More than Politics
Dear Contributors:
You have done us proud. This issue of themail is chock full of
politics, as is proper for the season and the town, but also has plenty
of other topics for those rare Washingtonians whose lives actually have
room for other things. Today's weather was beautiful, perfect for a lazy
summer day. Dorothy and I spent the afternoon at the Bethesda Crab
House, one of our city's (okay, our suburb's) few remaining authentic
down-home restaurants, where the word "ambiance" would only
get a laugh, and where the menu isn't printed because it's so short:
steamed crabs (call in advance to find out what sizes are available and
to order them by the dozen), steamed shrimp, cole slaw, and corn on the
cob. Believe it or not, we didn't talk about politics or the primary
election. I hope you had the same.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Mayor Willie Wilson
Adam Chase, Jr., President, Petworth Civic Association, PetworthDC@aol.com
As President of the Petworth Civic Association (Washington, DC's
Oldest Civic Association), we are happy to announce that we are
endorsing the candidacy of Willie Wilson for Mayor of Washington, DC.
After researching the issues and concerns expressed by our members, we
now feel that Rev. Wilson is the one candidate who, when elected, will
not continue the racial polarization in our city. Candidate Anthony
Williams is, in many ways, responsible for increasing the racial divide
that currently exists in our city. After his election as Mayor in 1998,
Anthony Williams put in place a series of policies that put up
roadblocks to communication and dialogue across racial and class lines
in the District. Maybe it's because he has not lived here long enough to
really love this great city like we longtime residents do. We have
enjoyed the good times and endured the bad times because of our love
affair with the Nation's Capital. Mayor Williams failed to bring our
city's residents together to sit at a table of unity to discuss the
complex issues that confront DC. Mayor Williams is a master of disguises
that have served him well when presenting one face of his administration
to Ward 3 while presenting a different message and face to Ward 8
residents. He speaks about unifying our city, reaching across racial and
class lines to heal our city, and starting the dialogue between the
diverse communities, but a poll of our members has revealed that he has
failed to bring the Hispanic, White, and Black communities together.
Candidate Williams has further separated the citizenry, and a divided
Washington allows him to tailor his messages to continue the separation.
Candidate Willie Wilson IS the person who will bring us together as one
Washington and our organization feels that his policies will cause a
coming-together of all our communities to make ONE Washington, DC. We
are happy that on September 10, 2002, the people of Washington, DC, will
unite behind Willie Wilson and a new day will have begun under his
strong leadership and vision where a more perfect union will be formed.
###############
I watched with dismay on Saturday August 24, as the Willie Wilson for
Mayor motorcade wended its way through Ward 4 where I live. Of the
fifteen or so cars in the motorcade, six of them had Maryland license
plates and at least one of them was a BMW. For a candidate who pretends
to speak for the dispossessed of the District, I find it interesting
that the Reverend finds himself surrounded by neither the dispossessed
nor District residents.
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Clever Pun, Sad Report
Tony (your next mayor) Smith, BSunde3615@aol.com
An item from the August 20 issue of the Wall Street Journal: “Getting
it Write — These are some of the names the D.C. Board of Elections and
Ethics will accept on write-in ballots in the Democratic mayoral
primary.
“For Mayor Anthony Williams: Mayor Tony Williams, Mayor Williams,
Mayor Tony, Mayor Anthony, Tony, Williams, A.W. For Rev. Willie Wilson:
Rev. Wilson, Rev. Willie, Willie Wilson, William Wilson, Willie, Wilson,
W.W. Source: D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics”
###############
Strauss for the Humdrum Job of Being a DC
Shadow Senator
Lynne Mersfelder, lynne.mersfelder@noaa.gov
Thanks to Mark Richards for giving our Shadow Senator Paul Strauss
his due, and I'd like to second that recommendation. Being a DC Shadow
Senator is a largely thankless job and requires a lot of behind the
scenes work, many times working on things you cannot advertise as
accomplishments or it would burn your contacts. Whether or not you
believe in Statehood, he plays a very important role for the issue of
Congressional appropriations of DC's budget. Paul has integrity and grit
and I've seen and heard him repeatedly “working it” for DC. My vote
goes to Paul too.
###############
Strauss, Interns, and the Hatch Act
Lars Hydle, Larshhydle@aol.com
Last July 11 at the Board of Elections and Ethics, I reviewed the 388
petitions submitted on behalf of shadow US Senator Paul Strauss. By my
count, about 320 of these petitions were submitted by seven circulators;
that is, without them, he would not have had the 2,000 signatures
required for a citywide race. All seven of these circulators may be
interns in his shadow Senate office. As shadow Senator, Strauss is a DC
government employee and therefore, covered by the federal Hatch Act as
if he were a federal employee. He is not allowed to use his position as
an officeholder for partisan political purposes. His office interns,
although unpaid, are also forbidden from using the office for political
purposes, or working for a partisan campaign on their official time.
None of the top seven petition circulators is in the phone book or on
Verizon.com as a resident of DC at his/her present address. BOEE records
indicate that five of the seven registered to vote in DC for the first
time in May and June of this year, just before they began to circulate
petitions. At least four of the seven are 20 years old this year. It
seems that they are all youthful interns, from somewhere else, in
Strauss's volunteer office. To check this information, a call was made
to Strauss's Senate office in the district government building on
Judiciary Square, but the respondent refused to identify the interns,
citing “privacy” concerns. Maybe his office will provide this
information to the federal Office of the Special Counsel, which is
investigating his campaign for possible Hatch Act violations.
Recently another young man named Matt has been shadowing Strauss's
challenger Pete Ross as he campaigns. Matt told Pete that this was his
assignment from the Strauss campaign. So Strauss not only has
intern/circulators, but now an intern/stalker. Strauss may also be
Hatched by virtue of his membership on the District's Board of Rear
Property Assessment and Appeals (BRPAA), where he is paid by the hour
and where there could be a conflict of interest whenever he participates
in a ruling on an appeal of an assessment by a potential voter or
contributor to his political campaign. Of course, many District
residents believe it is wrong for District employees to be covered by
the federal Hatch Act. But Hatch Act principles — not abusing your
office or using official time and resources in a partisan campaign —
are principles that we should be able to support. Whatever the outcome
of the Hatch Act investigation of Senator Strauss, it is noteworthy that
after five and a half years as shadow Senator, he cannot find DC
residents who know his record as shadow Senator to circulate his
petitions.
###############
Paul Strauss for Reelection as US Senator
Kate Burke, KBurke@CMHT.com
Let's examine one simple issue regarding the signs: many candidates
have many signs, but Ross takes the prize for hypocrisy. He is the only
candidate who has too many signs per block, (3+ on Nebraska Avenue, NW,
near Ward Circle and American University) but still preaches the rules
— as if he follows them! I guess I am just a bit boggled by the Ross
campaign. What's this guy doing? He wants to be a SENATOR? When you
compare the experience, record and rapport of Paul Strauss to the fickle
and seemingly naive Ross, there is no contest. Paul Strauss has been
loyal and committed to the rights of DC citizens and has earned another
six year term. No contest — he has my vote.
###############
Williams and Strauss
Thorn Pozen, Chairman, Ward Three Democrats, Spozen@aol.com
I found your comparison of Tony Williams to Marion Barry (“Back to
the Future in themail,” August 21) to be as ludicrous as it was
irresponsible. Let me remind you that, set up or not, while Mayor, Barry
was caught on video tape smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room with a
woman who was not his wife. Barry may have enjoyed some success as
Mayor, but as a government employee during Barry's tenure I can
personally attest to a government then marked by inefficiency and
incompetence. We must not forget that neighborhoods throughout the
District suffered under Barry. Williams, on the other hand, has begun
the long and difficult process of restoring services, housing, and
economic vitality to our neighborhoods. Although various people under
William's supervision have let him (and us) down — and may have
violated D.C. laws in the process — there is no suggestion that
Williams has ever personally broken any law. Of course, as the boss,
Williams is ultimately responsible for the mistakes of those he has
chosen to hire, but to even hint, let alone come out and say, that there
is some equivalency between fundraising, hiring, and petition gaffes by
staff and personally smoking crack is nuts. Also, to insinuate that now
Whites in the city (Wards Two and Three) are somehow getting theirs with
Williams is just plain offensive. Let's leave race out of it and let's
let Williams run on his strong record.
Second, I wanted to commend Mark David Richards' recent posting
supporting Shadow Senator Paul Strauss ("Strauss for the Humdrum
Job of Being D.C. Shadow Senator," August 18). I have known Paul
for years and respect him greatly for his dedication to this city,
especially his work on our behalf with the US Senate. His is often a
thankless job, but Paul has been tireless, especially, as Mark notes, in
the appropriations process. We need Paul there next term so that he can
continue to work to finish the job of bringing true equal rights to the
citizens of the District of Columbia.
###############
Vote for Susana Baranano, D.C. Representative
“Shadow Rep”
Susana Baranano, susigbf@yahoo.com
I am Susana Baranano. I seek your vote and support for the position
of United States Representative, “Shadow Representative” for the DC
Primary on September 10, 2002. Thank you for signing my petitions and
allowing me to run to be your next United States Representative,
"Shadow Representative." I met and spoke with each one who
signed my petition.
I will focus in getting the vote for the District residents. It is
very personal for me as it is for all DC residents. It isn't fair,
right, and just for all of us DC residents. We have been in the shadows
for too long. We must get out of the shadows. We have tried lawsuits,
amendments, lobbying. Our flesh and blood, our mothers and fathers, our
brothers and sisters, our grandparents, and our cousins living in other
states have voting representation. My identical twin sister with the
same genes as I do, has a voting representative (actually several) in
Congress. Now is the time for more public and active phase. I will
support and assist in maximizing public activist activities. I will
publicize this issue nationally through all media efforts. I will
involve businesses and organizations in this effort. I will involve all
D.C. residents in this national public efforts.
I am very loyal to Ward 2 Dems and will continue in the future. Since
1991, I have been a Ward 2 Dems official (Captain, Co-Captain,
Secretary) I have supported the campaigns of Jack Evans, Anthony
Williams, Sharon Pratt Dixon, Charlene Drew Jarvis and John Wilson. I am
a very loyal and dedicated Democrat. Currently, I am serving as Co-Chair
for the National and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Womens
National Democratic Club. Since 1977, I have lived in the District
making my living throughout DC. I went to DC public schools in Ward 3,
where I learned how to read and write and my arithmetics. My family now
lives in DC — Ward 2 and Ward 3. I am bilingual in Spanish.
###############
Get Over It: (My) Reasons to Vote for Williams
Mark Eckenwiler, eck -at- ingot -dot org
OK, I'll bite: DC is a damn sight better off after 3.5 years of Tony
Williams, and his record puts the corrupt Barry administration's record
to shame. As someone who deals (in a private capacity) with numerous DC
agencies on a near-daily basis, I'd put the following on the list of
things that are notably better in my personal experience: street light
and traffic signal repairs (promptness, as well as ease of reporting via
the new 24/7 hotlines); road/pothole repair (haven't seen a decent
pothole in over a year; they used to darken the skies); the DMV (my
first visit in '97 was a nightmare; since then, various renewals,
including now via the Web, have gone smoothly for me); recreation field
upgrades (multiple formerly crappy sandlots on the Hill have been
regraded, sodded, and laid out as excellent ball fields);
trash/recycling pickup (not perfect, but unquestionably improved); the
Office of Tax and Revenue (tax forms revamped; offices are clean,
well-organized places with chairs you'd actually sit in and a high-tech
queuing system that works; staffers answer the phones and give useful
answers to questions); pedestrian-friendly policies for traffic calming,
and an overall traffic plan; planting and trimming of trees; and the
ability to call a single number (727-1000) for most city services (as
well as a hotline on eves/weekends, 727-6161, for off-hours emergency
reports such as downed trees).
In fairness, I'll note that my "worse or no better" list
includes 311 response (hah!) times; DCRA in all its horrid
manifestations (especially the utterly useless Neighborhood
Stabilization Officers and other housing inspectors); police staffing
levels; abatement of abandoned/nuisance properties; the library system;
and ethics in (and transparency of) government decision making (see,
e.g., “Grand Prix”). (There's also that whole nasty Robert
Newman/Ronnie Few/etc., ad nauseam problem of appointing useless bums to
high office — but I digress.) Of course, none of these was exactly a
model of perfection under Mayor Bitchsetmeup.
So while I commend upholding the election laws (and the Board for
imposing a suitably stiff fine against the Mayor and his campaign), I
still see Tony Williams as a mayor who has made palpable improvements.
Recognizing that politics is invariably about compromise, on September
10 I will suppress my anger at Williams — over not only the petition
scandal, but also over his arrogance and lack of repentance — and cast
the requested write-in vote. Absent any perfect candidates, I'll settle
for a flawed someone who has produced visible results, and is more
likely to do so for the next four years than the motley assortment of
demagogues, head cases, and Marion Barry apologists competing for the
nomination.
###############
Okay then. I'm a resident of Ward 3 and have been for all eighteen
years of my life. I am a newly registered democrat. I am not turning a
blind eye to Tony Williams, along with a lot of people I know. But if I
do not support Anthony Williams, then whom should I support? I will vote
for David Catania if he wins (and accepts) the Republican nomination
without hesitating, or Kevin Chavous should he run as an independent. I
want Tony Williams gone. But why should I openly invite even greater
scorn than our wonderful city is already receiving by voting for any of
the other Democratic candidates?
###############
Misplaying the Poverty Card: Who Doesn’t Get
What?
Len Sullivan, lsnarpac@bellatlantic.net
The nation's capital city is well into another embarrassing election
season. Local pundits, demagogues and paranoiacs are working overtime
abusing their keyboards, microphones, and pulpits to inflame racial
tensions and petty vendettas, ignoring the real issues. The notion that
DC's problems arise from insufficient attention to poor blacks, and that
all blacks should rise to rectify this injustice based on skin color and
old history seems pathetically simplistic.
DC's overriding, if not crippling, problem is that it has too many
poor households that need more government assistance than can be
provided by projected city revenues. It doesn't take a rocket scientist
to understand that the poor want more help. Listening to those cries
over and over again doesn't produce a solution. Clearly, any mayor,
agency head, Council member or candidate needs to solve five problems:
1) what do the poor really need to alleviate their poverty over the long
run; 2) how can DC use its existing resources more effectively to that
end; 3) is the Federal Government doing all it is legally obliged to do;
4) how can DC raise additional revenues to alleviate that poverty
sooner; and 5) how does DC get its far wealthier neighbors to share
these burdens?
This administration's efforts to improve the health care of the poor
is a prime example, where it has addressed the first four challenges by:
1) stressing better primary care, not more fire truck and ambulance
rides to trauma centers; 2) shutting down hopelessly inefficient,
swindling hospital facilities; 3) getting the Feds to transfer to DC
some potentially productive property; and 4) drawing up plans (with
neighborhood inputs) to generate revenues from that property. They
failed only to seek cooperation from Montgomery and Prince George's
Counties in sharing some of DC's indigent health care costs. The claim
that DC's health care is getting worse is disingenuous.
###############
No controversial topics or DMV horror stories here today (that topic
is pages long and I haven't the energy right now), just something I've
been wondering about as I look out my window and watch graffiti
(apparently officially sanctioned and encouraged) sprout on the plywood
barriers surrounding the construction site for the (God please no
big-box store, but again, another topic) at the Columbia Heights Metro.
I'm wondering why all graffiti looks pretty much like all other graffiti
since the dawn of graffiti time? Your basic bubble letters declaring
someone's name or cute little street name. (Sometimes laughably
unreadable — for years I thought our local gang was called the Brown
Onion!) It is boring. Why is there nothing new, different, creative or
interesting? Nice bright colors here, but stylistically, and
content-wise, disappointing. Have we no unrestrainedly poets, psychotic
painters, even good old foaming at the mouth religious screeds, to
decorate this canvas? (I know we're supposed to hate Saddam Hussein, but
can't you just secretly think it's a cool kind of bad ass to have the
entire Koran written out on the temple walls in your own blood?)
###############
Police Story in the Washington
City Paper
Bryce A Suderow, streetstories@juno.com
What did people think of Jason Cherkis' article in the City Paper
two Thursdays ago? [“The Insider's Guide to Real Policing,” http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/archives/cover/2002/cover0816.html]
Was he unduly pessimistic? Or did he confirm what you suspected?
###############
Demolition of 901 R Street
Natalie Hopkins, nehopkins@hotmail.com
Did anyone see the article in Sunday's Washington Post about
the demolition of the former cabaret where Duke Ellington used to play
at 901 R Street? The owner, Vivienne Awasum, let the place deteriorate
since she bought it in 1999 (9/16/99) and did not renovate it. In my
opinion, she purposely delayed renovating it because she wanted the
market to improve and she wanted it demolished — it being easier to
build anew than to renovate. In the article, it states that her
architect told her that the condo conversion she hoped to develop could
not be done with the structure. She represents the worst type of
out-of-town real estate investor. She also owns 903 R Street, bought on
11/7/2000. To be charitable, using the date from the purchase of 903 R
Street, she has had almost two years to get the condo project off the
ground and start renovating. Why wait? Real estate prices in DC have
been steadily increasing since 1998, and there have been many
developments that went from an idea to completion in that two-year
period. I think if she had placed a construction fence around the
structure and had begun work then DC would have not demolished it.
Having bricks falling from dilapidated structures onto people's heads is
a real danger and one that DC needs to guard against; anyone hit with a
brick could sue DC and my taxpayer dollars would be spent defending,
settling, etc.
I have no sympathy for her, and hope that DC gives her hell when she
tries to get a building permit for her new multimillion or thousand
dollar condos. I do admit, however, that DC should do much more to
prevent this type of situation. For example, if DC had fined Ms. Awasum
or other investors heavily and annually (e.g., $25,000 or $35,000 or
some amount that would actually mean something) for letting structures
deteriorate, that would create an incentive to do something with the
property. It's my bet that if Ms. Awasum had to pay $30,000 or so a year
for having a dilapidated structure, we would already have the renovated
901 R Street structure. Almost every structure in DC is historic and we
need to preserve the historic fabric as much as possible. Hopefully,
this incident will bring about some changes.
###############
Red Light Postings — Oxnard Studies
William Jones, wjones8@comcast.net
There's a critique by Pat Bedard of the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety's Oxnard studies (mentioned Thursday by Ralph Blessing)
in the September issue of Car and Driver, and posted here: http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/columns/2002/september/200209_columns_bedard.xml.
It makes some sense to me.
###############
Here we go again. Why is there so much focus on ticketing red-light
runners rather than finding out why certain intersections have much
higher rates than others, and addressing the problem? Because one is a
great way to effectively generate revenue and raise profits for the
contractor under the veil of law enforcement, whereas the other would
simply lower accident rates without making money for anyone. There's a
dramatic difference in violation rates from intersection to
intersection. A significant factor is yellow light timing. For example,
“the Virginia Department of Transportation increased the yellow time
on the traffic lights at US 50 and Fair Ridge Drive by 1.50 seconds on
March 26, 2001. This increase in yellow time from 4.00 seconds to 5.50
seconds resulted in a 96% drop in citations, less than one per day, at
this red light camera enforced location.” (quoted from National
Motorists' Association). Surely many other factors, such as
badly-designed intersections, contribute to red-light running. A perfect
example: Connecticut and Porter Street. I am amazed that after all that
construction there's still no left-turn arrow from Porter Street
westbound, which basically requires running the light to turn left
during any kind of moderate traffic.
I might favor red light cameras if I could believe they were actually
installed with safety, rather than revenue generation, in mind. History
has shown that the contractors, who generally have a financial stake in
the volume of tickets issued, have chosen high-volume and
short-yellow-light intersections as their targets, not those that have
had a history of accidents. Another interesting paradox is that if the
camera actually works, then the contractor (and government) will by
definition stop making money. There's not much incentive for them to
figure out if the yellow timing, or other factors, may be contributing
to the red-light violation rate. After all, if it went down too much,
the camera wouldn't pay for itself any more.
As for the Oxnard study, it did actually indicate an increase in
rear-end collisions of 3 percent. Although not statistically
significant, the overall finding of a 7 percent reduction in crashes at
signalized intersections is barely significant. It also has other
problems, such as very small sample size (less than 300 incidents in a
year used as the basis for it's fundamental finding of injury crash
reduction). But regardless, I'm not trying to dispute that red light
cameras can potentially lower accident rates — despite the
questionable nature of this study — but rather to point out that there
are much simpler ways to deal with the problem. But apparently the lure
of easy money is too strong for governments to actually take a look at
the problem intersections and try to fix them. So we are stuck with
broken intersections, panic braking, and probably worse traffic flow as
a result of badly-designed intersections remaining bad. But at least
Lockheed's getting rich.
###############
Perhaps as a tribute to Mr. Barr's legislative abilities and interest
in DC affairs, we, as a nation, should rename National Airport as The
Robert Barr National Airport. How about it? Of course, there is the
issue of changing all of the signs. Just a suggestion.
###############
[On DCWatch], I saw a listing of about 120 neighborhoods developed by
Mark David Richards [http://www.dcwatch.com/richards/0106e.htm].
Do you know the source of any information that would expand on the
listing by providing a description of each neighborhood?
###############
Jonetta Rose Barras — Washington Post
Article
Elliott Teel, eteel@yahoo.com
I don't think I have seen any mention in themail of this excellent
article by Jonetta Rose Barras, so I thought I would pass it on. It is
from the August 11 Washington Post, entitled “Giving
Gentrification a Good Name — Hey D.C., It's Not a Black and White
Issue.” It can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1100-2002Aug9.html.
###############
Waiting in line for inspection provides enough time for a book length
comment, but I'll keep to themail expectation of a paragraph or two. The
situation is outrageous, but others have clearly made that point. I went
on Monday, but just bailed out and went back home. I returned on
Thursday, leaving home at 5:15 a.m. and got back home at 8:15 a.m. I
view myself as one of the lucky ones. Maybe I'm missing something, but
it seems that just a moment or two of thought could help the situation.
Pete Ross's comments on the impact on the city doesn't go far enough.
The loss of productivity must be immense. The attitude that develops
about city life is even worse. A couple of suggestions: A phone number
to call to check on length of line has got to be easily doable in this
digital age. Some placards on the line indicating the likely waiting
time at various points. The lines are there, the equipment is there, why
not open up 24 hours (the grocery store seems to be able to do that).
When I went through from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., only three lines were in
operation. It's hard to believe they wouldn't use all the lines
available. Waive the penalty for late inspection. I don't know if the
fourteen reinspection stations are charging, but if so, a fee should be
paid by DMV to encourage their use.
And, as others have said, have the Council members, Mayor's staff,
etc., required to take a car through the line until it passes. I bet
things would change within hours.
One additional oddity to my inspection experience. I kept the car
windows open during the prolonged wait, and for some reason there were
quite a few mosquitoes that kept wandering by. I don't know if others
have had that experience or if there was something I was doing to
attract them.
###############
I’m Missing the Point Too
Dawn Dickerson, ddd668@aol.com
I find myself in agreement with Alan Heymann's comments in “The
stuff about the Mayor” posted in a previous edition of themail. I have
contemplated unsubscribing to this list since Dorothy Brizill's
involvement in the Mayor's ballot scandal, not because I am an avid
supporter of the Mayor but, as stated, “What was her point in exposing
the election violations?”
I'm not trying to shot the messenger. It takes a tremendous amount of
courage to take a stand like Dorothy Brizill has taken and it was plain
ole wrong that phony signatures were added to an election petition. This
act diminishes the integrity of the election. But I too would like to
understand how exposing that was supposed to help us? All that seems to
have been accomplished is further damage to the reputation of this City,
personal/professional embarrassment to a decent person, and $250,000
added to the budget of the DC Board of Elections (and god only knows
what that will be used for, but my bet is that WE won't reap any
tangible benefits from that money). So I fail to see how the citizens of
the District benefited from this?
Although I have no doubt that Tony Williams will be reelected, what
if he is not elected ? Then what? I won't even allow myself to think of
the implications if he's not reelected. I feel that the citizens of
Washington deserve an explanation from Dorothy Brizill as to her point
in compromising the government of this city! Because I'm missing the
point.
[One factual correction: the fine, when it is paid, will be paid to
the DC Treasurer and go into the city's general fund. — Gary Imhoff]
###############
Write in a Real Democrat on September 10
C. King, King13CT@aol.com
In their post titled “Write in a Real Democrat on September 10,”
Ronald and Deborah Washington (rhn2411@aol.com)
write: “Jackson has worked for more than 5,000 Democratic elected
officials.” If Art Jackson worked for one elected official each for
one day, it would take more than thirteen and a half years, without a
day off, to have worked for 5,000. How can this be so?
###############
[To Councilmember Kathy Patterson] You said, “Had the matter been
put to voters, I believe term limits would have been overturned.” But
term limits was put to the voters, who approved it. There are times when
a representative of the people should substitute his/her judgment for
the polled opinions of the voters, but why in this case when the vote
was very clear?
In the DC “government,” the perks of incumbency are massive, and
totally discouraging to any challengers. Most of the rest of the people
live with little job security. If you think that term limits deny voters
an opportunity, why don't you sponsor legislation that would term limit
the incumbent, but permit the limited candidate to run as a write-in
candidate, free of party label and big dollars contributions?
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS AND PROTESTS
Forum for At-Large Candidates
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org
You're invited to the Who's In It for Kids? At-Large Candidates'
Forum, Wednesday, August 28, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the MLK Jr. Library
(901 G Street, NW, Room A-5). Support the city's youth. Come prepared
with questions and bring a young person. While you're at the forum, grab
a copy of the Who's in it for Kids? voter guide as well as the Human
Needs 1st guides. All At-Large Council candidates have been invited and
are expected to attend. For more information, contact DC Action for
Children, 234-9404, dcaction@dckids.org.
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IMF and World Bank Protests this Fall
Martin Thomas, THOMASM@seiu.org
The Mobilization for Global Justice and other groups are again
organizing colorful, nonviolent demonstrations at the annual meetings of
the IMF and the World Bank. A large rally and march is planned for
Farragut Square at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 28.
The demands of the protest are to: Open all World Bank and IMF
meetings to the media and the public. Cancel all impoverished country
debt to the World Bank and IMF, using the institutions' own resources.
End all World Bank and IMF policies that hinder people's access to food,
clean water, shelter, health care, education, and right to organize.
(Such “structural adjustment” policies include user fees,
privatization, and economic austerity programs.) Stop all World Bank
support for socially and environmentally destructive projects such as
oil, gas, and mining activities, and all support for projects such as
dams that include forced relocation of people. Most of the organizers
live in DC and are your neighbors. We'd love to hear your thoughts and
concerns about the protests. For more information, check out http://www.globalizethis.org
or call 452-5912.
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CLASSIFIEDS — FREE
Doing a little house cleaning; here is some valuable stuff free: 1)
rear bike rack for a sedan (VW Jetta or similar), worth $100 and used
once; 2) dog travel crate, for a medium/large dog; 3) juicer — veggies
go in one end, juice out the other. Worth about $80 and used two to
three times. E-mail me at vchudows@yahoo.com.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Small, fully furnished small bright basement room in Tenleytown, with
air conditioner. Cost: $600 includes breakfast and utilities; shared
phone line is $12 extra. Perfect for commuter or AU student. Rate
reduction possible for part-time/ commuter housemate. Nonsmokers looking
for mature, clean responsible housemate to share home, some
groceries/meals; part-time or commuter housemate ideal; neat/cleanly
important; short-term renters OK.
House is beautifully furnished with deco and Asian antiques, wood
floors, lots of windows, and great lighting; bathroom is shared with one
person; front and back porch; basement rec/TV room. Location: N.
Cleveland Park, less than ten minutes walk (six blocks) to Tenley or Van
Ness Metro (Red Line) or easy car parking. Looking for someone who wants
to join a warm collaborative atmosphere. We like to eat together some
meals. Housemate could contribute to monthly food for meals if he/she is
interested.
Rent includes: all furnishings (dresser, night stand, new queen futon
couch, bookshelf, clock radio, two lamps, sheets, pillows, blankets),
utilities, shared supplies (laundry detergent, TP, cleaning supplies,
etc.), and a simple breakfast. Does not include phone, lunch or dinner.
Interviewing candidates now. E-mail to Donald.Lewis@starpower.net or
phone at home, 362-9494 before 10:30 p.m.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
General Contractor
Harold and Teresita Foster, incanato@earthlink.net
We need a good, affordable general contractor to re-roof and renovate
a brick and cinder block garage that had a fire a week ago. The work is
mostly replacement of a virtually brand new aluminum fiber roof
(including the (now badly charred) beam and timber frame it is sitting
on), installing a new garage door, pressure cleaning the cinder block
interior to get rid of the "fire smell," checking the
electrical wiring, replacing a window frame and panes in the brick wall
and replacing the walk-in side door.
Please let us know ASAP. If possible, let us know what work the
contractor you are recommending has done for you and how satisfied or
not you are/were with what they did for you.
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