks would ruin the park-like setting. . . The entire site has been designated as an historic site, and any proposal would be subject to the D.C. historic board's review. . . . Residents seem to be mixed on what should go on the site, but Howard University officials say their idea, for a hotel/ conference center along with open space would make the best use of the land.”

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Those Silo Things
Gwen Southerland, ANC 5C05, gwensouth@aol.com

I just got themail, and it's a little after midnight, so I'm getting sleepy, but I do love those “silo things,” so let me tell you and your readers a little about them. When I first became the ANC Commissioner for ANC 5C05, in which they are located, I wondered what they were, too. It's a part of McMillan Reservoir, the old sand filtration plant also known as McMillan Park. Those great medieval and, yes, even scary looking, very imposing “silos” are a part of McMillan Reservoir's old sand filtration plant and they are called sand bins. They were used in a very complex slow sand filtration system to purify the water for the city of Washington, DC, from 1902 until 1985. The sand bins or towers, as some call them, are the most visible part of that water filtration process. If your readers think the silos are interesting, they should see the underground system of filtration beds, also called by some as the “vaults” or “the catacombs.” Each of those towering sand bins has a connection to these sand filtration beds below the surface. Each sand filtration bed is one acre in size and is contained in a cement compartment. There are about 25 of those sand bins (towers) on the 25 acre site, also known as McMillan Park. There are over 1,000 manholes on the site.

McMillan Reservoir is presently an historic landmark. It is on the District of Columbia Historic Preservation registry and has been nominated and will be listed on the National Historic Preservation registry as well. McMillan Reservoir is named in honor of the late Senator James McMillan, the visionary of the 1902 McMillan Plan. The Plan, the second monumental plan for Washington since the L'Enfant Plan, called for a park system of open green space, called the "emerald necklace" and was designed to be an interconnection of open tracts of land in the outer areas of the city to form this emerald necklace, which was to have been a permanent reserve of green recreational space to serve the communities. Of course much development has shaken many of the “emeralds” from its necklace. The community would like to preserve McMillan for park and open green space.

The City wants to develop the site with a commercial mix of housing and retail to produce revenue. Actually, the District bought McMillan from the Army Corps of Engineers back in 1986. They paid $9.3 million dollars. The Corps wanted to give McMillan to the city for free, if the DC would use it as park and open space. Since it's purchase a battle ensued, and good, thinking citizens were successful in having the park declared as historic. The Comprehensive Plan was amended to allow mixed use on the property. The majority of the community would rather it be preserved as a park to include a museum for water technology as to how the filtration system worked. As the Commissioner, I am in favor of the preservation of the site to include the museum which would house a cultural center. I would like to see McMillan being revitalized into a grand formal park of green space, gardens of original plants, native vegetation and Oriental garden rooms, with great fountains of waterworks as a monument to the element of water. Amenities such as a state-of-the-art library, children's play area and an ice skating rink would be a nice touch and something fun. A few fine dining restaurants in the vast underground vaults, with natural light streaming from above and of course, a coffee cafe where we could sit, think and enjoy the nature of it all. I know it looks a little (actually a lot) scraggly right now, but hopefully, the city will do something about that real soon...right, Mr. Orange? This place is a national treasure.

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Those Silos
Gloria Mobley, glomo_53@yahoo.com

There was a question about the silo-looking structures on North Capitol Street and what they were. If this refers to the structures near North Capitol, Michigan Avenue and Irving Street, this is part of the Army Corps of Engineers and the McMillian Reservoir. There's also a water treatment plant there. Some of the property is on federal land, and no longer in use. There have been activists in the community who would like to see green space created for a community that is not located near a park.

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Strip Clubs
Peter Luger, lugerpj@georgetown.edu  

I don't relish the idea of defending strip clubs because I think it inevitably makes one look sleazy, but here goes. First, the current moratorium on strip clubs is blatantly unfair to the gay community. The way the current law is written, existing strip clubs may continue to run. However, new clubs are not allowed and existing clubs are not allowed to move. There are two or three gay strip clubs in DC. They are all in Southeast in an area that is slated for redevelopment in the next couple of years. Once those clubs are torn down, they are not allowed to reopen anywhere else. Many of the straight strip clubs are located in areas that have little chance of wholesale redevelopment, so they won't be forced out (i.e., Wisconsin Avenue in Upper Georgetown, M Street in West End, Connecticut Avenue in Dupont) One might argue that the gay clubs should have opened in a "better" neighborhood. That was not possible some years ago because no one would have allowed a gay strip club in their neighborhood or business district even though straight clubs were allowed. (It's called discrimination, by the way.)

Second, individual residential neighborhoods will not be impacted by allowing strip clubs to open. The proposed law allows the clubs in the business district only, not in Mt. Pleasant as Marika Torok feared in a previous posting. Third, anyone who wants to open a strip club must find available space that they can afford in the business district. Then, they must apply for the license. If Scores is associated with organized crime, they should be denied a license. From what I've read and heard, the proposed law makes it easier than it is now to protest a license as well as revoke a license. The current strip clubs, both gay and straight, do not have a reputation for causing problems out on the street where they are located. Of course, with any liquor serving establishment, there will be occasional times when a person or group of persons stumble out and cause a ruckus. Unless we are going to stop the sale of liquor altogether, that is not an avoidable problem. There is a market for strip clubs in this city. Only so many can survive. I don't believe there will suddenly be twenty strip clubs opening downtown. There should, however, at least be the opportunity for one or two clubs to open to cater to a demand.

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Statehood without State Functions: Nevada
Timothy Cooper, Worldright@aol.com

In the continuing discussion regarding DC statehood and state functions, Mr. Sobelsohn also claimed that Nevada, “which achieved statehood decades before development of what is now its biggest (some might say its only) industry,” was “far from” being able to support itself. But according to historian Chris Drakes of the Nevada State Archives and Library, the federal government was “not running any of Nevada’s state functions” at the time of its admittance into the Union. Indeed, the Congressional act which enabled the people of Nevada to form a state government explicitly declared that when the state was formed it “shall be admitted into the Union upon an equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatsoever.” It also stipulated — to the detriment of Nevada — that the people inhabiting the territory “forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within” the territory, and that they should be placed at the “sole and entire disposition” of the US government . The statehood act did, however, provide for a grant of lands to erect a state prison. In addition, it granted a contribution of “five percent of subsequent sale of public lands by the US” to Nevada state coffers for the construction of public roads and an irrigation system for agricultural lands.

All of this is not to say that the Nevada state government was more than a “bare bones” government at the time of statehood — notwithstanding its ability to support its state functions. Indeed, the state was partially financed by the labor of prison inmates who manufactured shoes and boots and generated “huge” profits for the state. Moreover, Nevada lacked sufficient resources to maintain its own mental institution; the insane were packed off to California for care. Furthermore, the federal government did issue land grants to the state, which in turn sold the land to individuals to encourage settlement in the west. But the only federal presence in Nevada at the time was a couple of forts which housed some federal troops.

Again, the point is that even Nevada came into the Union on an equal footing with all the other states. The District cannot avoid resolving the practical dilemma of achieving economic solvency and retention of its state functions before applying for statehood.

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State Functions
Michael Bindner, mbindnerdc@aol.com

Tim Cooper raises some interesting issues regarding the loss of state functions and the ability to seriously press for statehood in Congress. I especially agree that, to be a serious contender for statehood, DC must finance its own court system — as well as its own states attorney. Having the federal government prosecute all felonies is a violation of our equal protection rights. In all the states and all of the territories criminal prosecution is local. I also agree that the federalization of District felons is cruel and unusual punishment. However, I disagree with the notion that the District must depend entirely on its residents for taxation for statehood to be viable. In fact, some items should go back to the federal government. Our Medicaid match is still too high — the feds should pay all of it since they have an opinion on the provision of abortion services. Total federal assumption would eliminate the need for a ban on abortion services in the District budget. Additionally, the federal government should reassume St. Elizabeth's Hospital, which contains regional and federal patients as well as District patients, because they did not honor their commitments in transferring it to the District and cannot be trusted to do so. District patients should be diverted to D.C. General and to contracted private providers.

For a variety of reasons, including the concept that taxation without representation is tyranny, as well as suburban mistrust of DC's ability not to waste suburban tax money, passage of a non-resident income tax is unlikely. If statehood would pass, the new state could not be ignored in their demands for such a tax. The income rightly diverted to the District would need to be replaced by higher taxes in Maryland and Virginia. To successfully pursue statehood, this is the issue that needs resolution. Reclaiming our court system and our prisoners would naturally follow from resolution of the taxation issue.

A possible resolution is the creation of regional income tax to fund regional authorities on education, social services and corrections. Regional authorities would be answerable to all jurisdictions, which would make the tax less objectionable to suburbanites. Such a scheme would end the disgusting competition to downsize benefits in ones own jurisdiction to make other states more attractive to social service clients. Regional corrections and mental health would keep DC prisoners and patients closer to home and exploit over capacity in neighboring state systems. Regionalization would also free up other tax resources so that the District could retake its court system and establish its own attorney general, transferring now federal prosecutors to the local government.

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Sneaking in a Comment on National Affairs
Rick Otis, rdotis@yahoo.com

I don't know what engendered the comment about ensuring themail sticks to local subjects, but I can, nonetheless, understand the desire to stay away from national or international issues. To me, the recent fawning over Pres. Clinton by the Mayor and others fits into the local category. Understanding the mindset behind that event is very instructive in understanding how our city got into the mess it is in and our difficulty in digging ourselves out. Unfortunately, too many of our citizens and elected officials remember and worship the wonderful sound of his words. He has the unique capability of casting a spell over every audience he speaks to, but he did very little of true substance to help the city. The same goes for local issues. Many speak words and busy themselves with all sorts of activity that sounds good, but ultimately no real problem solving occurs.

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Me and the General
Peter Wolff, intowner@intowner.com

The following in this morning's edition of themail caught my eye: “January 2001 InTowner; Peter Wolfe, intowner@intowner.com.” Why? Well, for starters, and most important, my appreciation for your inclusion. Thanks much. But also because I noticed that you want to attribute to me a more elegant family lineage than I am entitled to claim -- specifically, that you may be giving people the impression that I am descended from the distinguished British general of Plains of Abraham (was he Jewish, too?) fame, General Wolfe. Of course, he did sort of flunk that final exam, as it were — it was really final for him! On the other hand, at least for the time being, I'm still here, but I am a mere Mr. WolfF (2 “f”s, no “e”) and not a General WolfE.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

The Washington We Know
Matthew Gilmore, dcplgem@altavista.com

The Washington We Know: A Photographic Look at Washington Neighborhoods, February 1 - April 1, at the Capital Children's Museum. This is the third exhibit by members of FotoCraft Camera Club that celebrates Washington neighborhoods. To many who live outside this city, it is a town of monuments, politics and power. Many visitors rarely get a chance to see the District of Columbia beyond the White House and the Smithsonian museums. This exhibit presents a view of our capital city beyond the monuments. It shows everyday life from the heart of our neighborhoods and serves as a forum in which the artistic ability of our club members is shared with the community at large. Open daily, Easter through Labor Day: 10:00 am - 6:00 p.m., Labor Day through Easter: 10:00 am - 5:00 p.m. Admission $6/person, $4/seniors (55+), free to children two and under and members. Half-price on Sunday before Noon with no other discount. Guided tours are scheduled for large groups on Tuesday mornings. If you are planning a Tuesday visit, the Museum suggests visiting after 1:00 p.m. for your full enjoyment.

http://www.ccm.org/newsletter1028/newsletter_show.htm?doc_id=29606.

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More on Those Silo Things
Gwen Southerland, ANC 5C05, gwensouth@aol.com

The National Capital Planning Commission, in cooperation with the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Memorial Commission, has prepared a draft of Memorials and Museums Master Plan to guide the location and development of future commemorative and cultural facilities in the District of Columbia. This master plan advances the vision for Washington's Monumental Core as expressed in Extending the Legacy: Planning America's Capital for the 21st Century, a long-range framework for planning released by the national Capital Planning Commission in 1997. McMillan Reservoir has been ranked #17 of 102 locations recommended as commemorative locations, with the top 19 given priority.

On Monday, January 29th, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at All Nations Baptist Church, 2001 North Capitol Street, NE, (North Capitol & Rhode Island Avenue), ANC 5C05 will sponsor a community meeting with representatives of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The meeting will focus on McMillan: The Memorials and Museum Plan - A Call To Action. The guest presenter will be Ronald Wilson, of the NCPC. There will be a question, answer and discussion period following Mr. Wilson's presentation. Persons interested should RSVP to Gwen Southerland, ANC 5C at 667-4812 or gwensouth@aol.com.

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H Street Planning Workshop
Richard Layman, Northeast DC, richlayman@lettera.net

DC's Office of Planning has begun working with various residents, property owners, business proprietors, and other stakeholders in the H Street NE neighborhoods on a “Neighborhood Planning Initiative.” If all goes according to “plan,” the process should last most of the year and finish by December. There will be a Community Planning Workshop to begin developing a vision and priorities for the area, which includes neighborhoods north and south of H Street, up to Kingman Park (by RFK), and the neighborhoods by Gallaudet University.

It will be held on Saturday January 27, 2001, from 10 am to 2 p.m., at Miner Elementary School, at 601 15th Street NE. Lunch will be provided. If people have questions, they can contact our Ward Six Neighborhood Planner, Karina Ricks, at the Office of Planning, at 442-7600 or at karina.ricks@dc.gov.

If you are planning to come and don't have questions), I suppose you could just drop me an E-mail (so we can get a sense for food requirements).

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Critical Resistance Organizing Meeting
Todd Bussert, tbussert@altavista.com

Two years ago, 4,000 criminal justice reform advocates and activists came together in California under the banner of “Critical Resistance” to strategize about stopping this country's dramatic rise in prisoners (now over 2 million) and ending the harsh policies that flow from the nation's incarceration binge. The result? Ongoing collaboration that has led to new coalitions and initiatives around the country that are locally, and nationally resisting unjust criminal justice policies and the growing use of prisons.

Efforts are now underway to bring similar results to the District of Columbia. This March, Critical Resistance-East will be held in New York City, focusing on issues all to familiar to D.C. residents: racial profiling; police brutality; the abolition of parole; scattering of D.C. prisoners across the nation; corporations profiting while communities suffer; and criminal justice control of half of the District's young African-American men.

To build support for the March 9-11 conference and the new local coalition and movement that are hoped will grow out of it, local citizens and community groups are invited to participate in a meeting this Wednesday, January 24, at Shiloh Baptist Church (9th & P Streets, NW-near the Shaw Metro) at 6:30 p.m. roundtable on the prison-industrial complex. This is the third such meeting, and we hope to continue bringing together a diverse cross-section of people, groups and ideas and generate interest in using Critical Resistance as a springboard for setting a specific reform agenda for the District of Columbia. To learn more about Critical Resistance, go to http://www.criticalresistance.org/mission.html.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Car Detailer
David Marlin, jdmarlin@pop.mindspring.com

Can someone recommend a good automobile car detailer in the area?

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