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December 12, 2001

Measures of Success

Dear Successors:

The most interesting development of the past week was that the administration was able to sell its pitch that the closing of DC General Hospital, and the health care “plan” that replaced it, have been a success. The city's costs are higher under the new plan, while at the same time more patients are being disqualified from receiving free and subsidized health care, with the result that the city is now treating fewer patients for fewer diseases, and for shorter periods of time. Yet the proof of the plan's success is that nobody much, aside from the original critics, is complaining about the decline in the provision of health care services.

By this measure, the school board has also been a great success. DC public schools are educating fewer students at a higher cost, and now for a shorter school year. I propose extending this measure of success throughout DC government. We can make the government's motto, “Fewer services for fewer people, at a higher cost.” At last, a goal that we can achieve.

In the same spirit, themail succeeded in not publishing last week because of a computer crash. It took a little work to recover, but we're back. The subscription list, however, is about two weeks old. If you unsubscribed over the past two weeks, I'm sorry about the inconvenience, but you're back on board. If you know anyone who subscribed during the first part of December, please encourage him or her to resubscribe.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Murder in the District
Keith Jarrell, keithndc@starpower.net

I get particularly dismayed when news such as what we heard over the weekend comes out and so many people remain silent. Doug Small was missing for 21 days before the MPD could bring themselves to do a thorough examination of his house. Clearly forensic evidence proved that he was indeed murdered and the information gathered lead them finally to an arrest. Why did they wait 21 days to do this part of the investigation? Is anyone's life so unimportant to wait so long before doing a simple procedure that can and has led them to the missing information they needed to prove that he had been killed? This is clearly part of a systemic and long overdue major problem in leadership that must be fixed. When will the Mayor and Councilmembers begin to take on a leadership role in requiring better accountability from the Metropolitan Police Department? Isn't that time now?

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We’re Reaching Out, But You Can’t Reach In
Richard Rosendall, rick@glaa.org

Kurt Vorndran wrote: “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.” Kurt, were you high when you wrote this, or is there so little real homophobia left in our city that you have to manufacture it, or was this just a cheap shot? As it happens, Dorothy was referring to the Office of Community Outreach as a whole being locked, not just Wanda Alston's GLBT portion of it. But as to Wanda's office door needing to be locked to make her constituents safe: who from? Anti-gay terrorists who somehow got past building security? It is Kurt who is insulting gay people, not Dorothy. (By the way, judging by Kurt's unquestioning acceptance of the security concerns of his public officials no matter how lame, I guess this means we won't be hearing any criticism from him about Ashcroft's shredding of the Constitution in the name of security.) We are talking about the Office of Community Outreach, for God's sake! Here's my proposed slogan for them: “We're reaching out, but you can't reach in.”

As to the need for the Mayor's offices to be unreachable by elevator except with a special key, I am at a loss to understand how this is justified by the Mayor's attendance at community meetings. Kurt has already made it clear that he is in full campaign mode, which means he will automatically dismiss any and every criticism of the Mayor no matter what. (For example, his only response to the Administration's disgraceful undermining and purging of Ronald King from the Office of Boards and Commissions was to point out the obvious fact that the Mayor is free to appoint whomever he wants. Yes, Kurt, and we are free to say what we think of the Mayor's and the palace guard's decisions and actions. If I were inclined to play the gay card as freely as Kurt, I could cite the fact that Ronald is openly gay and accuse the Administration of homophobia. I have no evidence of that, but at least in this case I could cite an actual gay person being harmed. Personally, though, my policy is never to ascribe to malice what can more easily be attributed to cravenness and incompetence.)

Kurt understands that getting reelected and having a nice suite of offices is not enough, that the Mayor also needs to be able to govern. This being the case, I would suggest that those with Tony Williams' ear should strongly advise him that he could start improving his relations with various constituencies by unlocking the access to his taxpayer-funded penthouse, and by not blowing off inconvenient questions at press conferences. Alas, I fear that nothing short of a surgical implant of some political instincts will do the trick. I have just one personal request: Please don't claim that my security as a gay person is somehow more important than everybody else's in the Wilson Building. It isn't true, and it just makes me feel as if I'm being used for some cheap partisan hackery. What kind of floozies do you think we all are? The Barry legacy lives on.

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Ax to Grind
Tommy Wells, Wellsthos@aol.com

I clipped this from [Gary Imhoff's] article [in themail, December 3, 2001]: “The new hybrid Board ran up an unprecedented deficit of $80 million.” Do you understand that $38 million was for Medicaid disallowances from FY 1996 through FY 1999? By the way, who was the CFO in charge of such things at that time? That $30 million for special education of overspending was from a budget amount set by the City Council — not the Board — more than a year before we existed? That the staff hired under the Board of Trustees and the Control Board didn't do squat to get special education costs under control? We took over with nearly no new initiatives in place for Special Ed?

We did not learn of overspending in utilities until August since the Mayor's folks not only get all our utility bills and they estimated the utility budget for the year? Or, I guess, you just have an ax to grind.

[Tommy Wells is the elected Board of Education member for District 3, representing Wards 5 and 6. — Gary Imhoff]

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Shorter School Year
Sue Bell, bellsue@aol.com

Anyone else irate at the threatened shortening of the school year by 7 days due to budget problems? The article was buried on page 5 of Friday's Metro section.

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Junk Faxes in Washington, DC
Bill Adler, billonline@adlerbooks.com

District residents and businesses seem to be a magnet for junk faxes -- the spam of the fax world. From cell phones to satellite television, we get all sorts of advertising by fax. I thought I'd mention that sending fax advertising is illegal, and if you receive a junk fax you can sue in Small Claims Court for $500 -- $1,500 per fax. I've been to DC Small Claims Court a few times for junk faxes and won. For anyone who's interested in knowing more about how to stop junk faxes, you can visit http://www.junkfaxes.org and http://www.tcpalaw.com.

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New DMV Center in Georgetown Park
Jean Gray, ljeangray@hotmail.com

This is from Kathy Patterson's newsletter. I thought others might be interested. “New DMV Customer Service Center Opens in Georgetown. The Department of Motor Vehicles opened a new customer service center today, December 3, at The Shops at Georgetown Park on M Street in Georgetown. Services available at this new location include license renewal, registration renewal, residential parking permits and driver's records. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.”

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Car Policies
Harold Goldstein, dcbiker@goldray.com

Gary logically believes 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. However one must make a distinction between policies that exact a cost beyond that needed to provide the services used by cars (or bikes) and those merely meant to exact a fair share for the cost of services. In this case, cars have never ever paid for the fair share of the costs associated with providing their infrastructure. That is clear and virtually indisputable. Every study I have ever seen backs that up.

One could argue that any tax on one mode of transportation makes it harder for that mode to compete. Does that mean the tax is unfair? Until one can demonstrate that the auto is used to raise funds in excess of its cost then one cannot argue that any taxes are unfair. In my mind the auto has had an incredible advantage over all other modes for many years and it is high time that the auto be taxed fairly (for which we have a long way to go).

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More Vegetarian Restaurants
Mark Sutton, msutton@gvsp.usra.edu

The Vegetable Garden (across from White Flint Metro) already mentioned is outstanding. A Mecca not only in terms of two menus (one organic), but classic Chinese style preparation and attention to detail. Cannot say enough about this restaurant. Faux chicken, beef, and pork . . . chard-stuffed dumplings . . . unbelievable. Sunflower Cafe, in Vienna, VA, has some extraordinary "faux meats" and is just plan stunning in its innovative dishes. A small cafe, well worth the visit. The Mango Grove in Columbia, MD, has incredible authentic South Indian vegetarian food (unlike most Americanized Indian restaurants in DC that tend to be North Indian cuisine). Fabulous dosas, and a great, great brunch on weekends. I haven't been to Harmony Cafe in Georgetown, but I've heard it's good.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Forum on 14th Street Development in Columbia Heights
Elizabeth McIntire, elizabeth@innercity.org

After months (and years), the proposals are in. Six developers want to build on the three vacant sites along 14th Street between Monroe and Irving Streets near the Metro and the Tivoli. Twelve plans have been submitted. In February, the NCRC is scheduled to choose a developer or group of developers in a decision that will impact our neighborhood for decades to come. Come meet the developers and learn about all the prospects. See architectural renderings of the different proposed buildings. Hear about housing, retail, commercial, the arts, and open space. Saturday, December 15, 9 a.m., Lincoln Multicultural Middle School, 16th and Irving Streets, NW (entrance on 16th Street.)

9 a.m.-10 a.m.: information about proposals will be available and displayed for public viewing. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: each developer will present a brief overview of a proposed plan. 1 p.m.-2 p.m.: members of the audience will be able to ask questions about the plans.

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John Eaton Events
Lilliette Core, Lilliettecore@aol.com

It's time again for the John Eaton Christmas tree sale. Wreaths, too. Don't miss it! Friday, December 14, 3:00-6:00 p.m. Saturday, December 15, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 16, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Also, join us for Santa fun fest at John Eaton Elementary on Sunday, December 16, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Purchase a continental breakfast while your children meet and have a picture taken with Santa Claus! Activities include Santa Shoppe with gifts for friends and family (price under $5.00), Christmas carol sing-a-long; Christmas trees, wreaths, garland and poinsettias for sale; bake sale. Photos with Santa $7.00

John Eaton is located at 34th and Lowell Streets, NW. Fundraiser benefits John Eaton Elementary School's Co-teacher Program. Thank you for your continued support of John Eaton Projects.

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CLASSIFIEDS — CAUSES

DC-Area Digital Divide E-mail List Set Up
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

To help connect together those working on digital divide solutions (to bridge the divide between technology-haves and technology have-nots) in the DC-area, a new E-mail list has been created. To join the list go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dcareadd or send an E-mail to dcareadd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. The purpose of the list is to share ideas, resources, opportunities and best-practices. After joining the list you can choose to receive E-mail from the list as individual messages, a daily digest or to receive no E-mail (and read the messages as archived on the list's web site.) I manage several yahoogroups E-mail lists as part of my work and have found this free resource to work very well. Thanks for forwarding info about this list to folks you know who take an interest in this issue.

Note: It's been my experience that Hotmail E-mail accounts are not able to receive E-mail from YahooGroups lists. If you'd like to subscribe to the above list, I'd suggest not using a Hotmail account.

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Stein Club Ready to Move on Partner Benefits
Kurt Vorndran, Kvorn@nteu.org

The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, NSD applauds the issuance of a Conference Report which excludes the traditional riders which prohibited the implementation of domestic partner health care benefit for DC government employees. The domestic partner health benefit will allow DC public employees -- police officers, firefighters and others -- to purchase health insurance for a partner living in their household.

At the exact moment the Conference Committee was meeting, the Executive Board of he Stein Club met with Mayor Anthony Williams (D) and his Special Assistant for GLBT Community Affairs Wanda Alston to discuss implementation of this law. The Mayor and the Stein leadership tentatively agreed that the domestic partner registry would be in the DC Office of Vital Records. The Mayor committed to the Stein leadership that he expected timely implementation of the law. Stein Vice President Brad Lewis told the Mayor that an education campaign would also be needed so government workers knew of this new benefit.

The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club is the largest DC gay/lesbian political organization. It is affiliated with the National Stonewall Democrats.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Desperately Seeking Yoga Instructor
Rae Kelley, rkelley@asprs.org

I'm looking for a yoga class relatively close to the Howard University area. Preferably a small studio. I don't want to be "just a number" in the crowd. I've downloaded a list of studios from Digitalcity.com but researching these studios is almost impossible. Does someone has a recommendation?

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