The Best Defense Is Being Offensive

Dear Educators:

Mayor Williams and the members of the City Council who supported last year's Charter Amendment (prominent among them Linda Cropp, Kevin Chavous, Sharon Ambrose, and Kathy Patterson) said that voters should hold them accountable for the state of DC schools if only they were given the power to replace elected Board of Education members with appointed ones. I never tire of reminding them about that, especially in light of recent events. The new hybrid Board ran up an unprecedented deficit of $80 million, and now has cut seven school days from this year's calendar as well as made cuts from several other programs — notable among them special education — to try to make up the shortage. But that isn't even the best part.

The promise made about the hybrid board and by its new members was that it would end squabbling and controversy among the school board, the Mayor, and the Council. The Board of Education was given all the funding it asked for, and now it is accusing the Mayor and Council of underfunding education. Even after an additional $70 million has been allocated, and even after the education cuts, the Board is asking for more money. The Board is feuding with the Chief Financial Officer, Natwar Gandhi, and the school system's CFO, Bert Molina, and trying to get them fired for exposing its deficit. And at the same time that it is asking for more money the Board is trying to convince the gullible that there isn't a deficit, and never was one. It has no evidence to support that contention, but that doesn't stop it from making the assertion. The school system, convinced that special education programs are the cause of its problems, has also instituted another program to save money. It has begun a new office of “special education specialists,” headed by Greg Davis, that has the sole purpose of opposing all students' applications for special education programs, of trying to deny or at least to postpone the provision of special education.

Now explain to me again how giving up a democratically elected school board was going to make things better for our children.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Results of Regional Survey and Personal Security in DC
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com

Seventy-eight percent of respondents in a telephone survey conducted in the greater Washington area said the region has come together more since the events of September 11. Potomac, Inc., of Bethesda conducted the research -- see http://www.potomacinc.com/index.cfm. The Post reported it Friday. Eighty-one percent said they feel they are part of the Greater Washington region; 16 percent said no, and 2 percent weren't sure. The regional distribution of the sample interviewed (usually determined by population distribution) was: 11 percent from District of Columbia; 89 percent from D.C. suburbs (53 percent in Maryland, 36 percent in Virginia) -- I haven’t seen numbers comparing the commonalities and differences among DC, MD, and VA. The racial breakdown of survey participants was 59 percent white, 25 percent African American, 4 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Asian, 6 percent other groups. Overall, 82 percent rated the region is at least as good or better than other areas (17 percent excellent, 35 percent very good, 30 percent good) -- 13 percent said fair, 4 percent poor. A majority thought this region is better than other places in U.S. when it comes to the getting a good education (66 percent) and finding a good job (67 percent). By contrast, only 38 percent said this region is better than other places in U.S. when it comes to "the effectiveness of the region’s leaders in solving important problems that affect the whole region." On that measure, 37 percent said this region is the same as other places, and 18 percent said other places are worse. It would be interesting to see this measure by actual political jurisdictions.

Many in this poll (56 percent) expect their household to be better off in the next five years; 35 percent said the same, and 6 percent worse off. Given a list of regional problems, 34 percent said traffic congestion is the problem that most impacts their daily life; 17 percent said high taxes, 15 percent crime and drugs, 11 percent too much growth and development, 10 percent expensive housing, and 10 percent quality of schools. (I haven’t had a car for over 15 years so the traffic congestion problem doesn’t affect me.) Compared to two years ago, 18 percent said traffic is better and 69 percent said worse. Seventy-five percent said driving is at least occasionally stressful for them, and 65 percent said they waste time in traffic. To deal with the traffic congestion problem, 15 percent said they commute during off hours; 12 percent use alternative transit; 8 percent carpool more, 7 percent use their car less, and 6 percent telecommute more often. Fifty-two percent said drivers in this region are less courteous than other areas they’ve been to. And, 68 percent reported having seen “road rage” — 29 percent many times. Twenty-three percent said they had responded to “road rage” with anger or did something unsafe. People picked the following as the item most responsible for traffic congestion in the area: population growth (35 percent), lack of planning (25 percent), over development (23 percent), lack of cooperation among jurisdictions (6 percent), and not enough money spent on transportation (6 percent). Fifty-six percent responded favorably to a proposal to establish a new regional transportation authority with the power to undertake regional transportation projects, and 57 percent said they would be willing to have some of their taxes used by a regional transportation authority for roads and mass transit to relieve traffic congestion, even if some of their tax money might not be spent in their own city or county. As for the recent anthrax attack, 32 percent said they personally worry that it could affect them personally; As for having a plan at home for what to do in case of an emergency, 65 percent said they do not have one, and only 43 percent said they think the Greater Washington region has an adequate plan to deal with crises like the terrorist attack at the Pentagon; 39 percent feel the area is not prepared, and 18 percent said they weren’t sure. Sixty-seven percent said they had more confidence in the federal government to handle security concerns while 19 percent said they had more confidence in their local officials. Only 30 percent supported establishing a new regional security chief, while 58 percent preferred to leave that job to existing agencies.

Since having been assaulted/mugged while out-of-town, I’m more jumpy. I’ve felt pretty safe in DC overall, and am almost as comfortable as before, but more likely to imagine lurking muggers and now I really like the sight of MPD on foot or bicycle. Telling my mugging story has prompted many people to tell me their mugging stories. These stories have been interesting. I can imagine an “Assault Victim Anonymous.” What is the optimal ratio of police officers to residents? My guess is that there are about 155 DC residents per MPD officer (there are fewer than 3,600 MPD officers, according to a very good Jonetta Rose Barras commentary on Nov. 11 in The Common Denominator, divided into 558,000 residents — to underestimate a little). A statistical breakdown of citywide crime reported in The Common Denominator’s Police Blotter: Total felonies reported in DC Oct. 26-Nov. 9, 1,640. Total felonies for each DC Police District: 1st District, 311; 2nd, 128; 3rd, 309; 4th, 262; 5th: 263; 6th: 216; 7th: 151. Total felonies reported in my neighborhood (3rd District), shown by violation: 1 arson, 23 assaults, 50 burglaries, 3 homicides, 36 robberies, 1 sexual abuse, 37 stolen autos, 37 thefts, 121 thefts from autos. Somebody has been busy. So it looks like there are over 6,000 felonies per month. Now that is a security issue, isn’t it?

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Infant Mortality Information
Rene Wallis, rwallis@dcpca.org

The District of Columbia, for the third time, has received a bonus for achieving one of the nation's largest decreases in out-of-wedlock births. The 1996 welfare reform legislation authorized such bonuses to reward states which achieved the largest decreases; the welfare reform legislation mandated that states lower the rate. This year's bonuses were based on birth statistics for the years 1996-1997 and 1998-1999. States were required to show a decrease in the abortion rate between the most recent year and 1995.

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Administration of Saints
Kurt Vorndran, Kvorn@nteu.org

Well, I guess we all have different experiences, but I think Dorothy is totally off the mark to suggest that the Mayor and his Administration are inaccessible. I am not part of any business organization nor have I given a dime to the Mayor's reelection campaign. But as an ANC Commissioner and President of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club (a notable community organization) I have found the Administration open and accessible to responsible input.

Mary Ann Floto, the Ward 3 liaison in the Office of Community Services, must have the gift certain Medieval saints legendarily had of bilocation. Far from sitting behind a desk, she is at every community gathering in her ward, directly available to concerned citizens and quick to follow up with a response or information. Larry Hemphill, the Director of the Office, is someone I have not only always found accessible, but takes positive action to reach out to community organizations and leaders. Wanda Alston, the new GLBT liaison, is a dynamo of energy and activism. In fact, rather than any lack of action, the challenge is keeping up with her. As to the issue of the need to knock on the door before one enters the office of the Mayor's gay and lesbian liaison office, I find Dorothy's comments belittling and offensive towards the GLBT community. I would never question the security judgments the GLBT liaison office feels it needs, which are not just for their own sense of security, but that of members of the gay and lesbian community who have the need to visit the office, among which are the victims of violence and discrimination.

As for the Mayor himself, I will not even mention the many times he has been accessible to citizen and civic organizations. The occasion I most remember is when he took an afternoon to visit with the parishioners and members of my church, few of whom are American citizens, to listen to their concerns and needs in their lives and in the area around 16th Street and Park Road.

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Re Red Lights and Lights in General
Richard Rothblum, rothblum@bellatlantic.net

John Noble inquired whether the lack of synchronization of the traffic lights in DC is deliberate and something he would just have to get used to. It is my understanding that during non-rush hours, the lights on certain streets are deliberately desynchronized to have a calming effect on traffic. The effect on me is the opposite, but that is something that I am trying to learn to live with. DC actually had one of the first computer-controlled traffic systems in the country, and, when they want it to work, is very good.

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Pedestrians
James Treworgy, jamie@trewtech.com

I think the “yield to pedestrian” markers are useful. As a frequent pedestrian myself, I am amazed how DC drivers, far more so than any other place I've had privilege to walk much, have no respect for pedestrians both at uncontrolled crosswalks and at traffic lights (e.g. failing to yield to pedestrians while making turn, or a right turn on red).

At the very least, these signs should raise awareness of the law requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Their intrusive placement in the middle of the road is exactly what makes drivers likely to pay attention to them. I would rather have cars photographed not yielding to pedestrians than running red lights.

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Cars and Buses
Victor Chudowsky, vchudows@yahoo.com

Excellent post by Danilo Pelletiere of the Sierra Club. There is no doubt that transportation policy, both in DC and nationally, favors cars over other means of transportation. The default response to traffic is basically “pave some more land over,” like in Klingle Valley, I-395 interchange, widening I-66, Wilson Bridge, etc. I'd like to add that one option that also seriously needs to be looked at is our Metro Bus system.

Most of the year I bike to work (Woodley Park to Adams Morgan). It is fairly life-threatening to do so, what with mad commuters and taxi drivers practically hitting me all the time, so during daylight savings I stop biking and take the bus. It is absolutely astonishing to me that Connecticut Avenue is choked with smoke-belching traffic, while the buses are usually no more than half full. The McLean Gardens bus, which goes into Adams Morgan from Wisconsin Avenue, is empty most of the time. It is rare that I have seen more than ten people on that bus, even during rush hour. I'm not a transportation planner, but it seems to me that we could start by using smaller buses, and combining that with more frequent service and better routes. A good example is the small bus which runs from Woodley Park Metro to U Street every fifteen minutes — great way to get to the 9:30 Club! This is a good idea which should probably be expanded. People will start using mass transportation only when it becomes more convenient than a car; I'm not convinced that raising gas or registration taxes would work, however.

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Car Policies
Harold Goldstein, dcbiker@goldray.com

Gary mentions what he claims are two anti-car policies — DC hasn't built a single municipal parking lot, and car fees and taxes significantly higher in DC than in surrounding states. That doesn't seem anti-car. It is really an even handed approach. Car usage in DC and all around the country has been subsidized tremendously when all the costs of providing the car infrastructure are considered. When I worked as a planner, we researched the literature and did some calculations here in DC of the cost of maintaining the road ways, the cost of policing, the cost of the judicial system devoted to car stuff, the cost of pollution (actual $), etc., and, if I recall, it was well over a 50 percent subsidy at a time when transit was almost break even.

Well, times change, transit is subsidized, but cars are still subsidized to a much greater tune. Not building subsidized parking is saying that the government is not in the business of providing additional unfair subsidies that will benefit suburban folk more than city folk (greater percentage of them use auto for commuting). It's saying that the government does not want to encourage more cars in a city already overburdened by them during rush hours. Sounds like smart policy for a change.

As far as fees and taxes being higher than in the suburbs — well, if they are in fact higher (are they — $100 a year doesn't sound like a lot for my plates -- and what taxes are there?) is there anything wrong in setting appropriate road usage fees, since that is what they are? Just because the neighbors are low-balling it doesn't mean we should. No, this is not anti-car — it is, for a change, a balanced approach between auto and transit. If we had had a balanced approach all these years we would not be where we are now. If auto-transit expenditures had been balanced we probably would have a Metro system triple its present size, at the very least!

[Let's agree to disagree, but I continue to believe that public policies that make it more expensive, difficult, and inconvenient to own cars are anti-car, just as policies that made it more expensive, difficult, and inconvenient to own bicycles would be anti-bike. I'm continuing to ask whether there are any policies that benefit most drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation riders alike, without trying to make life harder for anyone. By the way, the tax on purchasing a car is 3 percent if it is licensed in Virginia, 10 percent in DC. On a $20,000 car, that is a difference of $1,400, which is a significant additional cost. — Gary Imhoff]

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Street Cleaning
Robert Payne, rdp_ivy@yahoo.com

I read in themail about a month back that street cleaning restrictions may be lifted for the winter in DC. Is this true?

[Parking restrictions for street cleaning are always suspended during the winter because the water in the machines freezes in cold weather. The difficulty in the past has been finding out the dates when restrictions are suspended, but this year the dates are published on the Department of Public Works' web site: between January 8 and March 12. — Gary Imhoff]

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Poetic Justice
Robert Revere, rrevere@yahoo.com

Sam Smith, a longtime DC activist and editor of “The Progressive Review,” tells a story about “the Attica that didn't happen” — a prison uprising in the District of Columbia. He will tell it for a live audience at the next Speak Easy, the open mic storytelling event presented by Washington Storytellers Theater.

Other guests include Frank Smith, former Ward 1 Council Member and the driving force behind the African American Civil War Memorial; humorous storytelling veteran Bill Mayhew; and Isaac Colon, poet and member of Sol y Soul youth theater ensemble. The featured performers are followed by an open mic. It takes place Tuesday, December 11, at 8 p.m. at HR-57, 1610 14th Street, NW. $5 cover at the door, $3 corking fee for BYOB. Call 301-891-1129.

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Upcoming City Council Hearing on the DC Health Alliance
Carolyn Curtis, Cabcurtis@aol.com

On December 10 [10:00 a.m., Wilson Building, Room 412], there will be a hearing before the City Council about the DC Health Alliance. Please take this opportunity to testify regarding any concerns/problems that you may have encountered in obtaining timely care in area hospitals since the new public health plan has been in place.

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Fair Budget Coalition
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org

Activists and others needed to advocate on the FY 2003 budget. The Fair Budget Coalition of the District of Columbia will meet at its regular day (first Wednesday of the month — December 5) and time (9:30 - 11:00 am) at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, 1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 6th floor. The agenda includes a discussion about what the FY 2003 budget will look like, advocacy strategies to protect and expand funding for human needs in 2003, and future plans of the Coalition. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Questions? Call Patty Mullahy Fugere, 872-8958 or me, 234-9404.

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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING

Apartment for Rent
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com

From a colleague who asked this to be posted: apartment available in Dupont Circle from January-May 2002. A furnished junior one-bedroom on New Hampshire Avenue, located conveniently to a variety of restaurants, bars and shopping. The rent is $1300 and includes all utilities (not telephone), a 24 hour doorman, and a roof pool/deck. For more information or to view the apartment, please E-mail amandajkatz@hotmail.com or call Hannah at 232-6132.

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CLASSIFIEDS — DONATIONS

Community Toy Collection Notice
Kathleen McLynn, kdmclynn@starpower.net

Collecting new and gently used toys, dolls, sports gear, helmets, books, stuffed animals, art supplies, clothing. Do your kids have toys that they have outgrown? In the spirit of the season, please consider donating them to Mt. Rona Baptist Church.

If you would like to make a contribution, please drop toys off at the front porch of any of these locations 24/7: Betsy Hawkings, 4332 Albemarle Street, NW; Lisa Oakley, 3386 Stephenson Place, NW; Susan Phillips, 3801 W Street, NW. Please make your donation no later than December 13.

Now in its 11th Year! Our community has supported the Mt. Rona toy drive for 11 years. Families from Stoddert School in Glover Park, where Bernice McCallum taught for 13 years, first adopted the program and continue to support this most worthy cause. Over the years this grass roots effort has gained support in adjoining neighborhoods as well. If you have questions, please call Bernice McCallum, 726-5852, Mt. Rona Baptist Church; Kate McLynn, 966-9837, St. Columba’s.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Chimney Aides Sought
Sid Booth, SidBooth1@aol.com

Mike, our new neighbor, is seeking recommendations for (1) a chimney sweep and (2) a mason to repair some loose bricks in his chimney. Please relay ideas to mlmarshall@usa.net.

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A Recommendation and a Question
Dru Sefton, drusefton@hotmail.com

In my ongoing quest to meet fun folks here in D.C., I've run across an interesting group, The Sociables. Too complicated to explain here; it's basically 2,500 persons who want to socialize! Check out the FAQ at http://www.sociables.org/aboutus/about_us_faq.asp and the calendar at http://www.sociables2.org/event/calendar.asp.

Also, I'd like to learn how to play chess. Anyone know of any chess clubs out there, or perhaps a chess expert who'd like to mentor a total novice in exchange for home-baked cheesecakes? E-mail me!

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Vegetarian Restaurant Recommendations
Jon Katz, jon@markskatz.com

Replying to themail's invitation for vegetarian restaurant recommendations, my favorites are:

Raw vegan: Delights of the Garden, 2616 Georgia Avenue, NW.
Indian: Balajee, Rosslyn Metro food court. Udupi Palace, 1329 University Boulevard, East, Langley Park. Woodlands, 8046 New Hampshire Avenue, Langley Park, MD. Amma, 344-A Maple Avenue E , Vienna, and 3291-A M Street NW, Georgetown.
Chinese: Yuan Fu, 798 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD.
Groceries: Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op. 201 Ethan Allen Avenue, Takoma Park, and Grubb Road, Silver Spring. Glut Food Co-op, 4005 34th Street, Mt. Rainier, MD.

More local vegetarian restaurants and groceries are listed at http://www.vsdc.org and http://www.vrg.org.

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