Down in Black in White
Dear Readers:
It's amazing the stuff that our city government puts out for us to
read. For example, how does a candidate for office get the taxpayers to
pay for his campaign literature? If you're Mayor Williams, you have
government workers prepare a campaign piece bragging about all the
accomplishments of your administration, and you use taxpayers' dollars,
$38,000 of them, to distribute it in this coming Sunday's Washington
Post. All you have to do is call the campaign piece a “discussion
guide” for the Citizen's Summit. You can wait until Sunday to read the
reelection pitch, or you can read it now at http://www.dcwatch.com/mayor/010930.htm.
Then there's the testimony given to the City Council, which is always
entertaining. My award for the briefest, if not the most forthcoming,
goes to Peggy Cooper Cafritz, the Board of Education Chairman, for her
explanation of what happened to cause the $80 million school budget
overrun, and of why it wasn't discovered before the end of the fiscal
year. Her written testimony in full: "I feel uncomfortable
submitting a written statement because I do not know what the truth is
and I only want to speak truth to the City Council. I am open to
answering any questions you have of me. Thank you." Perhaps a more
revealing explanation is in Cafritz's letter to Superintendent Paul
Vance last October, when she enlisted his help in thwarting Chief
Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi's to replace the DCPS financial officer
whom he suspected of cooking the books. See both the testimony and the
letter at http://www.dcwatch.com/schools/010924.htm.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Special Education
Patricia Chittams, Rider397@aol.com
I am writing with the hope (and hope is just an unanswered prayer)
that perhaps someone out there cares about our special education
children. The way the transportation system is run, it is not surprising
that the school system has overspent almost 80 million dollars. Just
spend a day waiting for the bus that takes our special children to
school. Let me tell you a little story.
The first day of school, the bus arrived one hour late. Obviously, my
son didn't arrive to school on time. He was ready in his new clothes and
shoes, and waiting for the bus at 7:00 a.m. even though the scheduled
time for the bus wasn't until 7:28 a.m. His demeanor fell as he
continued to wait on the front porch of the house until finally the bus
arrived at 8:15. He arrived home tired, but happy, and also late. In
fact, he was the last one to eat dinner, I should be happy, at least he
was home and not dropped off at some other location. The days did become
better; the bus did arrive closer to 8:00 a.m. than 9:00 a.m., and he
did arrive home before 6:00 p.m., so I guess I should be cheering. But
he never arrived to school on time. As a parent, I teach my children
that you must arrive to school, work or any appointment on time. To do
otherwise is a sign that you don't value the person you are meeting. You
certainly won't get a job if you arrive to the interview late. Last
weekend, to the infinite wisdom of some unknown suit, the route was
changed. Some idiot with a dart board and a crayon draws the routes and
our children suffer. Now instead of waking at 6:15 a.m., my son must
awaken at 5:30 a.m. in order to have breakfast, and be ready for the bus
when it arrives at 6:40 a.m. Now, instead of leaving home at 8:00 a.m.
and getting to school late, he gets to leave at 6:40 am and still
arrives at school late! When you call the Parent Center to complain,
some well meaning individual answers the telephone, takes the complaint,
and nothing happens. When I complain that I am losing money, because of
their ineptitude the response is that's a choice you make.
Wednesday, no bus. Now the mad dash across town in a vain attempt to
get my son to school on time, and lo and behold. We beat the bus. The
bus arrives twenty minutes after we do, with the lame explanation that
we didn't respond to knocks on the door. Right, and chickens have lips.
For three days, the bus arrives on time. Time to party; they finally got
it right. Yeah, sure, Tuesday, the bus never arrives. What about the
guidelines?! What about the law?! Correct me if I am wrong, but, I
thought that if you went to a school within the District of Columbia,
that the student could only be on the bus for one hour. Maybe I am
forgetting I reside in the District of Columbia where Children First is
only a Slogan to be trotted out during an election year. I sent an
E-mail to Kevin “I don't want to do my job, I wanna to be the Mayor”
Chavous. Did I receive a “we'll look into it” reply? A Dear
Constituent letter? Nope, Nada, Nothing, I guess it went where the 80
million went. Right
Now, all I want to know is where to send the bills I am incurring
when I have to send my child to school when the bus doesn't come. As a
matter of fact, I could do better myself. Just give me the
transportation allotment for my child. I could get him to school on time
everyday and home cheaper! But, who am I, I'm just a mother with a
Special Education Child. What a wonderful civics lesson for my son! What
better way to prove to my son and others that this city doesn't care
about the most vulnerable of its citizens. Or is it that they don't
vote? I am a taxpaying, voting, 8th generation Washingtonian. Never in
my life have I ever considered moving to another state. I would refuse
to even discuss it but, after repeated battles to obtain services, and
adequate educational facilities, I am tired. I am seriously considering
moving to where my voice means something and my vote counts.
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Does anyone know what the process is (to the extent there is a
process) for getting a new stop sign placed on my street corner? I live
on a residential street corner in AU Park, at one of the few
intersections without a stop sign. I can sit on my porch and watch cars,
mostly those commuting in from MD, going 40 or 50 MPH, ignoring the
posted 25 MPH limit. There have been several accidents in the past year,
though I'm not sure how many have been reported.
I've heard it's nearly impossible to get approved. At one ANC meeting
they told us that, unless we can document injury accidents at the
intersection, they are unlikely to do anything. But . . . isn't that too
late?
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The Office of Emergency Preparedness has an emergency plan for
terrorism, or at least it had one in the last administration. I was
involved in the planning process, so I know it was there when we left.
If it is not there now, it is because someone in the current
administration messed it up.
I will grant the writer that there were problems with the Office of
Emergency Preparedness under the last administration, mostly because the
Control Board and its Chief Financial Officer, a Mr. Williams, did not
let us fund enough positions, training and equipment. (It was the same
CFO who froze the contracting process, including snow removal equipment,
just before a certain blizzard — an action for which Mr. Barry was
unjustly blamed).
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Mr. President, Return Our Police
Phil Carney, philnopus@erols.com
We need our MPD officers protecting us in our neighborhoods. We didn’t
have enough MPD officers on DC streets before the recent tragedy. Since
then the feds have taken even more officers to protect federal officials
and buildings and provide top feds with the ego trip of a police escort.
I understand the necessity of protecting federal officials and
buildings, but the feds have more resources than DC has, so let the feds
assume responsibility for guarding themselves.
The only time there has been a police presence in our Dupont Circle
neighborhood was on September 11. I want to thank Chief Ramsey for
thinking of us insignificant residents — for one day! MPD was
understaffed before the feds took our officers away. We need our police
officers for us. Please contact the President, Eleanor Holmes Norton,
Mayor Williams, your council members, and your MPD District Commander
and demand that the feds return our police officers to their duty of
protecting DC residents and DC neighborhoods.
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Rider Report Update
Mark Richards, mark@bisconti.com
The “Rider Report” that I published in themail a couple weeks ago
has been evolving as DC’s budget moved from the House Appropriations
Subcommittee, the House Appropriations Committee, to the full House.
That process is not easy to follow. At this point, DC citizens are set
to pay 94 percent of the DC Appropriations while the federal government
is set to pay 6 percent. God knows, Congress sure has a lot of
exemptions! Plus, all federal money to DC comes with strings, for
specific projects, not to compensate for services used. A number of the
current “donations” in exchange for services, probably all worthy
causes, include money for Youth Life Foundation, Food and Friends,
Southeastern University, Children’s National Medical Center, St.
Coletta of Greater Washington Expansion Project, Faith and Politics
Institute, and the Excel Institute, which apparently does basic values
training. To get funds added, or to get a rider restriction removed, you
need to find a voting Congressional member to champion your cause.
Locals mostly drove the initiatives for the projects above.
Out-of-towners and special interests tend to drive the initiatives for
riders — like the removal of the “Domestic Partnership”
restriction and the new “No Gay Boy Scouts” rider.
Now, the budget has moved to the Senate where it starts over. Sen.
Landrieu is apparently trying to start by cutting the 30-some riders
that were cut by Rep. Knollenberg in the House Subcommittee (good), plus
some additional ones (better), and by keeping the consensus budget that
DC sent to the Hill intact (great idea — that didn’t happen in the
House). However, she must convince Sen. Mike DeWine’s (R-Ohio) to
support these proposals, and apparently he needs to hear from
constituents. It would be just lovely if he would support a clean
Appropriations bill that respects local self-government — an important
Republican and even American concept -- for residents of Washington,
D.C. Quickly call Stan Skokie, Staffer for DeWine at 224-2315, and
Harmon Gesser, Staffer for Sen. Landrieu at 332-3121. If you want the
latest “Rider Report” to see what is going on, let me know and I’ll
E-mail you a copy.
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I tried my damnedest not to dignify Ed Barron's xenophobic comments
by not responding, but my heart trumped my head. I quote: “The
discovery of oil, and its rapid [sic] increasing demand has lifted some
Middle Eastern nations (are the names being withheld to protect the
'guilty'?) to a prosperity level that enables them to challenge free
world civilization. Let's put those nations back into the stone age by
cutting off the demand for their product.” How enlightened. How
tolerant. How humanitarian. And people here wonder why people there hate
America?
[I'll call a halt now to any further comments for or against American
actions against terrorists. Back to DC issues. — Gary Imhoff]
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Yes Shame on the Park Police
Taylor Simons, ttsimmons@aol.com
OK, with three strikes against Ron Eberhardt by (Wheeler, Richards,
and Adler) in the September 23 issue of themail, I will take a pro-Eberhardt,
anti-Park Police view -- though unrelated to September 11th. About a
month ago, I, too, was issued a cruel and unusual fine of $150 for
driving 45 mph in the 25 mph zone by the Kennedy Center. (I had been
trying to get around an extra-wide view-blocking SUV -- with four wheels
on the rear axle, dipping into both lanes.)
Fat-assed SUVs aside, my real beef is this: why is the speed limit on
that straight section of the Rock Creek Parkway, with high curbs and a
Jersey Barrier dividing the lanes, the same low 25 mph as on residential
streets, which typically feature cars parallel-parking and the
occasional kid on roller skates? The limit is 35 mph on the prior
section of the parkway, including the curve at P Street, and then drops
to the absurdly low 25 mph after Virginia Avenue.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Art Party at the Ratner Museum
Susan Stein, TheCtr@aol.com
On Sunday, September 30, from 5 to 7 p.m., an hors d'oeuvres,
desserts, and art party sponsored by The Cultural Center for Singles
will be held at The Ratner Museum, 10001 Old Georgetown Road at Lone Oak
Drive, Bethesda, Maryland (near Wildwood Shopping Center). $20 admission
includes wine, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts.
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Eleanor Holmes Norton will present, as a Congressional Black Caucus
legislative conference, a town meeting on "The Next Challenge:
Getting Back to Normal," with Mayor Anthony Williams, Franklin
Raines (Chairman and CEO, Fannie Mae), and Bob Johnson (CEO of BET
Holdings, Inc.), on Friday, September 28, at 4:30 p.m., at the
Washington Convention Center, 900 9th Street, NW, Rooms 1 and 2. For
more information, call 225-8050.
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Screening of “Schools”
Gloria Mobley, glomo_53@yahoo.com
DC VOICE and DC Action for Children are sponsoring screenings of the
PBS documentary “SCHOOLS: The Story of American Public Education,”
and a civic engagement initiative on September 27 at the Martin Luther
King, Jr., Public Library (9th and G Streets, NW) from 6-8 p.m. and on
Thursday, October 4, at the Charles Sumner School and Archives (17th and
M Streets, N.W.) from 4-9 p.m.
The screening on Thurs., September 27 is entitled Equality
(1950-1980): Social Upheavals in Education. It looks at three issues in
public education and social movements for equality in public education.
A community dialogue will follow the screening. Boxed meal provided.
Please RSVP to Carmelita Lacey at 986-8535, or E-mail dcvoice@dcvoice.org.
The screening on Thursday, October 4 is entitled The Bottom Line (1980
to the present): Challenges to the Notion of a Common School, and
features an overview of standards and high stakes testing, alternative
schools, vouchers, charter schools and home schooling. Attendees will
have an opportunity to tour the historic Sumner School, visit with
community based organizations involved in education reform and advocacy
and participate in a community dialogue about the history of public
education in Washington, DC. A light buffet will be served. Space is
limited and reservations required. Please RSVP to Carmelita Lacey,
986-8535, or E-mail dcvoice@dcvoice.org.
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Fair Budget Coalition Meeting
Susie Cambria, s.e.cambria@verizon.net
The Fair Budget Coalition's next meeting is October 3 from 9:30 -
11:00 p.m. on the 6th floor at 1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (Washington
Legal Clinic for the Homeless). The agenda is: 1) Developing the FBC
agenda for FY 2003, 2) update on the FY 2002 budget, and 3) other
updates. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Questions? Call Patty
Mullahy Fugere, 872-8958.
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Public housing residents and their supporters are protesting a
federal HOPE VI grant proposal that will displace over 1,300 people near
the Navy Yard. While the city is currently experiencing an affordable
housing crisis, HOPE VI projects are already demolishing public housing
units in several locations in DC, displacing thousands of people, mostly
African-Americans. Join residents and supporters as we bring our
concerns directly to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) on Monday October 1. At 11:00 a.m., we will gather at 5th and K SE
(Metro stations: Eastern Market or Navy Yard) and march to HUD, by car
caravan and on foot. At 12:00 noon, we will rally at HUD at 451 7th St.
SW (Metro station: L’Enfant Plaza).
E-mail me to sign a letter to Secretary of HUD Mel Martinez, to help
with transportation, or for more information. Read the most recent
horror story about how public housing residents get treated by DC
Housing Authority at the following: http://thecommondenominator.com/091001_news1.html
Also read about the deleterious impact of HOPE VI projects nationwide
at the following web links: http://www.sunspot.net/business/realestate/bal-te.md.incomes24sep24.story?coll=bal%2Drealestate%2Dheadlines%2D1,
http://www.sunspot.net/business/realestate/bal-te.md.hope24sep24.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines
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TasteDC.com’s Late September/October 2001
Calendar of Wine and Food Events
Charlie Adler, wine@tastedc.com
1) September 25, Tuesday, “Introduction to Italian Wines,”
Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 2121 P St., NW. Valet Parking, Metro Dupont
Circle (Red Line), 7-7:30 p.m. Reception, 7:30-9 p.m. Wine tasting, $45
per person. Americans love Italy's dietary trinity of bread, olive oil
and wine, but understanding their vino can be very confusing. Join Ann
Berta, wine columnist of Washingtonian Magazine, as we share and taste a
variety of regional wines that will enhance your understanding and your
taste buds as well! 2) October 2, Tuesday, “Embassy of Bolivia: Wine,
Food and Celebration,” Embassy of Bolivia, 3014 Massachusetts Avenue,
NW, street parking available on Whitehaven Street. 7-9 p.m., $50/person.
Join us at the Bolivian Embassy as we taste great wine, Pisco Sours,
Mojito's, native beer and a variety of South American hors d'oeuvres.
Bolivian wines are known as the highest altitude produced wines in the
world. We'll also taste the legendary Pisco Sour and a Bolivian
variation of the Mojito, both made with imported Singani Rujero as well
as Taquina beer (all La Concepcion wines, beer and spirits direct
imported from Bolivia by Ruly's Trade). And did we mention food? Taste
saltenas (Bolivian pies), empanadas, anticuchos, and an assortment of
other authentic foods. Please note: this event is walk-around/reception
style (no seating). 3) October 3, Wednesday, “3rd Annual Burcak
Harvest Festival at the Embassy of the Czech Republic,” Embassy of the
Czech Republic, 3900 Spring of Freedom (between Connecticut Avenue and
Beach Drive, just off Tilden Street), NW, 7-9:30 p.m., $45. TasteDC.com
celebrates the 3rd Annual Burcak Harvest Festival, the only event of its
kind in the United States! Burcak is the still fermenting wine that
Moravians drink during the “Vinobrani” (Wine Harvest). It's sweet
and low in alcohol, but don't be fooled: the day after has come to be
called the Curse of Burcak! We'll accompany this drink obtained from
Sand Castle Winery in Pennsylvania with a menu of fresh salads, fruits,
and foods from the harvest. Authentic Czech music will be part of this
festive event. Dress is very casual for this event and the spirit will
be joyous! Please note: this event is walk-around/reception style (no
seating). 4) October 5, Friday, “Netherlands Embassy — 17th Century
Feast,” 4200 Linnean Avenue, NW, East on Upton Street from Connecticut
Avenue about 3 blocks, nearest Metro is Van Ness 4 blocks away, limited
street parking, 7-9 p.m., $55 per person inclusive. Join us at the
lovely Embassy of the Netherlands for an authentic, possibly even
Bacchanalian 17th Century style feast of food and the senses! The Dutch
controlled the valuable spice trade in the 17th century which lead to
their economic power and interest in new culinary trends. We'll recreate
the feasting that often occurred after religious abstinence: authentic
foods (meat and fowl), fruits, vegetables, baked breads, wine and more!
Expect interesting live entertainment, more news on this soon! Attire is
business casual (or wear an original costume!) Please note: this event
is a seated event with a short reception. 5) October 9, Tuesday,
“California, Oregon and Washington State's Hot New Varietal Wines,”
Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 2121 P St., NW. Valet parking, Metro Dupont
Circle (Red Line), 7-7:30 p.m. reception, 7:30-9 p.m. wine tasting, $45
per person. In one tasting, sample nine new varietals from the West
Coast sweeping the nation: everyone knows California makes great
Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, but what about their wonderful
Sangiovese and Viognier? Oregon makes world-class Pinot Noirs, but have
you tasted their Pinot Gris, it's really special? Riesling is also
excellent from the cooler regions of the West Coast. Join Ann Berta,
wine columnist for Washingtonian Magazine, as we taste and talk
about the incredible quality changes going on in the US right now. 6)
October 10, Wednesday, “Wine Basics 101,” Radisson Barcelo Hotel,
2121 P St., NW. Valet parking, Metro Dupont Circle (Red Line), 7-7:30
p.m. reception, 7:30-9 p.m. wine tasting, $40 per person. Washington,
D.C.'s most popular wine tasting: over 3,000 people have attended this
event in our 4 year history: learn how to order wine in a restaurant,
determine basic wine styles and varietals, pair wine and food and more!
7) October 11, Thursday, “Embassy of Hungary Wine Tasting with Native
Cuisine,” Embassy of the Republic of Hungary, 3910 Shoemaker Street,
NW, between Tilden St. and Beach Dr. on south Linnean Ave. Street
parking available, 7-9 p.m., $50/person. Join TasteDC.com as we taste
the Renaissance of the Hungarian wine industry! Believe it or not,
Hungary has been producing world-class wines for many years (they're
especially known for their delicious dessert wines from Tokaj). We'll
taste a selection of wines directly imported from Hungary for this
occasion pared with the cuisine of the country. You can definitely
expect some surprisingly good wines on this occasion! Please note: this
event is walk-around/reception style (no seating). 8) October 15,
Monday, “Nuevo Latino and Spanish Wines at Cafe Atlantico,” Cafe
Atlantico, 405 8th St., NW, on 8th between D and E, limited street
parking, Metro Gallery Place/MCI Center (Red Line), 7-9 p.m. food and
wine tasting, $55 per person, tax and tip inclusive. TasteDC.com has
taken over Cafe Atlantico for an entire evening! Celebrate the exciting
cuisine sweeping America — NUEVO LATINO! Taste sizzling Latin fare
paired with a selection of Kysela Wine Imports vibrant Spanish wines.
Café Atlantico's Christy Velie, one of D.C.'s Hot New Chefs, prepares
sizzling dishes in their unique open kitchen. Menu: Peruvian ribeye
anticuchos, Mexican jicama-arugula rolls, Cuban malanga and smoked trout
croquetas, quesadillas with Spanish cured ham and serrano cheese, spicy
Jamaican jerk chicken patties, Cafe Atlantico's famous banana chocolate
bread pudding with Venezuelan chocolate ganache heart. Dress is business
casual, but festive! Space is very limited. Please note: this event is
walk-around/reception style (no seating). 9) October 25, Thursday,
“Ben Giliberti Meets Brian McBride: Wine Dinner at Melrose
Restaurant,” Melrose Restaurant, Park Hyatt Hotel, 1201 24th St., NW,
closest Metros Dupont Circle (Red Line) and Foggy Bottom (Blue/Orange
Lines), hotel valet parking is available, 7-9:30 p.m., $110/person, tax
and tip inclusive. Join guest speaker Ben Giliberti, wine columnist for
the Washington Post, and world-renowned chef Brian McBride of
top-rated Melrose Restaurant, currently a top-10 food ranking by Zagat's
2001/2002 issue. Brian McBride is one of the highest rated chefs in D.C.
and he will be showcasing a 4-course meal paired with a variety of wines
provided by GEMMEX Intertrade America including an outstanding Swiss
sparkling wine, and an assortment of Mediterranean wines from Spain and
Italy. Vegetarian options will also be available upon request.
$110/person includes tax and tip. Please note: This is a seated event.
10) October 30, Tuesday, “Taking the Mystery Out of French Wines,”
Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 2121 P St., NW, valet parking, Metro Dupont
Circle (Red Line), 7-7:30 p.m. reception, 7:30-9 p.m. wine tasting, $45
per person. Are you perplexed by French wines — confusing labels,
unknown wine varietals and mysterious Chateaux? Don't let it happen any
more! Join Ann Berta, wine columnist of Washingtonian Magazine, as
we taste and learn the simple rules to understanding French wine. This
event will show you that you don't need to be French or speak the
language to enjoy the diversity of world-class wines from various
regions of France.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Spacious three bedroom row home available in Shaw. This bright sunny
home has its original moldings and eight-foot pocket doors. There are
plenty of extras; ten-foot ceilings, two skylights, antique fireplace
and mantle, and hand painted tiles in the vestibule. The rooms include a
large eat-in kitchen and a formal dining room. This home is walking
distance to the Metro and a bus stop is on the corner. At just
$185,000.00 you have got to see this house. For more information contact
Abby Jackman, at 362-4666 ext. 5113, 240-601-5949 (cell) or by E-mail at
abby@coldwellbanker.com.
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