Things in General
Dear Generalists:
On Friday, the City Council had a public briefing on the Administration's plan on how
to provide continuing health care while closing DC General Hospital. You'll be pleased to
know that, when Councilmember Phil Mendelson asked the city's chief health officer, Ivan
Walks, if there were such a plan in writing, Dr. Walks assured him that there was. Only it
hadn't been distributed to any Councilmembers or to the public; Walks didn't have any
copies with him; and he couldn't be specific about what was in it, except that it didn't
contain any budget figures or comparisons to other proposals. Walks was just as vague,
unresponsive, and evasive in his other answers, and he frequently acted offended to be
asked the questions at all.
The clearest cost estimate to emerge from the hearing is outlined by Ron Linton in his
message below. The proposal is for the city to make an annual payment to Doctors Community
Healthcare Corporation about equal to what it now pays for DC General, including budget
overruns. But for that amount, DCHC will close the hospital and will provide many fewer
services no nurse training, no school nurses, no free health care for the MPD and
prisoners, and so on. All of these current services will either be ended or will cost
extra; Walks wouldn't say how much more because the city is negotiating the additional
fees with DCHC. Yep, sure sounds like a moneysaving, health-conscious deal to me.
Mayor Williams is holding a health care townhall meeting on Wednesday evening; if
you're interested in going, get the details at http://www.dcwatch.com/calendar.htm.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Thirty years ago or so I served as chairman of the first board of directors of DC
General Hospital. It had lost its accreditation, was over budget and operating a facility
that needed to be replaced. We made a number of recommendations, few of which were
implemented by the city, but we did regain accreditation. Rather than continue a history
review, let me comment on the current situation. From what I've been able to discern, and
it hasn't been easy, the city proposes to give Southeast Hospital $85 million a year to
provide what DC General now provides, except that apparently doesn't include trauma,
school health, or prison care. All of that apparently is to come later at an additional
cost.
It is in my judgment unlikely that Southeast can sustain its services, since again it
appears that the Control Board has changed eligibility requirements that will induce a lot
of people to seek services for free that are now paid for. When Southeast collapses it
will put impossible burdens on Howard, Washington Hospital Center, and Providence. When
that happens the strain will spread to Georgetown, George Washington, and Sibley. Quality
of care will decline, and those with the money will go out of the city for hospital
services. The City's hospital service will collapse unless the city commits as much as
$400 million a year to hospital services.
What's the alternative? In the short run, say two to three years, DC General can be
sustained as it is for about $40 million a year more than it is getting. That will give
time to plan and erect a new state-of-the-art hospital to serve its population with the
services that population needs. Old DC General would be renovated into a medical office
and support center, earning revenue to pay for the bonds necessary to build the new
hospital. Further, by collecting insurance payments from those patients who have
insurance, and about a $50 to $60 million annual city appropriation to provide an
insurance fund to cover the uninsured at DC General a better system can be provided than
what is now proposed.
Obviously the matter is more detailed and complicated than the abbreviated comments I
have made, but let me predict that if the present scheme is followed the Control Board
will have left the city with a worse fiscal crises than it was created to fix.
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What Plan?
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
Gary Imhoff's treatise last Thursday, about the lack of a plan for health care for
those without health insurance in the District, was symbolic of the current
administration. They fly by the seat of their pants. There is no overall plan or detailed
subplans. Our so-called leaders wake up each day and wait for the next load to hit the
fan. Crisis management is the name of the game and the loudest noises get the most
attention.
Any plan is better than no plan and Mayor Williams, if he really wants to make our city
better, providing decent services to those who need them, would be well advised to take
the time to put together a genuine mission statement for the District. This should be
followed by a manageable set of viable, time-oriented goals. Then, each of the functional
elements of the District Government should establish their own mission statement and goals
in support of the top level mission. Each sub-element of the District's functional
organizations should do the same. When you are finished, by God, you have a workable plan
with everyone knowing just what their role is. And, don't tell me that there is too little
time to perform this planning. That's like the writer who once said he did not have time
to learn how to type because he was too busy writing.
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When I opened my mailbox at the end of a long day of teaching 21 first-graders in
Southeast D.C., a copy of the February 22 Washington Post article regarding poor
teacher quality sat at the top of my mail. On a good day at school, my children arrive
having received a nutritious meal the night before and plenty of rest. When that good day
occurs, I look across my classroom and see children with combed hair and clean shirts. On
a bad day -- on a day that has become the norm for many a D.C. public school teacher
my children come to school with unwashed faces, their socks in their pockets, and a
strong scent of urine emanating from their skin. On those days on most days
children with bruises, empty bellies, and dark circles under their eyes stare back at me
as I greet them Good Morning. And still, confronted with such obstacles to
learning, I attempt to teach. Even more importantly, most of my students manage to learn.
When administrators and elected officials such as Superintendent Vance and Ms. Cafritz
attempt to compare the D.C. Public schools to other school districts, they should not use
Montgomery County as a standard of measurement. Rather, they should look at school
districts in such countries as Bolivia, Honduras, and Haiti. Teachers in these countries
are also confronted with students who have poor nutrition and attendance. These teachers
lack adequate textbooks and work in crumbling schools. Before we start complaining that
D.C. public schools consistently fail to measure up to schools in suburban Maryland or
Virginia, we should ask ourselves, why in the nations capital do we
require teachers to teach in conditions that are comparable to those in a third-world
country?
While some teachers in D.C. public schools may be unqualified or
incompetent, all teachers are forced to struggle toward success in a system that
neither treats them as professionals nor gives them adequate support to manage the
numerous emotional, physical, and psychological issues that they encounter in their
classrooms. Until we encourage teachers to adopt innovate methods of teaching, until we
offer exceptional staff development opportunities, until we give teachers the incentives
and support to improve their teaching methods, we will continue to be a failing school
system. We will continue to be a system that criminally deprive[s] students of
resources and unfairly leaves its teachers struggling on the edge of disaster.
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Theres an Odor in the Air
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
I checked my shoes to make sure that I had not stepped in something on my frequent
walks. No, that odor seems to be coming from downtown, near the mayor's office. There are
two things that I'm very skeptical about. The first is that Mark Jones, a very close
associate of the Mayor, and his prolific fund raising were done without the knowledge and
blessing of Mayor Williams. Fund raising of that magnitude takes lots of time and
visibility. Unless Mark Jones was working day and night then his day job was either being
done by someone else, or his day job was doing just what he was doing.
The second thing that smells is that Jones, very reluctantly, accepted his unpaid (?)
administrative leave. Since he was so reluctant to leave, I contend that he was not a
rogue, lone ranger, in his fund raising. If Mark Jones is really on unpaid leave, how is
he getting along these days? One is led to ask who has the checkbook for those
accounts? Is Mark Jones living off those accounts now? Or is he being paid by the city
from some other slush fund that we don't know about? Perhaps some sniffing around will
locate the source of that very unpleasant odor.
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Over a week ago I reported an abandoned car to DPW via their web page. Actually I tried
to report it to the police first when I saw three young people stripping the vehicle of
its license and battery, but as usual the police were too slow to catch some violators
equipped with an immobile car. I then reported it to DPW using their web page on February
15th. It's a blue Chevy Corsica parked in front of 3210 Q Street, NW. The result was to be
expected: nothing. No tickets no inspectors, no tow truck, no action at all. A car is
sitting on a public street with no license plates and has been reported for over a week
and our fair DPW is still eating doughnuts in their offices rather than doing their jobs
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Does anyone know if Verizon will soon be changing its bellatlantic.net domain to a
domain including the name Verizon? Bizarrely enough, Verizon itself refuses to
reveal its plans. Boy, as soon as I can get a real alternative for local phone service I'm
dropping Verizon faster than a force-fed chicken drops eggs.
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Ed Barron's posting about the shopping carts caught my eye in a recent issue. I believe
I live next to one of the perpetrators. It was probably last Fall when some folks moved
into the building next door, and soon after the notorious Safeway shopping cart began
appearing regularly in front of their building on MacArthur Boulevard. What makes this all
the more interesting, however, is that eventually the cart ends up at the nearby Metro
bus! (I doubt the shopping cart has the bus fare to get it back to Safeway.) What becomes
of the cart, I haven't a clue. I can only assume that somehow it gets transported back
(see parenthetical) to the grocery store.
I haven't yet seen the individual(s) using the cart. But what if I do? Should I
confront my neighbor(s)? Should I call Safeway? Should I call the police? Should I call Ed
on his cell phone? What would be the responsible course of action in a case like this? Any
advice would be welcome.
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I'm moved by the concern of Peggy Robin in regards to posters on trees but the lives
and health care of DC Citizens is far more important than a tree! I agree that perhaps
more care can be used in the placement of posters through out the city and this is
something my organization has become aware of and have made a commitment to do better.
However, at this time the message must get to the people about the DC General crisis and
the importance of keeping the hospital open and someone tell me if I'm wrong but I've yet
to come across a tree that can provide emergency care and health clinics for our schools.
There are people out fighting for this hospital and it is sad when we get individuals who
can come up with nothing better than to complain about a tree!
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Novel Virus Derails themail Subscriber
Charlie Wellander, ah52j2e3@mailshell.com
Although it was first reported in a Russian version in 1877, AnnaKarenina.TXT is a
novel virus which, especially in platform-translated versions, is affecting several
themail subscribers even as you are reading this. The current report of infections was
probably inspired by the AnnaKournikova.JPG virus that clogged E-mail systems at the
beginning of the month. This novel virus E-mails victims a text file of well over ten
megabytes, often overfilling the victim's mailbox quota, causing issues of themail to be
bounced back to sender. A streaming video variant of AnnaKarenina.TXT has even infected
transmissions of several hundred PBS television stations. Like "Riding the
Bullet," Stephen King's E-book, AnnaKarenina.TXT has downloaded itself onto millions
of computers, but has actually been read by fewer than one in twenty of its victims. This
may be due to the fact that they both exist only in uncompressed formats. In a mode of
operation very similar to the internal virus MonicaLewinsky.MP3 (Devil with the Blue
Dress On), AnnaKarenina.TXT does not E-mail itself to every contact in a victim's
Outlook Express address book, but only to the attention of desirable men. Once the hard
disk is infected, significant adulteration can be expected. In another similarity to the
MonicaLewinsky exploit, the AnnaKarenina.TXT virus usually makes multiple attempts to
create additional attachments.
In the end, unlike the relatively benign AnnaKournikova.JPG, the AnnaKarenina.TXT virus
is invariably fatal, causing total destruction of the victim's computer by throwing it
under a steam locomotive.
[I hate to spoil the fun by being so explicit, but if you are literal-minded rather
than literary minded, reread the above message before you send it to your friends to warn
them against the virus. Gary Imhoff]
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CLASSIFIEDS EVENTS
Jazz Nights in Southwest
Bob Smith, virsam@erols.com
To all jazz lovers, local jazz giants are playing on Friday nights, from 6-9 p.m., at
Westminster Church, 400 I Street, SW. Admission is only $5.00. Fish and chicken dinners
are also sold.
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Great Books Literature Worth Staying Downtown For!
Patricia Pasqual, changedc@yahoo.com
A downtown Great Books discussion group if forming at the Martin Luther King Memorial
Library. On Thursday evening, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Memorial
Library, 901 G Street NW, staff from the Language and Literature Division will meet with
community members interested in participating in a Great Books discussion group at the
Library. Library staff members will demonstrate how a Great Books group operates by
actually discussing a short story, The Sorcerers Apprentice by Charles
Johnson. For more information about Great Books and/or to register for this session, call
the Language and Literature Division at 727-1281.
The Great Books Foundation has conducted seminars for fifty years using a method called
shared inquiry, which allows everyone to read and enjoy great works of literature.
Discussion is based on the text at hand and only that text. There are approximately 450
Great Books currently meeting in libraries across the United States. Several Great Books
groups already exist in this area and can be located either by calling the Great Books
Foundation (1-800-222-5870), or by visiting their web site, http://www.greatbooks.org. To learn more about other
programs offered by the District of Columbia Public Library visit our web site, http://www.dclibrary.org.
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The Hyde Elementary School annual auction will take place March 31st from 6 p.m. to 9
p.m. at Fannie Mae, 3900 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. Please join us for fun, food, and a great
silent and live auction! We are still accepting donations. Current items include vacation
homes, frequent flier miles, and dinners at area restaurants. You can also advertise your
business in our auction book. Proceeds benefit the Hyde E.S. (a DC public school) PTA, tax
i.d. #521-84-4971. Contact Liz at 338-1547 or E-mail dcnurse@hotmail.com.
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Budget Briefing Session
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org
The Advocacy Initiative to Meet Human Needs is sponsoring another session, Briefing and
Interactive Session: What in the Mayors Proposed FY 2002 Budget Impacts Human
Services? Tuesday, March 20, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; the training location is Beacon
House, 601 Edgewood Street, NE. Whats included in the training: Experienced
advocates and budget experts will present: 1) an overview of what is included in the
Mayors proposed FY 2002 budget, 2) breakout sessions on specific issues, 3) examples
of effective advocacy strategies and tips on advocating on the budget, and 4) a discussion
of how to read the budget and an explanation of the budget process. In addition,
participants will have the opportunity to network with others who are concerned about the
human services budget. Who should attend the training: service providers (at all levels of
the organization), advocates, residents, and budget advocacy newcomers and old-timers.
Contact DC ACT (234-9404) for registration information.
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Ward 4 Ward Visit
Hilary Cherner, hilary@dcjcc.org
Don't forget to sign up for the National Institute for Jewish Leadership's Visit to
Ward 4, led by Councilman Adrian Fenty. This is an excellent opportunity to view the ward
through the eyes of the Councilman as well as to reach out to other communities. Sunday,
February 25, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.. Meet at the DC Jewish Community Center. Members, $8;
nonmembers, $10. RSVP: Hilary Cherner 777-3238, or hilary@dcjcc.org.
In this city of national issues, the NIJL has been adding opportunities to focus on
local DC issues. Each Ward Visit will be led by the Council Member for that ward, who will
introduce us to the local programs and groups that make each ward unique. Learn firsthand
what the problems and opportunities are opportunities to make inroads and build
bridges for Jewish engagement on the ground as well as on the Hill.
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Niseys Boutique Presents My Sista, My Friend, My Self
Vernard R. Gray, nsagi@interchange.org
Breathing Room by Patricia Elam, a book sale and signing, on Wednesday,
February 28, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., at Nisey's Boutique, 4007 34th Street, Mt. Rainier,
Maryland, right off of Rhode Island Avenue, NE. For more information, call 301-277-7977.
In her dazzling debut novel, award-winning author Patricia Elam takes us into the lives of
two completely different women whose friendship has helped them weather just about
everything. But now they're at a crossroads where understanding may not be enough a
place where they must risk it all to rediscover what they cherish most.
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CLASSIFIEDS RECOMMENDATIONS
I have had Sprint PCS service for a number of years and have put up with appalling
service because I've been too lazy to change. Although the problems have been manifest,
the most persistent is the inability of people to get through to me during rush hour. So I
am now ready to dump PCS and look elsewhere, but I don't want to sign up for another
service with the same problems. For me, cost is secondary to reliability. Any suggestions?
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