It’s Late and It’s Long
Dear Writers:
This is one of those long issues that squeeze me out. I'll rant next
time.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Today, Councilmember Harold Brazil unveiled his “Economic
Development Action Agenda: A Road Map for Strong and Sensible Economic
Development in the District of Columbia” (http://www.dcwatch.com/council14/brazil.htm).
According to Brazil, “This Action Agenda will be the foundation for my
leadership on the DC Council, and as Chairman of the Committee on
Economic Development, over the next two years.” The agenda was
developed by a 51-member advisory committee appointed by Brazil and
composed of the usual suspects who have developed the city's past
economic plans. The advisory committee was co-chaired by Alice Rivlin,
most lately Chair of the Control Board, and Merrick Malone, who is
forbidden by his agreement with the US Office of the Special Counsel
from ever again working for the DC government because of illegal
political fundraising. The agenda was released today at George
Washington University (which, according to Brazil's staff, underwrote
most of the conference's expenses) before an invited audience of
approximately 150 business executives, attorneys, and university
officials. No community, neighborhood, or civic association members or
representatives were present today, just as none was on the advisory
committee. Now that the agenda has been finalized, District residents
will be given an opportunity to comment on it.
Today, also, there was a hearing in DC's Superior Court on Mayor
Williams's motion for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary
injunction to enjoin the Board of Elections from certifying the vote on
Initiative Measure No. 62, Treatment Instead of Jail for Certain
Non-Violent Drug Offenders, which passed by a vote of 78 percent to 22
percent on November 5. Mayor Williams, through the Corporation Council,
is arguing that the initiative was not a proper subject for an
initiative measure under District law, and that it should never have
been accepted by the Board of Elections and Ethics to be placed on the
ballot. As the American Civil Liberties Union noted in its amicus brief,
“Absent certification of the results, the election might as well not
have happened; the ballots cast by the registered voters of the District
of Columbia might as well have been dumped down the sewer.” The ACLU
pointed out that the Board of Elections held a hearing last spring on
the appropriateness of this initiative measure, that Mayor Williams
raised no objection then, and that, as a result, “plaintiff should not
now be permitted to inject its challenge in between the casting of
ballots and the certification of votes.” Mayor Williams's effort to
prevent certification of the vote tally now is reminiscent of Rep. Bob
Barr's attempt to forbid the District to certify the vote on the Medical
Marijuana Initiative. Initiative 62 may very well not be a wise or
practical law; it may be worse than the system of drug courts that the
District has now; but the District's voters voted for it overwhelmingly,
and neither Mayor Williams nor any other political leader in the
District took a strong stand against it or campaigned to defeat it. To
take this course now only further undermines the viability of the
District's initiative and referendum system. The Court hearing scheduled
for today was cancelled when Judge Mary Terrell recused herself from the
case (Superior Court C.A. No. 8229-02); it will be rescheduled before
Judge Clarke.
###############
Does anyone know when the Art/Biography section (Room 207) is going
to open back up at MLK and/or why it is closed? It has been closed since
at least Tuesday of last week. When I ask at the library no one seems to
know what is going on. Also, why was it necessary to shut down the
entire Technology/Science section on the first floor for the
construction going on? Couldn't the library open the section limited
hours during construction rather than closing it completely until
November 28? I know that there are other libraries in the city, but most
of the materials I need is only available at MLK. Given the limits to
the DC Public library system already (it desperately needs funding for
some major updating), the decision to close down these sections only
makes it more limiting and useless for residents of DC.
###############
At the DC/Maryland Boundary at Wisconsin and Western Avenues, NW,
there are two stone markers marked on one side Maryland and on the other
District of Columbia. The DC side has a sort of coat of arms which
portrays the Capitol but is not a current official coat of arms. Which
suggests the markers are pre-1928 (when I believe Washington's coat of
arms was adopted), and my guess would be that they are much older.
Have readers any knowledge of their history, who put them there and
when, and what the coat of arms is?
###############
The Tenleytown Historical Society is pleased to announce the receipt
of a grant from the DC Office of Historic Preservation for the purpose
of conducting a “Tenleytown Historic Resource Survey.” This survey
will be an in-depth study of the Tenleytown area, and will provide a
comprehensive understanding and documentation of the area’s
architectural, social and cultural history. It will include building
permit data, census research, oral history and research into the
cultural and architectural origins of Tenleytown in concert with the
Office of Planning’s Small Area Plan for Tenleytown. The survey area
is centered on Tenley Circle and extends along Wisconsin Avenue to Upton
Street on the south and Chesapeake Street on the north, Reno Road on the
east and 43rd Street on the west.
The survey is expected to take about a year, and will result in a
written report. The Tenleytown Historical Society will work with Kelsey
& Associates, the DC Historic Preservation Office, ANC 3E and ANC
3F, as well as community organizations. Volunteers will be needed to
help with the project. Research training will be provided. Volunteers
will be asked to attend at least one training session and to commit a
minimum of ten hours to the project. If you are interested in
participating, please contact us at tenleytownhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.
An introductory meeting for the project is planned; date to be
announced.
###############
George Allen’s Truth
Tim Cline, Columbia Heights, timandann@aol.com
It is amazing how truth shows up in the most unexpected places. In an
article by Brian Krebs in the Post on Wednesday, November 13,
2002; Page E05 “States, DC Support Plan for Online Sales Taxes” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46174-2002Nov12.html),
Sen. George Allen of Virginia comes out in favor of abolishing Federal
income tax for DC citizens. At least that is the way his quote sounds.
He is talking about his opposition to the Internet sales tax, but read
the last half of his quote and change “state” to “Capital City.”
Here is the quote from Krebs' story: “'If the states want to come
up with their own simplification schemes, that's fine,' said Allen,
chairman of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force. 'But that still
doesn't make it right to require someone who has no representation in
your state to pay taxes there.'” Well said, Senator. Let's make that
the law of the land.
###############
The Perfect Storm is (Hopefully) Not in DC
Mark David Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
Now I know what was wrong with Frank Rich's story pitting NYC against
DC. He compared NYC to the wrong city! He should have compared NYC with
its real competition — Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow. Over the
weekend on the Island of Manhattan, I saw numerous articles and stories
in which NYC was referred to as the world capital. NYC is home to the
United Nations which, one writer said, generates directly and indirectly
somewhere around 31,000 jobs and more than $3 billion a year in economic
activity. I visited the City Museum of New York and a video said that 60
percent of NYC residents are from nations other than the US. Could that
be true? Whatever the story, NYC has a big budget. According to NY
City's Independent Budget Office, http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/,
NY City's budget is more than $40 billion — larger than all but a
handful of states. The money is derived from Federal (12 percent) and
state (19 percent) categorical grants/aid, 31 percent (higher than DC);
property tax, 20 percent; personal income tax, 14 percent; general sales
tax, 9 percent; business income tax, 7 percent; real estate-related
taxes, 3 percent; other taxes, 3 percent; other nontax revenues, 13
percent. Education consumes 29 percent of the budget, social services 22
percent. In 2000, NYC had over $39 billion in debt outstanding, about
$4,910 per resident.
I appreciated the wide selection of newspapers that cover NYC issues.
(Increasingly, I'm feeling that The Washington Post should be
renamed The Maryland Post or The Suburban Post.) The big
issue is about what has been dubbed “The Perfect Storm” by Abraham
D. Lackman (R), a 24-year government veteran who recently retired. NYC
is apparently facing a budget crisis unlike anything they've seen since
the mid-1970's — and so is the state, the counties, and mass transit.
Lackman predicts a state budget revenue shortfall of $8 to $10 billion
next year. Mayor Bloomberg predicts NYC's budget deficit next year at $6
billion and a tax hike is probably inevitable. “The good news is that
everybody else is in trouble,” Bloomberg said. NYC is looking to boost
revenues by charging for parking meters on Sunday and raising property
taxes by 25 percent, an average of $475 per homeowner. All 51 Council
members are up for reelection next year. Meanwhile, MTA may raise public
transport fares to $2 per ride to fill a $663 million budget gap. Mayor
Bloomberg is lobbying hard for the 2004 Democratic and Republican Party
Conventions, as well as federal support for added costs related to
homeland security that is a federal responsibility and that is taking
resources from the NY police department. Here is one article: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nycbudget1112nov11,0,4823413.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire.
###############
Street Cleaning Schedule
John Whiteside, johnwhiteside at earthlink dot net
Does anyone know when street cleaning is suspended for the winter? I
can't find anything about it on the city web site.
###############
Complaining about Cable
Stan Wellborn, swellborn@aecf.org
Cable subscribers who lose service should report these instances to
the DC Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications, which closely
monitors performance by Comcast and Starpower and will enforce service
regulations for consumers. You can reach the office through its web
site: http://octt.dc.gov/. You may be
entitled to a refund of a portion of your cable fees if you experience
significant interruptions.
I might also suggest that you investigate Starpower, which has very
user-friendly customer service and very few service outages, or one of
the satellite dish-based program providers.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee to
OCTT. In my experience, I have found the OCTT staff to be among the most
professionally competent and dedicated folks in DC government — or any
other government.
###############
Comcast Is Useless, Part 2
Bob Levine, rilevine@cpcug.org
Yep, Sunday night and no cable and no explanation. No movement at all
to give service or do anything except take my money for doing nothing.
What is this company in business for?
###############
Last Friday I went to the inspection station at 5:30 p.m. so that my
1986 Toyota could get the once over. I was half expecting to be turned
away for getting there so late in the day, but, lo and behold, I was
waved right into an empty lane, inspected (passed!) and was back on the
road in less than ten minutes. The only downside of the visit was that I
was waved into the lane that was clearly marked “Senior Citizens.”
Must have been the only empty lane.
###############
Mr. McKay misses the forest for the trees on Klingle Road. Since when
did we decide to repair a road only to improve transportation? Since
when did we decide to repair our roads based on the number of cars that
use them? There are hundreds of roads in this city that carry less
travelers than Klingle Road did, and we're not closing them, nor are we
neglecting their repairs based on the fact that it will not improve
transportation. DDOT is responsible to maintain our transportation
infrastructure for all District residents and visitors by ensuring that
people and goods move efficiently and safely. We fix and repair roads
because they need them. We don't want Klingle repaired for commuters, we
want Klingle repaired for everyone.
###############
I am glad to hear Mr. McKay wants Klingle to remain open; however his
suggestion of a one-lane road going different directions at certain
hours, and closed on weekends serves no purpose to DC residents. Mr.
McCay's proposal turns Klingle Road into a commuter route — being used
by only commuters and excluding the enjoyment to everyone else. And,
while there is no data available that there is a need for a bike path,
there already exist two paths on either side of the road that are being
used as hike bike paths. The National Park Service should be maintaining
these existing paths, and, once the road is repaired, the Department of
Transportation should make a bike stripe like they do on other roads. We
should not be turning our roads into bike paths nor commuter routes.
###############
Leadership on the Klingle Road Issue?
Paul McKenzie, McKenzieDC@att.net
Thanks to Jack McKay for his themail posting on the Klingle Road
issue. It is nice to see he wants the road open too; however, it is not
just for commuters, it is a road for all of us. Positive leadership on
dealing with this issue has been almost nonexistent in the city since
this controversy began in the Marion Barry administration. This lack of
leadership has increasingly left many people in our city, again,
disenfranchised. These people are not the ones invited to posh parties
in homes which are adjacent to Rock Creek. Larger communities in Wards
4, 1, and 2 are also adversely affected by moves to close this
100-year-old public road. Leadership has a responsibility to represent
all the people not just the wealthy and well-connected.
It is inevitable that Klingle Road will be repaired and reopened to
all our citizens as a public road (with sidewalks or bike strip). The
relatively few individuals who want the public road closed do not have
the issues on their side. Whether it is the environment, fairness of
closing a public road, or economic value to the community, their
arguments do not hold water and have not passed the test of time. If
this were not so, Klingle Road would have long ago been permanently
closed. But there are many leaders in the city who have seen the risk of
losing this important road across town. That is why they have not
allowed it to happen in the past, and in the future they will continue
to be protectors of the greater good for all the citizens of Washington.
###############
Klingle Road Compromise
Taylor Simmons, ttsimmons@aol.com
I like Jack McKay's proposed compromise for Klingle Road. I look
forward to biking along Klingle Road to get to the bike path on
weekends, and I look forward to driving to Beach Drive during the week
— without ever having to cross Connecticut Avenue.
Attention (formerly) ill-tempered disputants: please consider
embracing this logical compromise. For far too long, the road has been
of no practical use to anyone.
###############
Klingle Valley Parkway
Peter F. McGee, Mt. Pleasant, mcgeep@dsmo.com
Turning Klingle Valley Parkway into a one-way commuter route would do
little justice to our historic parkway, which has served us well for
over a century. Besides, there is no cause to cut the baby in half.
Those who want Klingle Valley Parkway returned are not commuters, but
local residents who used the road in our daily lives to go to school,
get supplies, partake in services, visit friends, dine out, do shopping,
attend meetings, as well as walk and ride bikes. More importantly,
limiting Klingle to rush hour commutes would compromise public safety,
as urged by our ambulance companies that want a two-way road open 24/7
to improve emergency response.
Also, the Berger Study shows that a one-way road would not help
traffic on surrounding roads as much as a two-way road, and additional
intersection approaches must be built to make up for the loss of Klingle.
Besides, no study shows that an exclusive bike path through Klingle
valley is particularly necessary. Certainly we could find a more
accessible site for the city's first multi-million dollar bicycle
facility. Klingle Valley Parkway once again can be a vital
transportation resource, and recreational opportunities can be improved,
without compromise. DDOT's 1991 federally-approved plan rebuilds Klingle
to its original alignment, and provides the missing storm water drainage
system that will protect the tiny Klingle stream. Several long-standing
pathways in the valley can be enhanced. Further improvements might
include a bike stripe, and/or a sidewalk along the roadway. Detailed
solutions could be worked out in a charrette. We also should protect
Klingle Valley Parkway's visual surroundings. As Kent Slowinski of the
Casey Mansion Foundation pointed out in last week's Northwest Current,
the Comprehensive Plan adopted by the National Capital Planning
Commission recognizes that spaces along Klingle Valley Parkway, and
other similar parkways, should be maintained as green background to our
daily lives, to prevent border development. Protecting the green space
that landscapes Klingle Valley Parkway was an original part of NCPC's
century-old mission, yet development in the watershed continues (e.g.,
the current Kennedy-Warren expansion). The valley suffers from rampant
neglect, exacerbated by detonating road conditions, and desperately
needs attention and care.
Further, a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian study is needed to
improve access to and through Rock Creek Park. Armed with such a plan,
we can take a sensible approach to improving quality of life, and avoid
the ad hoc and unnecessary sacrifice of public safety and public roads.
###############
In the November 10 themail, Laurie Collins writes that the American
Lung Association of DC "has reviewed the MCV Associates'
transportation and environmental cost benefit analysis and assessment
and finds it to be a 'credible report,' and are concerned by its
findings that closing Klingle Road leads to significant increase in
toxic emissions." Well, one wouldn't expect Lung Association folk
to be traffic engineers, so it's not surprising that they were fooled by
a totally invalid analysis.
The Berger Group used a computer model of intersections to calculate
that eastbound Porter Street drivers, at Connecticut Avenue, are now
idling in a backup for over 15 minutes to clear the intersection. The
computer model says further that reducing Porter Street traffic by 20
percent, by opening Klingle, would cut this wait time to less than 5
minutes. That 10-minute difference is the foundation of the benefits
predicted by MCV. MCV further assumed that the Porter Street 15-minute
backup would prevail for a solid six hours every day. Well, you don't
have to be a trained traffic engineer to observe that in fact there are
no such awful backups and delays on Porter Street today, with Klingle
closed, and therefore these calculated benefits of opening Klingle Road
are mythical.
In general, these computer models work badly when the traffic exceeds
the nominal capacity of the intersection. As Dan Tangherlini, director
of DDOT wrote, “If an intersection significantly exceeds its design
capacity (i.e., more cars going through the intersection than it was
designed for), standard computer models generate meaningless
wait-times.” The Berger Group knew that their own computer results for
these conditions were meaningless, and ignored them, concluding that
“reopening Klingle Road would produce negligible beneficial
improvements to traffic congestion or safety at surrounding
intersections.” That is the correct analysis — not the cost-benefit
nonsense, based on a meaningless computer calculation, put forth by MCV
Associates. The Lung Association should be embarrassed by, and MCV
Associates ashamed of, their endorsement of a computer calculation that
every traffic engineer will recognize as meaningless. The benefit of
opening Klingle Road is simple: reduced travel time for those who use
it. On that basis, I am now on the record (themail, November 10) in
support of a limited opening of the road. I reject, however, any attempt
to promote reopening of the road based on an obviously invalid computer
calculation.
###############
Incorrect ANC Ballots
Arthur Jackson, ccadadc2@aol.com
On Tuesday November 5, thousands of District Voters were given wrong
ballots for ANC SMD seats. For example voters residing in The Wingates
Complex (where hundreds of families are on rent strike, and attempting
to buy the complex) were given ballots for another SMD in another part
of town. Wingates is a high rise building located in 8D05, represented
by activist Robin D. Ijames, who is chairperson of ANC 8D. Residents
were given ballots for ANC 8D04. In the November 10 edition of themail,
DC voters complained that they were given incorrect ballots. If this is
true, there could have been widespread abuse of voting for ANC's on
Tuesday November 5. Any DC voter claiming to have received the wrong
ballots for ANC Districts should contact my office as soon as possible
to prepare a affidavit to file with the DC Board of Elections and
Ethics. Also contact Councilmember David Catania's Office (727-1000) and
request a formal investigation into the Board of Election's polling site
staff's issuing of wrong ballots in the elections.
When I arrived to vote at my voting poll on November 5, the election
clerk handed me a ballot for ANC SMD 8D04. I complained that I resided
in 8D05, and then the clerk went to the back and opened a package of
8D05 ballots and handed me two. I complained that he gave me two
ballots, and handed him one back. Witness was Chief Clerk, Ms.
Clementine Smith. Later that evening, I received a call from Melonie
Bryant, a resident of Wingates, stating she did nor see the incumbent
for ANC 8D05's name on her ballot, and when she questioned the election
clerk, the election clerk said, “Just write in Robin D. Ijames on the
write-in section of the 8D04 Ballot, and the board would count it for
Robin D. Ijames.” However, when Commissioner Ijames called the
Election's Board Legal Counsel Office to verify this statement, the
legal Counsel Office denied it.
We must call for an investigation into the ANC elections process of
Tuesday, November 5, and request the following: 1) open hearings for
voters given wrong ballots to vote in ANC Districts by the Board of
Elections and its staff. 2) Hearings by Councilmembers Catania,
Mendelson, and Allen to address widespread problems with voters given
incorrect ballots for ANC Districts. 3) A temporary freeze on validating
election results of ANC elections where voters were given incorrect
ballots, until the hearings are held and complaints are heard. To
register your complaint call Arthur Jackson, Jr., 271-5522.
###############
Board of Elections
John Whiteside, johnwhiteside at earthlink dot net
Here's another example of Board of Elections incompetence: their web
site. Here in one of the most wired cities in America, that site should
be an important tool for voters. Pop over to http://www.dcboee.org
and you're confronted with a disorganized mess. From the light-blue on
gray text that you can barely read to the maps link that tells you there
are no maps because of redistricting, to the search function that
produces an error page telling you that the requested page does not
exist, it's an incredible mess. Considering how good the city's web site
is, it's rather strange.
Speaking of government web sites, I went to the ANC 2F site to find
out when the next meeting is. The site helpfully tells visitors that
it's on March 7, 2001. Hey, it's only been a year and a half, I guess
they've been a little busy.
###############
Based on my own experience, in addition to the many others who have
contributed in this forum, it is obvious that poor planning and gross
incompetence reigned at the DC Board of Elections and Ethics this
election season. Mr. Williams, you have only one choice, and that is to
fire Alice Miller. It's time that the example is set that your managers
are accountable for their performance, and that DC government is
accountable to us, the taxpayers. Don't worry about it being viewed as
retribution for your fines however, as I'm sure you'll have plenty of
citizens who will stand up and testify as to the non-responsiveness and
poor performance of the Board. I'll be the first in line.
###############
Nigerian Scam — The Fun Approach
Dan Parker, dandc68@hotmail.com
Clare Feinson's comments on the Nigerian Scam reminded me of a
correspondence I read. I google'd a different one (http://www.savannahsays.com/kizombe.htm)
but remember loving the fact that someone had more time than me to begin
negotiations with the scammers and get the percentage returns up.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
The Fairfax County Public Library invites you to see the brand-new
Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” at
9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, at the Lee Highway Multiplex in
Fairfax. Tickets are $20 each and will benefit the Library's Reach Out
& Read partnership with Inova. Limit of four tickets per family. To
order your own tickets, or to give a disadvantaged child the gift of a
Harry Potter screening, call 703-204-3379, or e-mail Jeanne Bridgeman at
jeanne.bridgeman@inova.com
at Inova.
###############
Board Seeks Community Input, November 26
Elena Temple, elena.temple@k12.dc.us
The District of Columbia Board of Education will hold a public
hearing on school system's FY 2004-2009 Capital Budget. The Capital
Budget, not to be confused with the operating budget, governs school
construction. The FY '04 Capital Budget was funded by the city at $168
million, but $313 million is needed to keep school construction on
schedule with the Master Facilities Plan put forth by the Board in 2001.
Board members want to hear from parents, students and other community
members as they make decisions regarding the school system's facilities
program.
The hearing will be on November 26, at 6:00 p.m., in the 5th Floor
Board Room, 825 North Capitol Street, NE. More information regarding the
FY '04 Capital Budget will be posted to the Board's web site at http://www.k12.dc.us
(click on the Board of Education button). To testify, contact Elena
Temple at 442.5190.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — WANTED
Bolshoi Tickets
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com
A colleague is desperate to find tickets for the Bolshoi. If you have
some you want to sell, contact her (Ellen Toups) at ejtoups@aol.com.
###############
A senior citizen returning to school at UDC seeks an Internet capable
computer for her college work. Call Bernice McCallum on 726-5856 (with
Mt. Rona Baptist Church).
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
Brick tuck pointing referral. Anyone who does or knows someone who
does quality tuck point work on historic homes (I have thin black
mortar), please send me their name and contact information. Dave De Seve,
ddeseve@bellatlantic.net,
462-7632.
###############
You can buy a DC Flag at Union Station. There is a flag store of
sorts in the main hall area.
###############
themail@dcwatch is an E-mail discussion forum that is published every
Wednesday and Sunday. To subscribe, to change E-mail addresses, or to
switch between HTML and plain text versions of themail, use the
subscription form at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/subscribe.htm.
To unsubscribe, send an E-mail message to themail@dcwatch.com
with “unsubscribe” in the subject line. Archives of past messages
are available at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail.
All postings should also be submitted to themail@dcwatch.com,
and should be about life, government, or politics in the District of
Columbia in one way or another. All postings must be signed in order to
be printed, and messages should be reasonably short — one or two brief
paragraphs would be ideal — so that as many messages as possible can
be put into each mailing.
