Neighborhoods Again
Dear Photographic Artists:
Occasionally themail does return to its original emphasis on what's
happening on our city's street corners and in its neighborhoods. Lately,
we have been adding to Mark Richards' list of DC neighborhoods (http://www.dcwatch.com/richards/0106e.htm)
and compiling a list of DC's E-mail lists, discussion forums, and
announcement lists. Here is one more E-mail list to add to your
collection: the Washington, DC, History and Culture maillist, http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/lists/subscribe.cgi?list=H-DC.
Dorothy has suggested another neighborhood-oriented thing for us to
do -- compile a photo album of DC's neighborhoods, including its
streets, houses, businesses, residents, and whatever else you may find
interesting, characteristic, or photogenic. The federal monuments are
well covered on the Internet, but only a few pictures of the rest of our
city are available on some of the neighborhood web sites. If you have
photographs to share that exemplify a neighborhood or the city to you,
and you can grant permission to publish them on dcwatch.com, please send
them to themail@dcwatch.com.
(Don't worry; I'm not going to bulk up themail with jpeg's; the pictures
will just be posted on the web site and won't clog up your E-mail.)
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Neighborhood List Watch
Gary James, gary@tkdp.com
I'm sorry I missed the discussion on recognized neighborhoods. Was
Shepherd Park on the list? We're bordered by 16th to the West, Georgia
to the East, Eastern to the North and Alaska to the South. Shepherd
brought running water, drainage and sewers to DC. You can thank
“Boss” Shepherd for that. Apparently he was quite the rogue. There
is a statue of him, I believe, lying in disrepair in SE, I think at the
Waterworks. He should be displayed for all to see at the corner of
Alaska and 16th across from Walter Reed at the entrance to our
neighborhood. When I moved here in April 1999, all I got was raised
eyebrows from “those in the know” for buying “on the wrong side of
16th” when it comes to "neighborhoods rising fast." However,
just a fifteen-minute walk takes me to the Red Line Metro, I have a
three level colonial and a huge backyard for my garden, the dog, bird
feeders, and more. And, you can still get in for under $300K in most
cases, though this is becoming rare. It's quiet, not quite suburban, not
quite the city, and I just watch Discovery Communications and the
American Film Institute change Silver Spring on a daily basis. Can't
wait 'til we're “discovered” and some coffee shops, restaurants and
other services show. Maybe with the redistricting, I can now call myself
“Chevy Chase East.”
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Fireworks, Utterly Pathetic
Erica Nash, enash@cais.com
We are this nation’s capital. Yet our firework display is smaller
and more rudimental than any other capital in the world. It is void of
any artistic vision, coordination, and musical symmetry. I have seen
European competitions where flags are depicted in the sky, waterfalls of
beads of fire come pouring out of fountains , twirling shooters rise to
heaven and fall back towards earth as glowing butterflies. If small,
economically weak European countries can produce beautiful paintings of
fire in the sky, why can’t we?
In New York last night [July 4th], fireworks were coordinated timely
with not one, but seven different musical performances. In Philadelphia,
the Declaration of Independence was read, followed by music in the sky.
In Washington D.C., we saw big red, white and blue incandescent-looking
balls blow up big and bright. That’s all.
Come on White House, come on Congress, come on D.C. Mayor. Next year,
let’s make a symphony of lights and art in the sky that at least
rivals what Portugal can do!
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I read that DCPS fired 531 teachers for not having their teaching
certificates. Nowhere is the newspaper article did it mention that the
inability to teach competently was one of the criteria for dismissal.
Let me see if I have this right. DC Public Schools, which has a
tragic record of failing to educate students, does not appear to fire
teachers for incompetence, but does fire them for lack of a teaching
certificate? Private schools in D.C., which have parents breaking their
backs to get their kids in and which charge $16,000 per year tuition, do
not require teaching certificates but do require competence?
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Does anyone know about the laws and/or police responsiveness to noise
complaints? Lately my neighborhood has had an upswing in people hanging
out in alleys or on the street with car stereos blasting — loud enough
to be disturbing a block or two away, or even when indoors with the
windows shut. Along with the passing cars with mega-stereos that
sometimes rattle things sitting on windowsills in my house, it gets to
be a big annoyance. Does DC have laws about this, as some cities do?
Does anyone have experience calling the police with noise complaints? Do
they respond? Any info or suggestions on dealing with this appreciated.
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Interracial/Interethnic Living and Changing
Generational Attitudes
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
A Washington Blade reader (July 6, 2001) wrote to the Readers’
Forum about an article on interracial relationships within the gay
community: “It’s such a difficult topic to deal with at times. Often
I’ve approached someone and found to my dismay that they ‘only date
[BLANK] men’ — insert creed, hair color, race, or something else. It
used to bother me, but now I realize that we all have preferences. But
how much of this is just attraction and how much is internalized
prejudice, or simply for the shock value? . . . Just because we are gay
men and have often been treated differently because of our sexuality, we
haven’t suddenly rid ourselves of the lifelong lessons of racism. It’s
just not that simple.” One of the reasons I feel comfortable in D.C.
is because I find more racial and ethnic depth and texture than many
places. My perception is that there is much interracial/interethnic
social interaction and partnering, but maybe I wear rose-colored
glasses? How much do racial and ethnic groups mix and interact socially
here — is it greater than elsewhere? Official census statistics show
that nationally (I’m searching for comparative numbers for the
District of Columbia), interracial marriages are much less common than
same race/ethnicity marriage -- 97.4% of married couples are of the same
race, while 1.9% are interracial; 3% of married couples are
Hispanic/non-Hispanic. Unmarried partner households (4% of total) are
also mostly same race couples (94.6%), but are more likely to be
interracial (4.3%) or Hispanic/non-Hispanic (5.8%) than married
partners. (2000 America’s Families and Living Arrangements: http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p20-537.pdf
) Data from the 1990 census http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/interrace.html
show that groups with the most interracial marriages are American
Indian, Eskimo, Aleut (71%) and Asian, Pacific Islanders (29%); Among
groups of Hispanic origin, Puerto Ricans were most interracially married
(35%), followed by Mexicans (28%) and Cubans (26%). Here are the
percents of same race/ethnicity couples by census group: Total: 97%;
white: 97%; black: 93%; American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut: 26%; Asian,
Pacific Islander: 70%; Hispanic Origin: 97% (Mexican: 69%; Puerto Rican:
55%; Cuban: 63%).
Darryl Fears and Claudia Deane of The Washington Post reported
on a national opinion survey of biracial couples (“Biracial Couples
Report Tolerance,” July 5, 2001 http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac3/ContentServer?articleid=A19824-2001Jul4&pagename=article).
There is no comparative survey data for D.C. Most respondents reported (http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/sidebars/polls/couples.htm)
being comfortable talking about their relationship with friends and
colleagues (95%), yet many reported less than optimal levels of social
tolerance — 56% of biracial couples reported they face “some”
discrimination; 18% reported “a lot,” 20% “only a little,” and
5% none. 74% reported being “Christian,” 51% “born again.” 63%
reported living in “racially integrated neighborhoods;” 37% said
they do not, that “almost all of the families in the neighborhood are
of the same race.” 5% reported someone in their family permanently
stopped speaking to them because they married someone of another race.
77% said, “There are still major problems facing racial minorities;”
only 22% said, “we have overcome major problems.” 42% said
African-Americans and 46% said Hispanic Americans have fewer
opportunities than whites have. Respondents divided over whether
tensions between racial groups has increased (28%) or decreased (28%),
43% said tensions have stayed about the same. More people thought there
is too much attention paid to race issues these days (48%) than those
who said there is too little attention paid (32%); 19% said the amount
of attention paid to race issues is about right.
In a separate nationally representative survey of adults, with
over-sampling of minority groups for comparative purposes (http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/sidebars/polls/biracial070501.htm),
over 60% reported they believe there is at least some discrimination
against interracial couples in society today, but over 65% reported
having close friends or family members who are in an interracial
relationship. If someone in their family told them there were going to
marry an African-American, 74% of Hispanics, 66% of Asians, and 55% of
Caucasians said that would be fine; 35% of Caucasians, 23% of Asians,
and 15% of Hispanics said that would bother them, but they would come to
accept the decision. Fewer than 10% of all groups said they would not be
able to accept the marriage. A higher proportion of African-Americans
reported acceptance of interracial marriage: 86% said it would be fine
with them if someone in their family chose to marry a Caucasian; 85% a
Hispanic, and 86% an Asian American (86%). When asked if, considering
everything, it is better for people to marry someone of their own race,
of a different race, or if it doesn’t make any difference, 77% of
African-Americans, 68% of Hispanics, 67% of Asians, and 53% of
Caucasians said it doesn’t make a difference; 46% of Caucasians, 30%
of Asians, 29% of Hispanics, and 21% of African-Americans said it is
better to marry someone of ones own race. There were major differences
between age groups -- the younger the age, the less likely respondents
were to say it is better to marry someone of ones own race (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/A21615-2001Jul5.html).
Social and cultural norms are powerful forces, but it appears that the
younger generation feels they can make choices with less social
pressure.
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Good News About Our City Service Workers
Vivian Henderson, VHende1886@aol.com
I have had a very good and quick response to my recent request for
city services, i.e., trash pickup. I called 645-430l because my yard
waste had not been picked up for weeks, and I was told by the trash
collector that this was not his job. When I called the above number, I
was told that up to five bags of yard waste could be picked up each
collection day, and this matter would be taken care of. That same day,
the truck returned and took away the yard waste from my house and the
other houses in the area. I also called 727-1000 to report a street
light outage; the light was repaired the next day. Record these numbers;
they work. Thanks city workers, I am beginning to feel good about my
city once again.
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There is an alternative to landlord gouging — buying. If you live
alone you should be able to afford to buy the place you live in. With a
$5,000 tax credit and only a 5% requirement for first-time home buyers,
DC is one of the easiest places to buy, in my humble opinion (prices
excluded). Also, if you earn under $35,000 you don't have to pay
property taxes for the first five years of ownership. If I recall
correctly, DC even has some sort of program where they would lend you
the money for a down payment if you qualify (details anyone?).
Recently there was a place in my building for rent. The landlord
wanted first and last month's rent plus a deposit -- all totaled, it
came to $60 less than my down payment. An indicator that more people
probably have enough for a down payment and just don't realize it. For
low income folks, there are organizations that can help. CAAB (http://www.caab.org/)
helped a homeless woman with children save enough to buy her own home.
There are other organizations that will help you repair your credit if
you have credit problems or simply don't know enough about managing your
credit (CAAB can probably direct you if they don't offer such services
themselves). Furthermore, there are so many advantages to home
ownership. The equity can be tapped into for home improvements, college,
retirement or an emergency. For the most part you can make improvements
as you see fit, and whatever you invest will be returned to you if you
should need to sell.
I realize buying is not as easy as renting. When I first bought my
efficiency five years ago, I had to sleep on a pile of pillows in the
corner until I could get a bed. And the credit check process was
grueling. But in the end it was worth it. Lastly, while prices have
skyrocketed in Wards 1, 2, and 3, the same is not necessarily true for
the rest of the city. People owe it to themselves to explore this option
at the very least.
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How to Get Taxation and Representation
Tom Matthes, tommatthes@earthlink.net
Neither Ed T. Barron nor Gregory Diaz are responsible for the
opinions in this posting, but both gentleman make excellent observations
about the DC voting rights movement. Mr. Barron notes that the City
Council violates voters' rights when it rescinds the term limits
referendum. But that's not all. The Washington Post reports a
city attorney says the referendum is invalid because Congress did not
authorize referendums in the home rule charter. If so, Council members
violate their oath to uphold the US Constitution every time they
authorize a referendum, and they are hypocrites for honoring the results
only when they like the outcome.
Mr. Diaz notes that retrocession is the obvious solution to the lack
of votes in Congress for DC taxpayers and that anyone who feels strongly
enough about the matter can move into Maryland or Virginia. But we need
not force a migration of hundreds of thousands of citizens to accomplish
what the city's establishment is blocking with statehood demands. The
first step in the solution is to disband the city government and replace
it with ward-level councils working with Congress to provide the maximum
possible local control. Every ward would be free to negotiate terms of
retrocession into Maryland or accept the status quo. An "inner
district" could maintain full congressional control over downtown
DC and the government buildings and monuments. Everybody who wants to
remain a resident of the capital city would be happy and everyone who
wants voting representation in Congress would get it. What could be
simpler?
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Voting Rights, Term Limits and the New
Columbia Constitution
Michael Bindner, mbindnerdc@aol.com
Ed Barron quite rightly says that the Council's shenanigans on term
limits are a reason to deny voting rights. I agree. They are a reason
for full self-determination. The New Columbia Constitution, ratified by
the voters in 1982, contains provisions for amendment by citizen
initiative, which are lacking in both the Charter and the unratified
Constitution enacted by the Council in 1987 (which several elected
officials mistakenly believe is in force). The answer to Mr. Barron's
quandary is to forever shelve the 1987 amendments and replace the Home
Fool Act with provisions from the 1982 Constitution. After these
provisions have been allowed to work, even Mr. Barron will see the
wisdom of statehood.
Mr. Diaz seems not to be aware that under our constitutionally
guaranteed right to travel is the right not to travel, which means that
moving should not be necessary to receive full democracy. What he does
not know is that while the voting rights lawsuit is dead, dead, dead,
its companion suit (Adams v. Bush) is in the appeals process because the
three judge panel which rejected voting rights never gave a rationale
for rejecting its equal protection argument (largely that Congress has
no right to treat the citizens of DC any differently than the citizens
of the former federal territories now states, the residents of
Alexandria, DC now in Virginia and residents of current federal enclaves
who now have full rights of self determination (which residents of most
of the States of Nevada and Alaska). Of course, the Court could say that
under the District and enclaves clause, Congress has plenary power to
treat the District differently — however the plaintiffs believe that
under the 5th and Amendment they do not have that right. By the way, the
plaintiffs agreed with the denial of voting rights for people not in a
state, and are demanding that Congress honor the choice by DC residents
of either Statehood or unification with an existing state. In drafting
the DC Statehood Green Party amicus brief, I pointed out that in 1980
District voters chose statehood -- a choice that should be honored
unless someone schedules another vote.
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D.C. Rights/U.S. Wrongs
Timothy Cooper, Democracy First, Worldright@aol.com
In light of the fact that Mr. Barron has failed to answer the
question I posed to him regarding which other citizens of federal
enclaves throughout the world are denied voting representation in their
national legislature, and because Mr. Diaz, who rose last week to Mr.
Barron's defense, chose to sidestep the question entirely (Voteless in
DC), I am compelled to answer my own question: There are, in fact, no
other citizens living in federal enclaves in the world today that are
denied the right to representation in their own national legislature.
The United States is the only federal enclave that prohibits the
residents of its capital city federal representation. In the Western
hemisphere, for instance, numerous federal enclaves exist where the
citizens enjoy full voting representation: Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Caracas, Venezuela; Brasilia, Brazil; and Mexico City, Mexico, all
guarantee the residents of their federal districts the right to
participate in their national legislatures on a basis equal with all
other citizens in the country. These same federal enclaves, and to a
lesser degree with Mexico City, also enjoy a much greater degree of
local autonomy than does the District of Columbia. The voteless state of
D.C. residents, therefore, constitutes an aberration rather than a norm,
and stands in direct contravention of customary international law, as
well as in violation of various international human rights treaties.
Furthermore, it represents a manifestly arbitrary decision on the part
of the U.S. government to deny D.C. residents the basic right to
participate in the national political process without an objective or
rational basis.
Further, in Mr. Diaz's response to my question, he erroneously claims
that “[r]eal democracies are few. So spare us the international gold
standard.” According to Freedom House's 1999 annual survey of
“Freedom in the World,” there are currently 117 nations worldwide
that are electoral democracies — a full 61 percent of the nations on
earth. Rather than there being few “real” democracies, as Mr. Diaz
claims, world democracy is, in fact, on the march. Moreover, Mr. Diaz
overlooks the fact that the U.S. government itself set the global
“gold standard” by advocating unflinchingly for the advancement of
democracy as well as for the cause of international human rights for
half a century. Indeed, the advocacy of democracy and the protection of
human rights comprise a core component of U.S. foreign policy.
Ironically, in 1945, it was the U.S. government that pressured President
Vargus of Brazil to grant voting representation to the citizens of the
Federal District of Rio de Janeiro, the former capital of Brazil. After
Vargus' expulsion in 1946, a new Brazilian constitution, promulgated by
a constitutional assembly, granted residents of the Federal District
with equal representation in both the Chamber of Deputies (equivalent to
our House of representatives) and in the Senate, mirroring the same
voting rights of the residents of each State.
On one point, I find myself in complete agreement with Mr. Diaz,
however. The United States is, in fact, a nation of laws. In the case of
the District, however, the constitution, which represents the Supreme
Law of the Land, regrettably continues to harbor a grossly unjust law
that undermines the country's key principles and foreign and domestic
policies. In order to end this injustice, I have written a 5,000 words
article that proposes a novel means by which this could be accomplished.
For those interested in the issue of fundamental political rights and
freedoms for D.C. residents, I commend my article, “A DC Bill of
Rights.” It can be found at: http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/voting03.htm.
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I would like to respond to Susan Flinn's message about the kittens. I
moved to DC in August of 1999. One night, shortly after I moved in,
there was a kitten sitting on my porch. When I opened the door, she
walked in the house. She and another cat live with me today. She was
just one in a litter of cats born in my neighborhood. My neighbors
adopted her siblings. I would like to urge you, if you can, to adopt a
kitten or two (they are better in pairs). If you can not adopt, please
be aware of the homeless animals, cats and dogs, in your neighborhood.
They need food, water, and shelter.
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A Fresh Look at Budgets and Railroad Tracks
Len Sullivan, lsnarpac@bellatlantic.net
Take a look at the FY02 DC Budget in the context of the twenty years
from 1986 to 2005, and see what seems to be a return to business as
usual — even before the Control Board dematerializes. See if you can
find the difference now that The Great Emigration Hoax has been
shattered by Census 2000. Take a look at the FY02 DC budget together
with those of DC's five immediate neighbors and see the consequences of
becoming the home of last resort for the region's needy. Take a look at
how poorly DC's residential housing values stack up against those of
suburban homeowners. Take a look at the old railroad spur that parallels
the west bank of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers down to Blue Plains
and see if you can visualize an elevated Metrorail line all the way from
Minnesota Avenue to Alexandria via the Wilson Bridge. These and other
somewhat offbeat perspectives enliven the July update of the NARPAC web
site at http://www.narpac.org.
Feedback almost always welcome. Get positively involved.
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CLASSIFIEDS — FREE
Free to a good home: Several doors from a sixty-year-old house are
yours for the taking. Solid wood, good shape. Two exterior doors: one
has four window panes over three wood panels; other has twelve window
panes over one wood panel. Two interior doors: one is six-panel; other
is a double louvered door. Also, four doors from a built-in corner
cupboard: two are eight-pane glass; other two are single panel. Pick up
in middle of the alley of 4300 block of Verplanck Place, NW, between Van
Ness Street and Verplanck. E-mail questions to nicmich@starpower.net.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED
Office Manager Position, D.C. Preservation
League
Evelyn Wrin, EvBobWrin@aol.com
The D.C. Preservation League is looking for a part-time (four hours a
day) office manager/administrative assistant. The person will work
directly with the President of DCPL, Board members, grants
administrator, members and volunteers. The position requires someone who
can work with minimal supervision, has good organizational and telephone
skills, and experience with MS office programs and use of the Internet.
Also desirable would be acquaintance with FileMaker Pro, QuickBooks and
web site maintenance. Responsibilities include all aspects of the
office's administrative functions, which encompass support for
fundraising projects, correspondence, media relations, accounts payable,
and mailings. Opportunity to work directly on activities involving
historic preservation plans and activities in D.C. and related work of
DCPL in reviewing proposed development affecting historic sites,
research on and consideration of the landmarking of historic places,
assisting communities in their historic preservation plans, and
informing and educating the community about historical aspects of our
neighborhoods and downtown area. Resume and letter of interest to be
sent to President, DC Preservation League, 1815 I St. NW, Suite 200,
20006 or fax to 202-955-5456.
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Cambodian/Khmer Translator Sought
Jon Katz, jon@markskatz.com
If you have a recommendation for a good translator, or translation
company, in the Cambodian/Khmer language, please let me know. I prefer
using a person who's in the Washington, DC, area. I will also consider a
person who's out of town, as this is to translate about five pages, and
not to interpret live. Jon Katz, 301-495-4300.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
Volunteering at Greater Southeast
Dorian Roberts, DLRoberts@comdt.uscg.mil
Could anybody tell me where I can find information on volunteer
opportunities at Greater Southeast Community Hospital?
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CLASSIFIEDS — CAUSES
For those readers of the mail who did not see Marc Fisher's column in
the Washington Post (“Obedient Citizens Give Jury Boycott a
Sheepish Look,” B1, June 30, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2030-2001Jun29.html,
DC Rabble is urging DC residents who support voting rights for the
District to consider boycotting Federal jury service. The DC
Representation Alliance for Ballot Box and Legislative Equality (dcrabble.org)
has been advising residents on a number of legal and semi-legal options
for DC residents to refuse jury service in order to protest the
District's continued lack of representation in Congress. There are
several arguments for why DC RABBLE is boycotting Federal jury service:
1) DC residents are being asked to administer laws in which they have
had no voice in writing; 2) In Alexander v. Daley, the Federal courts
refused to recognize that the Equal Protection clause of the
Constitution should give District residents the right of representation
in Congress, effectively making the courts complicit in perpetuating the
District's disenfranchisement; 3) Like Federal taxation without
representation, jury service is taxing the time and resources of our
citizens without giving them the representation of other citizens. In
fact, DC residents serve more hours on Federal juries than all but two
of 94 districts in the US; 4) The US District Court is also being used
as a vehicle for by-passing DC home rule, since Federal prosecutors will
often take criminal cases to US courts only when they don't like the law
that is established for DC. This is particularly true when they are
seeking the death penalty.
If you are interested in supporting the jury boycott or learning more
about DC Rabble's other civil disobedience efforts, please visit us at http://www.dcrabble.org.
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