He’s Back!
Dear Voters:
Here's a question for those who will vote in the upcoming Democratic
primary election. Will you support a candidate who as mayor of this city
failed miserably in his efforts to reform the city's government, who let
neighborhoods deteriorate as he concentrated on downtown development,
who was supported by — and in turn supported — a coalition of
powerful suburban business interests and corrupt community development
corporations, who flouted campaign laws with impunity, who neglected
some wards of the city while being loyally backed by an uncritical
following in other wards? And if you will support a candidate like that,
which candidate will it be, Marion Barry or Tony Williams?
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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I just received my annual property tax assessment, a 20 percent
increase after last year's 50 percent increase. Don't you think it is
time to organize an effort to cap the effective rate of property tax
increases? If I remember correctly, in Montgomery County they sent me an
assessment that rose dramatically at times, but my annual payments rose
no faster than 7 percent a year no matter how high the assessment went.
These dramatic rises in taxes are a disaster.
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10 Cops vs. One Preacher and the First
Amendment
Gregory Diaz, Zaidmot@aol.com
I am so happy that we at last have crime under control and no more
worries about terrorism. In fact, things are so rosy that Sunday
afternoon our police forces (yes, plural, here in America's cop central
city) could afford to send ten uniformed policemen (seven of
Metropolitan's finest and three of the Park Police's underutilized
minions, including a canine officer dressed for full combat) in six
scout cars to scrutinize the permit of a Sunday afternoon preacher in
Dupont Circle. While the preacher continued to belt out his version of
redemption, the assembled super-cops scratched heads and other parts of
their anatomy, passed the piece of paper around amongst themselves, and
generally consulted. After a good half-hour, a Park Police officer who
acted as if he had more authority than knowledge of the Constitution
finally returned the permit to the preacher, and the rest of the crowd
of police (who outnumbered the preacher's audience) finally drifted out,
thence to cluster in smaller gaggles, no doubt planning the next raid on
a doughnut stand. One might question why a permit is even needed to
stand up in a public place and vent one's views (we used to call it
“reedom of Speech” in the old days), but that might invite scrutiny
from The Little General who now and then peeks out from behind his blue
curtain of modesty to warn us that dissent is a form of treason.
Poo-tee-wheet, poo-tee-wheet. First they came for the preachers. . . .
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Reservation 13 More Than a Euphemism
Kenan Jarboe, kpjarboe@erols.com
Contrary to the assertion by Thomas Hall of the Washington
Business Journal, the term “Reservation 13” is a fact, not an
euphemism. While a number of citywide activists understandably see only
DC General, the site includes much more, including the Jail and other
uses. To the neighbors, the area has been known as “city sacrifice
area” — i.e., a dumping ground for whatever you don't want in your
backyard (200 bed insecure prisons masquerading as halfway houses,
factory-sized drug treatment facilities, auto-impound lots,
crematoriums, quarantine-facilities — to mention just a few of the
bright ideas I have heard within the past two years). The citizens of
Capitol Hill (especially the east side) are sick and tired of being the
dumping grounds. My hope and efforts during this planning process is
that we can create a positive vision for the Reservation 13 site — all
of it including that portion of the site where DC General is located —
and reverse the negative future that many of us fear for the area.
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Dominion Virginia Power Company Gets It Right
Gabe Goldberg, gabe@gabegold.com
On January 16 I received a letter from Dominion Virginia Power
(formerly Vepco, I guess) stating that within the next few months they'd
be replacing our (Fairfax County) neighborhood's transformers,
necessitating power being off. The letter outlined access their need for
transformers and invited homeowners to handle any needed landscaping
trimming to minimize damage. The letter gave the name and phone number
of the project designer and invited questions. On February 6 a second
letter came, giving three possible dates and times for the work,
indicating that weather might delay the work by a day or two. I called
the project designer with a question, she returned my call the next day
and answered the question to my satisfaction. I congratulated her on the
clarity and completeness of her two letters.
On February 25 — the first of the possible work days — a flock of
trucks, equipment, and workers swarmed the neighborhood. They started at
the appointed hour. On my way out for the powerless day, I asked a
worker when he expected they'd be done. He answered that they might
finish a little earlier than planned because our neighborhood has better
access to the transformers. From the times on the blinking clocks when I
returned, they just about nailed the scheduled finish time. I can't
imagine how they could have handled this better from start to finish;
it's an example of corporate/utility courtesy, competence, and
follow-through.
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Trees Again
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com
First the city dug a ditch and planted a new young tree. Now they've
hollowed out the bottom of a tree that all of us have called about. It's
old, had more dead branches (that keep falling off) than live ones and
seems to be ready to fall down. The city's laws about trees in tree
boxes belonging to the City means we have little recourse except to keep
calling. Now that a huge chunk of the bottom is gone, it's looking
mighty unstable. Other than letting the city know, what should we do?
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Democratic Compliance in themail
Michael Bindner, mbindnerdc@aol.com
Regarding Mr. Vondran's post responding to Mr. Daniels report that
Ward 8 Dems (or DC Dems) would be held accountable for supporting Mr.
Catania: It is true that in the privacy of the voting booth, voters can
select whomever they choose. However, I suspect that Party officers who
support Mr. Catania openly at either the Ward or State Committee level
will most likely be expelled from party office or committee membership
— which means that members can only support Catania covertly.
The race is interesting, especially in this stage. It is certain that
Catania will run, and likely that Mendelson will run as a Democrat.
Whether Marion Barry or Donna Brazile run is an open question (though
the longer Barry leaves his hat in the race contingently, the less
likely Donna or anyone else will run). There will likely be a Statehood
Green Party candidate. Had Beverly Wilbourn not received the Post
endorsement 4 years ago, Hilda Mason would have been reelected and David
Catania would have come in third (as Wilbourn's votes plus Mason's were
more than Catania's). Should Barry get the nomination, the likely result
is large turnout in the African American community and the Statehood
Green candidate edging Catania for second place (since that candidate
would get the anyone but Barry vote in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 6).
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Ward 8 Democratic State Committeeman May
Endorse Williams’s Reelection
Bobbi Swanson, Executive Assistant, ahjgroup@earthlink.net
Ward 8 Democratic State Committeeman, Arthur H. Jackson Jr. may be
the first member of the DC Democratic State Committee to endorse the
reelection of first term Mayor Anthony Williams. Jackson, a former
elected official in Prince Georges County, has publicly challenged
articles in themail stating he is leaning towards endorsing David
Catania for Mayor.
Four years ago, Jackson's Fighting 54th Organization endorsed Kevin
Chavous for Mayor; however the organization believes Democrats must
unite, and African Americans must work to recruit and support winnable
candidates for U.S. Senate and Governor. Arthur H. Jackson, a successful
businessman and political campaign organizer has served as advisor to
more than 5,000 Democrats in the past, and has called for East of the
River Democrats to support a united democratic team in 2002 and 2004. He
will announce his decision on endorsing Mayor Williams later this month,
after meeting with the Mayor's reelection staff.
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License Plate Slogans
George S. LaRoche, LaRoche@us.net
Mr. Whiteside is correct (themail, March 3) that many states have
slogans their license plates, but there is no absolute distinction
between slogans and political statements. In fact, “political
statements” are simply slogans with political meanings. Florida's
slogan (“the sunshine state”) is unlikely to be taken to have
political meaning. Louisiana's sometime attempt (in one version or
another) to use the license plate slogan “the right to life state”
might be a mere “statement of fact” to some people, but it's also
clearly heavily laden with political meaning. While DC's plate statement
“taxation without representation” is less politically charged than
“NO taxation without representation,” it's still a politically
charged statement. After all, it was chosen and championed by those who
think that taxation without representation is wrong (a proposition with
which I agree, by the way), which is a political act and a political
choice, so its birth in a political movement means we can't really say
the resultant slogan is not a political statement. But this political
statement is unlikely to be challenged, which can't be said for
Louisiana's right to life statement (if the state ever succeeds in using
it on their license plates). So the District is likely to get away with
using it, under the convenient gloss that it's just a “statement of
fact.”
But that doesn't mean that there aren't people who might challenge it
— on venerable grounds. The political statement, “no taxation
without representation” (a variation of the statement “taxation
without representation is tyranny”) is remembered from a time in our
history when the British colonies on the North American mainland were
being taxed rather heavily by Parliament, which rankled the loyal
British subjects of these colonies. These loyal British subjects thought
that these British colonies should be represented in the British
Parliament, if they were to be taxed. Later, when the attempt to gain
this representation had failed and the Crown had imposed yet other
burdens, the colonists decided they were no longer loyal British
subjects, and they didn't want mere representation in the British
Parliament, for they wanted to govern themselves, which led to and was
the basis for the Revolution. Today, just as then, someone might take
issue with the “taxation without representation” slogan on the
grounds that it hides the real issue, which is today what it was then:
self-government, not continuation of a colonial status but with
representation in the legislature of the colonial sovereign.
And John Wheeler is correct as to the New Hampshire situation
(decided by the Supreme Court in Wooley v. Maynard, 430 U.S. 705
(1977)). But there is a correlate question (the “other shoe” to
Wooley's). Wooley's question (in short) was whether the government can
compel someone to bear a particular political statement, which the Court
answered with “no.” But the next question is, can the government
force a citizen to bear a particular political statement or be silent?
Another way to express this would be, can the government silence one
category of political belief by offering only a chance to express its
opponent category? This question might arise if someone were to cover
the “taxation without representation” slogan with a sticker saying
something like “a colony deserving full self-government” (another
“statement of fact”), and leaving to see whether the government
would take this as defacing the official plate (of course, if the
government didn't take action, then the question would be why the
government doesn't provide that slogan on a version of the official
plate).
###############
Taxation Without Representation Is a Political
Statement
Katie Hodge, khodge@biglizard.net
In answer to a number of queries of how people could see the license
plate slogan as a political statement, I'll pose two answers. First, it
depends on your political views. Not everyone who lives in this city
feels that they are not represented. Even in this forum we see wide
views on this subject. Some people who live here subscribe heartily to
the high school civics version of the District of Columbia as a
non-state, because no state should have undue influence over the Federal
functions and all members of Congress have a responsibility to oversee
the governance of the area, and besides no one was supposed to live here
anyway. Second, there is the intent of the slogan. The slogan was
proposed to educate people on a political issue, to draw attention to
the non-Statehood status, and that we have a Representative in Congress
at the pleasure of Congress, and what kind of Representative is one who
can't vote anyway? While "Live Free or Die" is also a
political slogan, I imagine it doesn't have quite the level of
controversy, as it represents a view ingrained in many people in this
country. I don't believe there are many people in the country who
wouldn't want to live free. Also, while it is a political slogan, the
intent is not to change a current system, it is a historical artifact in
many respects. “Taxation without Representation” is an attempt to
effect change now. If I don't want change, why would I want someone
using my car to educate others on the issue? Personally, I don't even
like to wear T-shirts with other people's logos on them; why would I
want the government putting a logo on my car? (And yet, for full
disclosure, my license plate choice is the result of laziness and has
the logo on it — since I don't follow the first view I proposed here I
went ahead and took it; I'll admit to having second thoughts now since I
like the idea of political slogans on license plates less and less).
###############
Two points: 1) The language “Taxation without Representation” was
chosen so that it would not be a political statement. Adding “no” to
the front or something to the end and it might be. It is simply a fact
of the District that is more accurate and poignant than the previous
“Celebrate and Discover.” So it is not a political statement and not
even a political issue rather a civil rights issue.
2) For those who complain about having a lack of choice about having
the slogan on the plates, well complain to those in charge. Lets see: in
charge of the DMV is the District Government, in charge of the District
Government is Congress. So go complain to your Senator or
Representative. Oh wait, you don't have one. Best off supporting the
license plates so eventually you may have one.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS AND CLASSES
The Friends of the Cleveland Park Library will hold their annual
spring book sale on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17, at the
Cleveland Park Library, Connecticut Avenue and Macomb Street, NW (one
block south of Cleveland Park Metro red line), from noon to 4 p.m. each
day. We have thousands of previously owned books, in many categories,
donated by our neighbors. They range from recent bestsellers to
out-of-print treasures, fiction and nonfiction. Most books are priced at
$1.00 for hardcovers, $.50 for paperbacks. For this sale, paperback
mysteries, romances, and science fiction will sell for $.10 each. There
are a large number of specially priced books — coffee table books,
first editions, large format art books, etc. We also have records, CD's,
tapes, and videos, as well as some sheet music. Sale proceeds go to
benefit our branch library. For more information, contact Nathalie Black
at nvblack@earthlink.net or
362-3599.
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Celebrate Women's History Month by joining us for a special event
called “Threads of Time: African American Designers 1854-1854.” This
free history lesson/fashion show takes place this Sunday afternoon at
2:00 at the George Mason Regional Library in Annandale, VA. Space is
limited; call 703-256-3800 to reserve a seat.
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The Ward 6 Community Emergency Preparedness Day, sponsored by the
Office of Councilmember Sharon Ambrose and the District of Columbia
Emergency Management Agency, will be held on Saturday, March 9, at Hine
Junior High School 335 8th St., SE (Eastern Market Metro). Featured
speakers: Councilmember Sharon Ambrose, EMA Director Peter LaPorte, MPD
Chief Charles Ramsey, Fire/EMS Chief Ronnie Few, Chief Health Officer
Dr. Ivan C.A. Walks, and Joseph Askew of Verizon. Learn what you can do
to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters;
how to develop a community preparedness plan; and about the new District
Response Plan. To pre-register or for more information E-mail Skip
Coburn at scoburn@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
or call Myisha at 724-8072.
Schedule: 10 a.m., registration/check-in; 10:30 a.m., morning plenary
session; 12 p.m., lunch (will be provided); 1 p.m., small group training
sessions; 3:30 p.m., wrap-up; 4 p.m., adjournment.
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Health Care Now! Forum on CareFirst Conversion
Sam Jordan, Actupdc@aol.com
Health Care Now!, the District of Columbia's largest health care
consumer advocacy organization, will host a community forum on
Wednesday, March 13, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Christ Church, 620 G
Street, SE. The forum will focus on the controversial sale of DC's
nonprofit health insurance plan, CareFirst (Blue Cross/Blue Shield), to
Wellpoint, a multi-billion dollar, for-profit corporation based in
California. Carefirst, the Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance plan
for the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, and northern Virginia
was established as a nonprofit health insurance provider for low-income
residents. In exchange for decades of taxpayer subsidies, CareFirst has
offered open enrollment for needy and hard-to-insure residents, as the
health insurance provider of last resort.
Now Carefirst is seeking government approval to change its nonprofit
status, and convert into a for-profit corporation, allowing the $1.3
billion sale to proceed. "Nothing about the proposed conversion
benefits the public interest. It is driven by profit and easy theft of
public investments," insisted Sam Jordan, Project Director of
Health Care Now!, a project of the Center for Community Change. Health
Care Now! has assembled a team of health policy experts, lawyers, and
public interest activists who will explain the process of conversion
from nonprofit to for-profit, and its implications, including higher
health insurance premiums, and the exclusion of DC residents with
preexisting conditions.
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Critical Resistance Film Festival
Jason Ziedenberg, jzdc@cjcj.org
Critical Resistance, a national organization seeking an end to this
nation's growing reliance on prisons to address social and economic
problems, presents Critical Resistance: Beyond the Prison Industrial
Complex Film Festival. The eclectic festival will feature newly released
documentaries, classic narratives, experimental shorts and panels of
ex-offenders, experts, advocates, and youth who will speak out against
punitive prison practices and police abuse in DC. The three-day festival
runs Friday, March 8th to March 10 at the Maya Angelo Public Charter
School, 1851 9th Street, NW (at T St., NW). The full film program is
posted at http://www.criticalresistance.org/creast/filmfestival.html.
For more information on the program, call us at 521-0377 or E-mail Octoberfoverever@yahoo.com.
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Creative Arts Healing Training for Artists
Juliet Bruce, juliet@arts-for-life.org
To all storytellers, visual artists, writers, dancers, musicians, and
creative arts counselors: Institute for Transformation Through the Arts
(ITA) is going to offer free trainings for artists in all media who are
interested in bringing the transformative power of the arts to people
and communities in need of healing. We're offering this training in
association with ArtistCares, an organization of New York-based artists
formed after September 11. ArtistCares has created an excellent healing
model and artist preparation workshop, and they will work with ITA to
train a network of artists to do this work in our area.
The artist prep workshop will prepare you to lead workshops that
support healing through creative expression, understand the difference
between creative arts healing and therapy, understand and manage group
dynamics, and connect with a network of artists who are doing this work.
We don't yet have a date or location. We're putting out this call to see
how many of you want to participate in this project. We'd appreciate
your forwarding this message to friends and colleagues who might be
interested. ITA is a DC-based nonprofit that uses the arts to support
the health and well being of individuals, families, and communities --
especially those affected by underachievement, marginalization, and
violence. To find out more about us, visit www.arts-for-life.org.
If you'd like to take this training or want to find out more about this
project, please E-mail juliet@arts-for-life.org,
or call 667-3766 as soon as possible.
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Shameless Self-Promotion
Cynthia Benjamin, cm_benjamin@yahoo.com
Come watch me make an utter fool of myself! Gala Hispanic Theater
presents “The Truth Can't Be Trusted,” a delicious comedy of errors
from Spain's golden age, February 7-March 17.
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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
Key Strength Trainer 2000 Weight Bench, Bar,
Mat and 255 lb. Weight Set
Kate Zimmer, cyprus83@hotmail.com
Great deal for someone who wants to work out at home. Key Strength
Trainer 2000 Weight Bench, Bar, Mat and weights. Heavy duty oversized
tubing. Sturdy no tip front and rear stabilizer. Scratch and chip
resistant electrostatic finish. Comfortable high density foam pads.
Weight bar safety hooks and retainer spring clips. Exercises — leg
extension/curl, crunch, chest press. $275.00 or best offer.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Paris Apartment Available in July and August
Peggy Robin, probin@adlerbooks.com
My stepsister, Virginia Isbell (a former Washingtonian), asked me to
post this notice about her fabulous Paris apartment: Paris penthouse
apartment for rent, four bedrooms, two baths, terrace, great views of
the Eiffel Tower (15th arrondissement, near Motte-Piquet Grenelle). One
double bed and four singles. Fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, maid
service included. $1500 weekly or $2000 for 10 days, available July and
August. The apartment is within walking distance of three Metro stops, a
supermarket, many bakeries, kids' clothing stores, one of the best
playgrounds in all of Paris, and more. With views that even many of the
best hotels don't have, this is an ideal location.
To see photos, go to http://www.isbell-art.com/flat/flat.htm.
For more information, E-mail virginiaisbell@aol.com
or call 011 331 53 95 01 68.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
Restaurant Recommendation
Greg Jones, GMon6612@aol.com
According to a posting on the Chevy Chase Community Listserv, the
operator of Los Lomitos Dos, the newish TexMex place at the NE corner of
Livingston and Connecticut Avenue, NW, is reportedly hanging on by a
thread. (This is the space that was occupied by Vivaldi's for several
years, and the Fishery before that.) My family and I think the food
there is pretty good and hope that more in the community will support
this local business.
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Seeking Recommendations for a Contractor
Nick Keenan, Shaw, nbk@gsionline.com
I am looking for recommendations for a contractor to renovate a
bathroom.
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