Lead in the Water

Dear Leaders:

Although it may seem that nothing much is happening about lead in the city's drinking water except for very energetic CYA and pass-the-buck efforts by the DC Water and Sewer Authority, mayor's office, and city council, some advances are being made. The US Environmental Protection Agency, after sending a threatening letter to the city government last week (http://www.dcwatch.com/wasa/040304b.htm), announced today that it got agreement from the city on Tuesday evening (see its press release at http://www.dcwatch.com/wasa/040310b.htm) on its action plan to reduce lead in the tap water (http://www.dcwatch.com/wasa/040310.htm). Four city councilmembers introduced a bill "to establish a 5-member Citizen Water Utility Board to oversee the quality of the District of Columbia's water supply and ensure that consumer concerns regarding it are addressed" (http://www.dcwatch.com/council15/15-753.htm). And on Monday a group of Capitol Hill residents filed a lawsuit against WASA, the DC government, EPA, and the Army Corps of Engineers ( http://www.dcwatch.com/wasa/040308.htm). There's more, including the testimony at last Friday's Congressional hearing, at http://www.dcwatch.com/wasa.

Now all we need is for WASA and the city administration to put protecting the welfare of the citizens ahead of protecting themselves. Remember that slogan about “Accountability Now”? Isn't it time to revive it?

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Green Relay Mail Boxes
Darrell Duane, d@duane.com

The Green Relay Mail boxes that are in our neighborhoods were once used to distribute mail to letter carriers, but now end up being eyesores and a magnet for graffiti. If you're aware of any of these boxes in your neighborhood, please E-mail me with the addresses they are in front of (and the cross streets) and I'll send the contact at the USPS a comprehensive list so we can get them all removed.

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Automated Traffic Tickets
Cynthia Harrison, harrison@gwu.edu

For the second time, I received an automated ticket of (ostensibly) my car committing a moving violation — this time, going through a red light. The first time it was speeding. However, the tag on the car is not registered in my name and the car is not my car. When it happened the first time, I complained in person to the DMV and I was told not to worry — “it happens all the time.” When I asked them to check the records to make sure that they had my name and my tag correctly in their database, they did, but the tag on the car with the violation was not registered to anyone. So it is clear that the automated service is using a corrupted database and also that the DMV is not very worried about it. I had the first ticket nullified by enclosing a copy of my registration, and I assume the second ticket will be kicked as well, but if the database of tags and registration is not accurate, we're all at risk of being accused of violations of all kinds that we didn't commit if a witness or camera is able to identify the tag. Shouldn't the DMV care about this?

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Neighborhoods Awash in Liquor
John Olinger, North Lincoln Park, john.olinger@worldnet.att.net

The DC Council's Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs reported legislation at the end of February to amend the city's alcoholic beverage control laws. Harold Brazil offered an amendment, based on his disingenuously titled "Reasonable Hours of Operation for ABC Retailers Amendment Act of 2003" to extend the hours of operation for Class A liquor licenses (spirits, wine and beer) until midnight on Saturdays and to extend the hours for Class B (wine and beer) to midnight seven days a week, including Sunday. Reportedly, Councilmember Mendelson based his support of Brazil's amendment on the fact that it would bring in more revenue for the city. Councilmember Catania also supported the Brazil amendment. The amendment was adopted and is part of the bill the Committee reported to the full Council. Word is that the full Council will consider this legislation next week on Tuesday.

There are no restrictions on this amendment. Class B licenses in residential neighborhoods will be able to stay open to midnight. While there might be justification for allowing Class Bs in commercial districts up to midnight, what purpose is served by disrupting residential neighborhoods until midnight with the traffic, loitering, and noise that come with Class Bs? There will be increased revenues all right, right into the strapped coffers of Brazil's reelection campaign. If Jim Graham is serious about running for Brazil's seat, he'll lead the charge against this amendment. It's not too contact your Councilmember and voice your objections to this trashing of our neighborhoods.

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New York Times’ Poor Choice of Words
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

The New York Times headline reads, “Mastermind of Sniper Rampage Sentenced to Die” — a poor and irresponsible use of words. If Hollywood continues earning our dollars by inventing ever more fiendish fiends, and our newspapers and television stations glamorize these persons by giving them the title “mastermind,” is it any surprise we're facing a copycat sniper in Columbus? For shame on you, NYT. I hope you have enough dignity left to send apology letters to the victims' families, before hastily revising your headline writing guidelines. Perhaps your editorial writers might care to write a guest editorial on this subject for The Columbus Dispatch newspaper. Mea culpa? (A hard copy of the above letter was sent to the New York Times.)

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When Democrats and Republicans Agreed
Andy Catanzaro, andy@stampouttax.com

Does anyone know if there was a time when both the Democrats and Republicans agreed that DC should have voting rights? Was it around the era of the Amendment proposal?

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To Have and Have-Nots
Ed Dixon, jedxn@erols.com

Like a metropole of a European colonial power, DC has grown over time adding communities based on the latest national and international events. As more commentators throw around the “tale of two cities” as a reference to DC, we are reminded that history may be cyclical to an extent and the best explanation to our current state is in its history. The tale of the have and the have nots explains much of why this government seems to struggle with its own policies. The inability to recognize that particular agendas have created much of this disparity stands in the way of the same government ever correcting the tale.

After the uncivil war between the states, public education for African Americans (many of whom had been prohibited the basic right of learning how to read in states like Virginia and Maryland) became a national priority. Not surprisingly, thousands of African Americans, refugees of generations of slavery in this country, came to the capital to seek comfort and relief from the horrific human tragedy of slavery. Encampments on the Hill, Foggy Bottom and across the Potomac at Ft. Meyer bloomed with refugees; sick, poor, and illiterate refugees. Colored schools were built to accommodate but it didn't take long to figure out the refugees would not be able to support the tax base required to build and maintain the schools they would use. This contradiction had never prevented the refugees, in times of slavery, from building others' wealth at no cost. Nevertheless, the refugees were soon held responsible for their own plight.

Migrations have continued over time. The Great Migration during the first third of the 1900's brought more descendants of America's "peculiar institution" to DC. During the last third of a century, communities of Vietnamese, Salvadorans, and Ethiopians have arrived in DC. DCPS is currently trying to accommodate these last three communities among others by providing parental translation services in Spanish, Amharic, Vietnamese, Chinese, and French. These communities, like the ones before them, did not come with the resources needed to transcend the achievement gap. Many members of all of these communities have ascended the socioeconomic ladder; some even arrived at the top. However, the link between these communities that DCPS has come to serve should be evident. They are the refugees (and their descendants) from the policies Washington has pursued. If we read the indices in regards to sickness (10 percent of the children have elevated lead blood levels, 10 percent are uninsured, 40 percent use Medicaid), poverty (1 in 3 children is living in poverty, 5,000 children are homeless) and illiteracy (about 37 percent of the adult population is functionally illiterate and probably about 25 percent of high school students are dropping out of school) we should not be surprised. DC is still a refuge despite its shaky record in correcting its own ills, not to mention those of the nation and the world. Maybe it is because of the "haves" that Washington seems so well off.

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Response to E-Mailing Doctors
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

Thanks to all of you who sent me E-mail regarding your experiences interacting via E-mail with your doctors. It appears that this type of occurrence, while not common, is also not rare. I was touched to hear from someone who indicated that the E-mail interaction included emotional support from a doctor caring for a loved one, not just factual information. (Incidentally, all E-mails sent to me in response to my query will remain confidential.) For patients out there who would like to interact with their doctors via E-mail, you are entitled to say, “I hear that other patients E-mail their doctors. I promise not to abuse the privilege.” Keep in mind that while an E-mail communication channel may be desirable, it's your responsibility not to burden your doctor with too many E-mails and to phrase your questions in a way that makes it possible for a doctor to answer the E-mails.

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Doctors and E-Mail
John Whiteside, johnwhiteside at earthlink dot net

Phil Shapiro raises an interesting question about E-mailing your doctor. I haven't tried to do that, but I do know that HIPAA regulations require health care providers to take measures to protect patient medical information. Since E-mail is an inherently insecure form of communications -- rather like sending a postcard -- many health care providers and facilities have established policies against putting any patient medical information in E-mail messages. Personally, I wouldn't want anything remotely sensitive in an E-mail and would be hesitant to E-mail my doctor with anything but the most general of questions, or with administrative questions like setting up appointments.

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Patient E-Mailing Doctor
Gabe Goldberg, gabe@gabegold.com

I regularly exchange E-mail with my primary care doc, an internist specializing in cardiology (I'm not in an HMO, but have Federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield). E-mail is great for getting simple questions answered, getting advice, keeping him posted, and requesting prescription refills. I asked him whether it ever leads to problems. The only issue he had is when a patient wants to deal with something ultra-complex via E-mail. Or, he said, one patient sent a note with dozens of questions and issues; the doc told him he needed to come in for that discussion. A different viewpoint is that of a friend who's a general surgeon in NJ who does not E-mail with patients. She was astonished at what my doc does and said that she'd be worried about recordkeeping issues and liability.

Different people, different locations, different medical specialties — I've no idea what accounts for the opposite opinions. But I use my doc's accessibility as a baseline. I expect other practitioners — health and other services — to also be available by E-mail. Some are, some aren't, but if it would be useful to me I always ask. I suspect that over time more will have to be available, though they might also use gatekeepers and intermediaries.

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Doctor E-Mailing Patients
Eric Rosenthal, eric.rosenthal@mac.com

In response to Phil Shapiro, I do not communicate with my doctor through E-mail (but wish I could). I am, however, a doctor who communicates with his patients via E-mail. I work mostly at the Children's Hospital emergency room, but also have a small primary care pediatrics practice for which I volunteer my time. For the parents of my patients who are comfortable with E-mail, I think it works quite well. I can respond to many of their needs quickly. I also can check in with their parents periodically to see how they are doing, if they need regular monitoring. If E-mail is inadequate for a particular matter, I simply suggest we talk by phone or schedule an appointment.

From a doctor's perspective, the system has both plusses and minuses. The speed and immediacy with which uncomplicated matters can be handled is helpful. However, it is important to keep in mind that doctors are not paid for their time helping patients, if the help is provided by letter, telephone or E-mail. That unpaid time can add up to a considerable amount, especially if time spent trying to persuade insurance companies to cover therapies patients need is included as well (for example, I once spent two hours on the phone trying to get authorization for 75 cents worth of a critically-needed medication there was no other way to get for a patient).

While lack of payment for telephone/E-mail time is not a money issue for me, personally, since my income is derived from seeing patients in the emergency room, not from seeing primary care patients (which I do without compensation), it is an issue for doctors in most situations. The time spent in non-billable patient care can be significant and the financial pressures on many doctors are considerable. E-mail, telephone calls, and other methods of communication that make things easier for doctors and patients should be used more extensively, but doctors should be paid for their time and expertise, whether provided in person or otherwise.

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Potomac River Water Is Toxic at Treatment Inlet
Eddie Becker, eddie_becker@yahoo.com

Before this latest lead scare broke out, I had a chance to interview some fishermen and women at Fletchers Boat house. Fletcher is less then a mile from Washington’s water treatment facilities at Dalecarlia and McMillan Water. The poor health of the fish is directly related to the declining health of the Potomac, which may be a significant factor as to why the quality of the drinking water is unhealthy.

This is what the people I interviewed believe. 1) Everyone has been advised not to eat the fish near Fletchers Boat House. The Potomac may appear to be cleaner, but it is laced with all sorts of invisible pollutants in the form of pesticides, chemicals, and heavy metals. 2) Fish are being caught with cancerous lesions. 3) The fish in the Potomac must be restocked every year. Few successfully reproduce in the rivers toxic environment. 4) The EPA requires that sediment dredged from the Potomac be treated as toxic waste. 5) The water has become more acidic. Old rock carvings that have survived hundreds of years have completely dissolved over the last few years. 6) The Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the water treatment facilities, has underplayed the extent and severity of World War I chemical weapons contamination found buried in Friendship Heights and American University communities. The neighborhood is skeptical of their test methodology and promises. The closest potential sites for the discharge of concentrated pollutants nearest the Water intake pipes include the nearby Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the newly named National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), housed in the old Defense Mapping Agency headquarters just up river. Both agencies use inks, solvents and computer coolants. Just up river is the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock (NSWCCD), http://cryptome.org/nswccd-eyeball.htm, which holds the worlds largest indoor test tank, the 3200-foot David Taylor Model Basin test tank, http://www50.dt.navy.mil/reports/oil_tests/, which does a variety of test that sometimes use volatile chemicals, fuels, and heavy metals.

You can listen to the interviews with Chris Snider and Paula the River-keeper, broadcast on the WPFW Radio, Voices with Visions show, at http://images.indymedia.org/imc/washingtondc/media/audio/12/92194_river_keeper.mp3. Please allow a few minutes this MP3 audio file to download. Its total time is 8.5 minutes. Join the discussion at http://dc.indymedia.org/images/downloadable/92194_river_keeper.mp3.

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Lead in the Water
Susan L. Anderson, slandersonwdc@yahoo.com

My patience with the DC Water and Sewer Authority and the DC government regarding the lead-in-the-water problem and their alleged concern for this catastrophe vis-a-vis priority groups (i.e., pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under six, etc.) has now been completely exhausted. I am a nursing mother of two-month-old twins and not one single official or government representative can provide me with correct information regarding this issue. I am told to bring my children in to be tested at their main office, only to discover that tests are not performed on children under six months of age. I am informed by the DC WASA hot line that they exist just to send kits to people's homes for testing, not to "provide information." I am told that water filters will be distributed to priority groups on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Reeves Center, only to discover that the filters were distributed on Saturday. I attend a DC WASA information meeting at Palisades Library where all officials talk about the importance of getting information to the priority groups, yet the facilitator only takes two of ten questions from the audience that pertain to these populations with nearly all the remaining questions focusing on the technical aspects of the lead crisis. Finally, I call a DC WASA number provided to me by the DC WASA hotline about where I will finally get all the information I need only to be informed that this office can only confirm what type of pipes connect to my home, not where to obtain filters, etc.

Is it really so hard for DC WASA and the DC government to have a dedicated phone line with an operator -- let alone a recorded message -- about where people in the priority groups can obtain water filters and related information? Is the fear of liability and attendant litigation on the part of DC WASA and the DC government — especially regarding real estate — so great that it eclipses their ability to respond to the priority groups, who are largely comprised of people who either have extremely limited amount of time on their hands to track down information (i.e., nursing mothers of infants) or are too young (i.e., children under six) to place calls, cull information, and sift through it to make informed decisions?

And why are the Washington Post and electronic media outlets absent without leave in running daily public service announcements on the latest updates on this crisis (for example, the Washington Post appears to run sidebars on this issue about whom to call and what to do on a weekly basis only)? While I am concerned that this scandal is fully investigated and people are held accountable in the aftermath of it, my hunch is that most people in the priority groups are mainly interested in getting action information in the midst of this crisis, that is, right now.

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Lead in the Water's Impact on Tourism and House Sales
James Treworgy, jamie@trewtech.com

There seems to be much speculation that the lead problem will affect housing sales and even tourism in DC. Let me begin by saying that this problem is serious and should be dealt with as swiftly as possible, particularly through extensive education efforts until a scientific solution or pipe replacement can be effected. However, I think that the idea that this will significantly affect people's decision to move (or even visit) here is seriously overstated. This is a problem can be solved at an individual level with a cheap water filter or bottled water service for homeowners. As for tourists, have you ever seen one that wasn't toting a bottle of Evian anyway? I really can't believe that people would decide to cancel a visit to DC because they were afraid of a glass of tap water. I think once people decide that they're OK with visiting the murder capital of the US, drinking bottled water is probably within their capacity to deal with.

Compare this problem to other issues in our city: crime, schools, quality of service, high income taxes. Every one of these will compare negatively to most of our suburban neighbors. The solutions to these problems are either expensive (e.g., private school), not likely to happen in the near future, or out of an individual's control. The water problem, on the other hand, is within each individuals power to solve easily and relatively cheaply.

Let me reiterate that I am not trying to take attention away from this problem or suggest it isn't serious, because I strongly believe that WASA should be held responsible for their inaction; and that health problems are inevitable. But from an individual standpoint, when looking at all the pros and cons, the water problem is fixable in your household. Crime, schools, and city service problems are not.

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WASA Refuses to Test
Maude D. Bauschard, mbauschard@usaction.org

WASA also didn't want to test my home's water because they said that my home had copper pipes. I disputed this claim saying that the Washington Post reported that WASA doesn't even have accurate records of where lead pipes are located throughout the city. I asked for the customer service representative's supervisor and demanded a water test from the supervisor. I got it. Lesson learned: you can't take no for an answer.

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WASA’s Refusal to Pick Up Lead Water Sample; 311 Calls
Angela Powell, angela_powell23@hotmail.com

I just moved to Columbia Heights from Maryland and immediately ordered a lead-testing kit for my water through WASA. I received it in a reasonable amount of time, conducted the sample, and called back to arrange for pick up. Twice I was told that WASA will not pick up my water sample because I live in an apartment building. No one could either explain why the kit was delivered if that were the case, or suggest anything I could do to see if my drinking water is safe. "Contact your management office" was the only directive. It is not my responsibility to petition and arrange water testing for my entire 187-unit complex! I understand that they need to monitor when the water was last drawn, etc., but my feeling is that WASA allowed this problem to happen and needs to let my management office know it will begin testing because residents are concerned. WASA has a problem, WASA needs to fix it!

About the 311 system: it is fully functional an a non-emergency police number, although apparently few residents know about it! I called my local police district about a month ago to report a large group of people loitering in the street. The officer who answered snapped, “Call 311,” and hung up. I thought I was doing the right thing by not calling 911, but apparently not. Remembering having read about this a few years ago in the post, I did call 311, and a very courteous woman took my information and said she would try to send an officer around. When I went outside two hours later (I can't see that street from my apartment), the group had disbursed. Since then, I have seen an increased police presence and the incident has not repeated itself. I am not sure if my phone call made a difference, but I do feel that my complaint was taken seriously and, coincidentally or not, the loitering that was a serious problem when I first moved in is much, much improved.

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The 727-1000 Call Center
Peter Wolff, intowner@intowner.com

Worthless — a farce. The people who take the calls are very nice and say all the right things, like the problem will be “taken care of right away” or “we'll notify that agency right away,” etc. But, in my personal experience since its inception, reported problems have never been addressed. Even when I've tried to follow-up with the confirmation number that they issue, I found that they seem to have had no record of same! What I have learned is that all they do is to send an E-mail to the agency responsible for the service lapse and leave matters at that.

So, for example, when during the hot summer months when I've happened to actually see the trash truck drive by my (properly covered, by the way) trash cans on the Friday pickup day without emptying them — and I'm not making this up — and I've called the 727 number and suggested they get a field supervisor on the horn (as was once possible to do in the "old" days when one called the sector dispatch garage) so as to ensure that the garbage gets taken away and thereby not sit and fester in the heat until the following Tuesday, nothing ever happens. I've experienced similar failures with regard to missed recycling, which means it just sits there for a whole week longer. I could give examples of other failures involving other services (or lack thereof), but I've bored you long enough.

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Praise for the DC Call Center
R.B. Linden, rlinden3@juno.com

This is in response to Gary Imhoff's item on March 7, with reference to the Mayor's 727-1000 call-in number. My personal experience has been excellent. I have reported numerous potholes which were repaired within a few days, as well as called for other needed city services. The personnel have been polite and nearly always seem to ask at the end of the phone call, “Is there anything else we can help you with?”

I have lived in the same house in DC for thirty three years and find it gratifyingly convenient to call the one phone number instead of leafing through the phone directory trying to determine which agency I should be contacting for a particular service. This I was forced to do for many years before the 727-1000 number was established.

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Feedback on 727-1000
Nora Bawa, botanica@hotmail.com

Regarding Meredith Manners' comments about New York's 311 line: I have had excellent response from DC's 727-1000. Polite, comprehensive and prompt service. It's one of the most effective changes made during this mayor's tenure.

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311 Versus the Mayor's Service Line
John Whiteside, johnwhiteside at earthlink dot net

My experience with the Mayor's Service Line has been generally good. I called on Thanksgiving day to report a dead cat on my sidewalk, and someone was there in hours; an abandoned car vanished within a few days; when trash pickup is missed, they are out quickly to take care of it. The one exception seems to be when you call with a question about services provided by DDOT, at which point the question vanishes into the quagmire of DDOT's inability to respond to the simplest citizen questions. Of course, the same thing happens when you call DDOT, use their own web form on their web site, or send a DDOT employee an E-mail: absolutely nothing.

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DC Call Center
Ruth Holder, rutheholder at yahoo dot com

I have had excellent experience with the DC Call Center at 727-1000. I have called that number on numerous occasions to schedule bulk trash pickups, request rat abatement services, obtain replacement trash cans and recycling bins, and report a missing “do-not-enter” sign. Typically I have received bulk trash pickup appointments within a week (except when DPW employees were overburdened by Hurricane Isabel cleanup). My new trash cans were delivered in two days at no charge. The rat abatement service was performed in response to my request, although follow-up was inconsistent after the first treatment. Thankfully, my Council representative, Jim Graham, is truly a great public servant — and he, along with his able and hardworking staff, intervened to ensure that the remainder of the rat abatement service was performed. (It has since occurred to me that I could calendar myself to periodically request those services anew to ensure follow-up.) Of course, rats have a way of surviving all efforts to eradicate them, but that's a different topic. I don't recall how long it took to replace the do-not-enter sign, but it was accomplished.

My experience has been that the service center is staffed by friendly employees, too. This is DC Government at work and working — in stark contrast to the failure to share information about lead in the District's water supply with the public, which is nothing short of an appalling breach of the public trust. We can't hold that against the Call Center, though. When I can wait until the next day to know when my service will be scheduled, I have also used the DPW's online service request form (found at http://dc.gov/citizen/request.shtm) with excellent results and communication via E-mail. One tip — if using the online request form for scheduling a bulk trash pickup, be very specific about how many items need to be collected and what those items are (limit seven) to avoid delay in scheduling.

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Roy Rogers
Lea Adams, workinprogress@starpower.net

I enjoyed the trip down memory lane that ended on Pennsylvania Avenue [themail, March 7], but for one small point I always miss when it isn't there: someone for all the little girls to want to be, other than a damsel in distress who gets saved from the bad guys by the guy on the white horse. What kept me hooked on westerns, until I discovered that cowboys and Indians make great sex objects for teenage girls (e.g., Michael Landon, Michael Ansara, the Sugarfoot duo), was the supporting cast of people a little more like me. They included pseudo-liberated dames like Dale Evans (you can't wear chaps and a Stetson in the kitchen), Miss Kitty (the Long Branch turned a pretty profit with men spending money instead of managing it), and Katherine Ross (let's see, will it be Cassidy tonight or the Kid? . . . so many cowboys, so little time); and people who weren't white (I even liked the Cabin Kids who got an occasional walk-on with Gene Autry).

Meanwhile, back at The Plantation (since The Ranch is in Crawford) . . . it seems to me that DC could use an alternative pioneer or two. You can't fight Little Anthony and the Imperialists without a dash of sabotage. He might not fall for the high yellow Rose of Texas, but everyone has a Waterloo somewhere. Or, what about brute force and strategic speed? If Will Sampson could throw a commode through the asylum wall, there must be some young'un in the DC schools who can yank out a lead pipe and escape. And finally, there's the fight-fire-with-fire approach: the African-American town-builders of Kansas, the Mary Ellen "Mammy" Pleasant who bankrolled San Francisco -- they weren't scared off by a few rustlers and railroad me.

The bad guys have always been fueled by High-Test Greed, which means it will always take a few Altruistic Diesels and a whole town of Conscientious Regulars to protect themselves and the rest of the underdogs. It could happen here, if we really wanted it to. But the poor may be too little, and the good guys may be too late. Rumor has it that Tonto finally told the Lone Ranger to “take this job and shove it,” but by the time he had saved enough to retire on and found the gumption to "just say no," everybody he really cared about had already been walked out to the reservation. Maybe if we Beat the Bushes a hero(ine) will emerge to save Our Town. Maybe we'll just find another snake in the grass. Either way, Home on the Range wars are happening with or without us, so we might as well circle the wagons and make a stand.

. . . until we meet again.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Cleveland Park Library Book Sale, March 13-14
Jill Bogard, jill_bogard@ace.nche.edu

The Friends of Cleveland Park Library will hold their annual Spring Book Sale on Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14, at the Cleveland Park Library, Connecticut Avenue and Macomb Street, from noon to 4:00 p.m. each day. We have thousands of "previously owned" books, most donated by our neighbors. They range from recent bestsellers to out-of-print treasures, fiction and nonfiction. Most books are priced at $1.00 for hardcovers, $.50 for paperbacks. Paperback mysteries, romances, and science fiction will sell for $.10 each. Note: children's books special! Since we have an unusually large number of children's books this time, we are reducing the prices. Softcover books and “baby” books will sell for $.10 and most hardcovers for $.50 (some really special books will be separately priced). We also have many other special books — coffee table books, first editions, large format art books, etc.— that are individually priced. And we have records, cd's, tapes (music and books) and videos, as well as some sheet music. Proceeds benefit our branch library. For more information, contact Nathalie Black, nvblack@earthlink.net or 362-3599, or Julianna Ohlrich, 237-2005.

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Youth Law Fair, March 13
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org

On March 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Youth Law Fair will "teach District youth about their rights, responsibilities, and the justice system; encourage District youth to form and voice opinions about important legal and social issues; and empower District youth to believe that they too can pursue careers in the justice community." The focus will be on gang violence. The fair will be held at the D.C. Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue, NW, and is sponsored by the D.C. Bar Association. For more information, call 626-3463 or visit http://www.dcbar.org/for_lawyers/sections/litigation/youth_law_fair.

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Save Gale Shelter Rally, March 18
TJ Sutcliffe, tjsutcliffe@some.org

A Save Gales! protest rally will be held on Thursday, March 18, at 9:30 a.m. outside the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Mayor Williams plans to close the Gales Shelter on April 1. On Thursday, March 18, join residents in a rally to support the 150 women and men staying at Gales Shelter and demonstrate for the right to shelter and housing for the many more people who will need downtown shelter in the future. This is a homelessness crisis. In addition to the loss of Gales Shelter, by April 1, DC will lose 582 beds at hypothermia shelters. As of this winter, all shelters have reported as full or over-full. Where will people go?

You can also take action by E-mail. Voice your concerns with DC officials Robert Bobb and Yvonne Gilchrist at robert.bobb@dc.gov and yvonne.gilchrist@dc.gov. Rally organized by the DC Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations. Call 234-6855, x20, for more info.

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Budget Training, March 25
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org

A budget training on "What in the Mayor’s Proposed FY 2005 Budget Impacts Human Services?" will be held on Thursday, March 25, 9:00-11:30 a.m., at the True Reformer Building, 1200 U Street, NW (Metro Green Line, U Street station, 13th Street exit). What’s included in the training: experienced advocates and budget experts will present an overview of what is included in the Mayor’s proposed FY 2005 budget; interactive session about effective ways to engage clients/consumers in budget advocacy, materials (including parts of the budget), light refreshments, and networking opportunities.

Please register each person attending with name, organization, address, telephone and fax numbers, and E-mail address. Registration if $8 for members of the Fair Budget Coalition and $12 for nonmembers. Fee waivers are available for resident. Applications for membership in the Fair Budget Coalition are available at http://www.legalclinic.org and by calling Martina Gillis, FBC Advocacy Coordinator, 328-5513. Registration deadline is March 19. Payment must accompany the completed registration form. Mail with payment to the Fair Budget Coalition, c/o Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, 1200 U Street, NW, 20009. Make checks payable to the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

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Definition of Design, April 3
Lisa Williams, lisledesigns4u@yuno.com

There will be an amazing fashion event on Saturday, April 3, at 1 p.m., at the Savoy Suites Georgetown Hotel in Washington, DC. The show, entitled The Definition of Design, will feature the spring and summer designs for men and women by Lisle Turner. This will be her fourth production, and it keeps getting better every time. This young woman is a graduate of Marymount University of Arlington, VA, where she completed studies in fashion design and business. She graduated in 1994 from Marymount with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Currently, Lisle is a senior graduate student at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). She is pursuing studies for a master's degree in business management and is a 2003 recipient of the James Edward Miller Chapman Scholarship Award. This wonderful woman is a mother of a seven year old. She also works in the community as a breast feeding advocate for healthy babies and mothers in DC health care and as a Daisy Girl Scout Leader at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in DC. Lisle started a fashion club at her alma mater, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, and still works with her teacher, Mrs. Bennett, who has won numerous awards for her tireless contributions to public school education. This will be a fashion premier not to be missed. Lisle designed an evening gown for the 2002 Ms. Senior DC, Myrtle Church, and traveled with her to Vegas for the national competition. You can certainly see how the education, skills and talents of a phenomenal woman can come together in her Definition of Design on April 3. For further information, please contact LT Enterprises and Productions at 291-8024 or lisledesigns4u@juno.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS — LOST AND FOUND

Bow Found
William Mazer, wmmazer@aol.com

Found during the week of March 1, a bow for a violin, viola, or cello. Call 338-0669, wmmazer@aol.com.

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