Insults to Your Intelligence
Dear Correspondents:
I can't resist smart alecky responses to a few of the messages below,
so I've grouped my comments and demoted them to a single message just
before the classifieds.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Chief Few Has Got to Go
Shaun Snyder, Chevy Chase, shaunsnyder@erols.com
What more is it going to take before Fire and EMS Chief Ronnie Few is
fired? He was the wrong person for the job from the beginning. The
department he came from was nothing like our department. He arrived with
so many accusations of poor performance that he brought up his
supporters from Georgia to testify before the Council's Judiciary
Committee. Basically they defended Ronnie Few by accusing his accusers
of racism.
Several media outlets have reported that Chief Few has not ordered
fire trucks when money has been provided for them and when our existing
fleet is crippled by aging trucks. This alone should have been enough to
fire him — his incompetence is playing with our lives. Then we find
out that all the while he hasn't been ordering fire trucks, he HAS been
ordering cars for his personal use. Including, the Washington Times
reported, an expensive SUV that he won't drive now because he's afraid
the mayor will be upset with him. An article in Wednesday's Washington
Times shows that three top Fire/EMS officials Chief Few brought with
him from Georgia lied on their resumes. They claimed to be chiefs of one
kind or another in Georgia and are chiefs here, but they actually never
rose above the rank of lieutenant or sergeant in Georgia. They also
claimed to have attended educational institutions that have no record of
their attendance. (The article can be viewed here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20020313-81952.htm).
There are very few government agencies that have such a direct impact on
saving lives as Fire/EMS does. We don't need people heading it who are
not qualified for the job.
I have no idea why the mayor recruited Ronnie Few. First, Williams
should have made every effort to find someone within the department to
head it — someone with experience and loyalty to the District. Failing
that, he should have attempted to recruit someone from a comparable
department, and preferably someone with more support from his own
community than Chief Few had. Agency heads should be above reproach when
it comes to ethics — Ronnie Few is not. The mayor should fire Chief
Few immediately.
###############
Actually, the Marion berry is not unique to Washington State. It was
developed in Oregon. Marion County to be exact, by ag-scientists at
Oregon State University.
It's a yummy berry.
###############
Be Careful What You Wish For
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
The self-proclaimed “Champion of the People,” Marion Barry, is
running again. This time he is mounting a crusade to be one of the
at-large DC Council members. Hard to say how successful he will be in
this quest. Perhaps enough folks have had too much of Barry and he will
not win. Then again, he just might beat one of the weaker incumbents.
That will be the signal that should turn off any plans for DC Statehood.
Oh yes, the slogan says “Representation,” but that cannot be
realistically achieved without statehood.
Those who advocate statehood for DC should be very wary if Barry
wins. Statehood for DC will likely mean that we will have Jesse Jackson
as a DC Senator and Marion Barry as a Congressman. Can Al Sharpton, now
running for Governor of NY, be far behind to complete the trifecta? This
possibility would produce a lifetime of yucks for the late night comics,
Leno and Letterman, with DC as the laughing stock of the universe. Be
careful what you wish for.
###############
The Ghosts of DC Past
Mark Richards, West of the River and East of the Park, mark@bisconti.com
If there is a lack of leadership today, it isn't because there aren't
intelligent and capable people of every skin tone in DC-and Marion Barry
should only blame himself for not having helped develop a new generation
of leaders. Mr. Barry had his turn; he should help others run and take a
back-seat role where he doesn't do more harm than good for the DC he
claims to represent. Sam Smith, one of the founders of the DC statehood
movement, articulated my biggest problem with Mr. Barry back in 1986 in
an article titled “Bring in the Clowns.” He wrote, “That Barry
administration has soiled the reputation of the city and has hurt our
drive for further self-government.” See http://prorev.com/barryx.htm.
As for Tyson, well, I'm still not laughing. Does DC's future have to be
its past, the eternal return, over and over and over? What a depressing
thought.
###############
Licenses, Human Rights, and Tyson
Kristen Hansen, hkris@radix.net
Under DC Code Section 2-1402.67, licenses issued by or on behalf of
the District of Columbia “shall require and be conditioned upon”
full compliance with the DC Human Rights Charter. Tyson's conduct,
specifically his repeated acts of violence against women, violate the
spirit if not the letter of the Human Rights provisions of the DC Code.
I'm appalled that the Boxing Commission and the Mayor have given the
City's “stamp of approval” to Tyson.
###############
Tyson Fighting in DC
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com
What happened? How did it happen? Why were all the voices at the
meeting in favor of this? Isn't anyone concerned about how we look to
the rest of the world? We are dealing with so much about reputation and
perception because of the terrorist issues (including anthrax scares)
and now this! Oy.
###############
The Boxing and Wrestling Commission’s Public
Meeting
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
Three weeks ago the Boxing and Wrestling Commission indicated that in
a closed-door meeting they had decided to issue Mike Tyson a license to
box in DC. They quickly backed away from that position after public
furor arose against the Williams administration, and when Mayor Williams
made it clear that it was the policy of the administration to give the
impression that there had been an open, deliberative process before
issuing the predetermined decision. The administration decided that the
Commission could interview Tyson in a private, secret session last week,
with no audio, video, or written transcript of the meeting — and with
no medical or psychological examination results — being made public.
The administration also decided that the Commission could deliberate in
private as long as it announced its vote at a public meeting.
Last night's meeting, then, was purely for show, and the show was as
fixed as any boxing match ever promoted by Don King. In the audience
were fight promoter Rock Newman, professional boxer Keith Holmes, and
religious leaders Rev. Willie Wilson and Minister Abdul Muhammed, as
well as the New Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam, the Alliance
of Concerned Black Men, Ceasefire Don't Smoke the Brothers, and the
newly formed ad hoc group Women in Support of Tyson. DC's diverse
population didn't show — there were only a handful of whites,
Hispanics, and Asians; no representatives from the Mayor's office, the
Council, the Board of Trade, NOW; and no ministers aside from Wilson and
Muhammed. There was, however, a substantial police presence inside and
outside of the room.
Segments of the audience appeared to have been mobilized by Rock
Newman, who has been visiting DC from Las Vegas for the past several
weeks. His efforts recalled the get-out-the-vote campaign he organized
for Marion Barry in the past. Tyson supporters arrived very early, 30-45
minutes prior to the start of the meeting, took over most of the seats,
and quickly established a tone for the room, on at least one occasion
leading the audience in a chant of “Let Mike Fight.” The Commission
required all witnesses to sign up on a list made available about
forty-five minutes before the meeting started, from which they would be
called in order to make their one-minute statements. The first person
who was called was William Lockridge, who hadn't yet arrived because he
was at another meeting. The third witness called was Rev. Willie Wilson,
who had just arrived.
The most important actions taken by the Boxing Commission last night,
however, weren't reported in any newspapers. The Commission approved
fight promoter licenses for three political players who are positioning
themselves to get a piece of the action in any Tyson fight. The three
are PMG, Inc.; Omni Group Productions, Inc.; and Holloway & Co.,
PLLC. PMG is a joint venture led by Rock Newman's firm, involving
corporate lawyer Jeff Fried and sports agent Nathan Peake. Omni Group is
led by school board vice chairman William Lockridge. And the Holloway
who is president of Holloway and Co. is Gregory Holloway, the owner of
GLM Real Estate Management. The Church Association for Community Service
was chosen by HUD for a sweetheart real estate deal at the urging of the
DC government after the association laundered political donations for
Mayor Williams. CACS then hired GLM to renovate 300 HUD houses for sale
to low-income buyers. GLM's failure to perform led to HUD's decision
last week to take back 250 of the houses from CACS.
###############
I think it would be much easier for bikers/joggers etc., to have a
continuous bike path that joins up to the path around the Maryland line.
Right now, the path stops at Broad Branch (where the traffic is shut off
on weekends) I have found that during last falls nice weather I wanted
to get up and ride Rock Creek before work but the fear factor of having
to ride on that section of road with weekday traffic made me think twice
about it. Have there ever been any plans about continuing the
bike/jogger path from Broad Branch to the Maryland line so you could
ride all the way to Mt. Vernon any day of the week without the onslaught
of cars?
###############
Vanity Tags . . . Do They Still Make Them?
Shaun Snyder, Chevy Chase, shaunsnyder@erols.com
While we're on the subject of license plates, I ordered a vanity tag
back in November of '01. It was approved shortly thereafter, but I have
yet to hear back from DMV. The website said it would take 6-8 weeks to
process (which I assumed meant get the plate to me). I placed a call
today only to be told that they're not printing them right now and I
should try back in the future. They took my $40 right away but don't
seem in a hurry to print the tag.
I know they're using a different plate shop since the closing of
Lorton, but they should warn people on the web site if there are going
to be significant delays in processing orders.
###############
Not Outrageous
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
The compensation of $200K annually for some consultants to District
agencies has been characterized by many as outrageous. Let's put that
figure in perspective. Consultants are hired for their expertise and
experience in showing others how to do the right things right. They get
no benefits such as paid sick leave, paid vacation, pension, or medical
benefits. If you look at the top level of the DC Government you will
find a horde of individuals making more than $200K per year when you
include their bennies and pensions. Most of these highly paid, so-called
managers, could not hold a candle to the consultants employed by the
District. These managers are the ones overpaid in DC
If the District would evolve to a functional Team based organization
from the current wasteful, inefficient hierarchical bureaucracy, there
would be far less need for consultants and a far lower cost to operate
all District agencies. There would also be a full measure of
accountability in each agency. The consultants are earning their keep
for the Mayor.
###############
In response to Art Spitzer's query as to what was going on with the
preacher man, his reference to a podium may explain the genesis of the
man's permit, as he was indeed using a podium when the police first
arrived and demanded his papers. But that fails to adequately explain:
(1) why they needed ten officers, (2) why they didn't leave right away
once they saw that he did indeed have a permit, (3) why they made him
leave the podium, and (4) why they were so obviously were out to
inconvenience him. There may be an explanation for all of this, but I
can only say that it looked to this observer as yet another example of
the police overreaction in this city that was a problem even before the
events of September 11th. I personally would be loath to stand up and
start venting because I feel that the cops would bash me if they could
find the slightest excuse. I'm chilled, and not just based on this one
incident!
###############
Jonetta Rose Barras knows better and so does the moderator with
regard to legislation I've initiated to significantly broaden the
Freedom of Information Act in the District. Points Jonetta missed in her
recent e-zine attack: FOIA does not and never has applied to the
Congress. The DC FOIA amendments I introduced and that were enacted last
year explicitly applied the law to the DC Council, which had never been
the case before and has been done in only a handful of states
legislatures. Those amendments also provided for electronic FOIA
requests and several other good government provisions. The FOIA bill
that is pending before the Council is a technical addition to make clear
that the very same “deliberative process” exemption that has always
applied to the Executive — and the local and federal level — also
applies to the Council. It is likely not even necessary given case law
and is the subject of a public hearing later this week. I welcome any
constructive comments on the technical proposal as well as any other
option that anyone thinks would promote access, and hope in the future
writers for themail gets their facts straight.
###############
While I firmly believe that the increase in DC property values is
creating some tax burdens that must be addressed, in order to do so we
first need some clear thinking. Gary Imhoff suggested that with the
proposed 25 percent cap, it "would mean that for every $1,000 you
pay in property taxes this year, you'll pay . . . no more than $6,793.75
ten years from now." That, of course, presumes that the value of
one's property increases 25 percent a year for ten years straight. If
anyone in DC government can guarantee me a 25 percent return over each
of the next ten years on my property or any other investment, I will
prepare myself for the proverbial kissing of their hind quarters in
Macy's window at High Noon.
Victor Chudowsky makes a similar error, claiming the federal
government does not increase income taxes as DC property taxes are
raised. Oh so very wrong. If the value of your paycheck goes up 20
percent, expect an increased federal tax liability just as the increase
in tax when your property value goes up. Let's provide some relief for
folks on this matter, but let us at least be sensible as to what we are
doing.
###############
Tax Assessments in themail
Michael Bindner, mbindnerdc@aol.com
Tax assessments are going up because property values are going up,
period. One of the reasons for this increase is the $5,000 federal tax
credit for first time DC home buyers. People are using that credit to
either buy or to relocate in DC. Also, housing prices went up as people
bought houses during the tech boom (which was more a function of paper
wealth as people got rich exercising their stock options — unless they
dumped their stock, many of those options are now worthless). These
things have nothing to do with better service, as Victor Chudowsky would
expect. If the Council were to raise the tax rate, we would expect
better service.
Some are calling for an assessment cap. I'm not sure this is
advisable — as no one calls for a floor when property values go the
other way — which they will in not too much time. My friends in the
business tell me that DC property values are grossly inflated, and that
they will eventually go down. Perhaps readers should use the high values
as a reason to sell and cash out the profits — then rent for a while
until the price goes down again.
###############
Property Taxes
Kenneth Katz, kskatz/remove_me/@toad.net
First, for clarity: my proposed property rate did not jump 30 percent
— my proposed assessment did. Victor Chudowsky wrote: “True, we have
no representation before Congress, but on the other hand the federal
government isn't slamming us with 20 percent increases every year like
the District's.” I suspect that were we able to collect the income tax
due from the commuters, our property tax rate would drop (though our
valuations would remain the same), and theirs would increase. The point
is, and most do forget it, that lack of equal participation in democracy
is not merely an intellectual insult, but does great damage materially
to those not represented. No, full participation would not cure our
inner-city problems magically, but lack thereof certainly worsens them.
Finally, I am enamored of the method mentioned in themail a week or
two ago of spreading the increased valuation over time with a per year
increase limit of 7 percent. I especially like this because it is clear
that the property assessment system is inherently biased towards
incorporating increases in value but not decreases: a down housing
market is one in which there are many more units for sale then buyers,
thus the odds of a sale on my block to provide strong evidence for a
downward assessment are quite low. Whereas in an up market the odds of
such a sale on my block are greatly increased. Since such comparable
housing sales are central in assessments, it seems the system really is
kind of rigged against us. Seems inevitable, but more the reason why
such an ameliorating mechanism as the one to which I refer above should
be considered . . . strongly. In short, Kathy Patterson was worried
about her angry constituents getting these huge assessment increases —
she ought to be!
###############
To Shaun Snyder: at today's press conference, Mayor Williams and City
Administrator John Koskinen strongly supported Chief Few and berated the
Washington Times for exposing the false resumes of three of Few's
top managers imported from Georgia. But is that a surprise? Have
Williams and Koskinen ever seen a phony resume or doctored job
application that they didn't like? Also to Shaun: in answer to a
question at DMV's Council budget hearing, Sherryl Hobbs-Newman said that
DMV hasn't supplied vanity plates for several months, but should begin
production against in April. But be careful when you ask DMV whether
your plates will be available then — a friend was sharply reprimanded
and put in her proper subservient place by a DMV supervisor last week
when she inquired about the license plates she had ordered: “You can't
order plates; you can only request them.”
To Kathy Patterson: this is the exact wording of your legislation:
“All exemptions available under this section shall apply to the
Council of the District of Columbia as well as executive branch agencies
of the District of Columbia government. The deliberative process
privilege, the attorney work-product privilege, and the attorney-client
privilege are incorporated under the interagency memoranda exemption
listed in subsection (a)(4), and these privileges, among other
privileges that may be found by the court, shall extend to any public
body that is subject to this act. Memoranda created by and exchanged
between staff and members of the District of Columbia Council shall be
exempt from disclosure to the extent that such memoranda represent
predecisional documents that were written in the process of developing
legislation, drafting budget reports, or conducting oversight
hearings.” I may be slow, but I still don't think this broadens FOIA
and increases public access to information.
To Kurt Vondran and Michael Binder: I don't presume that property
values would rise 25 percent a year, but merely that tax assessments
would, if 25 percent were the cap. I don't trust that property tax
assessments reflect property values accurately, and I certainly don't
believe that assessments fall when values do; that is contrary to
experience. In this burg, assessments and values are quite independent,
and afflicted homeowners quite reasonably believe that assessments are
based more on the revenue desires of the city government than on
property values.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Free Property Tax Clinic to Help Residents
Affected by Tax Spike
Beth Solomon, beth@planetvox.com
Many DC residents have been hit with property tax assessment hikes of
60 percent or more. In response, the Ward 2 Democrats will sponsor a
free clinic for DC residents affected by the surging assessments:
“Property Tax Clinic: How to Challenge an Excessive Assessment,”
with Carol Mitten, Tuesday, March 19, 7 p.m., Room 104, John A. Wilson
Bldg., 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Ms. Mitten, a principal of Mitten
& Reynolds, is a leading DC real estate appraiser. She shares her
knowledge in evaluating and challenging excessive or questionable DC
government assessments. The deadline to challenge property tax
assessments is April 1, 2002. The Ward 2 Democrats is the official
organization representing Democratic voters in Ward 2 of the District of
Columbia. Budd Lane, the Chairman, can be reached at 234-7921. For more
information, contact: Beth Solomon, Ward 2 Democrats Issues Chair,
789-7864.
###############
Protest Taxation without Representation
Kristen Hansen, hkris@radix.net
On Sunday, March 24, thousands of runners from across the United
States and around the world will compete in the inaugural running of the
Washington, DC, Marathon. When the runners assemble at the starting
line, however, many will be unaware that residents of Washington, DC,
pay U.S. federal taxes, but lack representation in the U.S. Congress!
Since the DC Marathon is being promoted as a celebration of Washington,
DC, DC Vote is seeking volunteers to help educate runners, sports
writers, and race spectators about DC residents' lack of voting rights.
On race day, you can promote democracy and protest taxation without
representation in by participating in one or more of several
marathon-related activities:
Greet runners as they cross the starting line with signs, hats, and
banners welcoming them to the land of “Taxation Without
Representation”! Join Shadow Representative John Capozzi on the race
course as he and other runners take turns carrying a “Taxation Without
Representation” City Flag in relay! Running the marathon? Wear a
“Taxation Without Representation” cap or T-shirt! Staff a table at
the “Runner's Expo” at the DC Armory on March 23. Although
disappointed that race organizers scheduled the Marathon on Palm Sunday,
DC Vote recognizes that the Marathon offers unique opportunities for
educational outreach on voting rights, and appreciates and supports the
efforts that are being made to ensure that churchgoers will not be
prevented from attending services because of the Marathon. For more
information or to volunteer on race day, contact Jamal Najjab at jnajjab@dcvote.org
or Kristen Hansen at hkris@radix.net.
###############
The Fair Budget Coalition's Advocacy Initiative to Meet Human Needs
is sponsoring its annual budget training: What in the Mayor's Proposed
FY 2003 Budget Impacts Human Services? The event will be held on March
21 from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Church, 19 I Street, NW.
Highlights of this interactive training are: an overview of what is
included in the budget; an explanation of the capital budget, why it's
important and how it works; a discussion of how to read the budget in
its new format; and information on efforts to make the budget more
useful and transparent. The schedule is: 9:30-10:00 a.m., registration;
and 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., program (starts promptly at 10:00 a.m.).
Those who should attend the training are service providers, advocates,
residents, and budget newcomers and old-timers. Registration materials
are available by calling DC Action for Children, 234-9404, or E-mailing scambria@dckids.org.
Fee: for Fair Budget Coalition members, $8; for nonmembers, $12.
Registration deadline: March 19.
###############
On Saturday, March 16th, DC inner-city kids will have an opportunity
to brush up on their Baseball and Fastpitch Softball skills at a free
clinic. Held at the DC Armory from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., the Clinic will be run
by former Minor League professional and collegiate baseball players.
Clinics will be broken down by age groups and times: 9 a.m.-noon, ages
5-12; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., coaches clinic; 1 p.m.-4 p.m., ages 13-18.
Sponsored by dcbaseball.org, the Baseball Factory, DC Sports and
Entertainment Commission, Giant Foods, Colonial Parking, The Kerry S.
Pearson LLC, and the District of Columbia Parks and Recreation
Department. Players of all ages and skill levels will receive
instruction on hitting, pitching, base running, and fielding. Coaches
will also have a clinic with tips on organizing a practice, position
instruction, strategy, and positive coaching techniques.
While the Event is free and open to the public, a suggested donation
of $5 per player and $20 per coach is being asked to cover expenses.
Visuals include: Large amounts of ball players of all ages out on an
early spring day. Players interacting with volunteer coaches and kids
learning the finer points of baseball. Dcbaseball.org is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to bringing together city and federal agencies,
nonprofit organizations, along with area businesses with an interest in
youth and amateur baseball at all age levels city wide to improve
existing facilities, develop new fields, offer greater access to leagues
around the city, and improve and sustain baseball’s infrastructure of
coaches, umpires, clinicians, and players. For more information, contact
Matt Cary at 414-0792, or E-mail caryassoc@aol.com.
###############
Conversations With Newsmakers
Kathy Sinzinger, NewsDC@aol.com
Join us for another in a series of monthly, after-work networking
opportunities. The Common Denominator presents the second of its
“Conversations With Newsmakers” on Friday, March 15, 2002, from 6:30
to 8:30 p.m. at Kelly's Ellis Island Restaurant, 3908 12th Street, NE,
in Brookland. Our special guest this month will be Timothy Jenkins,
interim president of the University of the District of Columbia. In
recent testimony before the city council, Jenkins dubbed himself a
“citizens' president — freer to tell the truth” than his
predecessors because he is not seeking permanent appointment as UDC
president. In this critical time for UDC, when it is trying to rebuild
the vision for the District's only public institution of higher learning
into reality and get itself on a solid financial footing for the future,
President Jenkins will join us in an informal gathering to discuss the
status of UDC.
No reservations are necessary to attend this event. Cash bar. (Ellis
Island also offers a full dinner menu.) Free parking is available on and
off the street. Ellis Island also is within walking distance of the
Brookland/CUA stop on Metro's Red Line. For directions or more
information, call Kathy Sinzinger at The Common Denominator at
635-6397 or E-mail her at NewsDC@aol.com.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — SERVICES
DC Tax Sale Foreclosure Cases
Alex Djordjevich, alexd@washlaw.com
If you are a DC Tax Sale Purchaser from the tax sales in 2000 or 2001
and you are unclear about the new procedure in the District for
obtaining a deed to the property, please call or E-mail Alex Djordjevich
(alexd@washlaw.com or 530-7163).
Our law firm, Griffin, Farmer & Murphy, LLP, is currently taking on
new clients who are interested in getting title to properties purchased
at the July 2001 DC tax sale. The procedure is new as of January 2002.
The DC Superior Court will be promulgating new procedures for the tax
foreclosure suits this week. Don't delay because there are time
limitations on these suits. If you want more information on our firm and
our extensive real estate and litigation expertise, please visit http://www.washlaw.com.
Dupont Circle main location with other offices in Greenbelt and
Annapolis.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED
Looking for bookkeeper to set up my computer system in Quicken or
QuickBooks and leave me simple, written instructions on operation
thereafter. Must be familiar with http://www.Dime.com
and http://www.PayTrust.com.
###############
Occasional Reader in Search of Voice Coach
Sid Booth, SidBooth1@aol.com
As an amateur reader for a few blind neighbors and a news service, I
find that I get hoarse surprisingly quickly — and often. I could use
some advice on how to continue this volunteer work while also saving my
voice. At the least, I suspect my breathing mechanics need improvement.
I would appreciate referral to a voice coach with whom I could work. It
would be swell if I could find someone close to home in Mt. Pleasant,
but I'd venture to the Beltway for the right person. Suggestions via
E-mail or at 483-5409.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Condo, Townhouse Wanted
Nick Cobbs, ncobbs@erols.com
I am looking for a two-bedroom co-op, condo, or townhouse, west of
Rock Creek Park, for under $300,000. If you know of anything coming on
the market, please let me know.
###############
A young Japanese woman coming to DC in May to do grad study at
American U. is looking for an affordable place, preferably with a US
family. If you know of such, please E-mail me so I can refer you.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — WANTED
Got a Mobile/Rolling Air Conditioner?
Jason Ziedenberg, jzdc@cjcj.org
Looking for a cheap/used/"I'm fleeing to Alaska" of the
mini non-window unit kind. E-mail me if you want to pass on cool, cheap:
jzdc@cjcj.org.
###############
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