Dump Them on the Streets of Our City
Dear Dumped Upon:
The wise and far-sighted and, most of all, powerful leaders of this
city looked at the Brentwood Impound Lot, where wrecked and abandoned
and illegally parked cars were stored, and saw that the real estate on
which it sat was valuable. “An impound lot costs us money, and the
land is valuable,” they said. “We should close this lot.” So they
devised a plan for the city to close the lot, and they did so, and they
were happy over what they had done. However, they were not wise and
far-sighted enough to envision any workable plan for what to do with the
wrecked and abandoned and illegally parked cars once the impound lot was
closed. So they simply said, “Let us dump them on the streets of our
city, and hope that no one notices.”
These same wise and far-sighted and, very much above all, powerful
leaders of this city looked at DC General Hospital, where poor and
uninsured and severely traumatized patients were hospitalized, and they
saw that the real estate on which it sat was valuable. “A public
hospital costs us money, and the land is valuable,” they said. “We
should close this hospital.” So they devised a plan for the city to
close the hospital, and they did so, and they were happy over what they
had done. However, they were not wise and far-sighted enough to envision
any workable plan for what to do with the poor and uninsured and
severely traumatized patients once the hospital was closed. Now, a
subtle and sophisticated story-teller would leave what happens to the
patients unstated, for the reader to contemplate. But this is no time
for subtlety. So the leaders of our city — showing exactly the same
degree of wisdom and foresight that they showed over the far simpler
problem of cars, for they had not become one iota wiser or more
far-sighted in the interval — simply said of the patients, “Let us
dump them on the streets of our city, and hope that no one notices.”
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
[Yolanda Woodlee told the car dumping story on the front page of the
Washington Post yesterday, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26884-2001May14.html,
and the DPW policy is outlined at http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/dpw0104.htm.]
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Three of us were sitting out on my brother's deck this past Saturday
night in Woodley Park. About 10:30 p.m., we noticed one of DC finest
approaching the front door. The officer said she had a noise complaint
but had been sitting in her car fifteen minutes and said she didn't hear
any noise from our house. We think the officer must have gotten us mixed
up with the party that was going on at the other end of the block.
However, as the officer left the front porch there was one two-thirds
empty beer bottle left over from when we were BBQing earlier in the
evening sitting on the porch. She stopped and told us that it was
illegal to have alcohol on your front porch and she could write us a
ticket. We apologized and she left. Then we got a bit peeved. What do
you mean we can't drink a beer on our front porch? Is this really a law
in DC? Aren't we on our own private property while sitting on our own
porch? Anyone know of the DC law in the books that says we can't do
this? Hmmm.
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The postings about the Nigerian Embassy and the Secret Service
violating the law by ejecting a DC subject from a legal parking spot
brings to mind another point worth noting about the District: it is
bored Cop Nation. Not only do we suffer from a surfeit of police
authorities, each of them has gradually accrued policing powers beyond
its original grant and present need, and each is staffed by bored
minions looking for “action.” It used to be that the uniformed
Secret Service police had only authority commensurate with their actual
function, which is essentially that of glorified building guards (as
opposed to the real agents who serve in the Presidential protective
details). It is my understanding now that they now have police powers
concurrent with the DC Police Department, which is why one occasionally
sees them making traffic stops and, as in the reported case regarding
the Nigerian Embassy, exercising illegal police power to bully a
resident.
But the picture doesn't end there. We have also the Park Police, who
do a fine job of changing traffic direction twice a day on Rock Creek
Parkway but apparently little else, the Metro Police, who wrestle
teenagers to the ground for feloniously snacking, the Capitol Police,
who yield to no one in abrupt and abusive yelling at mere visitors, and
assorted others packing heat and power, such as the Pentagon police
(remember the one who popped a passing pedestrian for no apparent
reason?), and the former GSA building guard force, which has also
transmogrified into a “police force.” This doesn't include other
federal agents not in uniform, such as FBI agents (busy losing files),
ATF agents, DEA agents, INS agents, and miscellaneous “security”
agents.
The problem is that most of these people have precious little to do
in real life other than drive around. They sure as hell aren't deployed
in high crime zones. The result is boredom, which means that when a
chance comes for some “action,” such as ejecting a hapless DC
subject from a legal parking place . . . well, hey, there are only so
many donuts you can eat in a day.
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Connecticut Avenue Street Cleaning Parking
Bernard Arons, BArons@samhsa.gov
Now, it may be that this issue has been around for some time, and
I've been oblivious, but walking along Connecticut Avenue the other day
I noticed some relatively new parking signs, indicating no parking for
street cleaning. One example was Thursdays, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. First, is
this something new? Also, would this be Wednesday night to Thursday
morning, since most of the hours covered would be on Thursday, or
Thursday night to Friday morning, assuming the Thursday indicates the
start time? I read somewhere that street cleaning would not occur for
awhile, so maybe this will not affect anyone, but when it does, I
imagine there will be some surprised parkers some morning. Fortunately,
I do not need to park there, but the signs made me start to wonder.
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Just in case you didn't already know about this: HR 810, “To
provide for the retrocession of the District of Columbia to the State of
Maryland, and for other purposes,” http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.00810
[or http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/voting02.htm].
Sponsored by Rep Ralph Regula, introduced 3/1/2001, latest major action:
referred to House subcommittee, 3/9/2001. The co-sponsors are Rep. John
J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL), Rep. David L. Hobson
(R-OH), Rep. Stephen Horn (R-CA), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). I hadn't
heard anything of this bill. How does Maryland feel about it?
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I have written an article, “A DC Bill of Rights,” that spells out
in considerable detail my reasoning, both legally and strategically, for
advocating on behalf of an equal constitutional rights amendment over
outright statehood to remedy the continuing injustice. It has been
published at http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/voting03.htm.
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Some Questions Are Hard to Answer
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
Status questions seem to be hard to answer, and the status quo seems
to prevail as citizens divide along different lines — culture, class,
race, etc. The District's unequal status has been the subject of
discussion for over 200 years, but the more things change the more they
stay the same. Puerto Rico has been discussing its status since it was
conquered from the Spanish by the U.S. a century ago. The issue of
status in Puerto Rico is an all-consuming one, and political parties
divide along different status-option lines: statehood, independence, or
on improving the current status, known as Commonwealth. Puerto Ricans
voted on status options a few years back and choose “none of the
above,” defeating statehood by a narrow margin. The public replaced
the former statehood governor with the current Commonwealth governor.
The White House recently issued this statement: “April 30, 2001. The
White House, Office of the Press Secretary: Executive Order. Amendment
to Executive Order 13183, Establishment of the President's Task Force on
Puerto Rico's Status. By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order
to extend by 3 months the time in which the President's Task Force on
Puerto Rico's Status is to report to the President as directed in
Executive Order 13183 of December 23, 2000, it is hereby ordered that
section 4 of Executive Order 13183 is amended by deleting 'May 1, 2001'
and inserting in lieu thereof 'August 1, 2001.' George W. Bush.”
In 1760, the British and Anglo-Americans conquered New France, aka
Canada, and it became the Province of Quebec. Historian Maurice Seguin
describes the conquest of New France as a major historic disaster for
French Canada,, since which time has been an ongoing status question.
The Quebec license plate reads, “Je me souviens,” I remember. In
eliminating the French military from the American continent, the Crown
created a great opportunity for the British Americans in the lower
colonies. At the time of the American Revolution, there was little
interest in Quebec for joining the 13 republican Anglo-Americans along
the Atlantic coast — the Crown offered to protect their French
heritage and give them representation. After the American Revolution,
many loyalists moved from the U.S. to Canada. In the treaty negotiation
between the Crown and the republican North Americans, Quebec lost
territory south of the Great Lakes. In the 1960s, Quebec writers
reexamined the history and a movement in support of Quebec autonomy grew
stronger. French citizens feel there are two Canadas — one English and
one French. But there are nine English provinces, but only one French
province. They are the minority and constantly fight federal intrusion
into issues they believe belong to Quebec. The grafitti around Montreal
reveals the ongoing conflict. In 1995, the public of Quebec voted by a
narrow margin against becoming a sovereign nation. Quebec puts more into
the Canadian treasury than is returned to Quebec, and have a strong
economic argument for separating. The majority of French speaking
citizens voted for autonomy. English speaking, commercial interests in
Montreal and near Hull at Ottawa, and older citizens voted against. All
areas have been somewhat stigmatized within their respective nations,
called banana republics. Quebec and Puerto Rico have historic claims to
autonomy. Puerto Rico and DC have claims to statehood. DC has voted on
and requested statehood, but Congress didn't bite, preferring to leave
the District in a state of limbo and even reduce its rights. All three
areas are somehow divided among themselves, but have a large proportion
of citizens who are willing to tinker with the current status, hoping
perhaps to move incrementally toward their respective goals without
locking themselves into a bad choice. Some questions are just hard to
answer.
PS: In Montreal, next to the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) is a building
just as large and impressive, with the sign: “Service des finances et
du control budgetaire” — Service of finance and budgetary control.
###############
It's always helpful to have a straight man like Mike Livingston in
themail audience. The homeless, like crack babies, many special ed kids,
and the chronic unemployed, are tragic byproducts of our national way of
life in general, and of our inner cities in particular. The fact that
our cities have spread way beyond their city limits and left the
disadvantaged behind is one of the prime American problems for this new
century. Our most natural socioeconomic entity has become the metro
area, and two thirds of us (even more of the poor) live in less than 90
of them. But the typical metro area has scores of local jurisdictions,
little political coherence, few mechanisms for equitably sharing either
its wealth or its poverty, and no clout in Congress.
NARPAC sees DC as an extreme example of the resulting inequities. DC
now has less than 12 percent of this metro area's residents, perhaps no
more than 10 percent of its taxpayers, and probably less than 10 percent
of its gross domestic product. How, then, can DC be expected to have the
resources in both tax revenues and government competence to take good
care of 55 percent of the area's disadvantaged, and still enjoy a
competitive quality of life (for rich and poor) with its free-riding
suburbs? NARPAC believes that the area as a whole would be better off if
some 5700 of DC's 7100 current homeless became the responsibility of our
prosperous and caring neighbors beyond the Beltway. It would surely
level the playing field and improve the odds of eventually reducing the
homeless rolls!
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Retaliation: D.C. Public Works Strikes Back
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
In an apparent retaliation for my note to themail, the trash
collectors, who have refused to pick up my old and beyond repair Super
Can, have really trashed the old Super Can. It now lies in a heap on my
front lawn, the victim of a rather crushing blow which left it unable to
roll and about two thirds its former size. Despite assurances from the
DPW the can has not been removed and a follow-up call resulted in the
issuance of a Work Order number (though I now have a Work Order Number,
it has a very long number. Does this mean I am at the end of a VERY long
line of work orders?).
I was told to leave the can along side the curb where it may become
an icon of DPW retaliation for quite some time. Before long, though,
I'll likely be cited for some violation or another by that same DPW for
not removing unsightly debris from the property. If you'd like to see
some before and after pictures of this, no longer Super, can then punch
up http://members.aol.com/strategicu
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
ANC 3C Meeting, Monday May 21
Cliff Rohde, ANC 3C06, rohdec@onebox.com
ANC 3C will meet on Monday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m., Second District
Police Headquarters, 3320 Idaho Avenue, NW, Community Room, First Floor.
Topics will include D.C. property tax assessments, ABC License
Applications/Renewals for Two Amys, Burka’s, and Rosedale update.
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Youth and Technology Meeting
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com
A meeting of persons involved with youth and technology in the DC
area is being held at the Cada Vez conference center, 1438 U Street, NW,
on Monday, May 21, starting at 7 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to
explore ways for individuals and organizations to be supporting each
others' work. Thanks for passing along word about this meeting to folks
you know who could benefit from attending.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EMPLOYMENT
The ARRIBA Center for Independent Living, a Washington, D.C.-based
non-profit serving the needs of physically disabled persons, is
recruiting a capable Office Assistant for a position that can quickly
grow into full time. Requirements: interpersonal skills, writing
ability, sensitivity to needs of the disabled population, and,
preferably, working knowledge of Spanish. Duties include assisting
Executive Director in grant proposal writing and fund raising; office
management and word processing. Available immediately. Salary
competitive.
Also seeking a bilingual English/Spanish Social Worker. Run support
groups, deliver training, perform case management, client advocacy.
Light caseload. Must have MSW and DC license. Salary mid-30s. Send
resume/cover letter to Dr. Cris Covelli, Executive Director, 1734 14th
Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, 20009. Phone 667-3990. Fax 667-6977. E-mail:arribacenter@juno.com
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Exceptional Housecleaner Available
Jon Katz, jon@markskatz.com
Exceptional cleaning person is available Saturdays to clean your
home. Excellent references available. (She does not have E-mail, so I'm
posting this for her). Please call 301-408-2557.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
TV Repair Recommendation
Karen Schofield-Leca, wes@ethicalsociety.org
I can recommend DANCO Electronic Service Specialists, 929 Gist Avenue
(just over the DC/Silver Spring line),Silver Spring, MD, 301-585-8844.
Dan Meijer, the proprietor, is very skilled, reasonable priced, and
active in the DC/Silver Spring gateway community development concerns.
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CLASSIFIEDS — CITY PAPER PREVIEW
Dave Nuttycombe, webmeister@washcp.com
From washingtoncitypaper.com's LOOSE LIPS column, appearing this
Friday:
NO WALK IN THE PARK: Neil Albert, the recently nominated director for
the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), must have been
experiencing a temporary loss of sanity earlier this year when he told a
D.C. Council oversight committee eager to lay cash at his feet that his
budget was sufficient, thank you very much.
Even now, as Albert sits for an interview with LL, he asserts that
“the mayor's budget is a fair allocation of the resources that
exist.” Which is yet another example of the DPR director-designee's
masterful execution of the sidestep. Truth is, Albert needs money —
googobs of it. His parks department is afflicted with old, deteriorating
facilities, aging personnel in equally bad shape, and a reputation for
poor performance.
“The whole department has been dysfunctional for a long time,” says
Steve Coleman, head of Parks for People, an advocacy group credited with
initiating the remarkable 1990 rehabilitation of Malcolm X/Meridian Hill
Park on 16th Street NW.
Read the entire Loose Lips column here: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html
From washingtoncitypaper.com's CITY LIGHTS page, here are a few early
warnings for upcoming events:
FRIDAY: Police Chief Charles Ramsey performs in “Bard-a-Thon,” a
round-the-clock reading of Shakespeare held by the Theatre Lab Inc. to
raise money for its education and outreach programs. At 8 p.m. at Wesley
United Methodist Church, 5312 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free.
TUESDAY: Theodore Caplow, Louis Hicks, and Ben J. Wattenberg discuss
their book The First Measured Century: An Illustrated Guide to Trends
in America, 1900-2000 at 7 p.m. at Olsson's Books & Records,
1200 F St. NW. Free.
More details and more critics' picks are available online at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/pix/pix.html
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