Merry Christmas
Dear Celebrants and Non-Celebrants:
I know that we went through this controversy last year, and I know
that it is controversial to make a reference to any holiday except
possibly for Arbor Day, but as I left a Pakistani restaurant this week,
one of the workers wished me a Merry Christmas. If he didn't feel
restricted to sentiments of “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy
Holidays,” why should anyone else feel embarrassed to say “Merry
Christmas?”
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Washington Teachers Union
Karin Schach-Navas, kschachnavas@aol.com
This scandal involving the president of the WTU, whom I know
personally because I've been a union member for twenty years, is
absolutely horrible. Most of my colleagues from my current and former
school who've been in the system (as we say in DCPS) for any time also
know Barbara. The woman we knew had always been a tireless defender of
the rights of DC teachers, available by phone or in person to advocate
for us, answer our many questions, help us in a variety of ways. She
regularly came out to local schools to speak to the membership about
current negotiations, problems with supervisors, possible layoffs, and
what were our contractual rights. She was well-dressed as any
professional woman, like a lawyer, like an executive, because she
represented us. No one that I knew ever questioned how she could afford
her wardrobe because it didn't look exaggerated. The teachers I know are
nauseated by this horrible betrayal and await the indictments.
Meanwhile, we keep spending our own money on the extra books and
supplies we want (actually need) for our classrooms, knowing we'll never
be paid back. But then again our job isn't about money, though we look
forward to the negotiated raise that now may never come. Some of us are
naive to think that's it's still about believing in children's potential
to succeed. Many of us could have gotten other more prestigious jobs. To
hear that our leader stabbed us in the back with trips to Neiman-Marcus
and a private dressmaker hurt. Sorry. We're still at the grief stage
about this.
[The FBI affidavit that was filed to get the search warrants for
union leaders' homes is available at http://www.dcwatch.com/schools/ps021218.htm.
— Gary Imhoff]
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You May or May Not Be Invited
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
Legally, newly elected mayors of the District of Columbia are sworn
in on January 2nd after the election. In preparation for the inaugural
ceremony, Mayor Williams belatedly established an Inaugural Advisory
Committee on December 10 to “encourage and seek financial support from
the private sector” for his inauguration. Beverly Perry of PEPCO
chairs the committee, and other members include former Greater Southeast
Community Hospital executive Donna Rattley, Logan Circle developer Jim
Abdo, and former Councilmember H.R. Crawford. (The mayor's order
establishing the committee and the full list of members is available at http://www.dcwatch.com/mayor/021210.htm.)
Logistical planning for the day's events is being done by Chief of Staff
Kelvin Robinson. However, with fewer than eight days remaining, the
Mayor's office is having trouble finalizing the details.
At the Mayor's weekly press conference on December 18, a flyer was
distributed indicating that the festivities would consist of a prayer
breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, a swearing-in ceremony on the
steps of the John A. Wilson Building, and a People's Party Celebration
at the National Building Museum. That afternoon, however, the Mayor's
office sent an E-mail to the press saying that the flyer had been
distributed “prematurely,” and that arrangements had not been
confirmed for the prayer breakfast and the People's Party. Word has it
that the Hyatt Regency and the National Building Museum were insisting
on being paid to host the events, and that fundraising had been slow to
get started. Moreover, many vendors are insisting on prepayment because
of the late payment history for past Williams events, including prayer
breakfasts. Concern was also expressed about holding a two-hour
swearing-in ceremony outdoors on the steps of the Wilson Building in
early January.
On Friday, December 20, senior staff in the Wilson Building learned
that, despite the fact that thousands of engraved invitations to the
swearing-in ceremony had been printed and readied for mailing, the
location of the swearing-in had been changed to the Warner Theater.
Meanwhile, no information has been released about where the prayer
breakfast or the People's Party will be held, and it is still unclear
whether tickets will be needed for any of the events, and how those
tickets will be distributed.
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I would like to know why we have been asked to rake our leaves by
December 1st, but no one ever collected them. It's a shame to see the
streets in the 20016 area.
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Ed Barron wrote about the empty seats in the MCI arena. The NBA only
releases to the public number of seats sold. So the Wash Post only goes
with the numbers they get. I have been hoping for the past few years the
NBA would also release actual attendance figures, but then some might
actually realize that fan support isn't all that great and they wouldn't
be able to charge $45 for a seat in the last row of the end zone for a
game between the Cleveland Cavaliers or Memphis Grizzlies and the
Wizards.
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Safety Spin
John Whiteside, johnwhiteside at earthlink dot net
The safety "improvement" cited by John Cleave is a bad
joke. So, a group of Washington executives rates police protection
better than they did a year ago. That's nice, but how many of those
executives have actually had any need of police protection in the last
year? That would have been a good follow-up question. Meanwhile the
actual crime rate is up. But we're supposed to be happy that a group of
people who probably haven't interacted with police at all think they're
doing better? Are we that stupid?
[On Monday, the Washington Post published a comprehensive assessment
of Chief Ramsey's five years in office and of the crime situation in DC
by Craig Timberg and David Farenthold, adequately summarized by its
title, “Ramsey Era Brings Little Improvement,” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27164-2002Dec22.html.
Actually, Chief Ramsey is doing the job for which he was hired five
years ago by the Memorandum of Understanding partners, led by the
Control Board. The assessment of the MOU group was that DC's police
problem was not primarily crime, which they felt was on a natural
downward swing for demographic reasons, but public relations. They
looked for a police chief who could make citizens feel better about the
police department and feel safer, even if they weren't actually safer.
Chief Ramsey is an expert in public relations; he has a television show,
a radio show, a spiffy web site, and a regular column, and he gives a
good speech. He'll be secure in office until the city leaders'
priorities change from public relations to performance. — Gary Imhoff]
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Crime Across the City
Clyde E. Howard, Jr., ceohoward@hotmail.com
I agree that the new stadium being proposed for baseball will benefit
the rich and drain the not-so-rich of money that could have been used to
improve the school system and other important areas of the city. This
stadium is just like the new city convention center that is nearing
completion. Only the rich can benefit from it, and the ones that are
most affected by it suffer.
I am also in agreement about neighborhood crime. It seems that it is
all right for the non-VIPs to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune, but it the movers and shakers must enjoy the peace and
tranquillity of safe areas. Enforcement is just a word if it is not done
equally across all sectors of the city. All people have the right to
enjoy peace and tranquility in their neighborhoods. One of these days we
might all wake up and smell the roses, because crime is not held in
check by neighborhood boundaries.
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At this time of year, the winter season, many folks from this area
head south on Caribbean cruises. There's been several outbreaks of the
Norwalk virus affecting hundreds of passengers on several cruise lines.
My theory about what is spreading this virus is very uncomplicated. I
believe that the virus germs are being spread from hand to hand via the
utensils handled by diners serving themselves in the buffet lines. The
cruise lines should find out just where those getting the viruses have
been eating. I contend that those who avoid the buffet lines and eat
only in the dining rooms will be much less likely to be victims of this
virus.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
New Years Eve Gala, December 31
Michael Karlan, events@dcyoungpro.com
The DC Society of Young Professionals is hosting a new Year's Eve
Gala at the Ritz-Carlton. This event features seven international themed
party areas: New York, New Orleans, Jamaica, Monte Carlo, Havana, Tokyo,
and Vienna. It also features a top shelf open bar, champagne toast,
elaborate food stations, party favors, white glove service, and much
more. For more details or to purchase tickets, please visit www.dcyoungpro.com,
E-mail events@dcyoungpro.com,
or call 686-6085.
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Sandra Thurman at the Woman’s National
Democratic Club, January 14, 2003
Pat Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com
Sandra Thurman will speak at the Woman's National Democratic Club,
1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, on January 14, 2003, at 12:30 p.m. Ms.
Thurman is President of the International AIDS Trust and was formerly
the director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy in the
Clinton administration. (Mr. Clinton and Mr. Nelson Mandela are
Co-Chairs of the IAT Advisory Board). Ms. Thurman will present an
overview of the pandemic and reveal plans to bring about leadership and
resources to effectively battle this disease. How will the US leverage
support from international agencies to educate and develop programmatic
approaches to the problem? She will examine the global security impact
of HIV/AIDS on nations and the imperative of shaping and adequate US
response.
Proceeds from this luncheon are tax-deductible and will be used to
help fund the WNDC activities at Nevell Thomas School. For reservations,
call 986-2791 and ask for Patricia Fitzgerald.
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