Stealth
Dear Stealthy:
I don't have to write anything today; I just have to refer you to the
editorial in today's Washington Post, "Stealth
Government" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64846-2004Mar16.html):
“The situation is preposterous. According to its chief financial
officer, the city faces a $250 million gap between projected revenue and
spending in fiscal 2005. The school system has been without a permanent
superintendent since November, and the interim superintendent is to
leave in four weeks. The problem of lead-contaminated water shows no
signs of abating. All three critical issues are being addressed by D.C.
officials behind closed doors, as if they are nobody's business. The
officials are wrong. They are doing the public's business. And the
public, which pays the freight, has a right to know exactly what they
are doing.”
This is the second editorial the Post has done in recent weeks
on the issue of secrecy in government and on the preference in all
branches of the DC government for doing business in secret. The city
council, the school board, most boards and commissions, and most of all
the Executive Office of the Mayor don't like doing the public's business
in public, and the one thing they all cooperate on is evading the
sunshine laws. Here's hoping that the Post continues to
editorialize for open government, and that the news department of the Post
reads its own editorial page and finally gets the idea that this is a
serious issue. Citizens have been complaining about the city
government's preference for secrecy for years, but the elected and
appointed officials of this city don't believe they have to respond to
citizens until and unless the issue hits the front page of the Post.
Maybe when it does we'll get some degree of openness — for a change.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Lead Testing and Water Filters
James Treworgy, jamie@trewtech.com
[Tolu Tolu asked in themail, March 14] “Please inform the rest of
DC residents what could possibly be your source for assuring that a
water filter will take care of the lead in our homes' water?”
I said bottled water or a water filter. You would have to look at the
specifications for each water filter to determine its efficacy in
removing lead. My point was that this is something that is in the
control of individuals. You can buy bottled water. You cannot, however,
for any price, improve crime, and the price for improving the quality of
the schools system (private school) is extremely high at an individual
level. I bet if you could pay $20 a month -- what I spend on bottled
water -- to fix crime in your neighborhood you wouldn't exactly place it
in the same level of problem that you do today.
Please do not misunderstand my point here. I am not trying to deflect
attention from the seriousness of this problem, or WASA's crime of
deceiving the public about the water quality. I am only responding to
the idea that this is likely to have a significant impact on housing
prices or tourism. I believe that impact is likely very small, for the
reasons I've stated — it doesn't compare to DC's other major problems
for which there is no remedy at an individual level. That is completely
separate from the potential health problems due to the fact that people
didn't even know there was a problem, and the likelihood that some
people will continue to not have the necessary education or not take the
problem seriously enough to get bottled water or an effective filter.
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Strange Towing Behavior
Ken Katz, kskatz at toad dot net
About a month ago, I espied the very same strange towing behavior
that John Whiteside describes [themail, March 14]: a DC tow truck was
unloading a ticketed car onto my residential street. Hmmmm. After the
truck left, I saw three cars with tickets, each ticket indicating that
the car was parked illegally during the rush hour on Connecticut Avenue
anywhere from two to five blocks from where my street intersects
Connecticut.
I thought, well, maybe it's just a holding pattern for the cars. That
is, they would deposit them nearby (on my street) so they could get as
many out of the way as possible to help traffic; then, later, they would
come and take them to an impound lot. Since the cars remained there for
days, clearly that was hopeful thinking.
I then E-mailed my councilmember's office (Kathy Patterson) with the
tow truck license number, and the ticket number, and license number of
one of the cars that was dumped on my street. I never got an
explanation, but at least for the last month I have not seen the
behavior repeated. And now I look at the ticketed cars on my street to
make sure they incurred their violation on my street.
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Strange Towing Behavior 2
Malcolm L. Wiseman, Jr., wiseman@us.net
I posted a similar message more than a year ago when the city was
clearing Georgia Avenue of parked cars on the day before a snowstorm.
They towed cars away from the avenue to any spot that was available on
the side streets. They were ticketed and left there. Maybe there was
some such emergency, parade, or street digging somewhere close to Mr.
Whiteside.
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This is happening in many wards throughout the city. In my ward (7),
just off of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (Hillcrest), abandoned cars can and
do sit for months, even though there is constant (daily or weekly)
calling, first to Parking Enforcement, then to Towing (neither Parking
Enforcement nor Towing talk to each other, even after many tickets),
then to the Department of Public Works, then to the ward representative.
I was told that unless the car had dead tags, or flat tires, or broken
windows, DC government has relaxed the 72-hour parking restriction,
meaning that the car can sit for months, unless either you persevere or
the tags expire.
The DC government is building and/or establishing luxury housing all
over the city, but has not built a towing/ticketed car lot since leasing
the Brentwood lot to Giant, Home Depot, etc. People who abandon or
illegally park know this, and they take full advantage of it.
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In a recent issue, someone inquired if parking meter rates had gone
up. Has anyone else noticed that if you put the coins in too fast (like
in a regular meter) they don't all register? I have twice been caught
out with all quarters gone and only half the time I thought I was
getting. Try waiting until each coin registers the time before inserting
another. (Insidious plot or just more technological regress? You be the
judge!)
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Looking for DC Democratic Caucus Results, Part
II
John Vaught LaBeaume, Dupont Circle, jvlab@yahoo.com
Has anybody heard of more detailed results of last Saturday's (March
6) delegate selection caucus than that issued in news release form by
the DC Democratic State Committee (http://www.dcdemocrats.org/delselresults.pdf)?
A former Dean campaign staffer mentioned to me that the race for male
delegate pledged to Dean (in Congressional District One) was
controversial because it pitted Ward 2 Council Member Jack Evans
against, among a wide array of others, one of their top DC volunteers,
the eventual winner, Charles Allen.
Councilmember Evans was there, and his volunteers were out in full
force, vigorously urging a vote for the councilmember in typical Evans
volunteer fashion, but I understood that Evans, like all DC Democratic
elected officials, would be a super-delegate, and therefore headed to
the convention regardless of caucus results. If this is the case, why
was he expending so much effort to win the caucus vote? This is
especially curious when one considers that the rules allow for the
majority of DC Democratic delegates to be automatically appointed
super-delegates, and not selected by DC Dem voters. Any more detail in
the results would be appreciated.
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Phil Carney [Harold's Panic and Visual Blight, themail, March 14]
must be a supporter of D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham. Why else would he
suggest that Councilmember Harold Brazil is running scared because he's
placed posters throughout the city? He certainly has plastered Ward 1.
But I don't think it's because he's scared. Rather it's a message to Mr.
Graham to “bring it on.” I think it's great that we have a real
contest for the Democratic nomination for at-large councilmember. Mr.
Carney may want to note that even before Harold Brazil put his posters
around the city, Kwame Brown had his in front yards and was knocking on
doors throughout the city. By Mr. Brown's standard, Messrs. Brazil and
Graham are late to the race.
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Harold’s Panic and Visual Blight
Bob Summersgill, summersgill (at) Yahoo (dot) com
Phil Carney laments that Harold Brazil has blanketed Ward 1 with his
campaign posters months ahead of the election. My problem with Brazil's
signs are that they are almost all illegal. Most are hung with tape. The
posters are over the frequency limits as well as multiple signs per
pole, as can currently be seen at 16th and U Streets. Can't we get
candidates that can adhere to our election laws?
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A new poll shows Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham leading in a
hypothetical Democratic primary contest for the at-large seat currently
held by Harold Brazil. Remarkably, Graham leads a race he's yet to
formally enter.
In a head-to-head contest for the at-large seat Graham leads Brazil
(37 percent to 34 percent) among likely voters; 29 percent are
undecided. Voters voicing strong support for a particular candidate give
Graham 24 percent and Brazil 20 percent. Additionally, when voters are
read positive biographical materials about both candidates, Graham leads
the incumbent 43 percent to 30 percent, with 27 percent undecided.
“Jim Graham is in a strong position to challenge the incumbent
Brazil citywide," says Doug Usher, Vice President of the Mellman
Group, a leading national Democratic polling firm that conducted the
poll. "Voters give Graham positive ratings for his performance in
office, while they offer Brazil decidedly negative evaluations.”
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Brazil’s ABC Amendment
John Olinger, North Lincoln Park, jolinger@att.net
Richard Layman's response [Alarming Rumor, themail, March 14] to my
posting regarding Harold Brazil's amendment to extend the hours of
operation of Class A and Class B licenses is thoughtful and shows how a
reasonable approach to liquor licensing in neighborhoods might work. Too
bad Brazil is on the Council and folks like Mr. Layman are not! On
Monday, Harold Brazil announced that he would withdraw his amendment
extending the hours of operation for Class A and Class B licenses in our
neighborhoods. I quote the relevant paragraph from Brazil's announcement
for its, no doubt unintended, hilarity: “Since the Committee markup,
citizens have told me that they are concerned about the potential impact
of extending the hours of Class A and Class B establishments. They are
concerned that longer hours will threaten the peace and security of many
neighborhoods. I have been at the forefront of anti-crime legislation
and initiatives and I do not want to do anything to jeopardize citizen
safety. As Chairman of the Economic Development Committee I have been
also been working to revitalize neighborhoods and to create and maintain
affordable housing. Again, I do not want to undercut this vital
effort.”
Does Brazil really want to send the message that he was unaware that
there was a connection between these liquor mills and crime? Surely, he
can't be much of a crime expert. No where did he apologize for trying to
slip this one by his constituents.
There are a number of lessons in this. First, word of Brazil's
attempted coup spread like wildfire on neighborhood listservs. People
who have been forced to fight the battle against public drunkenness and
squalor, liquor license by liquor license, finally won a broader battle.
Our political leadership has failed us, but we've won one at last.
Second, we can't depend on the Post to make our work easier. I called a
reporter when I learned of this. Has anyone seen a story in the Post
about this. Surely, this was a story that affected the whole city. Where
was the Post? Finally, a lesson for the downtown business community,
developers, Mayor Williams, and the liquor industry — in fact to all
who count on Harold Brazil: there once was a Louisiana congressman who
famously said “I can't be bought — but I can be rented.” To all of
those who've been renting Harold for years, in this electoral season,
make sure you get a signed, long-term lease, otherwise what happened to
the liquor guys may happen to you.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Morehouse College Glee Club, March 19
Debra Truhart, debra.truhart@dc.gov
Friday, March 19, 12:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial
Library, 901 G Street, NW, Main Lobby. The internationally renowned
Morehouse College Glee Club will perform its annual free concert of
anthems, spirituals and classical music in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. The Morehouse College Glee Club, a ninety-year tradition of
musical excellence and achievement, is the official singing organization
of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Under the direction of David
Morrow, the Glee Club is performing its annual free concert at the
Library while on spring tour. Public contact: 727-1285.
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GarageBand Workshop/Meeting, March 20
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com
Want to learn the ins and outs of Apple's new GarageBand consumer music
composition software? A free workshop and meeting about GarageBand will be
taking place at Mac Business Solutions in Gaithersburg on Saturday, March
20, from 10 a.m. Travel directions at http://www.mbsdirect.com/about/.
This meeting is organized by the iLife/iMovie special interest group of
Washington Apple Pi computer club. Further info about this group's E-mail
list and meetings can be found at http://www.wap.org/imovie/default.html.
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TechTalk: Strategic Planning, March 20
Barbara Conn, bconn@cpcug.org
Learn to establish your vision, identify your milestones, and
concentrate on the desired outcome. “Strategic Planning: A Simple
Planning Process To Achieve Your Goals” is an interactive workshop led
by Jim Whelan of ProActive Corporation, Inc. You will create your
strategic plan during this session.
Gather your friends, colleagues, and family members and bring them to
this Saturday, March 20, 1:00 p.m. (check-in and Results demo: 12:30
p.m.), TechTalk of the Capital PC User Group (CPCUG) Entrepreneurs and
Consultants Special Interest Group (E&C SIG). This FREE TechTalk will
be at the Cleveland Park Library (Second Floor Large Meeting Room) at 3310
Connecticut Avenue, NW, just over a block from the Cleveland Park
Metrorail Station on the Red Line. For more information about this
TechTalk, the speaker, CPCUG (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational
organization), and to register for the event, visit http://www.cpcug.org/user/entrepreneur/304meet.html.
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Guy Mason Recreation Center Class Registration,
through March 22
Toni Ritzenberg, taritzdc@aol.com
Registration for Spring 2004 classes at the Guy Mason Recreation
Center, 3600 Calvert Street, NW, began on March 1 and will continue
through the week of March 22, when classes begin. New this year will be
photography, with sessions for young people ages 6-10 and 11-16. Art,
pottery, china painting, and copper enameling are again available. To keep
in shape, both physically and mentally, there are Dancersize, Pilates, Qi
Gong, and Yoga. French and Spanish are again being offered, as is ballroom
dancing. Duplicate bridge is twice a week, year round, and for parents and
children (birth to four years of age) there is Music Together.
The Center is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3
p.m. For further information, call Robert Haldeman/Caryl King at 282-2180,
check the web site: http://www.guymasonstudioarts.com,
or visit the Center. This is one of the best bargains the District has to
offer!
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Public Forum on DC Public Schools Governance,
March 23
Mark Eckenwiler, themale at ingot.org
The PTA and LSRT of the Capitol Hill Cluster School will be hosting a
forum on school governance on Tuesday, March 23, from 7-9 p.m. at
Stuart-Hobson Middle School, 410 E Street, NE, three blocks east of Union
Station. Speakers will include DC Councilmember Sharon Ambrose, Board of
Education Member Tommy Wells, a representative from the mayor's office,
and representatives from the Council on Great City Schools and the Center
for Education Policy. The host will be Sam Ford, a reporter for WJLA-TV.
The discussion will focus on the how best to structure the way our
public schools are run. In the past few years, the schools have been run
either by an all-elected school board or, more recently, a hybrid of
elected members and mayoral appointees. Other cities have tried different
approaches with varying degrees of success. The forum will give our
elected leaders a chance to explain their vision for the schools to the
public. There will also be an extended question-and-answer session during
which the audience will be able to share ideas/opinions. The forum is open
to all residents of the District of Columbia.
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Levine School of Music at National Building
Museum, March 28
Brie Hensold, bhensold@nbm.org
The Levine School of Music will present a program featuring the
Metropolitan Wind Symphony, the Youth Wind Symphony, the Senior Singers'
Chorale, and the Big Band under the direction of conductors John Kilkenny,
Amanda Leon Guerrero, and Paul Norris. The repertoire will include a
selection of classical pieces and jazz favorites. Sunday, March 28, 3:00
p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; free, registration not required, at the National
Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW (Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line).
Public inquiries: 272-2448 or visit http://www.nbm.org.
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Maury Wills Invitational High School Tournament,
April 3-4
John Vocino, vocinodc@hotmail.com
Baseball great, Maury Wills, a DC native, will be in DC during April
3rd and 4th for the second annual Maury Wills Invitational High School
Tournament, hosted by Cardozo Senior High and dcbaseball.org. Wills will
be on hand on April 3rd to run a youth clinic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and
on April 4th the DC City Council will proclaim the day "Maury Wills
Day" and dedicate the baseball diamond at Banneker Rec Center in his
name. Maury played much of his baseball at Banneker Rec Centers before he
became a fixture with LA Dodgers in the 50's and 60's.
Along with Cardozo High’s baseball team, the other DC schools invited
to play are Eastern Senior High School, Archbishop Carroll and Charlotte
Amalie High School from the US Virgin Islands. This event will be a wooded
bat tournament – a new experience for DC public school baseball teams,
and one these teams often don’t get due to tight school budgets and
difficult conditions of baseball programs in inner cities. This year the
tournament also plans to include a 4-team DC public high school girls fast
pitch softball format, including Cardozo High, Eastern High School.
Maury Wills is an important part of baseball history and an important
part of DC's sports history. Please feel free to contact either Cardozo
High's head baseball coach, Mr. Frazier O'Leary at 236-2184 (oman9@aol.com)
or myself if you have additional questions.
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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
Custom made solid cherry Murphy bed. Queen size. Great for homes or
rooms with limited space. $2000. Will pay for local installation only. ddeseve@bellatlantic.net,
202-462-7632.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Fully furnished room and nearly private bath in home near Tenley Circle
Metro. Warm and spacious room with antique furnishings. House has friendly
black lab, bird, and a cat who stays in separate room. Seeking a
pet-friendly, mature, clean person, as we share public spaces and house
cleaning chores. Good for international guests, persons on short work
assignments, just moving to town, or in between places. Photos available
for serious candidates. Monthly rent: $950 includes utilities but no
phone; part-time and long-term stays also possible. Call before 11 p.m. or
send E-mail with information on yourself, or questions, to Lynne. Cell
257-1730.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATION
[With regards to a past suggestion of http://www.parkingticket.com/]
Caution, this is a generic, commercial url.
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