You’re So Cynical
Dear Cynics:
For the past two issues of themail, I've urged you to write about why
DC is such a great city that Maxim's April Fools joke of announcing that
it's the best city in the world would be plausible. Nobody has taken up
the challenge — nobody has written about our world-champion museums
and art, world-class theaters and music, beautiful monuments and vistas,
great restaurants. Nobody has written about the quality of life
available to everyone who lives here, regardless of neighborhood or
income. You're so cynical.
The only House of Representatives committee with the jurisdiction to
investigate Mayor Tony Williams' illegal fundraising is the House
Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, chaired by Republican
Congresswoman Connie Morella. On Thursday, Democratic Mayor Tony
Williams cohosted and attended a fundraiser for Congresswoman Morella's
reelection committee. Congresswoman Morella has decided not to hold a
hearing on the Mayor's fundraising scandals. You're so cynical you
probably think there's a connection. Two weeks ago, President Bush took
Mayor Williams on a trip with him to Tennessee and introduced him as
“my good friend.” You're so cynical you probably think that the
Bush-appointed US Attorney, Roscoe Howard, isn't going to pursue
fundraising cases involving the Mayor very aggressively.
Federal City Council chairman Terry Golden has announced that he is
searching for a candidate to run against Peggy Cooper Cafritz, the chair
of the new and unimproved appointed/elected schizophrenic school board.
Mayor Williams has said he will be neutral in the race. You're so
cynical that you probably believe that Golden's announcement is a signal
that Williams is dumping Cafritz.
I have a whole list of these things, but it's getting so easy to
write them that it's almost no fun anymore. The Post, the Times,
and now Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton have called for somebody --
not quite, but almost, anybody — to run against Mayor Williams. A
credible challenger may not win the race against the Mayor's $1.2
million war chest. But making the Mayor face up to a serious contest and
have to answer on a range of issues could only be a good thing. As my
mother used to say when she brought chicken soup to minister to the
childhood colds that made me miserable, “It couldn't hurt.”
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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An Act of Civil Disobedience
Tom Briggs, briggstf@yahoo.com
For those of you that haven't heard of my current plight, I just
wanted to let you know some of the details. In July of 2000, I became a
candidate for Ward 2 city council. I was informed in September that I
was in violation of the Hatch Act by running in a partisan election (an
election where people run associated with political parties). Prior to
this, I was under the assumption that teachers were exempt from this
law. I was then informed that all teachers are exempt from this law,
with the exception of Washington, DC, teachers. All other teachers in
the fifty states have an exemption that allows them to run in elections.
When I found this out, I decided to fight this unjust law. My primary
reason for this decision was the example I believed I must make for my
125 students.
Again the US Government was restricting the rights of DC citizens by
a federal law in which DC has no vote. On Monday, April 15th, I was
given a letter that declared my termination to become effective on April
23rd and that I would be placed on administrative leave at the close of
business on Monday. The DC public schools' Board of Education met on
Wednesday and drafted a resolution stating opposition to my termination.
There will be a rally of support sponsored by the DC Statehood Green
party on Monday, April 22nd, at 3:30 p.m., at 1300 New Jersey Avenue, NW
(the intersection of New Jersey, O, and 3rd Streets, NW, at a park in
front of Dunbar Senior High School).
I would appreciate it if any of you may be able to support my
position on this issue. Teaching at Dunbar is not just a job for me, it
is my life. I feel that I am making a difference with these children and
at the very least I would like to finish the year with them. I would
like to ask you all to attend the rally. This is extremely important to
my future and possibly the future of DC. If we all make an effort, we
can draw attention to the issue of DC's lack of democratic society and
protect the real victims of this situation, the children in Shaw that I
teach. Channel 7 news will be there, and so will the Post, Times,
Education Week, American Teacher Association, members of the school
Board, leaders in the Washington Teachers Union, and possibly members of
the DC Council, and even Eleanor Holmes Norton. The rally coincides with
the end of the school day, which facilitates the participation of many
students and parents of Dunbar Senior High School, as well as the
faculty and staff of Dunbar, and hopefully many of you.
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UN Statement by Timothy Cooper and Video Clip
of the Tax Rally
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
On April 16, Timothy Cooper addressed the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights in Geneva to call upon the U.S. to comply with the
recommendations made by The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
of the Organization of American States (OAS). On October 17, 2001, the
IACHR found the U.S. in violation of human rights related to a charge
brought before that body by the Statehood Solidarity Committee in 1993.
The Statehood Solidarity Committee charged the U.S. with violations of
human rights because of the denial of equal political participation in
the nation's legislature and the right to equality before the law for DC
citizens. The U.S. had ninety days to adopt the recommendations before
the recommendations are made public. The IACHR will release their
decision and recommendations at the end of April. [Timothy Cooper's
statement is posted at http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/voting04.htm.]
See a video clip [of the April 15 tax day rally for Washington voting
rights] from Washingtonpost.com Camera Works at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/metro/041502-10v.htm.
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Expensive Cab Ride
Irina Livezeanu, irinal+@pitt.edu
I was running late today and indulged myself in a very short cab
ride, figuring it could only be one zone. I wonder whether it can be
true that a taxi cab ride for three or four blocks on M Street from the
Dupont area toward Foggy Bottom can cost $6.90. I felt completely taken
in today.
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Making and Breaking Appointments
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
Despite, or perhaps because of the controversial performance of the
DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission in its rush to grant Mike Tyson a
boxing license, Mayor Williams has renominated two of the three
commission members to another term. Arnold W. McKnight is being
reappointed as Chairman, and Michael A. Brown as a member of the
commission. With regard to the Tyson license, the Commission initially
attempted to meet and vote in secret; then interviewed Tyson in a secret
session and refused to release any information on the Tyson interview
and medical and psychological evaluations; and finally held a staged,
non-deliberative “kangaroo court” public hearing to validate its
actions.
As Sewell Chan reported in the Washington Post on April 11,
the five-member Board of the Office of Employee Appeals has not been
able to meet since last October because it lacks a quorum. As a result,
a backlog of cases, some of which are several years old, has developed.
On March 27, Mayor Williams nominated two new members to the Commission,
Horace Kreitzman and Brian Lederer. Both are Ward 3 residents, and both
are doing double duty with the DC Taxicab Commission. Kreitzman is the
Deputy Executive Director of the DC Democratic State Committee, and in
February Mayor Williams appointed him to the DC Taxicab Commission to
promote Williams' plan to install meters in cabs. And Lederer was hired
a few months ago as a contract employee of the Taxicab Commission to
serve as its legal counsel and hearing officer. Is the circle of
Williams' loyalists so small that they have to serve on multiple boards?
At his weekly press briefing last Wednesday, Mayor Williams also
appeared to break an appointment. He reiterated his intent to respond to
the Council's request for additional information regarding the Inspector
General's report on the fundraising activities of the Executive Office
of the Mayor. But he indicated that he was not certain that he would
appear at the scheduled hearing of the City Council's Government
Operations Committee on May 1 at 10:00 a.m. He said he was not certain
of the “time, date, or setting,” at which he would respond to
Councilmember's questions, raising doubts about whether he would keep
the May 1st appointment, or even whether he were backing out of a
commitment to appear at any public hearing.
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Giving Connie Morella money might be a good strategic move, although
I question those who claim she is good for the District. (Any
representative from Montgomery County will resist commuter taxes, since
its high income residents would be among the biggest payers of any such
tax, which would leave the county and the state in a precarious
budgetary position.) Connie's seat is in serious jeopardy due to
redistricting. Her best hope of keeping her seat is to support including
the District in Maryland's congressional representation. Because DC's
population would leave Maryland with no additional seats, it would be
balkanized congressionally. The Republicans and Democrats in Ward 3 are
her kind of people, and would most likely be in her District, with Al
Wynn getting the part of Tacoma Park she does not want (as well as Wards
4 and 5). Steny Hoyer would get Anacostia and Wards 2 and 6 would be up
for grabs, with Norton running against either Hoyer or Wynn. This is why
Norton would rather have a vote in the Committee of the Whole or another
try at a voting rights amendment than full representation through
Maryland (since statehood does not look likely any time soon). Once
Connie realizes that the best bet for keeping her seat in the long term
(even if she squeaks through this time) is representation for DC, she
will allow this matter to be seriously discussed (she has been its most
ardent opponent).
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Rep. Constance Morella
Mark Richards, mark@bisconti.com
A February 5-6 telephone survey of 350 likely voters surveyed
districtwide (general election trial heats), by American Viewpoint for
the National Republican Congressional Committee, published in the April
22 edition of The Polling Report, http://www.pollingreport.com,
found that in a race between Connie Morella and Mark Shriver, 50 percent
said they would support Morella, 29 percent Shriver, and 21 percent
undecided. In a separate question, in a race between Connie Morella and
Chris Van Hollen Jr., 57 percent said they would support Morella, 23
percent Van Hollen, and 20 percent undecided. I have not seen other or
more recent data.
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DC Democrats Must Attend Their May 2nd Meeting
John Goldstein, casalnk@att.net
The DC Democratic State Committee will meet in a public session on
Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m., at the Martin L. King, Jr., Library. If
you are a city Democrat, please attend. The committee will consider a
resolution withholding any support from Mayor Anthony Williams for his
endorsement of and fundraising for a Republican member of Congress. The
Committee will vote on endorsing candidates for Mayor and Council. We
must remind this committee Mayor Williams closed DC General Hospital and
is part of a citywide effort to push poor and low income people out of
our city. Join senior citizens, labor union and small business
association leaders as we ask the Democrats to send a message to “Tony
the Traitor” Williams.
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Briefly, I did read the New Republic piece lamenting Marion
Barry's decision not to run after all. It struck me that the writer did
not realize that Barry was not in a head to head race with anyone, and
that he could easily have gotten enough support to come out ahead of
Phil Mendelson. I also suspect that the writer has not seen Barry
lately. He has lost a lot of weight and looks like he is ill; it would
have been a sad thing to watch him campaign. I am no Barry fan — I am
relieved that he is not running — but I thought that article missed
the mark (not the first time for TNR when it comes to local politics).
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Optimists and City Services
Randy Bovbjerg, RBovbjer@ui.urban.org
Our alley in upper NW is cleaned every spring, sometimes in fall,
too. Other comments: leaf pick-up much improved in the last few years.
Garbage pick-up is excellent; they have very rarely missed a day and
never a week during my twenty-two years in DC (Capitol Hill, Shepherd
Park, two locations in Chevy Chase DC). Large-item haul-away
(refrigerator, sofa) seems much better than in 'burbs. Potholes much
more likely to be filled in past couple of years than at any prior time.
Motor Vehicle lines for licenses much improved, but for inspections
actually worse in recent years. Private citizens' driving habits,
especially among speeding border-crossing commuters, appear far worse,
and there's no enforcement, as always. Pollen especially bad this
spring; clearly too much hot air in town.
On the whole, reasons for optimism.
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Alley Sweeping Monthly
Malcolm L Wiseman, Jr., wiseman@us.net
It [alley sweeping] happens in my Petworth alley about once a month
or so.
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Alley Cleaning? How Can We Sign Up?
Heather Scott, Rochescott@aol.com
Wow! I was overcome with excitement when I read about Kirsten's
report of a heavy duty street cleaner sweeping up the alleys. Since
moving to the Capitol Hill area, it has saddened me how little regard
some have for our community alleys. It is downright disgusting how dirty
they get. I have used the Mayor's Call Center to report illegal dumping
almost monthly with only some success. I have heard our Mayor talk about
cleaning up the city, and would think that alley cleaning and rat
abatement would be top on the list. What is really going on on this
issue? I have heard the rhetoric, but want to know what actual services
or plans are underway,
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Monday, Earth Day, April 22, at 7 p.m., at Union Temple Baptist
Church, 1225 W Street, SE. Come hear a panel of speakers including Rev.
Willie Wilson of Union Temple, Sierra Club President Jennifer Ferenstein,
Anacostia Riverkeeper Damon Whitehead, and local activists Eugene Dewitt
Kinlow and George Gurley talk about how health, environment, and quality
of life are linked and how race and class play a role in the quality of
your environment. Take part in the panel discussion or come just to
listen. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call
610-3360.
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Free Prostate Cancer Screening
Ralph Blessing, rblessin88@hotmail.com
The Drive Against Prostate Cancer mobile vehicle will make an
appearance at the Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue (DeSales
Street side) on May 8 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The vehicle, the nation's
only mobile prostate cancer screening program, will offer free
screenings by licensed urologists and phlebotomists (both the PSA and a
physical exam), free men's health materials, and educational literature
stressing the importance of early detection. Representatives from the
National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC), the largest grassroots
501(c)(3) organization dedicated to finding a cure for prostate cancer,
will be available to discuss this important national screening program.
Contact Jason B. McCray at 463-9455 for more information.
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Reminder — Murch Elementary School Book Sale
Sue Bell, sbell@giftsinkind.org
Murch Elementary School is holding its second annual book fair at
Politics and Prose Bookstore and Coffeehouse, Saturday and Sunday, April
27th and 28th. Politics and Prose will donate 20 percent of money
received from all book fair purchases to Murch Elementary School. All
proceeds will go to pay for salaries of the five teaching assistants,
extending the hours of the nurse to full time, and to cover supplies for
the Spanish programs. Murch is a DC public school, located on Reno Road
and Davenport Street in Tenleytown.
Shop for Mother's Day and Father's Day presents, gifts for grads, and
get a head start on your summer reading list. Politics and Prose is an
independent bookseller with a great selection of books, CDs, cards, gift
wrap and magazines. Shop Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Politics and Prose is located at 5105 Connecticut
Avenue, between Nebraska Avenue and Fessenden Street, NW. Parking is
available at the store. Use one of the coupons at the register or simply
tell the cashier that you want your purchases at Politics and Prose to
benefit Murch Elementary School.
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Stand Up for Democracy Open House
Wayne Turner, actupdc@aol.com
Special presentation: “Race, Money, Equality and the Struggle to
Free DC!” Stand Up for Democracy in DC will host a special Open House
on Tuesday, April 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the National Council of
Negro Women, 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (Navy Memorial/Archives Metro).
Food and refreshments will be provided, and admission is free.
This month's featured guests are: Rebecca Kingsley, independent
filmmaker, who will show excerpts from “The Last Colony,” a
documentary film currently in production that outlines the history of
DC's unique relationship with the federal government. (To learn more
about this exciting project, or to make a tax deductible donation, visit
http://www.thelastcolony.org.)
Acie Byrd, Jr., founder of the Atomic Veterans Association, is a
political scientist who has a long history organizing on issues
including DC statehood, nuclear freeze. and anti-death penalty
struggles. Lawrence Guyot, ANC commissioner and frequent Fox News
panelist, who works to rid DC of racism and who is very involved in
economic development and the retention of housing for low income
residents. All are welcome. Please visit our web site, http://www.standupfordemocracy.org,
or call 232-2500 for more information.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Rehoboth Beach House
Dagmar R. Henney, dhenney@juno.com
We seek a group of professional Washingtonians to rent a house in a
delightful, quiet area of Rehoboth Beach. It is near ocean, shops, and
restaurants, and you can walk everywhere. The house itself has central
air conditioning, washer, dryer, sun deck, and ample parking. Please
E-mail dhenney@juno.com or call
301-270-2531.
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Affordable, bright, one bedroom or larger housing needed for two
grassroots organizers/campaigners plus one cat. Very responsible
tenants, dedicated to the environment, social justice, and veganism.
Starting June first, Metro accessible. Contact Parisa.
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CLASSIFIEDS — SERVICES
Macintosh House Calls
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com
Do you know of someone who could use help getting the most from their
Macintosh computer? Friendly Mac house calls from Mac professional with
over ten year's experience. Can assist with training, troubleshooting
and upgrades. $50/hour. Phil, pshapiro@his.com,
703-812-9547.
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