Remembering Walter Washington

Dear Washingtonians:

Thank you for your thoughts about Walter Washington; please don't hesitate to write if you want to add your own memories. When I think of Walter Washington, the quality I associate with him most is his niceness in the face of opposition — his courtesy, kindliness, and even friendliness toward those who fought against him and his policies. In contrast to those political amateurs who conceive of politics as a blood sport, as the deadly conflict of sworn enemies, Washington showed that the best politicians practice it as a way to resolve conflicts and create inclusiveness.

Many people in the past few days have written and spoken about Washington's last major foray into public politics, his endorsement of Mayor Williams's write-in campaign during last year's Democratic primary. I remember that endorsement event vividly. It was held at the Willard Hotel on September 5, soon after the Board of Elections and Ethics had denied Williams a place on the primary ballot. A host of former DC politicians, including both former mayors Washington and Pratt Kelly, turned out to the rally to express their support for Williams's reelection. The other speeches were boilerplate and perfunctory political rhetoric, but Washington's was different. In included a warm endorsement, but it was mainly a lecture to Williams, calling on him to get out among the people more, to listen to us and find out what we want. Dorothy and I covered the event. A few brave souls greeted us, but most of the people there treated us like skunks at a garden party. Not Washington. During his speech, he singled out Dorothy in the crowd and said that her challenge to the forged petitions had been a great service to the city. When that was greeted by muted gasps and then silence, Washington returned to it a second time later in the speech, and repeated it for emphasis. Now that's inclusiveness, and that's class.

On another subject, I don't want to censor your postings, but an ever-increasing number of corporate E-mail networks and individual E-mail accounts are using censorware with ever-stricter rules to ensure that nothing that could offend the most easily offended person gets delivered. That explains the asterisks in one message below. I hate doing this, and won't do it in the online version of themail, but the E-mail must get through.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com  

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Elect a Director of Education
Paul Dionne, News at paul dionne dot com

Obviously, an elected school board in a city the size of DC doesn't work. It is not like a small town were everyone knows everyone and elected officials value the trust of their constituents because they have known them their whole lives. And frankly, I don't trust the mayor's office (the current or previous mayor) to run the city's public schools given their dismal record on so many other issues. I also don't believe that the mayor is the right person to run the schools because it is so easy to get distracted with the cause du jour (terrorist attacks, flooding, poor roads, poor services), which deserve and need the mayor's attention. The education of our city's children will never get the sustained attention it deserves from any mayor.

I think we ought to consider having one person, whom we elect, who will be responsible for all the functions of the school board. That person can then appoint a school board whose members serve at his or her pleasure. Then non-performing board members can be canned.

More importantly, the electorate will know the one person that they can blame if DCPS isn't delivering. Many residents may vote for mayor without any regard for public education; it is only natural. We need one person whose sole responsibility is to insure a quality education for children who will never have a second chance to get one. And if that person doesn't fix things, we will know who to blame.

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No Monopoly on Unreasonableness
Phil Greene, Hawthorne, pgreene@doc.gov

I no longer believe, if I ever did, that the DC government has a monopoly on the Draconian treatment of its taxpayers. Montgomery County recently filed a lawsuit against my wife in the District Court of Maryland because, here it comes, she bounced a $5 check written to the County. Why did it bounce? Our car, along with her purse and checkbook, were stolen on Capitol Hill on June 1. All outstanding checks were frozen. We had no record of outstanding checks since the check register went along with the checkbook. We naively figured that all checks would be re-presented and ultimately paid. Apparently not. The County Attorney's office sent us a nasty letter in July, and we followed up with a phone call to inquire about how we could resolve it. They never called back, we admittedly failed to follow up (I should have called again or written, mea culpa), and the other day a full-blown District Court Complaint arrived by certified mail, summoning us into court for bouncing a $5 check. We have since settled the suit by paying the $5 plus a $35 late fee. Good Lord, when you think of the administrative costs, filing fees, etc., not to mention the stress inflicted on my wife, over a lousy five clams? You would think that spitting out another form letter, as companies and collection agencies do, and not immediately going to litigation, the last resort, would be more economical, not to mention more palatable from a public relations standpoint. No, that's now County Attorney Charles W. Thompson, Jr., sees things. Yeesh.

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DMV’s Arresting Development
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

On April 9, Mayor Williams named Anne Witt to replace Sherryl Hobbs Newman as Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Witt promised to fix DMV yet one more time, and to emphasize customer service. However, persistent problems continue to plague the Department. As the Washington Post noted in its October 30 editorial, “Department of Corruption” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38369-2003Oct29.html), “Already renowned for its long lines, rude and indifferent customer service and erratic and error-plagued computer systems, the DMV is now making headlines for having dishonest workers in its ranks.” On November 24, Carol Schwartz's Committee on Public Works will hold a hearing to discuss recent cases of ticket fixing and the illegal sales of drivers' licenses by DMV employees, the alleged fraudulent duplication of temporary tags, and other improprieties at DMV.

For months, the Department's web site has contained inaccurate information about the requirements for securing a drivers license and registering vehicles. That problem, along with inconsistent and incorrect requirements that can arbitrarily and capriciously be demanded by DMV employees, has forced some unlucky citizens to make multiple trips to DMV offices to complete what should be simple tasks — I know of one person who had to return six times. But complain about this at your own peril. DMV's surly staff has a new defense against upset citizens — complain and you can be arrested. A week and a half ago one themail reader was arrested at the C Street office for standing her ground, and when I told the story to City Administrator Robert Bobb on Wednesday, a woman whose social work had been praised by the mayor at the same press conference overheard me and said that her husband, a minister, had nearly been arrested at DMV himself when he complained about service.

The subscriber to themail who contacted me was handcuffed and arrested for disorderly conduct, and given a choice of paying an immediate $25 fine (thereby pleading guilty) or staying in jail until a court appearance. The subscriber had just moved into DC and was trying to register her car and get a neighborhood parking sticker. This was her third trip to DMV, and on each trip DMV workers demanded additional documents that were not listed as requirements on the web site, and were not mentioned on the previous trips. When the subscriber demanded to speak to a supervisor, DMV employees summoned a police officer instead. The subscriber had to get medical attention for bruises and scratches resulting from rough handling during the arrest, and has also had to hire an attorney to clear a criminal record for a disorderly conduct arrest. On the day of the arrest, after the subscriber returned to DMV to recover possessions, Ms. Witt apologized profusely for the incident and facilitated the car registration. Later, however, after she learned that the subscriber had told me about the incident, Witt went into an angry, lengthy, accusatory tirade because the incident had been made public. At the mayor's press conference, Robert Bobb said that he was confident that Anne Witt and her management team were turning things around at DMV. It's not easy to share Bobb's confidence.

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Hats Off to the DC DMV
Edward R. M. Kane, Chevy Chase, DC, ermk@aol.com

We hear so much negative about the DC DMV that I wish to put in a dissenting message. On October 21, having returned from a three week trip out of the US two days before, I found in my accumulated mail a notice from the DC DMV noting that my automobile must be reregistered before November 14. I did this on-line, renewing the registration for two years, and the process took approximately three minutes. On the same day, I received an E-mail message from the DMV informing me that my registration renewal was successfully processed. Today, I received the new sticker and the registration certificate. Well done, DMV!

I had a similarly felicitous experience with the DMV when I reregistered my vehicle, also by E-mail, two years ago. A contented customer.

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Testing, Testing
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom

Testing what was going on at the new Best Buy store in the old Sears/Hechingers building on Wisconsin Avenue and Albemarle Road in Tenleytown. They had a surprise early opening yesterday (Wednesday) prior to their grand opening on Friday to test the personnel and operating systems. Best Buy renovated the vacant space in record time and has opened a very attractive retail store with more electronics and appliances than one could hope for. Most of the remaining unrenovated first floor space will be occupied by The Container Store. Though I would have loved for a hybrid Home Depot store or a major hardware store in that location, I think that the present occupants should do well. Best Buy has transformed a dungeon into a castle.

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DC Republican Caucus Petitions Available
Carl Schmid, carschmid@aol.com

With the February 10, 2004, DC Republican Party's first presidential preference caucus just a few months away, DC Republican Committee Chair Betsy Werronen has announced that petitions are now available for candidates to qualify to be on the Caucus ballot. “DC Republicans,” noted Werronen, “are looking forward to participating in our first presidential preference caucus and are encouraging candidates to pick up petitions to be on the ballot.” The caucus will be held on the evening of Tuesday, February 10, 2004, at the Hall of Flags, US Chamber of Commerce Building, 1615 H Street, NW.

The DC Republican Party has refused to participate in the Democrat's January 13th costly beauty contest, and will instead conduct, at its own expense, a presidential preference caucus. At the Caucus, DC Republicans will elect Delegates and Alternates to the 2004 Republican National Convention, members of the DC Republican Committee, and DC's National Committeeman and Committeewoman to the RNC. Declared Republican Presidential Candidates may submit a slate of sixteen delegates and sixteen alternates to receive a nominating petition. Those running for the DC Republican Committee must be a part of a slate, and once submitted will receive a nominating petition. Republicans wishing to become a candidate for National Committeeman and Committeewoman are required to file a declaration of candidacy to receive a nominating petition.

To qualify to appear on the caucus ballot, all candidates and slates are required to obtain on their nominating petitions 1,000 signatures, or 1 percent of the District's duly registered Republicans, whichever is less. Declaration of candidacy forms and petitions are available at the DC Republican Committee, 1275 K Street, NW, Room 102, on any business day, Monday through Friday. Completed petitions must be submitted to the Chairman of the DCRC by December 12, 2003. For additional information contact the DCRC at 289-8005. Complete caucus rules and plan can be found on the web at http://dcgop.com/caucus_plan04.pdf.

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Cost of the Citizen Summits
Henry Townsend, henry.townsend@verizon.net

I seem to remember that the first summit cost close to a million bucks, all for a few thousand people. If so, it would be a waste of money that stands out even in this town with this government. Does anyone have the figures?

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Roger Wilkins, the Boards, and the Decline of Home Rule
Ed Dixon, jedxn@erols.com

A little less than a year ago, the current Board of Education unanimously passed a budget for the public schools. One of two of those board members who was waiting for his renewal notices from the mayor to continue his service was Roger Wilkins. Wilkins would leave office essentially ignored by the mayor because of an age-old battle in this city. Roger Wilkins' resignation from the Board of Education this year resonates even louder now in the wake of former mayor Walter Washington's death. As told by Tom Sherwood and Harry Jaffe in Dream City, Wilkins worked in the Justice Department during the Johnson Administration. He was the nephew of Roy Wilkins, then head of the NAACP. Johnson would propose that the city move from a board of commissioners to an appointed mayor. The question at the time was who and what that person's skin color would be. The Board of Trade and Congressional segregationists were against the change towards home rule. And along with the Washington Post, the power structure didn't want a black mayor. Through Wilkins' advice, his boss, Ramsey Clark, and the President decided to move forward with Walter Washington.

Now, more than thirty years later, Wilkins appears on the opposite side of the civil rights battle from the Board of Trade, the Washington Post, and Congressional conservatives again. Like Walter Washington, Wilkins spoke on a level of civility. His resignation letter spoke of the gratitude he felt in serving the city. Nevertheless, through his civility he forced upon Williams the agenda ahead: “I believed you when you said that you wanted to make improvement of education the hallmark of your second term and I hope that continues to be your goal. The nation's failure to deliver decent educations to so many poor children in our urban centers is in my view, the greatest national shame of our time. As Mayor of our Nation's Capital, you — working with the School Board and the superintendent – can begin, not only to improve education for our children here but also provide a powerful and needed lesson for the rest of the country. As you know — in addition to upgrading the academic supervisory and teaching corps — I believe that providing services to distressed parents to help them develop the capacities to guide their children's educations and the development of wrap-around services at schools in our poorest communities should be central elements of that effort.“ [http://www.dcpswatch.com/dcps/030205.htm] 

Wilkins was right in putting forth Washington's name thirty-six years ago. He was also right that the failure of urban education is a national shame. Though Wilkins seems to have lost this battle with the power structure, hopefully in thirty-six years his hopes will seem as antiquated as the idea of having a black mayor in a majority black city.

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Walter Washington
Sam Smith, Progressive Review, ssmith@igc.org

From City Desk, October 30: Of all the politicians with whom I have disagreed, Walter Washington was among my favorites. I was not alone. Walter could walk into a room in which two thirds of the people were angry about something and before leaving he would have reversed the odds. He once told me that he thought he and I wanted the same things but had just gone about it different ways.

Walter was part of a generation of black Washingtonians who had created a community filled with the grace, decency, and honor so lacking in the one from which they were excluded. In Walter Washington's case this was reflected in charm that left him with few serious enemies but also courage, as when he told the Johnson White House that, no, he would not shoot looters during the 1968 riots. It was apparent as well in the sort of integrity that tipped me to the possibility that he might not win reelection. Coming out of the crowded basement hall at the Washington Hotel where the mayor had launched his campaign, I noticed a row of double-parked expensive cars, many with his bumper sticker. . . and each with a parking ticket.

Later in that campaign — in which Washington was challenged by Sterling Tucker and Marion Barry — I ran into at a community event. “I want you know, Walter, that I'm telling people that if they can't vote for Marion, they should vote for you,” I told the mayor. He responded, “I know you are, Sam. I don't mind taking seconds.” I would never hear a politician ever say anything close to that again.

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Walter Washington and Youth Opportunity Services
Sheryl Isaac, swji@aol.com

During Mayor Washington's term as mayor he created an agency for youth called Youth Opportunity Services. This agency ensured that youth in the city had jobs and other activities that kept them out of trouble. Mayor Washington was really loved by the youth in the city. Every time there was a special event he included the youth, and, in appreciation for his efforts the youth in the city praised him and listened when he spoke. Capturing respect for the youth in the city is why he was able to speak to the youth during the riots and minimize the damage. I would hate to think of such a crisis in DC at this time!

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Mayor Walter Washington
Clyde E. Howard, Jr., ceohoward@hotmail.com

My grandparents settled in LeDroit Park at the turn of the last century. In fact they were the first African-Americans to purchase a home in LeDroit Park after the fence surrounding the area was torn down. I was the first new born in the family after 1900, and I lived with my grandparents until I turned 21. I am the fifth of eight generations of Washingtonians. Walter Washington, when he was courting Benita Bullock, used to arrive from New York on weekends, and Miss Bullock would give him the dog to walk around the block until dinner time when she would call for him from the front porch. The dog, a Scottie, was black in color and was congenial to us neighbors. You see, my grandfather had looked at the Bullock's house before he bought the house he resided in for fifty years. The Bullock's house was in sight of my grandfather's house on 4th Street, NW. LeDroit Park was an eclectic neighborhood with doctors and dentists within walking distance, the original fraternity of Omega Psi Phi was founded in the Park, the first African-American Master Electrician lived there, and the teacher of music who taught Duke Ellington how to read music also lived there.

Mr. Washington was the essence of being a gentleman even until the point where we in the neighborhood nicknamed him the “popsicle man” because he would buy a popsicle from Mr. Rosemblum, the owner of the corner store at 4th and T Streets, NW, and break the popsicle in half and feed half to the dog and he would eat the other half. After Mr. Washington married Miss. Bullock, they had a daughter, and Mrs. Bullock would not allow her daughter off the front porch to play with us “ruffians.” As the daughter reached adulthood, she married a Frenchman and we in the area lost track of her. It was not until recently that it was printed that she is now a Doctor of Anthropology and lives in California. After Mr. Washington became mayor we who remained in the neighborhood still had a wonderful relationship with him. He never forgot some of us, but as time went on he became more involved in his mayoral duties and his attention was diverted to other areas, plus some of us moved from the neighborhood or passed away, and we became just a distant memory.

My memories of the Bullocks and Walter Washington are still with me today and I must say that he was the best of the mayors that ever graced the District Building. He had the best staff of any mayor, bar none, that ever managed the city of Washington and the District of Columbia.

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Yglesias on Washington
Kenan Jarboe, kenan.jarboe@verizon.net

Yglesias' attack on Walter Washington (and on DC in general) is so crude, idiotic and even racist that even I am surprised that you would stoop so low as to repeat it. Mayor Washington left office almost a quarter of a century ago and his character is to be questioned because of all that is wrong today? That is an example of character assassination in the lowest, stupidest form. Yglesias owes the Washington family and every resident of the District of Columbia a huge apology — and so do you for repeating such crap (and don't give me that bullshit about just being the messenger — I give you credit for being smart enough to know exactly what you were doing).

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Educating Mr. Yglesias
Ralph Blessing, rblessin88@hotmail.com

Mayor Washington's tenure preceded my arrival in DC by a couple years, so I have no firsthand knowledge of his impact on the city. However, even I know that the DC government has nothing to do with running Metro (aside from holding a spot on the Metro board). Blaming the city for slow Metro repairs is as off-target as blaming it for late mail delivery — which I seem to recall someone doing in themail a few years back.

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Through Yglesias, Darkly
Mark Eckenwiler, themale at ingot.org

Matthew Yglesias says, “God forbid I was contemplating sending children to schools run by the same city government that takes approximately 6 months to repair a broken escalator on the Metro.” Given how much smirking ignorance Yglesias manages to compress into that statement, I can only say, “God forbid that Matthew Yglesias ever reproduces.”

Leaving aside the vacuity of pinning Metro's problems on DC proper (hello? ever hear of WMATA, Matt?), I stand in awe of childless twerps like Yglesias who know all there is to know about DC public schools without ever actually setting foot inside one. As a parent of two DCPS students (combined experience: 12 years) who have received an excellent education so far, I obviously know a lot less about the system than the Young-Hangers-Out-Who-Like-Politics-and-Stuff. (One other difference between Yglesias and me: despite my family's good experience in DCPS, I won't indulge in loony overgeneralization in the other direction. DCPS has problems, I am well aware; they are not, however, so pervasive as to make sending one's children there a guaranteed losing proposition, or even a hopelessly long shot.)

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Smith Farm Art Auction, November 13
Shanti Norris, heal@smithfarm.com

Can the arts help people dealing with Cancer? Yes! Smith Farm Center for the Healing Arts is holding an art auction and champagne reception on November 13 to benefit its Artist-in-Residence programs at Washington Cancer Institute and Howard University Hospital Cancer Center. The reception and silent auction begins at 7 p.m. with live jazz music, and the live auction will commence at 8 p.m. Artwork has been donated by more than forty prominent artists, most of them from the DC metropolitan area. The event will be held at the Smith Farm Center, located at 1632 U Street, NW, in the District. Admission is $50 per person, with $25 applied toward any auction purchase. Valet parking is available.

Smith Farm is a small nonprofit health and education institute dedicated to serving people with facing life-threatening illness. The Artist-in-Residence program trains and facilitates artists to bring the beauty, joy and discovery of the creative process into local cancer centers to help reduce stress and inspire patients. This program is funded in part by grants from Johnson and Johnson and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. Call 483-8600 for further information.

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The Man Who Knew the Earth Was Flat, November 15
Brad Hills, bradhills@washingtonstorytellers.org

The Washington Storytellers Theatre continues its season of transforming stories on Saturday, November 15, at 8 p.m., at Westmoreland Congregational Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle at Massachusetts Avenue, when we team with the Maine State Society of Washington, DC, to present Jo Radner's The Man Who Knew The Earth Was Flat: A Salute to People Who Know Their Own Minds. Folklorist, storyteller, and oral historian Jo Radner draws on local memories, old letters, diaries, and family legend to evoke a gathering of strong-willed characters from the Maine past. Radner delights in eccentrics, believes that humor and sadness are good bedfellows, and favors characters that shape admirable lives around unavoidable misfortunes. Clever and compassionate, moving and funny by turns, Jo's stories honor the surprising, quirky gifts of ordinary people.

WST is also proud to announce we are now serving the coffee of Mayorga Coffee Roasters, locally roasted in Rockville. Visit their new store in Silver Spring at 8040 Georgia Avenue or on the web at http://www.mayorgaimports.com. Tickets $12 ($10 for seniors, students, and MSS members, $9 for WST members) at the door or in advance by calling 301-891-1129.

Jo Radner will also lead a workshop entitled Creating Stories from Real Life: Mastering the Art of Oral History. This will take place from 9-4 on Sunday, November 16, at the Maryland Association of Non-Profit Organizations Office located at 8720 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. This full-day workshop will address the various goals and visions of oral history projects utilizing interactive exercises and practice interviews. Participants will leave with a repertoire of useful skills, a plan of action, and a manual for future reference. Workshop price is $35, call to reserve a space. Contact WST for further details.

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Charter School Startup Seminars, November 15 and 22
Alicia Daugherty, daugherty@focus-dccharter.org

Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS) is sponsoring a Charter School Startup Seminar for parents, teachers, and community members interested in learning about starting public charter schools in the District of Columbia. Topics will include: developing a mission and vision, choosing a curriculum, planning for special education, developing a business plan, understanding legal issues, and finding a facility.

The seminar will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, and Saturday, November 22. The seminar is free; however, registration is required. For more information please call FOCUS at 387-0405 or E-mail Alicia Daugherty at daugherty@focus-dccharter.org.

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CLASSIFIEDS -- SERVICES

House Cleaner
Paul Fekete, pfekete@aol.com

Our thorough and energetic house cleaner is seeking customers in the greater Friendship Heights, Tenleytown neighborhood. Antonio can be reached at 240-304-0147 or via E-mail at execprod@aol.com. For reference call Carol at 712-0848.

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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE

Twin Bunk Beds
Patricia Chittams, pchittams@yahoo.com 

Twin bunk beds, good condition. You call, you haul. Best offer. 202-583-3226.

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