Democracy

Dear Democrats (Including Republicans, Independents, and Members of Third Parties):

“Democracy is a very bad form of government but, I ask you never to forget it, all the others are far worse.” I don't have a very elevated source for that quotation. It was recited by a solemn voice at the beginning of each episode of “Slattery's People,” an old Richard Crenna television series, so it may have been written by a Hollywood scriptwriter, but it always impressed me. I've been thinking about democracy a lot this week.

The Washington Post hit the Administration with a devastating one-two punch this weekend. Yesterday's Post editorial about DC General Hospital (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17854-2001Mar16.html) nearly demolished the Mayor's case for closing the hospital. It asked six basic unanswered questions about the plan, and said that those questions had to be answered before, not after, the plan was put into effect. (Anne Anderson, below, asks several other basic questions that haven't been answered.) The Post expressed confidence that the Mayor would be able to answer the questions. I don't share that confidence. Most of those questions don't have good answers because the plan hasn't been arrived at through a democratic, public process, but rather through closed and secretive back room negotiations. The contract with Doctors Community Health Corporation hasn't yet been signed, even though it was due to be signed weeks ago. At least partially, that's because the little information that has leaked out raised several issues that the back room negotiators hadn't previously thought about. That's the value of the democratic, open discussion that the plan's advocates scorned.

Today, Yolanda Woodlee's well-researched, thorough two articles in the Post (http://www.washingtonpost.comwp-dyn/articles/A20165-2001Mar17.html/ and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20688-2001Mar17.html) brought to light the scandal of Millennium Washington, which was the first example of the Administration's abuse of “nonprofit” fundraising to evade legal restrictions on government spending and to provide a tax shelter for political donations. This Administration finds itself chafed and unduly restrained by the legal limits on democratic government institutions, and has repeatedly looked for ways to escape them — and every time it has only created more problems for itself. How many times can Mayor Williams say that he has no idea what is right or wrong, legal or illegal, and will have to ask his lawyers to advise him?

Finally, in the last issue David Sobelsohn wrote about his encounter with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton's office, and the procedure that that office has created to discourage citizen inquiries. Delegate Norton is the most popular elected official in DC, but I would be curious to hear from any reader of themail who has received any assistance from her with regard to any issue or problem with the DC government. Any. At all. In a democracy, you will be tired of hearing me say, elected officials are supposed to serve the people. Are you being served?

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Small Voice of Truth
Gregory Diaz, zaidmot@aol.com

Wynn Wagen accurately diagnosed the disease this week, and David Sobelson its symptoms. Wagen correctly sees that D.C. is not, never was, and never will be a truly independent political entity. (Nor a viable economic entity for that matter.) Sobelsohn's experience with “delegate” Norton's office illustrates the consequence: arrogant petit bureaucrats for life, who have no clue how things work in a real life, are propped up by the hapless residents' taxes, and are responsible to no one. Instead of just watching Ms. Norton's lips move, listen to the profoundly confused babble she emits. For those who bleat about representation, get two senators and a representative overnight: retrocede to Maryland.

By the way, whatever happened to the threatened enforcement of the rule of brevity in this mailing? It's getting to be as bad and boring as cable television.

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Representative Government, Dismissed Out-of-Hand
Amy Slemmer, aslemmer@aol.com

DC Vote launched a phone call campaign to urge Congresswoman Connie Morella and Congressman Tom Davis to support the idea of placing the “Taxation Without Representation” license plates on the 1445 Metrobuses. The WMATA board is scheduled to vote on this proposal at today's meeting. We were concerned that the Board members were worried about picking a fight with Congress — a fight that might adversely affect their future funding. Congresswoman Morella (R-MD) and Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) suggested in a Washington Times article that the money that would be used to re-plate the buses might better be spent on potholes. DC Vote believes that putting the “Taxation Without Representation” plates on our Metrobuses — the most visible part of our public transportation system — is an important part of our education campaign.

Sadly, when supportive Maryland constituents and local D.C. residents called Mrs. Morella's office, we received a snippy response and were told that the Congresswoman would not be voting on the issue. Twice, DC Vote callers were transferred to unrelated offices! Of course we know that she is not voting, but we also know that her opinion is important to the WMATA board. We were trying to exercise our rights, and were dismissed. Messages and phone calls have not been returned and as far as I know, those calls that were answered were not relayed in any meaningful way.

This is a very unfortunate way to initiate a working relationship, and simply reinforces DC Vote's adamant belief that full voting rights for the residents of the District of Columbia are a prerequisite to being taken seriously on the Hill.

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Washington Post Donation “Scam”?
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com

The Washington Post has an option for those who stop their paper delivery for any period of time: instead of having your subscription extended for that time, you can donate the money to DC schools. It seemed like a good idea, so I said yes. When I asked for a receipt for the amount of donation, I was told they (the Circulation Department), “couldn't” do that, but I could try a different department. Messages left for the department that handles school issues never returned a call.

I question if this is a scam, since the Post gets the credit for a donation made with the money of subscribers. Insights from others?

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DC Schools
Marie Collins, Shaw, marie@gsonline.com

After Mr. Barron's umteenth posting blaming poorly motivated and insufficiently competent teachers as the root of DCPS ills, I feel compelled to express my own observations. My sister has been a DC elementary teacher for more than seven years. Armed with a masters in education from UMD and a boatload of enthusiasm, she has been in a freefall of despair over her ability to teach that only deepens with each successive year. Teachers in the trenches refer to it as “burn out.” People don't go into teaching for the pay or the prestige; they know better. But many consider it a calling. That said, most find themselves up against a brick wall in the form of parents who are in denial about the lousy socialization and disciplining of their own children. Usually it is parents with distressing social skills themselves — angry, suspicious and believing that violence (both verbal and physical) is how you get what you want in life — who, surprise, surprise, send their equally antisocial children into the classroom utterly unprepared to learn. Each year my sister has had at least one such child in her classroom. A kid like this is such a handful that no matter how skilled and competent a teacher is, the environment of the classroom breaks down and nobody learns very well. The overwhelming realization is that no matter how superior school facilities are or how dedicated and competent teachers are (although I accept that they are often less than so), schools simply don't have the power to compensate for poor parenting. If we want our school children to get the best that public education can offer, we have to expand our understanding of what's broken and not simply lay it at the feet of DCPS.

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A First Among Equals
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com

School Board President Peggy Cafritz has managed to get off on the wrong foot with her fellow teammates on the Board. But, then again, she obviously does not think of them as her teammates as she uses her position to dominate the rest of the Board Members. That's most unfortunate since, according to published reports, the rest of the Board Members seem to have coalesced into a team. The big mistake when the idea of the Hybrid School Board was developed, was to allow the President of the Board to be elected by the voters. As I have noted many times, on a real team the Team leader is elected by the rest of the team members. A Team Leader is a “first among equals” with the responsibility to make sure that everyone is listened too and understood on any issues of discussion. The Team leader's main role is to achieve a viable consensus on every issue and decision.

A consensus is not a compromise. It is the result of input from all the team members and one which all the team members fully support when reached. The role of team leader on many teams is rotated to make use of the expertise of all the team members at the appropriate time. Ms. Cafritz would be well advised to forget that she is the president of the School Board and start acting like the Team Leader on that team.

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“The District” and the Halfway House
Jim Myers, Technical Consultant, “The District,” jmyers8331@aol.com

On Mr. Layman's suggestion that Ella of TV's “The District” could find out which wards produce our criminals, so we could house them where they come from: I'm sure Chief Mannion of “The District” will oppose the giant halfway house — or is it more a hotel? — that's proposed for the DC General complex in Ward 6. In fact, maybe we should ask him. Mayor Ethan Baker will also surely oppose this monster. (I trust John Amos to do the right thing.)

Mannion will take one look at all the dreamy plans to put bikeways and strolling paths along the Anacostia, next the proposed halfway house, and shudder. Mannion: “This is insane. The right hand in this town doesn't know what the left hand is doing.” Deputy Chief Noland: “But, Chief, where are we going to put them?” Mannion: “A 200-plus bed halfway house is going to be one huge headache in First District, where they've already got more problems than they can handle.” McGregor: “Yeah, robberies are going though the roof in 1D.”

Maybe, Mannion will put Ella in charge of settling where halfway houses should be put, even though it's not a police matter (this is Hollywood). When she “comstats” the problem on her computer screens, she will find a stunning over-concentration of “Community-Based Residential Facilities” in certain neighborhoods, including those adjacent to DC General and DC Jail. I also expect that she will find that this over-concentration in some areas, while others have very few of these facilities, is unfair. And she will rule accordingly. Ella: “We all want the laws enforced, so we should all bear an equitable and fair share of the costs and burdens of enforcing those laws.”

Meanwhile, to address Mr. Layman's suggestion that alleged criminals should be housed in the wards where they live, we on eastern Capitol Hill have recently noted that an overwhelming majority of those arrested in our neighborhoods don't actually live in our midst — they only “work” here. Many live in Maryland, for example. Sometimes, too, we wish we could borrow a few extras in cop uniforms from the TV show and have them stand on our corners. On some nights, it would be a better deterrent than what we've got.

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NIMBY, Neighbors, and Trust
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com

Richard Layman identified an important problem (themail, 3/14): where to locate facilities that have District-wide social benefits, but potentially impose costs on a particular neighborhood without corresponding benefits. His observation that some facilities are better neighbors than others is very important. A major problem in facility siting or expansion is that organizations or developers — even the best intentioned ones — frequently fail to recognize they live in a social context of people and neighborhoods, not in a vacuum! Many seem to think if they get a license from political officials, the neighbors should have nothing to say. Often, the neighbors find out when the shovel hits the dirt. This “Decide-Announce-Defend” approach insults neighbors and makes them feel distrustful if not angry. This happens over and over and over across the country! On the other hand, groups that recognize the importance of the social context and pay careful attention to community questions and concerns — even groups considered most undesirable — can find sympathetic and accepting neighbors. The question is one of basic respect (watch in ANC meetings which businesses succeed in getting approval for their proposals and which ones fail). Neighbors don't like to be blind sided, and they don't like to have new stadium lights, trash, or noises foisted on their community without consent. They are typically most concerned about safety, property values, potential stigma effects on their community, and quality of life issues (aesthetics, historic character, trash, noise, rats, etc.).

The National Low Income Housing Coalition, http://www.nlihc.org, reported in their NIMBY Report, January 2001, that they will be releasing a special report in March 2001 showing that “affordable housing does not have a negative impact on the property values of surrounding neighborhoods” in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Their February 2001 NIMBY Report provides information on a fall 1999 telephone survey of voters in the Columbus area by the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO). The study identified factors that contribute to being considered a “good neighbor.”

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Rep. Bob Barr and the WMATA
Andrew Aurbach, apaurbach@asaa.net

Interesting that Rep. Robert Barr (R-Ga) is cited in the Friday, March 16, edition of the Washington Post as advocating the withholding of Metro funds for 1) using the “Taxation without RepresentationÌ license plates, and 2) not properly “honoring” Ronald Reagan on the Subway maps. On the one hand he is directly demonstrating the problem by trying to dictate this effort and withholding funds, and on the other, he is counteracting one of Reagan's core beliefs, that local jurisdictions should manage their affairs, and can do so better than a large Washington-based government.

I for one wouldn't mind seeing the debate on the Hill as to whether the Federal Government should appropriate the half-a-million dollars to Metro to change the signs. I would also like to see the debate about Metro and Free Speech (with respect to the Plates). Maybe these little symbols are beginning to have the desired effect to stimulate a regional and national discussion about District Sovereignty. I cannot imagine that it is in the national interest to fund the changing of license plates and subway maps, but then again, it is “only” our money.

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We, the People
Madelyn Lane, madelynlane@hotmail.com

An editorial in the Washington Business Journal dated March 16 promotes the end of term limits for the District. However, it is interesting to note that they believe the voters should make the decision rather than the Council. A few excerpts follow: “A current bill sponsored by DC Councilman Jack Evans . . . would abolish term limits legislatively. Is it just a coincidence that Evans would be the first council member to face involuntary retirement under the current law? . . . . Evans argues that term limits deny voters the right to vote for incumbents. That's true, but it is even more antidemocratic for politicians with vested interests to overrule a referendum approved by a 62 percent majority of voters. . . . It's time for term limits to go. But, we believe they should go out the way they came in — by will of the people.”

Now that the Washington Post has spoken on the issue of closing D.C. General (see March 17 editorial) perhaps we shall finally get some answers. The six questions raised are the same questions raised by the City Council weeks ago and by other opponents throughout the debate, Unfortunately, much of the media coverage focused its attention on the demeanor of the protestors instead of the weaknesses in the proposal or details on how the Administration planned to deliver health care to the uninsured and under-served. What has changed to convince the editors that there are major problems with this proposal and Greater Southeast Community Hospital at this late date?

Ed Barron's remarks in the last issue were not only offensive but dead wrong. He characterized opposition to the Mayor's “plan” as merely “the impure and self-serving motives of ill-informed rabble.” Well, without the loud voices, we would not have this opportunity to demand a full public response before the deal is closed.

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More from the Ill-Informed Rabble
Anne Anderson, psysrusa@cs.com

You have hit the nail on the head with your complaints about lack of information. I have read what I could, talked with folks, and I still can't figure out what it's going to look like when/if D.C. General closes. Feels to me as if I can't tell where the Exit sign is in the movie theater that they tell you to look for, for safety's sake. So I have some “brass tacks” questions that I hope our policy makers and community leaders ARE able to answer. I hope people will ask their ANC representatives, their Council members, the Mayor, etc., and I hope for the sake of our community, that people have some good, concrete, and reasonable answers to the questions.

Where does a mother from your neighborhood go when she has no insurance and her baby is having trouble breathing with a respiratory infection? Where does a day worker from your ward with no insurance go when he accidentally cuts his hand badly while chopping vegetables for the soup pot? Where can an elderly woman, one of your constituents, with chest pains — and no insurance — go for emergency care? When someone gets shot, where will they go to get the same kind of expert emergency care that D.C. General unfortunately had to develop? How long will it take to get these folks to get to the hospital? Will there be room and facilities available to treat them with the most effective treatment available? Will they feel respected and cared for when they get there? Do you know how to get to the hospital nearest you? Have you been there to see what it's like in the emergency room? How much is it going to cost us? How long is this arrangement going to last? If there are institutions and centers to be developed, how long is that going to take, and what are people supposed to do in the meantime? Who is actually going to be watching to see that promises made are promises kept? What do we do if this contractor falls through, as it is rumored they have done in other places?

If we can't answer these questions, then I don't think we have a viable plan.

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Self-Serving Rabble
Mike Livingston, mlivingston@greens.org

Ed Barron writes that “the rabble” (defenders of D.C. General) “have impure and self-serving motives.” He's right: I do have a self-serving motive. I'd like to be able to get medical attention if I get seriously sick or injured. Like 90,000 other citizens of the District, I might not be able to do that if Tony — the fiscal genius, the drafted “bean counter” — fails to keep a public hospital open in one of the richest cities in the richest country in the world. (Hey, I have an idea — let's host the Olympics!)

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Reaction to Closing DC General
James E. Taylor Jr., Park Skyland Civic Association, jimt25@erols.com

I agree with Mr. Imhoff's response to the attacks on his position for closing D.C. General. If we disagree, show me where or how my position is wrong? Telling me that I am wrong by descriptive terms, without facts, is more rabble rousing than those attacked for doing so. This attack, to this reader is like the old adage: When the facts are against you, talk law. When the law is against you, talk facts. When the law and facts are against you, talk loud! I want to make it clear, I don't know Mr. Imhoff, and I have disagreed with him in the past, so I am not defending his position because of party, or affiliation, I do so because he is right!

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Question on Philly Resolution
Kimberly Larson, klarson@pirg.org

I read the story in themail about the Philadelphia City Council passing a resolution to support DC statehood. What is the source of that info? And who is Rep. Browne? Is that a state rep in PA? There is no Ray Browne in Congress. I'd love to know more. I tried to E-mail Patrick Pellerin, pellerin@verizon.com, but the E-mail bounced back.

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Psychology Virus
Thomas Smith, smith1965@hotmail.com

I don't know who this R. Allen person is, but his critique of our public schools is irresponsible in the sense that the problems of our school system are being presented out of context and with no social , economic, or political reference. In fact, I for one would argue that to a large extent the problems that folks like Allen like to excoriate my city with, are in fact the results of “race” politics, economics, and psychology that the white supremacist capitalist structure has inflicted upon African Americans since the beginning of America.

Now this is not a excuse but it is a analysis that should be used to by those who are not blinded by the anti-black psychology virus to help repair and rectify the ravages suffered by African Americans. And now for the big expose: not all of the oppressors and white supremacists in America have white skins; some of them have black skins. So, as Martin Luther King said, judge folks by the content of their charter not the color of their skin!

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March 2001 InTowner On-Line
Peter Wolff, intowner@intowner.com

This is to advise that the March, 2001 on-line edition has been uploaded and may be accessed at http://www.intowner.com. Included are the community news stories, crime reports, editorials (including prior months' archived), restaurant reviews (prior months' also archived), and the text from the ever-popular “Scenes from the Past” feature. Also included are all current classified ads. The complete issue (along with prior issues back to January 2001) also is available in .pdf file format, and may be downloaded directly from our home page at no charge by clicking the link provided. The next issue will publish on April 13, and the website will be updated shortly thereafter.

To read the lead stories, simply click the link on the home page to the following headlines: (1) Dupont Hotel Cited for Permit Violation, (2) Neighborhood Residents Oppose Half-Way House; U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft Nixes Deal, (3) Shaw ANC Vice-Chair Subject of Hearing; Concerned Residents Testify on Abuses, (4) Adams Morgan Heritage Trail Initiative to Record and Preserve Neighborhood History.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

“Capital Oscars” Academy Awards Party
Ky Nguyen, dcfilmsociety@dcfilmsociety.org

On Sunday, March 25, at 7:15 p.m.., celebrate Oscar Night with Washington's film community at the Washington, DC Film Society's fund-raiser: the 9th Annual “Capital Oscars” party at the historic Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Va. Watch the stars of the big screen on the BIG screen at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards telecast live from Hollywood. Join with your fellow film buffs and friends and family (over age 21) at a special evening that features: a silent auction, door prizes, lots of free movie promotional items donated by the studios, and more surprises! Tickets are $20.00 ($15.00 for Film Society members) and may be purchased in advance. Food and beverages available for purchase. Bring cash for refreshments and your checkbook for the silent auction (no credit cards accepted). For ticket sales and further information, please visit our website at http://www.dcfilmsociety.org or call the hotline at 554-3263. All proceeds support the work of the Film Society and its parent organization, Filmfest DC, the Washington, D.C. International Film Festival, now in its 15th year.

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Janney and Beers School Auction
Ron LeFrancois, nicmich@starpower.net

Come to the premier auction of the season sponsored by Bernard Janney Elementary School and Anne Beers Elementary School on Saturday night, March 31, from 5:30 p.m.. to midnight at the World Bank Building, 1818 H Street, NW. Dinner Buffet, Open Bar, Dancing 'til Midnight. Festive Attire. Guests arriving before 6 p.m.. will be entered in a drawing for a special door prize. Tickets are not available at the door and are $35 (includes $5 credit toward a purchase). Info: Barbara Maguire-Sloss (686-0951) or Juan Thompson (583-0348) or on the Web at http://www.hillcrestdc.com or http://www.BJauction.homestead.com. All proceeds to benefit two of Washington's hardest working public schools. Good food and drink and fabulous auction items, including trips, sports tix, catered meals, art, shopping spree, etc.

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The Trash Force Rides Again
Paul Nahay, pnahay@sprynet.com

Trash Force's next outing will be this coming Saturday, March 24, 2001, meeting 10:45 a.m. at Fenwick Branch Creek, at the intersection of 16th Street and Portal Drive South, just a few blocks from the Silver Spring Metro. We'll be joined by Single Volunteers of DC. If there's sufficient interest afterwards, we'll go out for lunch, possibly at the Parkway Deli on Grubb Road.

Directions are at http://pnahay.home.sprynet.com/directs.htm#Fenwick. Info at http://pnahay.home.sprynet.com/tforce.htm#Mar24. Please let me know if you're planning to attend (and also if your plans change), and don't forget to bring lots of plastic bags (at least ten), and gloves (if you want them).

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Bonfire of the 1040s
Patricia Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com

Join with civil rights leaders and Chuck Brown, Godfather of Go-Go. Bring photocopies of your tax forms to throw into the symbolic fire. End taxation without representation! Monday, April 16, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.., Upper Senate Park, on Constitution Avenue just across the street from the Capitol (between D Street and New Jersey Avenue, NW, just a few blocks south of Union Station. Sponsored by DC Vote. For more information, go to http://www.dcvote.org or call 462-7001.

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DC Commission for Women Scholarship Awards Luncheon
Patricia Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com

Save this date: Saturday, March 31, 1 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Hyatt Regency Hotel, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW. Admission $50.00. Sponsored by the “Friends of the D.C. Commission for Women.” For additional information, call 635-5668. Participate in Women's History Month and support the “Friends of the DC Commission for Women.”

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Advocate
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org

The Advocacy Initiative to Meet Human Needs is providing a terrific way to spend your morning coffee break on Thursday, March 22. Come down to the City Council (441 4th St. NW) between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. and visit all at-large Council members, your Ward member, and the mayor's office and tell them to put human needs first in the FY 2002 budget! For more information, contact TJ Sutcliffe at So Others Might Eat, 797-0701 x107. This is also a great event for children and youth. They are involved in the democratic process personally!

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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE

Honda Accord
Brandan Hardie, bhardie@yahoo.com

The Great Blue Heron, 85, automatic, hatchback, 160k, runs like a race car (well, I think she does). Awesome, looks like an 85 Honda Accord. A well-loved car who has recently been replaced by Hilda, a big truck. Great Blue Heron Adoption costs: $500. Call Brandan at 265-3133 or E-mail bhardie@yahoo.com.

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Mercedes Benz
Nancy S. Egermeir, dceger@aol.com

Mercedes Benz, 1999 C280, champagne color with tan leather upholstery. Sunroof. Garaged, mint condition, cell phone and 6 CD player with Bose speakers. Leaving country. Available May 8th. Price $29,500 E-mail DCEGER@aol.com

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CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED

ANC 3C
Cliff Rohde, rohdec@onebox.com

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3-C seeks part-time detail- and community-oriented individual as Administrator. Will assist officers and other commissioners with minutes, correspondence, internal and external communications, etc. Must be computer proficient. Access to own car desirable. Can work some hours at home. Approximately 15 hours/week; pay in $15 range. Please fax resume, cover letter to rohdec@onebox.com or fax to 777-2642 x7180.

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CLASSIFIEDS — SERVICES

PC Hardware/Software Installation and Support
Chuck Jones, mcr-pc@mindspring.com

District resident provides hardware/software support. See http://mcr-pc.webjump.com for details, or call 463-8688.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Carpenter
Nick Keenan, Shaw, nbk@gsionline.com

I am seeking recommendations for a carpenter to build a screened porch for me before the mosquitoes arrive.

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