themail.gif (3487 bytes)

October 8, 2003

Dangerous

Dear Endangered:

There's some good news. Five Guys has opened its first franchise in DC, on Georgia Avenue in the old Wonder Bread Plaza complex (http://www.fiveguys.com/images/F.G.E./001.html). Five Guys, if you don't know it from its suburban Virginia locations, serves the best hamburgers and fries in the nation. Their hamburgers are tastier than any I have had since my parents first let me cross the road by myself and order a burger in Bennie Bader's Tavern. Bennie's wife, Iris, really knew how to grill a patty. Of course, that was in the good old days, when nobody went crazy if a five or six-year old neighbor kid went into a tavern, as long as he didn't actually order a six-pack of Buds to go, and nobody was insulted if a nice neighborhood joint called itself a tavern. Today we're lucky that the city council hasn't yet banned serving hamburgers altogether; the Montgomery County Council is probably contemplating legislation to do that right now.

Those were also the good old days when a third grade teacher could put a shiny little glob of mercury in a box and pass it around to the kids in the class, so we could play with it and squash it, and see how it was a solid that behaved like a liquid, with just the admonition that we shouldn't put it in our mouths, and that we should wash our hands after class. None of us experienced the slightest ill effect. Today's kids, who are too weak and frail to have enjoyed playing on swings and seesaws and jungle gyms on a blacktop playground, would probably have to be hospitalized after that trauma, as the overheated mercury scare at Ballou High School shows.

And there's some bad news. Have you been following the story of how the city council wants to give a free pass to a criminal corporation, Fort Myer Construction, which was convicted of bribing city government employees so that it could cheat taxpayers on its contracts with the city? You probably haven't, if you only read the Washington Post, which buried this important story on page 3 of the District Weekly section, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27973-2003Oct1.html. By contrast, the Washington Times has carried substantive page one stories about it by Jim McElhatton for three days, and you need to read them: http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20031005-111127-5701r.htm, http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20031006-101708-4217r.htm, and http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20031007-102440-3350r.htm. Fort Myer had been suspended from doing business with the DC government for three years, but the council passed a bill overturning the suspension. Basically, the council approved of bribing government employees and cheating taxpayers, and argued that dishonesty shouldn't be taken too seriously, at least as long as Fort Myer continues its generous campaign contributions. Councilmembers actually argued that the corporation shouldn't be held liable for the criminal acts of its employees, from which it benefited, since it fired a few dishonest employees after they were caught. Other councilmembers pointed to the Maryland employees that Fort Myer had bused into the hearing and moaned about the poor DC workers who would suffer if DC did business with some other company. The short honor roll of councilmembers who voted for honesty and integrity in government consists of Carol Schwartz and Kathy Patterson. If Mayor Williams were really a reform mayor, he would support the arguments for suspending Fort Myer made by Dan Tangherlini, his Director of Transportation, veto the council bill, and force the councilmembers to vote in favor of government corruption and cheating taxpayers a second time.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

###############

Teachers Union Swindle
Ralph Blessing, rblessin88@hotmail.com

Am I the only one who feels that the members of the teachers union and the public as a whole have been hoodwinked by the deal worked out between prosecutors and chief union swindler Barbara Bullock? First of all, we had been told for months that they were going after the small fish in order to build a stronger case against the big fish (Bullock and Gwendolyn Hemphill). Now they tell us that Bullock may be given a reduced sentence if she provides information to assist in the prosecution of others involved in the embezzlement. Are we going around in circles or what?

The Post reports that a deal has already been offered to Hemphill. If so, who is left for Bullock to be ratting on? Unless there are even bigger fish to fry than we've heard about, the whole idea of negotiating with the likes of Bullock baffles me, especially since the Post makes it sound as if she was the one calling the shots during the negotiations. I can understand a plea bargain if it will avoid a lengthy trial, but with such overwhelming evidence, why are we led to believe that the deal was more on her terms than on the prosecutors'? One sentence in the Post article is telling. It states that Bullock also agreed to "relinquish all the furs, clothes, artwork and other ill-gotten gains that FBI agents carted away after a December raid at her Northwest Washington apartment." Duh! What we're talking about are, in effect, stolen goods. Since when do we need to get an agreement with crooks to "relinquish" the loot they've acquired through thievery?

###############

Bullock’s Conviction Doesn’t Solve Problem
Ed Dixon, Georgetown Reservoir, jedxn@erols.com

With a plea agreement from Barbara Bullock, there is a possibility that the case involving corruption at the Washington Teachers Union (WTU) may well end. Securing an indictment may please the press and the public enough to at least put the investigation on the back burner. However, the tidiness of such a conclusion should concern skeptical critics of the current state of affairs in the District. Bullock's cronies Leroy Holmes, Michael Martin, and Errol Alderman were all officially charged in order to bring forward a conviction of Bullock. But Gwendolyn M. Hemphill's role has not been clearly identified. Bullock and Hemphill aren't aberrations, but have been key players in the formation of this city's electoral equation for years. Hemphill's association with political leadership did not start in 2002 with overseeing bogus petition drives for the William's campaign.

Former Marion Barry's political dependence on the WTU should shine more light on Hemphill's role in city politics. In 1984, Hemphill was Marion Barry's special assistant for organized labor. At the same time, Bullock was assistant to William H. Simons, the WTU president whose leadership stretched from pre-home rule to the Kelly administration. Bullock surfaced as president of the WTU in 1994 after a controversial union election forced the Department of Labor to intervene. By the time the control board took power and the Barry agenda, or lack thereof, was effectively put in check by Congress, the embezzling had begun. Hemphill moved to the WTU in 1996 to take over day to day financial duties as assistant to the president and legislative representative for the union.

By 1998, both women had moved the WTU behind the William's campaign. For FY 2001, the William's administration had gotten a 19 percent teachers' pay raise in place; the same teachers' pay from which Hemphill and Bullock would garnish money to enrich themselves. In April of the 2002 campaign year, Bullock had a request into DCPS to increase the payroll deduction from teachers. At least one Democratic operative close to the campaign remarked in early 2003 that WTU money was flowing freely in the 2002 campaign. Both the WTU and the Williams campaign shared the same bank whose president coincidentally contributes generously to local political campaigns. In 2001, the Hemphill's contributed $3000 to the Williams campaign and almost $500 to the Jarvis campaign the year before. As the executive director to the DC Democratic Party and assistant to the president of the WTU, Hemphill connects the dots to the Williams administration and the corrupted interests in this city that back Williams. Her responsibility in petition forgery and misappropriation of union dues at the highest levels of the Williams administration and the Democratic Party should not be overlooked. Her dismissal from the Mayor's campaign last year and resignation from the city's Democratic Party should not end by dropping the WTU investigation after Bullock's plea bargain.

###############

Only Two Months Behind
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom

That's the answer I got from the records office of DC that records mortgage satisfactions. My mortgage was paid off in July and the satisfaction paperwork was sent to the County Clerk's Office of the District of Columbia. The Office of Tax and Revenue person whom I talked with acknowledged that his office was responsible for processing mortgage satisfactions, but that I should not hold my breath looking for anything from his office since the office was at least two months behind in processing satisfactions. Perhaps, he suggested, that I call back in December.

This, on top of the fact that the District Office of Tax and Revenue acknowledges that I made an estimated tax payment of $550 last year that they had not credited to my tax payments. Despite two trips to the Tax Office with copies of my canceled checks, I still have not received a refund check for the payment made last Summer. I am dealing with incompetent idiots.

###############

But I Wouldn’t Want to Live There
Ed Barron, edtb@aol.com

Ah, Baltimore. Easy to get there from here and a really neat place to visit for a weekend. The Baltimore Museum of Art, on the northern part of the city (right near the Zoo), is a very delightful museum. Very digestible in size and with a varied collection of art that would delight any aficionado of Matisse, Cezzane, Gauguin, et al. This was the Fells Point Festival Weekend and the place was mobbed. If you think street parking in DC is tough, just go to B'more and try to find a spot in Little Italy or Fells Point on a Saturday night. Nice place to visit, but. . . .

###############

Parking
John Whiteside, johnwhiteside at earthlink dot net

Regarding the conversation on parking: the DC code provides that, “There is established an Authority to be known as the Public Parking Authority of the District of Columbia ('Authority')” and that among its purposes shall be “providing public parking facilities to serve specific geographical areas in the District and services relating to the management of those facilities, parking feasibility assessment, facility design criteria, financing, construction management and oversight, and facility management and maintenance within specific geographic areas.”

This has been on the books for years. So where's the parking authority and where are its public parking facilities? If you can't think of any, you're not alone. I suppose it would be cynical to think that donations by the operators of private parking facilities to our local politicians have anything to do with the situation.

###############

High-Priced Parking on MCI Nights
Gabe Goldberg, gabe@gabegold.com

James Treworgy, jamie@trewtech.com, said that he has no problem with uncapped parking fees because Metro serves the MCI Center well. He adds that “the ability to drive downtown and park cheaply would seem to be more of a privilege than a right.” I'm happy that this is a non-problem for him, but he might consider that not everyone lives or works anywhere near a Metro station. For me, taking Metro requires driving further away from DC, through the Springfield Interchange — the Mixing Bowl — likely at rush hour. So it's generally much easier/faster to simply drive downtown. I occasionally use Metro; I'd prefer it and would use it a lot more if my home station were more accessible. Similarly, handicapped individuals may not be able to use Metro.

I wonder regarding Mr. Treworgy's qualifications for determining citizen rights versus privileges and his willingness to deny some people opportunities he deems privileges. Perhaps in a future mailing he'll help define for whom driving and parking is a right, and for whom it's a privilege. Since DC's infrastructure is to some extent supported by Federal funds, I'd suggest that anyone paying Federal income taxes has standing to consider driving a right. And it seems a legitimate local government function to prevent price gouging.

PS: I've never been to an MCI Center event — though I frequently walk by it on the way to meetings. The issues are the same; I'd like to drive and park economically, no matter what my destination. If it's OK with Mr. Treworgy. I generally manage to do that by being willing to walk a bit further after parking than I think most people would consider doing, and by having some favorite streets with friendly parking meters on which I can usually find a spot.

###############

Open Letter to Democratic National Committee
Timothy Cooper, worldright@aol.com

Dear Mr. McAuliffe: We note with some satisfaction today's editorial in the Washington Post, which chastises the DNC for attempting to sabotage the DC presidential primary. As author of the DC presidential primary idea, conceived, as you know, to highlight the District's deplorable lack of voting rights in Congress and our insufferable second-class citizenship at the hands of the United States Congress, we make no apologies for doing whatever is necessary to move our agenda onto the national stage. Regrettably, over the past number of decades, the DNC has done little to promote our most fundamental interests, even when it would clearly serve the DNC's best political interests to do so.

The DNC's current attempt to destroy our voting rights campaign by discouraging presidential candidates from participating in the DC primary is tantamount to a betrayal of the people of Washington, DC. Moreover, your personal efforts to undermine our vital concerns speaks poorly of your commitment to equal rights for all taxpaying US citizens. Further, it serves to undermine a key platform of the Democratic Party, which calls for full political rights for the residents of the District of Columbia. It is time the DNC stopped undercutting the DC presidential primary and embraced it. The DNC should do whatever is necessary to end our era of political impoverishment.

###############

Vote January 13, 2004, Primary Pledge
Sam Farmer, DCFirst.org

Two things will happen at the DC Primary: 1) Candidates will be judged on how many votes they get. 2) DC will be judged on how many of us vote. The more DC residents who vote, the more coverage we get, the more coverage the more people who will be made aware of our situation which will lead to us gaining the rights we all know we deserve. Plus, for the first time DC will have a major role in selecting Presidential candidates.

Sign the “Vote Jan 13, 2004” pledge today to show the nation that we are serious about wanting equal Congressional representation and full local self-government: http://dcfirst.org/pledge/.

###############

Comment on Respect, by Dorothy Brizill, October 5
Mark David Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) did not object to DC's “unilateral effort” to set its primary date — that is the right of every state and DC. It objected to DC setting the date before two states that are grandfathered to be first, Iowa and New Hampshire. If DC moved its primary first and made it binding, it would be in violation of DNC rules. Holding an advisory primary is not against the rules — but the DNC discourages non-binding primaries and calls them “beauty contests.” Although every state and DC has the power to set its primary date, the local Democratic Party has the power to determine if it will be binding or non-binding. The DC Democratic State Committee (DSC) voted against making DC's primary binding by two votes. But, the DSC agreed to an advisory primary followed by binding caucuses in which about one-third of DC delegates will be selected. (The rest of DC's delegates are “super delegates” and can vote any way they want regardless of the timing of the primary.) Most involved in moving the primary accepted the DSC's decision as a compromise and today we are working together to make a successful primary season.

New Hampshire's law has a trigger mechanism so that if any other state tries to hold a primary before their date, they move their date. Although New Hampshire Democrats were somewhat annoyed with DC, they did not move their date because DC is not a state and they understand that DC did this for a single purpose related to seeking equal rights, and not to compete with New Hampshire or Iowa. Delaware Democrats held a non-binding primary February 5, 2000: http://www.thegreenpapers.com/PCC/DE-D.html. Despite compliance with the rules, DNC officials have encouraged Presidential candidates to skip DC and even told the DSC that they could be punished in some way if they try to encourage voter turnout for the Jan. 13 primary. Thankfully, some candidates have ignored the DNC and have been coming to town to ask for DC's support. DC statehood and voting rights have been discussed more recently than in many years thanks to DC's first-in-the-nation advisory primary. The Washington Post editorialized on the DNC's ugly behavior today: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58167-2003Oct7.html.

Last week, Councilman Orange held a hearing in which others and I testified about possible ideas for voter education and increasing voter turnout. In the 2000 May primary, only 8.8 percent voted. By May, of course, the primary was virtually useless so that could explain the low turnout. Around election time many speak about the need for increased participation but little action is taken to understand or solve the problem. This year, in part because the DC primary will be so visible, many have been thinking for months now about how to encourage people to register and participate — before the election rather than just complaining after it is over. Democracy activists and the DSC are working together to educate voters about next year's elections and encourage participation. Although the January primary is advisory, its impact will be greater than any primary previously held in DC. The Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE) does not do get-out-the-vote work — they leave that to the political parties. Instead, they focus on education so people know how to register, where to go on what dates, how to use the voting machines, etc. Visit http://blog.letsfreedc.org and http://www.dcFirst.org for more information.

###############

Correcting the Record
Marc K. Battle, Counsel, Committee on Government Operations, mbattle_hus2002@hotmail.com

Ms. Brizill, in her letter regarding the impending presidential primary entitled “Respect,” [themail, October 5] stated that District Democratic leaders supported “giving non-citizens the right to vote in all future elections” at last Friday's Council hearing. This is not accurate. Those testifying at that hearing supported giving nonresidents the right to vote in local elections only. Several in attendance noted that federal law prevents non-citizens from voting in federal (i.e., presidential) elections including January's non-binding primary.

###############

Primary Pessimists
Chuck Thies, chuckthies@aol.com

In the October 5 edition of themail Dorothy Brizill writes, “In recent weeks local Democratic party activists have started to worry that the January 13 primary may turn out to be a major embarrassment.” I beg to differ. Of those with whom I communicate, local Democratic Party activists who advocate for and work to promote the January 13 primary have no such concern. Rather, they continue to push forward, unwaveringly and creatively, an agenda for garnering national attention with respect to the disenfranchisement long suffered by District residents, and have done so with great success.

Since January 2003 countless national news stories about the DC primary have been published. In the past three weeks the DC primary has been covered and/or referenced by the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC news, the Associated Press and numerous other publications/outlets, all of which cite the stated reason for DC's “First Primary;” advancing the fight to achieve equal rights for District residents.

As for concerns about “a major embarrassment,” there are a few local Party officials who have done little or nothing to promote the January 13 primary, and some have even attempted to thwart it. The potential embarrassment they most often cite is poor turnout on January 13 (an outcome that could be avoided by action, not talk). The true embarrassment is the unwillingness of these naysayers to stand up for DC, challenge the DNC and demand a seat in the front of the bus. No one ever got rights playing by the rules.

###############

DC Primary
Sean Tenner, stenner@mrss.com

For all those who question the wisdom of the DC primary as a tool for educating the nation about our lack of voting rights, please E-mail me at stenner@mrss.com and I will be happy to send you over 160 pages of national news articles about the DC primary, nearly all of which educate their readers about DC's disenfranchisement. In addition to the other candidates, Democratic front-runner Howard Dean continues to campaign in the District, including recent stops at Howard University and Ballou High School. And for those who don't believe us about the primary's impact, please see this quote from last Sunday's New York Times: “No sooner had District of Columbia officials dissed political tradition by moving the city's primary to Jan. 13 — making it the nation's first presidential test — than Democratic leaders trashed it as unofficial, meaningless and disrespectful to Iowa and New Hampshire. They also urged candidates to avoid it. But most of the Democrats running have dissed the party leadership, recognizing the symbolism of Washington as a majority African-American city and the only jurisdiction in the United States without a voting representative in Congress.”

Sean Tenner, executive director of the DC Democracy Fund, a political action committee that supports candidates who favor voting rights for the city, said all but Senator Bob Graham and General Clark have campaigned in the District or have sent aides on their behalf. Jack Evans, one of six City Council members endorsing Dr. Dean, said the primary provided an early forum on issues important to urban residents like crime and race relations, which don't necessarily get play in Iowa and New Hampshire. “Regardless of how some people want to put down the DC primary,” Mr. Evans said, “to win the first primary, that's a big deal.”

###############

Primary Considerations
Scott McLarty, scottmclarty@hotmail.com

Dorothy Brizill, in the October 5 themail, wrote about efforts by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to undermine the District's January 13 Primary Day, which Council passed in agreement with DC democracy advocates that the early date would draw national attention to our lack of democratic rights. Some of us in the DC Statehood Green Party had reservations about the proposal (the absurdity of a ten-month campaign period, from January 13 until election day; the increased financial burden on third party candidates, independents; and any Dems and Repubs not swimming in corporate campaign money), but it ultimately endorsed it. The DNC is now urging Democratic presidential candidates to ignore the new DC primary date and avoid campaigning in DC. The Green Party of the United States has greater respect for democracy in DC, so if you want to register your protest against the DNC and vote in a party that'll have a full menu of candidates on the primary ballot, you might consider reregistering in the DC Statehood Green Party. A couple of national Green hopefuls have already made stops in DC: a reception for presidential candidate David Cobb took place at Cafe Mawonaj near Howard University on October 4; Ralph Nader (who has not formally announced yet) held a 'Democracy Rising' rally on October 7 that called for DC statehood, restoration of DC General Hospital, resistance to school vouchers in DC, and housing rights. (Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich appeared with Nader.)

According to Ms. Brizill, the Council intends to pass some election reforms, and will do so without inviting public discussion. The Statehood Green Party already supports some of these measures, such as same-day registration and extending voting rights to noncitizen residents, and also insists that public have some opportunities to weigh in on all these changes. But if Council passes an authorization to place all the Democratic Party's primary candidates on the January 13 ballot automatically, “without a filing fee, petitions, or any requirement,” you can be sure that Statehood Greens will demand that all political parties in DC deserve the same waiver.

On a related subject, why do so many DC democracy advocates use the imposition of school vouchers on DC (now delayed in the Senate) as an argument for voting rights in Congress? The outrage is not that Del. Norton lacks a vote in this decision, but that Congress wields power to impose laws and policies on DC, regardless of our will. Ms. Norton's vote would have negligible effect on outcomes in a Congress dominated by Republicans. The voucher legislation was passed by a single vote in the House, but let's not fool ourselves. House Republican leaders waited until a remote hour when they knew they'd pass it by at least one vote. They'd have done the same if Ms. Norton had a vote. What the voucher outrage proves is that we need full and permanent legislative and budgetary autonomy, the same as any state. Let's please stop confusing voting rights in Congress with democracy. Let's also stop misapplying the 'taxation without representation' complaint. When our Founding Fathers and Mothers protested taxation without representation, the solution they sought was independence, not voting seats in Parliament. If we win a voting seat in Congress without statehood, it'll give a single DC citizen (Ms. Norton) full citizenship and grant her the lone power to determine DC's political agenda. Furthermore, Congress will say “we gave DC what it asked for” and shelve further consideration of self-governance for DC, probably for decades. If you want democracy, full citizenship, and all your constitutional rights, support statehood for DC.

###############

CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

March to Reopen DC General Hospital, October 11
Vanessa Dixon, vmdixon@earthlink.net

On Saturday, October 11, at 2:00 p.m., the DC Health Care Coalition is sponsoring a march to the US Capitol from DC General (1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE, at the Stadium/Armory Metro Blue/Orange Line). When the public health system was privatized by closing DC General Hospital and responsibility was transferred to the DC Health Care Alliance, Mayor Williams assured that the new system would provide more effective health care. The CEO of George Washington University Hospital has described that system as an “abject failure” and calls for reopening a public hospital at the DC General site (Washington Post, September 14). For more information about this event, or to learn about additional DCHCC events, please call 635-5099.

###############

Meet Tuesdays With Morrie Author Mitch Albom, October 14
Lois Kirkpatrick, lois.kirkpatrick@fairfaxcounty.gov

The Fairfax County Public Library invites you to a live event with author Mitch Albom at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, at the Ernst Community Center on the Annandale campus of the Northern VA Community College. Free tickets will be available at 6:30 the evening of the event (limit two per person). Albom will discuss and sign his latest book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven. For details go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.

###############

Washington Area Gentrification, October 15
Matthew Gilmore, dchist@hotmail.com

Washington-Area Gentrification, a panel discussion with Mayor Williams, will be held on Wednesday, October 15th, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at The City Museum, 801 K Street, NW (Mount Vernon Square). Gentrification — the influx of high-income individuals into previously poor neighborhoods — is one of the most important phenomena shaping 21st century Washington. Yet rarely is gentrification discussed with much respect for the complex group of forces that it represents. This panel discussion, with experts from the fields of government, development and community activism, aims to promote a responsible and informative public dialogue on this contentious issue.

Panelists: Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of the District of Columbia; Al Eisenberg, former chair of the Arlington County Board, current Vice President for Government relations at the Washington Board of Trade and candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates; Jim Abdo, president of Abdo Development, a builder of luxury urban homes in Washington’s Dupont, Logan Circle and Capitol Hill neighborhoods; and Maria Maldonado, Director of Housing Programs at Casa of Maryland, an activist organization for Maryland’s Latino communities. Erik Wemple, editor-in-chief of Washington City Paper and frequent guest on WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show, will moderate the discussion. The event is hosted by the City Museum; The Next American City (a new magazine of urban affairs); the Loeb Fellowship of Harvard; and the Washington City Paper. It is free with museum admission: $3 adults, $2 students and seniors.

For more information, contact Josh Olsen, josh@americancity.org, The Next American City, 209 W. 108th St., #11, New York, NY 10025.

###############

Daniel Burnham Talk at National Building Museum, October 20
Briana Hensold, bhensold@nbm.org

Kristin Schaffer, professor of architectural history at North Carolina State University, will explore the foundations of twentieth-century American architecture in the life and work of noted architect, city planner, and civic leader Daniel H. Burnham, the architect of Washington's Union Station and author of the MacMillan Plan. After her talk, she will sign copies of her book Daniel H. Burnham: Visionary Architect and Planner (Rizzoli). Monday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. $10 members and students, $15 nonmembers. Registration required. National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW (Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line).

###############

Linda Zoblotsky Is Luvchild!, November 9
Linda Zoblotsky, lzoblotsky@yahoo.com

The District of Columbia Arts Center Theatre at 2438 18th Street, NW, will play host to Linda Zoblotsky Is Luvchild! on November 9, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. Admission will be $15.00 for the general public and $10.00 for DCAC members. Linda Zoblotsky Is Luvchild! is a funny, entertaining, thought-provoking story of one woman’s search for her identity. With over 30,000 children being placed into the adoption system each year, there are a growing number of people searching for their genetic roots. Linda Zoblotsky Is Luvchild! allows the audience to share in the fantasies of a child’s imagination. A “detective” uncovers the clues to a great mystery. Audiences get involved in with the numerous characters of “Luvchild” and appreciate the eight original uplifting songs performed by Linda Zoblotsky. Please call 202-462-7833 or E-mail lzoblotsky@yahoo.com for reservations. This theater only has fifty seats.

“I told a friend of mine about your wonderful performance. Do you have the songs on CD?” — Sheila Ganz. “I stopped being an observer and became a willing coconspirator on her journey.” — Herbert Felsonfeld. “Your work personalized the issue which is so effective at touching our common humanity.” — Harry Stark.

People are curious about how adopted people cope with the questions of missing information, ethnicity and medical background. What do my birth parents look like? Do I look like them? Do we have the same talents? Why did they give me up? There are 6,000,000 adopted people in the United States. Written by: Linda Zoblotsky, lzoblotsky@yahoo.com or 212-229-7632. Co-written and edited by Rick Paul, songs by Howard Beckerman, directed by Wendall Goings. DCAC is located at 2438 18th Street NW, between Belmont and Columbia Roads. If heading towards Adams Morgan from Downtown DC take the 42 Bus up Columbia road to DCAC. DCAC is also a ten minute walk from the Woodley Park/Zoo-Adams Morgan Metro station, and fifteen minutes from the Dupont Circle station. Street parking in Adams Morgan can be very difficult, but there is a commercial parking lot close to DCAC, on the east side of 18th Street across from the intersection with Belmont Road.

###############

CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED

Election Workers Needed for Presidential Primary Election
Bill O’Field, wofield@dcboee.org

District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Director Alice P. Miller announced today that Election Day Workers are needed to work at the polls for the upcoming January 13, 2004 Presidential Primary. “Any District of Columbia resident who is a registered voter can apply to qualify as a poll worker on Election Day,” Miller noted. “The Board of Elections is committed to conducting fair and impartial elections that are well organized and professionally managed. This would be difficult without the dedicated service of our poll workers who are needed to operate the voting precincts on Election Day. The work of the polling place officials — our election day workers — is a very big part of this overall effort.”

Training is required of all poll workers with classes provided by the Board’s staff prior to each election. The poll workers' hours are from 6:15 a.m. to about 9:00 p.m. on Election Day and approximately two to three hours on Monday before the election for polling place setup. Poll workers are paid a stipend of $100.00. Interested in applying for a poll worker position should contact the Board by calling 727-2525. Individuals with hearing impairments can call the Board’s TDD at 639-8916.

###############

CLASSIFIEDS — SERVICES

Pet Sitting
Lindsay Goldstein, lindsay11@starpower.net

Attention animal lovers! I will care for your doggie in my home and give him or her lots of loving care while you are away. Call Lindsay at Critter Sitters for more information, 537-3792.

###############

CLASSIFIEDS — SPACE

Parking Wanted
Tim Cline, timandann@aol.com

Off street parking in the 16th Street/Park Road, NW, area of Columbia Heights/Mt. Pleasant. Inside, outside, shared, whatever. I'll take any leads you can give me. Need soon — like now.

###############

CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Good Mechanic Needed
Wanda Avila, wavila@synpub.com

Can anyone recommend a reliable service station or garage to repair a minor oil leak in a Saturn?

###############

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.


Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcwatch.com
Web site copyright ©DCWatch (ISSN 1546-4296)