The Only Poll that Counts
Dear Pollsters:
It's usually the candidate who is far behind in the polls, or whose
support seems to be slipping in a series of polls, who trots out the old
chestnut, “The only poll that counts is the one on election day.”
That's certainly true of the informal poll constituted by contributions
to themail since the primary election. If we went by the opinions
expressed here, the big winners on Tuesday will be Carol Schwartz, by
nearly a hundred percent of the vote, and the Statehood-Green candidates
for all the other offices. I swear to you, I'm not slanting these
things. I haven't been editing out any messages that support Mayor
Williams; I just haven't received any. If that's not the way that the
election comes out, I wish those of you who voted some other way would
write in and explain your position, so that all the rest of us can
understand.
And once we have that out of the way, let's get back to writing about
our city, our neighborhoods, and our own individual blocks, and keeping
each other informed about what's really going on.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Why Vote for Carol?
John Whiteside, johnwhiteside at earthlink dot net
I fully expect Tony Williams to be reelected, and I don't even think
that's a bad thing. That said, I will be voting for Carol Schwartz. The
reasons have less to do with her qualifications (which are great) that
with sending a message to the mayor: even if you are reelected, Mr.
Williams, you need to know that it's not an unambiguous stamp of
approval from the citizens. You need to know that we are not happy with
the ethical lapses or the slowdown in the pace of improvements in the
city. So there needs to be a solid chunk of non-Tony votes, even as you
go into the second term that we all expect you'll win.
Why Carol and not another candidate? Because if she somehow wins,
she'll be a good mayor, and I can't confidently say that about anyone
else. The rest of the crew seems to be either hopelessly vague, spouting
feel-good slogans with no concrete plans for how they'll do anything, or
living in another reality. (I so want to support the Statehood Green
party, because they are right about a number of things, but when I read
endless promises of improvement, funded by a commuter tax (HA!), and
comments about restoring DC General without any indication of how we'd
avoid the disaster that it was, I realize that they're not dealing in
reality. Mayors have to deal with reality.)
###############
Williams Does Not Deserve Our Vote
Ron Eberhardt, rge1022@aol.com
As a twenty-plus year resident of the District and registered
Republican, I attempted to vote for Williams in the mayoral primary.
Mainly to send a message that none of us wanted to return to the
polarizing rhetoric of the Barry era that seemed to surround Willie
Wilson's campaign. Since the primary I have continually been dismayed
and highly disappointed in Mayor Williams. The mayor's continued ethical
problems involving the senior leadership both in his administration and
campaign are unsettling at best. When confronted on these issues he
repeatedly displays the arrogant look that says how dare anyone ask such
questions, responding curtly followed by failed efforts to distance
himself from whatever folly is at hand.
Williams has become arrogant with the very voters that elected him.
His management failures and ethical problems cause me to suggest that he
no longer deserves either our trust or our vote. I urge Democrats,
Republicans and Independents to vote for Carol Schwartz for Mayor. Do
not be dissuaded by the suggestion of a wasted vote. At minimum, a close
election will send a clear message to King Anthony that his arrogance
must go and that he must effectively lead and manage this city and raise
the ethical bar. At best, Anthony can do whatever it is that he intends
to do in retirement and Carol can bring a refreshing change to our
government.
###############
I will happily vote for Carol Schwartz.
###############
All the Mayor’s Men
Dennie Bloomberg, dblmb9812@aol.com
On the eve of Democracy Day, November 5th, I am appealing to the US
Attorney General to investigate Mayor Tony William's major campaign
fundraisers and their use of federal funds to provide election day
pollworkers for Mayor Tony Williams on September 5, 2002. Former City
Councilman H. R. Crawford dispatched numerous employees paid through a
federally funded employment placement and training program to voting
polls throughout the city. The relationship between the Mayor and his
campaign financiers with city contracts should be investigated
immediately. Contract corruption costs taxpayers, children, and our city
as a whole.
###############
Ray Browne for Shadow Representative
Patrick Pellerin, pellerin@verizon.net
Ray Browne, the Democratic nominee for re-election for DC's Shadow
Representative, deserves your vote. As he promised in his last campaign,
Ray has worked hard to reach out to other cities and states to gain
support for voting representation in Congress. For his efforts, he has
been endorsed by a number of organizations and individuals throughout
our city. He has taken the job to new heights and deserves your vote on
Tuesday.
###############
Klingle Valley Savers Issue Voter Guide
John Campbell, jcampbell@geofinity dot com
The Save Klingle Valley Campaign this week issued a voter guide for
Tuesday's District of Columbia elections, providing their supporters and
the public with information about candidates’ positions on the
controversial Klingle Valley issue. The guide makes clear which
candidates are “savers” of the valley as a park — with a trail,
not a road — and which ones are “pavers,” advocating the repaving
of the Klingle stream valley through Rock Creek Park. Mayor Williams has
announced he favors converting the valley into a park with a hiker-biker
trail. Most of those Councilmembers who have taken a position publicly
favor such a plan. However, the Council is expected to consider the
issue in the coming months.
The voter guide lists candidates by the saver or paver categories
they have chosen for themselves. The savers are listed here. Mayor:
Anthony Williams, Democrat; Steve Donkin, DC Statehood Green. Council
Chairman: Debby Hanrahan, DC Statehood Green. Council-at-Large: Phil
Mendelson, Democrat; Michele Tingling-Clemmons, DC Statehood Green. (You
may vote for two at-large candidates.) Ward 1: Edward Chico Troy, DC
Statehood Green. Ward 3: Kathleen Patterson, Democrat. Ward 6: Sharon
Ambrose, Democrat; Jenefer Ellingston, DC Statehood Green. US
Representative: Adam Eidinger, DC Statehood Green.
###############
Stein Club Endorsements
Kurt Vondran, kvorn@nteu.org
In the last issue I announced the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club's
most recent endorsements for the November 5th election (http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2002/02-10-30.htm#vondran).
Several readers have asked me for the full list, so here it goes.
[Listed below are only those endorsements not in the previous posting.]
District of Columbia: Mayor, Anthony Williams; At-Large Member of the
Council, Phil Mendelson, no position on second at-large. Ward 1 member
of the council, Jim Graham; Ward 3 member of the council, Kathy
Patterson; Ward 5 member of the council, Vincent Orange; Ward 6 member
of the council, Sharon Ambrose; United States Senator, Paul Strauss;
United States Representative, Ray Browne. Maryland: 4th Congressional
District, Steny Hoyer; 5th Congressional District, Al Wynn; 8th
Congressional District, Chris Van Hollen.
###############
A posting last week sent me an open letter for voting to lift the tax
exemption on non-District municipal bonds. I've gotten lots of mail
(E-mails and otherwise) and comments criticizing not just me but the
eight-member majority that that voted to lift the exemption. I've
listened, and thought, and will vote this coming November 7th to reverse
course. I went down this path initially because only a couple of states
provide the kind of exemption we provide (an exemption on interest
earned from any municipal, county, or state bond issued in the country),
and because in the last several years we have enacted tax cuts targeted
at middle and upper income taxpayers — e.g., widening the middle
income tax bracket and lowering the top rate. In 1998 the Tax Revision
Commission recommended simplifying the personal income tax by removing
numerous exemptions and then piggybacking onto federal returns.
Any change in tax structure should have broad support from the
affected taxpayers. This particular change does not. Folks object to the
unfairness — that investment decisions made long ago were based on the
exemption being in place. Removing the exemption wreaks havoc with their
decisions. I was prepared to look for alternative revenue sources so
that we could restore the tax exemption on bonds, but the District's
Chief Financial Officer has indicated that spending cuts are available
instead. That's the better approach.
Finally, I have to say that the controversy over this tax exemption
highlights the reason why ordinarily there are two readings (votes) on
legislation: the intervening period enables the press and the public to
look at what we're doing and make us change if the initial vote was a
mistake. That's what's happening here, and I thank everyone who has
taken the time to speak out on this issue. I'm confident the exemption
will be restored.
###############
AOBA’S Multi-Million Dollar Gift from the
Council, Part 2
Debby Hanrahan, debosly@aol.com
I’m responding to the six-page posting by AOBA’s lobbyist Shaun
Pharr (http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2002/02-10-27b.htm),
who was responding to my original October 20 posting (http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2002/02-10-23.htm#hanrahan).
My original concern was with recently passed legislation that exempted
the city’s downtown property owners, including members of the
Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington
(AOBA), from having to pay ground water discharge fees to the District
of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) — and that the costs of
treating this ground water at Blue Plains is being borne by all WASA
rate payers and not just those that generate the ground water from their
deep basements. Mr. Pharr responded that I had committed a lot of
“egregious errors and misinformation” (not so), but he failed to
address several key points that I made. For example:
Mr. Pharr can’t deny that this legislation mightily benefited AOBA
members and passed on costs to the general rate payer. I originally
wrote that in late July the DC Council, “thanks to legislation
introduced by David Catania, handed members of AOBA a
multi-million-dollar gift.” AOBA had bragged on its own web site
several months prior to that Council action that “AOBA continues its
opposition to attempts by . . . (WASA) to require metering of and
billing for ground water discharges into the city’s sewer system . . .
Our organized and methodical resistance to this ill-conceived program
has forestalled its implementation for over eight years now, effectively
saving AOBA members millions of dollars in the process.” By granting a
permanent exemption to members of AOBA and others, the Council removed
the legal authority for WASA ever to capture ground water discharge fees
from AOBA members and other institutions (including those that had been
paying the fee, including Metro, the World Bank, George Washington and
other private universities). Since AOBA was already, in its own words,
saving its members millions of dollars through resistance to metering
and billing, what the Council did was to provide AOBA members a
permanent multi-multi-million dollar gift, no matter how AOBA tries to
spin it otherwise.
You and I have been paying, and will continue to pay, for that gift.
Ground water discharge fees that should be borne by members of AOBA and
other institutions will now be charged to all rate payers, including
residential customers — even though those residential customers’
structures do not generate ground water. David Catania, the author of
this multi-million dollar giveaway to AOBA, said at a campaign forum
that the cost to all of us rate payers would be $1 to $2 per billing
period.
I’m happy to give joint credit/blame to others. Mr. Pharr stated
that AOBA “was merely the lead” organization lobbying the Council on
the ground water discharge fee issue, having been joined by the Hotel
Association, the Hospital Association, the DC Chamber of Commerce, the
Board of Trade and the Restaurant Association. I’m happy to have these
other prominent business lobbying groups share the credit or blame for
AOBA's success, and would further note that none of these organizations
pushing for a change in the law is an environmental group, a consumer
group, a civic association, etc. My original point remains: AOBA
(through lobbying and court action) fought having flutter meters
installed in their members’ properties and pushed for a change in the
law for eight years — and finally got it. If Mr. Pharr prefers, I will
amend my original posting to say that the Council handed a multi-million
gift to all the downtown business interests -- the Board of Trade, the
Chamber of Commerce, the Hotel Association, et al., and not just to AOBA
members.
There was no public hearing. Mr. Pharr wrote that the Council held a
public hearing on the legislation in October 2000 — hardly relevant to
a Council action almost two years later. The result of that 2000 hearing
was that the Council did not give AOBA what it wanted. This July, two
years later, the advocates, apparently having learned from past
experience, held no public hearing, and buried the bill in the omnibus
Budget Support Act. Mr. Catania's web site and AOBA's web site (the
portion still open to the public, anyway) indicate that no press release
was issued, and there was no press coverage of this story. I only found
out about it in late August by a chance encounter with a WASA board
member.
Red herrings. Mr. Pharr suggests that the recently repealed law would
have required single-family homes to pay ground water discharge fees. I
spoke to several WASA staff members who said that the old regulations
did not cover single-family homes. Rather, the old regulations were
directed at those structures that have deep basements that capture
ground water, which is then sent to WASA’s Blue Plains treatment plant
where it is processed at a cost and discharged into the river. A lot of
those structures belong to AOBA members, and the cost of processing
their ground water discharge could be as much as $30,000 a year per
building, according to WASA staffers.
Environmental Effects. Mr. Pharr says this change will have no
environmental effect. He is dead wrong. I will merely repeat and stand
by what I wrote in my original posting: “This legislation also has
environmental ramifications because, by eliminating all the ground water
discharge fees, a major incentive not to create ground water (for
example, by deep digging) is eliminated. And our efforts to capture the
sewer water overflow will be undermined, according to a local
environmentalist involved in efforts to seek federal funds to contain
raw sewage. The legislation could undermine those efforts to get federal
funds, this environmentalist said.”
Mr. Pharr, AOBA members, and the other associations lobbying for a
change in the law felt that this was an unfair law, and they lobbied
hard and effectively to change it in their favor. Now, exposed to the
light of day, they don’t like to see this moneysaving measure for
their members depicted as one of the latest examples of this Mayor and
Council giving powerful business interests what they want — especially
in an election year when downtown business interests can be especially
generous to incumbents, and vice versa.
###############
First, a quote from The New York Times: “Voting used to seem
so simple. But now the public knows: a close race can expose an
imperfect system in which faulty machines, uncounted absentee ballots,
and sloppy procedures can go undetected in a more lopsided race.” http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/28/politics/campaigns/28VOTE.html.
Though serious problems in the voting process are expected in many
parts of the country (can you say “Flor-i-da”?), we in DC have such
lopsided races that problems will go undetected here. Another good thing
about living in DC. But seriously, remember that you can still have a
secret ballot here. Don't hand your ballot to anyone else, you can feed
it into the machine yourself, putting it facedown. The scanner will read
the ballot properly when the voter inserts it regardless of orientation
(of the ballot, not the voter). See http://www.dcboee.org/htmldocs/optech.htm.
###############
Many fellow registered DC voters here at Penn and I have not yet
received absentee ballots for the upcoming Mayor's race. I called the
DCBOEE and was told that my ballot was “processed” and “cleared”
on 25 October, but I have not received anything yet, and mailed ballots
must be postmarked by November 5 (Election Day) to be counted. To add
insult to injury, I have friends here from Guam who got their ballots
over three weeks ago. Is there any excuse for this? If I recall
correctly, the first Mayoral debate was nearly a month ago.
###############
Something to Make You Go Hmmm
Patricia H. Chittams, pchittams@yahoo.com
I have been lurking for some time reading the posts on themail and
think the folks here are somewhat intelligent. I have some questions
that maybe someone here could answer, because I, for one, can't come up
with a reasonable answers. 1) The statement of the developer of the
Columbia Hospital for Women site: “We are located right by 3,000
lawyers, they should want a high end apartment to live in.” What about
the secretaries, paralegals, receptionists . . . don't they deserve a
decent place to live near where they work? 2) How can a public charter
school take public money, kick out the children of parents they don't
like, and refuse to allow the public to attend their board meetings? 3)
Why is a principal of a DCPS school allowed to remain as principal when
there have been three years of unsatisfactory ratings? 4) How can this
same public school graduate a student with an F average? 5) Why should I
teach my children to take responsibility for their actions when they see
elected officials deny accountability and not be punished for their
wrong doing? 6) How come the first thing that DCPS cries out to cut is
Special Education, and the last thing is the salaries of the
administrators? 7) How can a DCPS school without a lunchroom request a
parent to fill out free and reduced lunch forms? Where is the lunch
served? Where is the money going? 8) Why do I see cars towed during
morning rush hour on Tunlaw Street in NW and not on Minnesota Avenue,
SE, ever? 9) On Tunlaw Street and New Mexico Avenue, NW, where the
average speed is about 28-30 mph, there are speed camera cars. On
Minnesota Avenue, SE, where the average speed is 50-60 mph, there never
is speed camera car. Why? 10) Why is it at my church (located in
Georgetown), I can make a call to a DC agency about a repair to a
sidewalk and see immediate results, when at home I make a call to a DC
agency about a repair to the sidewalk and nothing happens? (I have been
trying to get the sidewalk in front of my house repaired for more than
ten years; when I call they just come and put down more asphalt, causing
more of a water dam.) 11) When a parent drops off a child at a DC Public
School in a car with Maryland tags, in front of a school administrator,
why does the administrator fails to double check the address of the
student? 12) How can an administrator of a DCPS Charter school allow a
student to continue to attend, knowing that this same student resides in
Maryland? 13) Could someone explain why in a Charter School,
inappropriate actions of staff, suicide attempts in the school, sexual
assaults, etc., are not reported to DCPS nor to the parents. 14) How
come it costs more to purchase a season pass to a DC Department of
Recreation pool than it does to purchase a season pass to Six Flags? 15)
How can a pool close, get painted and then be reopened and get to be
called renovated? (What is the Webster's Dictionary definition of
“renovated” versus the District's?) 16) Why do I as a taxpayer pay
more in taxes than in the state of Connecticut and still have to pay to
use the pool in my neighborhood?
I have many more question, but you get the idea. I await all answers
with baited breath.
###############
Elections in Washington City Two Centuries
Past
Mark David Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
Mayor Anthony Williams is Washington, DC's fourth post-home rule
(1973/74-) mayor. Between 1802 until DC lost home rule for 100 years in
1874, Washington City had twenty different mayors. Allen Clark details
the history of Washington City's fourth and fifth mayors in Volume 28 of
the Records of the Columbia Historical Society (1926). In 1812, Congress
established an eight member Board of Aldermen, two from each of four
wards elected for two year terms, and a 12-member Common Council, three
from each ward elected for one-year terms. Congress gave the Councils
the right to elect Washington City's mayor, an honor previously held by
the president. Colonel Benjamin G. Orr was elected mayor by the Councils
in six rounds of voting on June 9, 1817. He was a realty investor and an
army supply contractor. In a letter to the Councils after his election,
Mayor Orr wrote: “Gentlemen-- . . . It is made the duty of the Mayor
to lay before you, from time to time, in writing, such alterations in
the laws of the Corporation as he shall deem necessary and proper. In
the discharge of this duty, I feel somewhat at a loss. Having been for
some years, generally occupied in business which was transacting in
different parts of the country, and often absent myself, hence the laws
themselves, as well as their execution, have in a great degree, escaped
my notice; more time for inquiry and examination, than has yet been
afforded me since my election.” Mayor Orr was most interested in
policing and building a penitentiary building. He was concerned with the
“low standard of morals in the community.” DC seems to have been the
Las Vegas of the time, with lots of gaming and horse racing.
In the early years, DC officials interacted more with nationally
elected officials. When James Monroe (a Democrat-Republican) won the
Presidency in 1817 and arrived to DC in September after a long national
tour, he was met and welcomed to the “Metropolis” by DC officials.
He met with officials the next day, and he spoke in favor of DC
political rights and development. He called upon Congress to find for DC
“an arrangement better adapted to the principles of our system.” In
1819, the House of Representatives debated whether to establish a
unified Territorial government for DC, but, in Richard Bland Lee's
words, Alexandria, Georgetown, and Washington City were “too
incongruous in their feeling to permit a harmonious co-operation in a
common government.” There was another reason for skepticism about
establishing a Territorial government — money. Lee said “we are not
rich enough to support the expense; unless that were paid by Congress,
it would be ruinous to the people.” Clark wrote: “It was a case of
political privilege on one side, of the balance and impoverishment of
purse on the other — greater independence with less money — no
greater independence and no diminution of money.”
In June 1819 the Councils elected as mayor Samuel Nicholls Smallwood,
a lumber merchant and a wharfinger. Smallwood had served as a city
legislator four times between 1804 and 1810. Despite financial fears,
the city decided to build a durable and permanent City Hall (the current
Old City Hall building). The Intelligencer published (Smallwood's) words
at the dedication; “If we have not to boast of an independent
Legislature for the District we may congratulate ourselves on having a
government for this city, invested with legislative powers adequate to
all our present wants. Let us then select for our public offices men
distinguished for integrity and capacity, in order that our affairs may
be so conducted that we shall never have reason to be ashamed of the
interior, any more than the exterior of our City Hall.” In 1820,
Congress modified Washington City's home rule charter to provide for the
election of mayor by white male property owners (popular vote).
Smallwood was reelected that year. Clark reports that his most important
acts as mayor were (1) for the preservation of the Navigation of the
Harbour, (2) to regulate the sweeping of chimneys, (3) the establishment
of the Washington Asylum, (4) prescribing conditions on which free
colored people may resident in the city, and (5) to prevent horses from
being cruelly beaten or abused. He was praised for public works
improvements.
###############
DC — A Minor League Town
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom
In the mistaken belief that DC is a major city, some folks are trying
very hard to get the Major Leagues to move a baseball team to the
Washington area. This is folly as long as Selig and Angelos are in the
game. In addition, Washington is really not a major city. We are really
one big town with a sprawling suburb. Is there a major city in the world
where the subway system shuts down at midnight? I don't think so. Had to
take a cab (only the second time in my fifteen years in DC) from Union
Station the other night when my Amtrak train arrived from a real major
city, the Big Apple, at 12:15 a.m.
Let's be realistic. DC has a lot going for it. I love this place. I'm
still here after fifteen years because this is a delightful, digestible
place to live. But, a major city it is not. We should be aiming at the
right targets and move up gradually to major league status. Start with a
good minor league team in a brand new stadium right in DC that is
readily accessible by public transit. Preempt that clown, Angelos, by
making Cal Ripken one of the primary owners and the general manager.
That would be a major addition to our town.
###############
Surveyed about DCMPD in DC
Mark David Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
Tonight I was called by American University student and asked to
participate in a short opinion survey. I did. As a pollster, this was an
enjoyable exercise and the interviewer was pleasant and clear. The topic
of the survey was DCMPD, for a study by the Police Foundation, http://www.policefoundation.org/,
and apparently funded by the DC government. Research laboratories often
hire students to be interviewers — I'm not certain which company was
collecting the data. I also do not know if they are collecting
comparative data in other jurisdictions. They were examining community
perceptions of DCMPD and were clear to make the distinction between
DCMPD and other police forces in DC. They asked about topics such as
police presence, visibility, communication between me and DCMPD,
satisfaction, etc. They didn't explore the issue of police officers on
bikes and walking the beat — something most people probably like to
see more often than not! One series of questions related to the racial
mix of DCMPD. I couldn't answer the question about whether DCMPD is
racially diverse enough. I heard DCMPD is trying to hire more people of
South/Central American Spanish speaking origin, so they must realize
they need more diversity in that area. I was glad to see they are
collecting quantitative data to combine with their community
interactions at ANC meetings, etc. In the future, they could benefit by
adding at least one open-ended question to capture what is on people's
minds in their own words. When they asked for my race, I said I fit into
their white box, but I'm probably more black than the mayor. I'm just
joking Mayor!
###############
We District homeowners recently received an informative booklet from
the water company, WASA. Six companies that test water for lead were
mentioned. Has anyone had any experience with any of them? Does anyone
really know if the Brita contraptions filter lead? If you let your water
sit for a few hours, does the lead sink to the bottom? (Something is
sinking, but I don't know what.)
###############
Stiffed by Channel 4 (WRC)
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom
Perhaps because New York was announced as the candidate US city for
the 2012 Summer Olympic games, Washington's local channel 4 (WRC) did
not televise the NY City Marathon at 11 a.m., as was listed in the
Sports section of the Post. Instead, they presented a lot of the normal
political drivel that pervades the airwaves on Sunday mornings as we get
wave after wave of spinning from the mouths of hot air politicians (a
frequently seen species common to the area). Will have to content myself
with highlights of that world famous notable race from the sports
channels.
###############
New E-mail List for Nonprofits
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com
A new E-mail list has been set up for persons working to strengthen
technology use at nonprofit organizations in DC and the surrounding
areas. This E-mail list is moderated (i.e., you'll see no spam). The
purpose of this list is to share questions, answers and ideas -- as well
as to help direct donated technology to places where it will get the
best use. This list will also be sharing ideas about low-cost and
no-cost technology training opportunities for nonprofit staffers and
volunteers. Further info at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dcnonprofittech/.
###############
ANC Candidates Online
Kathryn M. Sinzinger, NewsDC@aol.com
The Common Denominator's Voters' Guide to candidates for
Advisory Neighborhood Commissions is now online. This year is the first
time The Common Denominator has asked ANC candidates to respond
to a questionnaire, as we ask all other candidates to do before DC
elections. The ANC Voters' Guide may be accessed from The Common
Denominator's “Election 2002” page at http://www.thecommondenominator.com
or simply by clicking on the appropriate link from our main page.
This week's issue of The Common Denominator also includes our
Voters' Guide to the rest of the candidates and issues on the Nov. 5th
ballot in the District of Columbia. That guide is available both online
and in the print edition of The Common Denominator, which may be
found on sale from bright red street vending boxes, at neighborhood
merchants, and at CVS, Safeway and Giant stores in the District and
close-in suburbs.
################
The Future Is Just Around the Corner
Len Sullivan, lsnarpac@bellatlantic.net
What are the good news and bad news about the just released
“Strategic Neighborhood Action Plans?” What might happen to the
grungy old South Capitol Street approach to the city? Where would you
put a new in-town DC baseball stadium? What might happen to 25 surplus
DC schools if high school dropouts were treated like faulty manufactured
products? How can the next DC Government expand its horizons for the
good of the national capital metro area? NARPAC's answers can be found
in the November update of its web site at http://www.narpac.org/INTHOM.HTM.
Try a new approach to making DC better. After you vote, get positively
involved.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Neighborhood Parking Solutions Meeting,
November 7
Aisling O'Connor, staff@washingtonregion.net
The Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities (WRN)
presents a meeting on neighborhood parking solutions on Thursday,
November 7, with Adam Millard-Ball, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting.
Introduced by the Honorable Jim Graham, DC Councilmember and Metro/WMATA
Vice Chair. 6:30 p.m., refreshments, 7 p.m., program, at the Sumner
School, 1201 17th Street, NW.
Parking management in an urban neighborhood is an difficult balancing
act between the needs of residents, employees, shoppers and commuters
— not to mention those who don't own a car at all. Parking is an
essential component of a successful, vibrant business district. However,
each space is also extremely expensive, consumes land that could be used
for housing or commercial development, detracts from the pedestrian
environment and adds more traffic to already congested streets. Adam
Millard-Ball, a San Francisco-based transportation planner with Nelson/Nygaard
Consulting, is working with developers, cities, transit agencies and
advocates to resolve thorny parking problems. Join him to learn about
the latest innovative policies to manage parking to promote vibrant,
livable communities. To learn more about his work see: http://www.nelsonnygaard.com.
Thanks to FlexCar and ZipCar for providing the refreshments for this
event. RSVP (attendance only): WRN, 667–5445, or E–mail: staff@washingtonregion.net.
This event is free of charge. Find out more about WRN at: http://www.washingtonregion.net.
###############
World War II Dance, November 9
Sally MacDonald, sn3macd@aol.com
Just to let you know that there will be a World War II Dance at the
Hyatt Hotel (1000 H Street. NW) on Saturday, November 9, as part of a
World War II conference. The dance will be from 9 p.m.-1 a.m., and will
have a 21-piece jazz band playing; the cost is $20.00 ($15.00 if you
register early and/or come in vintage dress/uniform or modern uniform -
there is a number to call) and will have a cash bar! It sounds like fun!
###############
Public Schools Out-of-Boundary Hearing,
November 12
Ann Loikow, johnl@erols.com
Below is a hearing notice (from the Mayor's weekly outreach E-mail) I
thought might interest readers.
“Public Hearing on School Out-of-Boundary Policy: The District of
Columbia Board of Education will hold a public hearing on proposed
changes to the Out of Boundary Policy for DC Public Schools on Tuesday,
November 12, 2002, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 825 North Capitol St., NE,
5th Floor Board Room. The Board, in conjunction with the Superintendent,
DC Public Schools, has been working this past year on a policy
recommendation with input from a cross section of community members. The
new policy, expected to be adopted this calendar year in preparation for
the upcoming out-of-boundary period in January/February of 2003, will
impact the 2003/2004 school year. The Out of Boundary Policy defines the
process that enables students to enroll in schools other than their
neighborhood schools. For more information or to be added to the
speaker's list, please call 202-442-5190. To view other events on the
Board's Monthly Calendar, click here: http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/boe/boe_frame.html.”
###############
Author Talk, November 14
Patricia Pasqual, changedc@aol.com
DC Center for the Book at the DC Public Library and the Biography
Division of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library are sponsoring
a lecture and book signing on Thursday, November 14, featuring Peter
Krass, author of a new biography entitled simply Carnegie. The
book is a compelling new biography that paints a portrait of a genius,
villain, and emotionally troubled man. This free program begins at 6:30
p.m. on the A Level of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (901
G Street, NW). For more information, call 727-1167. RSVP to 727-1151.
###############
Meyer Elementary School Fundraiser, November
16
Maloneysister46@aol.com
Meyer Elementary School, located at 2501 11th Street, NW, will be
holding a flea market on Saturday, November 16, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit children's educational programs. Furniture,
clothing, books, toys, and other household items will be on sale, as
well as, baked goods. If you would like to donate items, please contact
Betsy at 673-7259.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — SERVICES AND SURVEYS
Why go out to grocery shop when you don't have to? Save time and save
money. Let us do the shopping, waiting and lugging for about the same
price as shopping yourself. Try it now, guaranteed. If you are not
completely satisfied, we will refund the delivery fee (see web site for
details). Delivery is made by friendly Urban Grocery Associates. Go to www.urbangrocery.com,
or call 544-5081 for more information.
###############
Graduate Research Questionnaire — Win $100
Dave De Seve, ddeseve@verizon.net
If you work in the Information Technology (IT) profession or work
with IT here's a chance to win $100 and help me with graduate research
at American University! Just complete a short survey (which can be
requested by sending an E-mail to dd4886a@american.edu
or ddeseve@bellatlantic.net)
and E-mail it back to me by November 8. Those that are returned before
November 8 will be entered into a random drawing to win $100.
###############
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