Too Busy

Dear Busy People:

I’m still busy doing data entry to check the slots initiative’s petition sheets against the voter rolls, so I’ll bypass the chance to rail against the city council’s passage of the Anacostia Waterfront urban removal plan, its giveaway of millions of TIF funds to an incompetent but politically favored developer in Columbia Heights, Councilmember Vincent Orange’s disingenuous support of the gambling casino promoters while he feigns neutrality on the issue, or even the fact that Mayor Williams continues to support his outgoing Chief of Staff Kelvin Robinson’s blatant violations of the Hatch Act, and his statement that he’s “outraged” that the Office of Special Counsel should charge Robinson for them. I’m too busy even to take notice of these things. If you want to take notice, be my guest.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Sheridan Terrace
LaTanya Wright, latanya7@juno.com

I live in Congress Heights, south of Anacostia. Daily, I ride the bus and train at Anacostia Metro Station and recently noticed a banner across the street from the station. It states, “Save Sheridan Terrace from Totyota” (sic). I did a Google search and found an article at http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/98821/index.php.

This article states, “Recently, it was discovered that the DC Housing Authority, the executive office of the Mayor, Anthony Williams, began talks with a global automotive giant, Toyota is to build a Automotive Training Center on the site. There was no community involvement while the talks were going on.” Does anyone have any information about this?

I do remember when the apartments were torn down; now it is just mass of green grass along Suitland Parkway. I definitely prefer more housing and want to know what Toyota and the Mayor are up to!

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A Big Mistake
Ed T Barron, edtb@aoldot com

The Post calls for promoting the acting school superintendent to be the contracted school superintendent, since the city has been unable to, so far, recruit a viable candidate from outside DC. That would be a dreadful mistake if there is any real interest in reforming the dysfunctional DC. school system. What is needed is for the Mayor and School Board to develop a job description for the new superintendent that gives that person the power he, or she, needs to really reform the DC schools.

That person must have the authority and backing to make whatever changes are needed over a multiyear period to make the system work right for DC’s kids. To promote from inside just perpetuates the failures of the years behind us. The current acting superintendent is beholden to the system and to the inmates of that system. He could not make things any better than they are now. Forget the past and look forward. Somewhere out there is a white knight. Find him and give him the appropriate sword and lance and a white steed and let him charge into the DC school system.

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Cosby Kids
Paul Dionne, news at paul dionne dot com

I am curious about what people think of Bill Cosby’s remarks, especially as they pertain to DC students. I think his comments have a tremendous amount of relevance to a majority black city whose student population is also majority black. Students who entered the school system when I moved here ought to be graduating this year, and yet the rhetoric about education in this city has changed little over the past decade. We’ve spent so much of our political capital fighting governance issues such as vouchers and who should control the school board that we’ve lost focus on the real issue: students. Success is not measured by who or how long anyone runs the school system but by the educational achievements of our graduates. Yet, sadly, the students who have passed through our school system in the dozen years I’ve lived here have been robbed of the opportunity to participate in a lifetime of prosperity. This is especially sad given that the overwhelming majority of them are minorities, and therefore will already have difficulty enough prospering.

We seem to have forgotten that school governance and educational achievement are indeed separate issues. Cosby’s remarks hammer home the importance of breeding a culture that teaches all children that an education is a valuable asset, indeed the most valuable asset someone can own.

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State of Our Youth
Richard Urban, Rurban@urbangrocery.com

Ed Barron writes [themail, July 11]: “I'm convinced that the way to dramatically reduce the causes of the poor environment and conditions that pervade the poor communities in DC is to fix the schools.” However, to fix schools, we have to take a more fundamental step, which is to fix families. The situation at Ballou High School earlier this year generated much discussion about violence among youth. However, an enduring solution to school violence must involve changes in the home and community environment that produces youth who become violent. The state of the surrounding community does have a large effect on each school. Many students are living in an environment where they are at a higher risk for being involved in the five interrelated risk behaviors affecting youth: drinking alcohol, smoking, drug use, sexual activity, and violence. Those who use drugs, alcohol, or who smoke are also more likely to be sexually active, and are more likely to be suspended from school. We need to help youth stay away from these four risk activities. A long-term solution to school and community violence must address the issue of outside-of-marriage child bearing. No number of security guards or police can make up for the negative effects of so many children growing up without their fathers at home (80 percent of births are to unmarried women in the African American community in Washington, DC).

There is a way to encourage youth to make choices that will lead to their long term health and happiness. We can teach them the facts about the consequences of sex outside of marriage, and older students can model an abstinent and drug free lifestyle for their younger peers. That is exactly what directive, abstinence based programs do. Youth are given the facts about HIV/AIDS. They are taught the emotional and social consequences of having sex. Abstinence in preparation for marriage is presented as the only 100 percent effective prevention method for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The many benefits of remaining abstinent until marriage are discussed. Through directive, abstinence based programs, many youth are making the commitment to be abstinent until marriage. In the program that I run at Eastern Senior High School in Washington, DC, many high school youth have become peer counselors. They visit the classrooms of younger students and encourage them to be abstinent until marriage. By reaching out to the middle school and junior high students with this message, and through the example of their older peers, the environment in our city will be substantially changed over the coming years.

As the years go by and fewer students are having children as teenagers and outside of marriage, then the severe problems of violence and disruptiveness that are occurring in DC schools will be reduced. Youth growing up with both a mom and a dad at home will be much less likely to be involved in violent or disruptive behavior. They will also enjoy the many other social, emotional and economic benefits of a two parent household. "Studies reveal that even in high-crime inner-city neighborhoods, well over 90 percent of children from safe, stable, two-parent homes do not become delinquents." This is a powerful statistic, and one that we can take advantage of by teaching youth the benefits of abstinence until marriage, and encouraging abstinent older students to be models for their younger peers. The majority of youth in the ULTRA Teen Choice program at Eastern Senior High School are from single parent homes. They are breaking the negative cycle of outside of marriage teenage child rearing by committing to be abstinent until marriage. We have reason to be hopeful. Funding by the District of Columbia and Federal governments for programs that clearly teach the benefits of abstinence until marriage rather than how to use contraceptives will help reduce violence in our community in the long run, because the risk factors that influence youth to be violent will be reduced.

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The Side Benefits of Jury Service
Judge Gregory E. Mize (Ret.), Fairness@MizeADR.com

Ed Barron's piece about the valuable lessons he learned during his recent jury service in DC Superior Court [themail, July 11] was beautiful. As a retired trial judge of that court, I wholeheartedly endorse his sentiments. He also reminds me of the sage remarks of the Frenchman Alexis DeTocqueville, "The jury contributes powerfully to form the judgment and to increase the natural intelligence of a people; and this, in my opinion, is its greatest advantage. It may be regarded as a gratuitous public school, ever open, in which every juror learns his rights ... and becomes practically acquainted with the laws, which are brought within the reach of his capacity by the efforts of the bar, the advice of the judge, and even the passions of the parties. I think that the practical intelligence and political good sense of the Americans are mainly attributable to the long use that they have made of the jury.... "

Ed learned much more than the law. He saw real-time human drama, the high stakes losses occurring in our community, and some explanations for those losses.

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Baseball in DC
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom

For those real baseball fans in DC, there is an outstanding exhibit of baseball memorabilia in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. If you want to avoid crowds, go there at about 5 in the evening on those days when the museum is open until 7:30 p.m. Great exhibit and a baseball memorabilia store where you can even buy a Washington Senators jersey. Tears came to my eyes when I saw an entire wall depicting the front facade of the Brooklyn Dodgers' Ebbets Field . I spent many a Saturday morning in the bleachers there cheering alongside Hilda Chester and her infamous cow bell.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Tribal Love Party and Fundraiser for Jews United for Justice, July 28
Maude Bauschard, mbauschard@usaction.org

Wednesday, July 28, at 6 p.m., and going till the DJ stops spinning at Bossa Bistro and Lounge, 2463 18th Street, NW, in the heart of Adams Morgan. Second floor is smokefree from 6 to 8 p.m. By Metro: Woodley Park/Adams Morgan, walk or take the U St. Link Shuttle for just $0.25. Cost: $7 suggested minimum donation, no one turned away!

Come celebrate the Jewish "Valentine's Day," Tu B'Av with JUFJ. Bring your significant other or find a new lover at Bossa Bistro and Lounge (http://www.bossa-dc.com) in the heart of Adams Morgan. Bossa serves succulent, organic Middle Eastern cuisine in the perfect atmosphere for romance and dance. Also come for the funky, flirty sounds of DJ Neil (http://www.funkdc.com/neil.htm). All proceeds benefit JUFJ! For more information about this event or to become a member of JUFJ contact Maude Bauschard, mbauschard@hotmail.com or 256-2446. Jews United for Justice (http://www.jufj.org/) was created in April 1998. Drawing on a tradition of Jewish commitment to justice and the talents and dedication of our growing membership, JUFJ is an exciting community-based organization that seeks to begin repairing the world by concentrating on issues of local concern including fair housing and fair labor practices. Tu B’Av has been called the Jewish "Valentine’s Day." Learn more about this holiday at http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Modern_Holidays/Tu_BAv.htm.

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Arab-Israeli Orchestra of Nazareth, July 31
Dorothy Marschak, dmarschak@chime-dc.org

The Washington DCJCC’s Theater J and the Washington Jewish Music Festival, together with the Abraham Fund Initiatives, the Embassy of Israel’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Georgetown University’s Program in Performing Arts, and the Peace Café, are all proud to welcome the Arab-Israeli Orchestra of Nazareth to Washington, DC, for a one-time performance on July 31 at 8:30 p.m. This performance will take place in Gaston Hall, located on the campus of Georgetown University. Tickets are $10 for patrons under thirty years of age and seniors, and $25 for patrons aged thirty and over. Tickets can be purchased through Georgetown University by calling 687-3838 or visiting http://performingarts.georgetown.edu.

Founded in 1990 by Suheil Radwan, the Arab-Israeli Orchestra of Nazareth serves to deepen awareness and appreciation of Middle Eastern art music by specializing in performances of Arabic classical and folk works on authentic instruments. By showcasing diverse local talents, the Orchestra acts as a unifying force among the cultures of a region that is striving for peace. The Orchestra features the finest Arab, Jewish, and Muslim musicians from Nazareth, Haifa, Acre and Galilee. This concert will feature a tribute to Egyptian diva Oum Koulthoum, with songs performed by Arab-Israeli chanteuse Lubna Salameh. Ms. Salameh has been a resident singer with the Orchestra for five years, and is known throughout the Middle East for her renditions of classical Arabic music by artists such as Koulthoum, Layla Mourad and Ismahan. The Orchestra’s instrumentation will include violins, celli, bass, oud, qanun, nay, darbuka, accordion, and percussion.

This groundbreaking evening of music will be cosponsored by the Abraham Fund Initiatives, the Embassy of Israel’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Georgetown University’s Program in Performing Arts, and the Peace Café. For more information, contact Rachel Sepulveda, Director, Washington Jewish Music Festival, 777-3254, rachels@dcjcc.org.

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Multicultural Literary Expo, July 31
Joan Eisenstodt jeisen@aol.com

Multicultural Literary Expo for all ages on Saturday, July 31, 11:00 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Bowie Library, Bowie, MD. Enjoy performance storytellers, authors, book signings, multicultural book fair and more. Stories will be read in English, Spanish, French, American Sign Language, Swahili and Japanese. For more information, call 301-390-5559.

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Aerobic Dancing Classes
Marilyn Myers, myers8163@aol.com

Aerobic dancing classes at Daumit Dance Studio, 3333 Connecticut Avenue (upstairs). Choreographed cardio routines by Jacki Sorensen, including stretching, abdominal and strength work with weights. Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. For more information, call 362-6600.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Piano Repair/Tuning Sought
Jon Katz, jon-at-markskatz-dot-com

Please tell me your favorite piano repair/tuning person or place that makes house calls. I just bought an upright piano that needs repair to the middle pedal, and tuning. I live in Kensington, Maryland.

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Kitchen Countertop Resurfacing
David DeSeve, ddeseve@bellatlantic.net

I’m looking for someone who can provide this service. Please E-mail Dave at ddeseve@bellatlantic.net.

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