Some Fun

Dear Funsters:

This afternoon, a group of us had some fun down at the Wilson Building. We attended the closed-door meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Lead in Drinking Water. Just pushed our way in the door and sat in the empty chairs. Of course, the government officials didn't know what to do when confronted with the horrifying prospect of actually having to do the public's business in front of the public; they just sat there in embarrassed silence for about fifteen minutes, until Terry Lynch finally called out, “Hey, I'll call the meeting to order, if nobody else will.” The bureaucrats laughed, but wouldn't begin any of the discussions and deliberations and decision-making that they thought were not for our ears. Finally, Councilmember Carol Schwartz, the co-chair of the Task Force who had tried to bar the door to us and bolted from the room when we entered, returned and announced that the meeting was canceled, but would resume in public for an hour preceding her next committee meeting on the Water and Sewer Authority. The other co-chair of the Task Force is Mayor Williams, but he has never attended a single meeting of it; his representative, City Administrator Robert Bobb, then came into the room and said that his position was that there was no reason that every meeting of the Task Force shouldn't be held in public. Just possibly, for at least the next three months that the Task Force is supposed to operate, this one small part of the government will work in the sunshine. Or possibly not.

DC has a long history of closed-door, secretive government; it's a big part of the reason that things are as bad as they are, and don't get improved, in so many areas. Secrecy got much worse under the Control Board, and things have continued to deteriorate under Mayor Williams. At his press conference today, Williams exploded angrily at a question about the secrecy surrounding sports stadium negotiations, and proclaimed that his administration was the most open in America, and said to Dorothy that if she did the research that's what she would find. Delusional.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Property Tax Inequity
Brigid Quinn, brigidq@yahoo.com

I'm looking for people who bought their homes in the District between October 1, 2002, and September 30, 2003 (tax year 2003) and whose property tax assessment increased considerably between TY2003 and TY 2004. The issue: those of us who bought homes in DC in TY2003 do not qualify for the 12 percent assessment cap recently enacted by the council for property taxes due in TY2004 (those just paid and due again in September). Ironically, we did qualify for the 25 percent cap on our 2003 assessment, so the issue is not an administrative one, it is a flaw in the law. If you fall into this category, you are probably paying a lot more in property taxes than your neighbors. Use this link to compare your property tax liability in TY2004 with that of longer-time owners of similar properties on your block. Sit down when you do this, because you will be livid when you see the comparison (http://www.taxpayerservicecenter.com/RP_Search.jsp?search_type=Assessment).

I live in the Logan Circle area, and my assessment went up considerably (25 percent), as did those of my neighbors, in TY2004. Because I bought my home in TY2003, I am responsible for paying property taxes on the full assessment. My neighbors, however, who have actual assessments at or above the assessment on my house, are responsible for taxes on a much lower amount (almost half of the actual assessment) because they qualify for the 12 percent cap. The 12 percent cap kicks in in TY2005 for those of us who bought homes in TY2003. in my case, this matters little since my assessment went up very little in 2005. High 2004, not high 2005, assessments is the very reason the council made sure the cap would go into affect for TY2004. It will be many years and ten of thousands of dollars out of my pocket before my tax liability and that of my neighbors equalizes. At best, this is highly unfair; at worst, it violates equal protection or assessment equalization laws. Thus, I am looking for others to work with me to convince the council that they should right this wrong. I've already talked to the top staffer for the council's committee on finance and revenue and he agrees that this is a problem. However, a large group of people representing the city's broad geography has a much better chance of affecting this change than I do alone.

By the way, I don't think this errant provision is an effort to hose newcomers, but it certainly won't help attract the 100,000 new folk the mayor is hoping will move here. I've lived in the city for forty years and have owned homes here since 1975. If you're interested in pursuing this, you can reach me at brigidq@yahoo.com.

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Wither Goest the Middle Class?
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom

And why are the middle class folks leaving DC? It's not really hard to figure this out. It's the schools, stupid. Middle class families will leave the District as soon as their children reach school age. These families sell their houses at inflated prices to upper income folks, double income couples (DINKS) and move to Prince Georges or Montgomery County, where the schools are much better.

Until the DC schools are fixed there will never be a decent sized middle class (white or otherwise) that will reside in DC. In the seventeen years I've been here, the schools have gotten progressively worse in many parts of the city. Let's get someone in power who can fix the schools which will solve most of the major problems facing the city in the long term.

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Vacancies Again
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

Here are a few of the many vacancies, several of long standing, in key positions in the District government: Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Families, and Elders; Director, DC Public Library; Administrator, Youth Services Administration; Director, Child and Family Services (Olivia Golden has announced her resignation); Inspector General; Director, Emergency Management Agency; Director, Department of Public Works (Leslie Hotaling's last day is Friday); Director, Office of Personnel; Chief Medical Examiner; Clean City Coordinator; Director, Neighborhood Action; and Director, Department of Health. In light of the mayor's efforts to take over DC public schools, and his argument that he deserves the responsibility because of his superior ability to recruit good managers, it is interesting to note the large number of critical vacancies in departments and agencies that serve children directly.

The large number of vacancies in critical positions may be best exemplified by the DC Department of Health. At a time when the District is grappling with the health consequences of lead in the drinking water the director of the department, James Buford, was removed. His interim replacement is Herbert Tillery, the Deputy Mayor for Operations, who was transferred from the Wilson Building to DOH on North Capitol. Within the department, six of the twelve senior management positions lack permanent appointments: the Director; the Chief Medical Officer; Senior Deputy Director, Health Promotion; Senior Deputy, Medical Affairs; Director, HIV/AIDS Administration; and Senior Deputy, Emergency Health and Medical Services Administration.

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WASA Test Results
Ralph Blessing, rblessin88@hotmail.com

Our water samples were picked up for testing by WASA on February 20. Two weeks ago, a good week after the thirty-day turnaround promised by WASA, I called to inquire about the results and was told (I'm not making this up) that the results “are in the mail.” Now, two weeks later, still no results. When I called again this past Friday, I was given the bureaucratic run-around but assured that someone would be looking into it by the end of the day, though as of close of business today, Monday, still no call back. Is our situation an anomaly or have others gotten the same non-results from WASA?

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Is This an Alien Implanted Device?
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom

Took a new route between the raindrops this week on my early AM constitutional and discovered something strange. Atop the green box (phone router?) just off the triangular intersection at the corners of 47th Street, NW, Massachusetts Avenue, and Van Ness, there is a strange looking device. It looked initially like something the cops might use to entrap speeders on Mass. Avenue, except the antenna-looking device is really a solar panel.

I suspect that this might be an early test of a device that will power the unit below it to reduce the electrical consumption and the cost of powering that green box. If anyone knows what this device is I'd like to know.

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Music for All DC Children
Susan Ousley, es el Ousley at ah oh el dott comm

Periodically there are reports that Quincy Jones and others want to build a music museum in downtown DC. If they do, it would be a wonderful opportunity to locate the DC Youth Orchestra where many more of DC's children could benefit. Right now, it is housed at Coolidge High School, where Maryland children are more likely than children from Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest to be able to take advantage.

Imagine our children flowing confidently in and out of a thriving building, instruments in hands, dropping by at a revitalized central library -- because music does reinforce other study skills — and giving concerts for tourists as well as parents. Imagine visiting musicians inspiring our kids. Imagine children from all quadrants learning together, forming friendships at early ages. Just imagine.

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National Aquarium at Department of Commerce
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

I don't meant to carp on this, but I've always felt there's something very fishy about the National Aquarium being at the Department of Commerce. What in the world does the Department of Commerce have to do with fish? How can we possibly explain this to visitors from out of town -- without giggling? Cod anyone tell me the origins of this tail? I thought I haddock this under control. Am I the only sole floundering on this? Sure I'm feeling crabby this week, halibut these things weigh on the mind.

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DC Photojournalist Pioneering Web Storytelling
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

For those who might be interested, DC-area photojournalist David Snider is doing some path breaking creative work with multimedia storytelling on the web. You can view two QuickTime movies he produced and co-produced at http://www.photographychannel.tv/video/snider.html and http://www.photographychannel.tv/video/commisso.html.

On Windows computers these QuickTimes are best view with Netscape or Mozilla web browsers. (Mozilla can be downloaded from http://www.mozilla.org). Mac users can view these QuickTimes using Netscape, Mozilla, Safari, or Internet Explorer. You will need a high speed Internet connection to view them (or a dial-up connection with a lot of patience). Feedback can be sent to David Snider at rave@his.com. If you have a blog (web log), you can support this storytelling by linking to it from your blog.

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Klingle Foot Trail
Peter McGee, Mt. Pleasant, peterm@lcsystems.com

The Klingle Road Feasibility Study concluded a few years ago that the Klingle valley is an environmental and public health hazard, in contrast, I believe, to the many hiking and running trails in Rock Creek Park. The public safety purposes of the fence were explained by DDOT officials, and “No Trespassing” signs initially posted apparently have been pilfered. I know that the fencing is inadequate, as our neighbor’s dog spent a night in the hospital after suffering an injury walking on Klingle Road.

Yes, I am passionate that a few individuals were able to highjack a public road outside the civic process for the personal benefit of reducing traffic in their neighborhood, and that they were aided by political special interests groups who railed against local residents and caused the waste of significant taxpayer resources based not on scientific fact, but on fear and guilt. The resulting polarity reduced the debate to stark, disparate positions. A more reasoned discourse might have produced a creative solution that would have preserved our historic road and provided the safe recreational amenities you desire.

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The Molly Smith Experiment
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com

I read the article in the Post and Larry Seftor's post about Arena and Molly Smith [themail, April 11]. Like Larry, we've been subscribers for years, and, again, like Larry, we have found some of the plays great and some . . . “interesting.” Yet we think the Molly Smith experiment has been a good one, one that has revitalized Arena's formulaic seasons. Yes, full season subscriptions are down. I am guessing some of that has to do with the economy and the proliferation of new theaters in the DC area. I imagine some of it may also have to do with the seasons which have such a wide variety of plays that may not appeal to all.

What I am thrilled about is that we now see more people of color and a more diverse age range in Arena's audience. The audience has begun to look a bit more like the area. And it is nice not to be two of the younger audience members! We think Molly Smith is doing a great job and the plans for Arena will make it an even more vibrant theater and asset to the community. We'll support it gladly and continue to be moved and entertained by each season's offerings.

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The Molly Smith Experiment, II
Wendy Blair, wblair@npr.org

Larry Seftor, Larry_Seftor@compuserve.com, writes of his disappointment with the recent lower quality of work being done at Arena Stage, after years of being a regular subscriber [themail, April 11]. I agree with him. As a fellow theater lover and regular theatergoer, I have privately regretted many recent performances I have attended at both the Arena Stage and at the once-beloved-by-me Woolly Mammoth Theater company. Mr. Seftor may well be correct in blaming a drop in quality on the directors of these theater companies, Molly Smith, and I would add the estimable Howard Shalwitz. But I think there is a pernicious structural cause that has to be taking a toll, and that is the way scarce theater dollars seem now be raised.

Both the Arena Stage and the Woolly must depend upon development departments to raise millions of dollars. Foundations and donors have all sorts of hoops through which theaters lucky enough to get their money must jump. The theaters must prove themselves worthy by demonstrating all manner of political correctness — geographical, multicultural, ethnic. They must prove the worthiness of any new and emerging playwrights by describing artistically irrelevant skin tones and geographical origins. It's not just ideology and ethnicity. To help get these grants, and do the voluminous paperwork, bureaucracies must be constructed — with ancillary researchers and writers from academe (because everyone must have a "credential," and the credential most respected by foundations and government entities is the Ph.D.). Thus our theater companies must have a dramaturge who gathers academic research and background about the play which appears in the theater program — but also most probably is used to get grant proposals written — and to demonstrate to those impressed thereby, the worthiness of the play being performed. It's not just correct skin tones and geographical origin — it is also educational/moral uplift. The theater, to get money, have to set up some sort of "educational" entity, with seminars, classes, tutorials. It must prove that it is ameliorating “the community” — by “reaching out” to schools and colleges, and bringing in all manner of would-be artists. Sounds worthy. Probably sounds utopian to the readers of the grant proposals in the government institutions and foundations. Of course, the last three years have been horribly dry ones for grant money all over. So those who get the grants needs must really have groveled and bent themselves out of shape.

But the more that creative people must demonstrate the worthiness of their endeavors to bureaucrats and Ph.D.-lovers, the more they are fettered and, to my mind, hobbled. They must justify their bold choices to a gimlet-eyed, politically appointed board made up of two and a half teaspoons of African American to two and a half teaspoons of WASP, with at least a soupcon of Midwestern, Southern, Alaskan or Chinese. Oh — did you hear — a new member of the NEA committee is Buddhist! It's a wonder we have anything good left at all on our theater stages. And yet, these exaggerations notwithstanding, I would very much like to hear, say, WAMU's Kojo Naamdi take on Molly Smith and Howard Shalwitz about this watering-down in quality that you and I feel we notice and greatly regret. They might not be able to admit it over the radio. But we might be able, calling in, at least to ask them about it face to face.

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Missing the Big Schemers for the Little Ones
Danilo Pelletiere, danilo@nlihc.org

Recent announcements about a DC soccer stadium possibly being located at Poplar Point and the likely appointment of Mark McCullers from Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew as the new head of executive director of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission might suggest that there is a “scheme” afoot to build a DC Soccer Stadium perpetrated by Kevin Payne and AEG, as Ed Delaney suggests. Indeed, the mention of Poplar Point gives me the willies, and the appointing of an MLS official to the DCSEC would clearly seem to indicate a soccer stadium would get a warm reception. But then it has been announced that the Mayor, without even conferring with the council, has a new plan to pursue the Expos. By moving the baseball specific stadium to public land at RFK (bumping any soccer specific stadium) and thereby avoiding the land costs associated with the original downtown “preferred” (read: preferred by Herb Miller and friends) sites, he is offering full public financing to Major League Baseball. This just confirms the scheme that soccer fans have long suspected: the Mayor is set on pursuing MLB at any cost, asking nothing in return, while putting off a decision on building a smaller facility, for an existing DC team, with investors that are courting the city and willing to provide considerable funding. The only use the mayor has for the soccer stadium is as a bargaining chip for DC baseball. Neither scheme may be good for the city; that is something for residents to decide as the plans become known. But we should be careful not to lose sight of the fact that with this mayor one scheme is not like all the rest.

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Washington Times Asks Readers to Weigh in on a Stadium
Ed Delaney, profeddel@yahoo.com

I've been under the weather and haven't gotten to properly rip apart the latest Major League Baseball boondoggle from the usual suspects, but here's an item of interest: the Washington Times is conducting a poll. The question this week is, “Do you support Mayor Williams' plan to fund a baseball stadium fully with tax dollars?” Persons wanting to answer can call 636-3255 or E-mail sportspoll@washingtontimes.com.

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Stadium Giveaways
R.B. Linden, rlinden3@juno.com

This is in response to Patrick Thibodeau's E-mail on a new baseball stadium [themail, April 11]. I agree that DC cannot afford a new baseball stadium. Let the billionaire owners build and finance their own stadium somewhere in DC if they wish. On the other hand, if there were a referendum on the matter, the text would have to be carefully worded so as not to deceive voters into thinking that a new stadium, with DC funds, could be a moneymaking proposition. The District has too many more pressing needs, too numerous to list here.

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Vote on Public Funding for a Stadium
Vivian Henderson, V.Hende1886@aol.com

P. Thibodeau, you are correct. To h__l with a baseball stadium. We need better equipped libraries, a school system that works, and the wonderful after school program that was eliminated last year because of budget restraints, and these are just a few of our needs. Mayor Williams is ruining our city — his mistakes in judgment are too costly, and they far outweigh his good deeds — now what were they?

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Re: The Trouble with DC Public Schools
Anne-Marie Bairstow, abairstow at hotmail dot com

Apparently we can add to the list of DC public school shortcomings the inability to teach about sarcasm and mockery (and also the rules of capitalization). I have to admit, I often miss sarcasm and take people literally, but I thought that Gary's disgust with Kevin Chavous's lack of action was fairly obvious! When Gary referred to himself as “the leading international spokesman for the most prestigious world-class web site on the Internet,” he was mocking Chavous's own publicity championing his efforts in improving education in the District. But your point is well-taken, that we all need to try to do something to improve our public schools.

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Another Plug For Parental Influence and Against Exaggerated Claims of Structural Imbalance
Len Sullivan, lsnarpac@bellatlantic.net

Two new reports set us to number-crunching last month. The DC Agenda project produced detailed socioeconomic, education, and crime data for each of the thirty-nine DC "planning clusters." From these we developed additional trend lines linking local urban quality of life to parental education. Check out our analysis at http://www.narpac.org/PERENTS.HTM#clusdata. Then we explored the details of the new Metropolitan Police Department plan to redeploy their field forces among forty-three larger Patrol Service Areas based on current crime rates. Analysis confirms that the GAO and DC's Chief Financial Officer have no practical basis for exaggerating DC's financial shortfall based on some cockamamie need to double the size of DC's police force. Nor do the proposed deployments support the CFO's estimates of DC's large unrecompensed police burden from commuters and the federal presence. Take a look at our analysis of the MPD plan at http://www.narpac.org/SJI.HTM#polalloc. Check out these offbeat April additions to NARPAC's web site at http://www.narpac.org/INTHOM.HTM, and maybe replace some wishful thinking with quantitative information.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Fun New Art and Music Classes Near Eastern Market
Jonathan Darr, jonathan@chaw.org

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is offering a new slate of classes starting over the course of the next week. Printmaking, ceramics, Yoga, creative writing, and photo classes all have room. The Arts Workshop's summer arts camp for ages 5-12 is now enrolling. Summer campers will study the arts and culture of the 20th Century United States, China's Tang Dynasty, Mesoamerica, and Africa: From Kenya to Zimbabwe.

Mention DC Watch for 10 percent off any one class and for free before or after care for summer camps. More information and registration forms online at http://www.chaw.org. The Arts Workshop is a nonprofit arts center with a darkroom, dance studio, art studio, and black box theater offering classes and private lessons in the visual and performing arts. Serving the DC area for more than thirty years!

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DC Vote on Tax Day, April 15
Kevin Kiger, kkiger@dcvote.org

We fight for America in times of war. We serve on juries to uphold American freedom. We pay our federal taxes like all Americans. Yet, without full voting representation in the US Congress, the voices of Washington are silenced. Join DC Vote and supporters as we raise our voices and public awareness of DC's denial of democracy on Tax Day, Thursday, April 15. DC residents pay the second highest income taxes per capita in the country (second only to Connecticut), yet Congress has complete control over DC's entire budget. No other jurisdiction in the country must submit its budget for anyone's approval, and yet Congress regularly adds restrictions to how DC can spend even its own locally-raised funds.

DC Vote, Uncle Sam on Stilts, volunteers, and supporters of equal rights for DC will demonstrate on Thursday, April 15, for two shifts, 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight, at the National Capitol Station post office, N. Capitol Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Let the voices of Washington be heard on tax day! For more information and to see a copy of the "Let Washington Be Heard" poster, visit http://www.dcvote.org.

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DC Public Library Events, April 15, 19
Debra Truhart, debra.truhart@dc.gov

Thursday, April 15, 12:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room 215. Co-authors Bainy Cyrus and Frances (Peggie) Parsons discuss their forthcoming book, Deaf Women’s Lives: Four Autobiographies (Gallaudet University Press, Fall 2005). Public contact: 727-2145.

Monday, April 19, 1:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Northeast Neighborhood Library, 330 7th Street, NE. Celebrate National Library Week at the Big Book Sale! All ages. Public contact: 698-3320.

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Upcoming CHIME Events, April 17, 18
Dorothy Marschak, dmarschak@chime-dc.org

I will give a presentation on "Banding Together: The Glory Days of School Bands in DC and How to Bring Them Back" at the CoRAL Network Conference, Bunn Intercultural Center, Georgetown University, on Saturday, April 17, 1:45 p.m. This Conference, on community-based research, is free and lasts from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The presentation reports on plans for a new CHIME project in partnership with the Anacostia Museum and a local academic partner. All those who remember the “Drumline” days in DC who would like to take part in oral histories, or otherwise contribute to this project should E-mail dmarschak@chime-dc.org. I will also be interviewed by Jenet Dechary for the “Talk About the Arts” segment of the Washington Forum hour about CHIME and DCPS music education on Sunday, April 18, at the following times: 6:15 a.m. on WMZQ (98.7 FM); 8 p.m. on WRC-AM (1260 AM); and 9 p.m. on WTNT (570 AM).

April airings of the Music Around the World programs on DC Public AccessTV are listed on the schedule page of http://www.chime-dc.org. On Channel 5 (Comcast) and Channel 6 (Starpower), Raga-time: Music of South Asia will be shown ten times; Traditional Afro-Cuban Rumba and Great Women Jazz Singers will be shown twelve times. On Channel 6 (Comcast) and Channel 11 (Starpower), the History of Gospel Music will be shown five times. So far we have presented or scheduled forty programs in this Music Around the World series this year in twenty-seven DC public schools. The latest additions to our offerings include programs by the In Series (Zarzuela, Mozart opera selections, Carlos Rodriguez), concert pianist Alan Mandel, and Bill Jenkins’ World of Music.

If you have an instrument in good repair that is not being used, please consider donating it to CHIME for distribution to a DC public school. Donations are tax-deductible. Special recognition goes to Georgetown Day student Julia Fisher, who designated CHIME as the recipient of gifts for her Bat Mitvah, and also to David Kirk, a high school student in Wilmington, DE, who spent a month collecting sixty-five instruments plus uniforms and instruction material for our Band Aids for DC Public Schools campaign to win his Eagle Scout badge. We are also pleased to acknowledge recent grants from the Verizon Foundation, the International Monetary Fund, the Washington Post, and ANC1C, as well as from many generous individuals.

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National Building Museum Event, April 18
Brie Hensold, bhenhold@nbm.org

Sunday, April 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Music in the Great Hall: Komm Holder Lenz (Come Gentle Spring). Celebrate the advent of spring with this concert featuring a treasure of German folk songs that glorify romantic love, nature, and a farewell to winter. The concert is presented by the Washington Saengerbund, under the direction of Dr. Michael O'Brien, joined by their guests, the Delaware Saengerbund. $20. Registration required. Ticket price includes a reception following the concert to sample European pastries, German wine, and cheese. For tickets and information, call 703-591-1640 or visit http://www.saengerbund.org. At the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Judiciary Square stop, Metro Red Line.

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DC Public Library Budget Hearing, April 23
Martha Saccocio, info@savedclibraries.org

The City Council will hold a hearing on the DC Public Library (DCPL) budget on Friday, April 23, at 10 a.m. The Library has suffered years of declining budgets. Last year, the Library was forced to reduce operating hours at all branch libraries. For FY 2005, the Mayor has proposed a static budget for the library system, meaning operating hours would remain at reduced levels, the materials budget will not be increased, and much needed maintenance on buildings will continue to be deferred. If you have been frustrated by the Library's sad condition, E-mail your Councilmember and Mayor Williams and urge them to restore operating hours at neighborhood libraries. If you are interested in testifying at the hearing or want additional information, please E-mail info@savedclibraries.org.

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Our Nation’s Capitol Lunch, April 27
Ben Slade, Cleveland Park, publicmailbox@benslade.com

Our Nation's Capital is a group dedicated to highlighting federal restrictions that significantly contribute to the District's fiscal problems. Basically, various federal restrictions end up costing DC over a billion dollars a year. A few examples of these restrictions are: the lack of state tax reciprocity with MD and VA (sometimes confusingly called "the commuter tax) causes DC to lose over a billion dollars a year; the high percentage of tax exempt real estate in DC results in additional hundreds of millions of dollars in losses; DC has to fund state functions that most other cities do not (costing hundreds of millions); DC has to provide services to the Federal Government that most other cities do not (costing hundreds of millions). See our web page for links to Brookings Institution and GAO reports on the subject.

Our Nation's Capital is hosting a luncheon on Tuesday, April 27, at noon at which Professor Michael Fauntroy (son of Walter Fauntroy) and DC city councilmember Adrian Fenty will talk about the long term impacts of the structural fiscal imbalance on DC. They'll also cover how DC compares to other national capitals with respect to this issue. Michael Fauntroy is the author of the book Home Rule or House Rule: Congress and the Erosion of Local Governance in the District of Columbia. Please see our web page for more details and to sign up online (the cost is $20): http://www.ournationscapital.org/pages/3/index.htm.

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Storytellers, April 27, 29, 30
Brad Hills, bradhills@washingtonstorytellers.org

Washington Storytellers Theater presents a very special event: the Speak Easy anniversary blowout on Tuesday, April 27. Reception at 7:30 followed by a live performance by special guest Antonio Sacre, a live auction, and live music and dancing with Ama Fujo's Mood Swings. At HR-57, 1610 14th Street, NW, between Corcoran and Q Streets. Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. All tickets include food and three drink tickets (beer and wine). Catering for this event donated by Whole Foods Market.

Antonio Sacre, a recently published children's book author, will also present a workshop, Selling Your Story, at which he will discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of getting published. He also will share his two-year experience of trying to sell his Great American Screenplay in Hollywood. Part inspirational, part practical and full of humor, the workshop will put you on the road to fame and untold wealth. This event will be held at the Maryland Association Of Non Profit Organizations, 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 303, Silver Spring, MD, on Thursday, April 29, 7-10 p.m. Registration is $35 ($30 Members of WST). Purchase in advance by calling 301-891-1129.

Washington Storytellers Theater also proudly presents our 2004 annual benefit performance, Antonio Sacre in Up to the Sky and Other Stories. Peer into the complex and comical worlds of Antonio Sacre's Cuban and Boston-Irish families through his powerfully poetic words and lovable characters. Up to the Sky is the eloquent story of Antonio’s tense relationship with his mother and coming to some acceptance of the mother we have been blessed or cursed with, or as is often the case, both. Experience for yourself the artist that Backstage calls "an out and out genius." Support Washington Storytellers Theater as we celebrate our fourteenth season of bringing world-class storytellers to the greater Washington, DC, community. Experience the unique and exciting Antonio Sacre and join us for a sumptuous reception at the elegant Embassy of Austria, 3524 International Court, NW, on Friday, April 30. Reception at 7:00 p.m., performance at 8 p.m. Ticket price, $65 in advance, $75 at the door; purchase at the door or in advance by calling 301-891-1129.

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