Play Ball

Dear Ball Players:

Ed Delaney, below, points out that the Washington Post has shown a remarkable lack of investigative zeal in its reporting on the city's quest for a sweetheart deal to further enrich the Billionaire Boys Baseball Club and appease the mighty gods of Major League Baseball. The television and radio stations have shared with the Post the same spirit of anti-civic boosterism, of devotion to the special interests of sports promoters in preference to the interests of the city's residents, businesses, and taxpayers. Ed notes that the Washington Times "hasn't exactly scooped the Post" in reporting on the deal, but I'd like to give credit to two Times reporters and their stories this past Thursday.

Tom Knott's column predicted that the proposed stadium land will be “Skyland Shopping Center, Part Deux” (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20040924-122610-8382r.htm). “Skyland is the attempt of the city to take private property from working-class hands and place it in the blueblood hands of developers and a big-box retailer. It is an attempt that lost its questionable legal justification in late July, when the Michigan Supreme Court overturned its precedent-setting decision in 1981 that allowed Detroit to condemn the neighborhood of Poletown in order to make way for a General Motors factory. . . . City officials, of course, have not mentioned the unseemly application of eminent domain in their ongoing quest to satisfy commissioner Bud Selig and the owners of Major League Baseball. Yet city officials have a problem: 27 disparate property owners who have different needs, agendas and dreams. Some undoubtedly will be happy to part with their land for a tidy sum. Others already are recoiling at the thought. No one is apt to cry if the city razes the substandard public housing complexes in the neighborhood adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard, not even the residents sentenced to live in them. Yet there are viable businesses along Half and O streets. There are business and property owners who do not want to be displaced by a baseball team. A baseball team is someone else's dream, not theirs.” And Jon Siegel’s article in the Sports section noted that “Many Upset in Southeast” (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20040924-122549-7192r.htm): “The frustration was perhaps best summed up by Michael Parker, who took a break from his job as facilities manager at the Washington Sculpture Center to walk a dog along Half Street. His nonprofit business recently has spent about $200,000 in upgrades. ‘We go to every community meeting, but we heard about [the site choice] in the newspapers,’ Parker said. ‘They didn't want to give us time to get armed and fight back. It was out of the blue to target this area.’”

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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9/11 Memorial on Kingman Island
Ann Carper, jackson73 AT earthlink.net

While in Seattle last week, I read an article (Seattle Times, September 20) about the Lummi tribe's presentation of two totem poles to the Pentagon in honor of those killed in the 9/11 attack there. It said the poles were to remain at the Pentagon until September 23, after which they would be moved to Congressional Cemetery and eventually to a “permanent 9/11 memorial site on Kingman Island, in the Anacostia River.” Is this memorial site common knowledge? I had never heard of it and couldn't find anything about it on washingtonpost.com.

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Post’s Agenda Shows Through Boosting Baseball Brigade
Ed Delaney, profeddel@yahoo.com

In addition to the Post's ridiculously transparent use of kid gloves when it's come to DC's baseball bid — where never has such a controversial city issue of unprecedented scope and public cost (all for a private entity, to boot) been covered with such a lack of analysis and investigation of even the basic issues from real costs to logistical matters and environmental concerns, their shaping of each and every headline to bolster the political confidence of DC Council members who might have second thoughts was never more in play than with their printing of the ultra-deceptive headline: “Businesses Receptive To DC Stadium Tax” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45647-2004Sep23.html). The headline suggests, of course, that businesses are receptive to a proposed DC stadium tax, but when one reads further, there no evidence to support that headline, but it becomes clear that not enough information has been shared from the baseball brigade to business leaders to have communicated adequately with DC businesses to get a true gauge.

Buried in the story beneath the glowing headline is this gem: “Whirlwind briefings from city leaders during the past two days have not provided much time for them to poll members and come up with firm endorsements or rejections of the plan.” And as for ringing endorsements, take a look at this from the Board of Trade‘s Bob Peck: “We're talking numbers that for a lot of the larger members, at least, are not going to break the bank.” So for “a lot” if not all of the “large” DC businesses, whose fiscal health was never going to be at issue anyway, we’re supposed to be encouraged because this won’t break some of their banks? Of course, the main way it won’t break their banks is to pass the charges onto consumers or hop across the border, both of which are matters the Post brings up on similar business tax issues but remains incuriously silent on them here. Not only that, the Post doesn’t even have a breakdown of the numbers at this late date lest someone form the outside break them down and find fault with them, as it reveals only a vague, unverified and uncertain range of $2,500 a year to $28,000. And of course, the Times hasn’t exactly scooped the Post in investigating and analyzing the numbers on this and other issues connected with the baseball boondoggle. You don’t usually don’t see coverage on an issue like this unless there’s an agenda going to run cover for someone who has something to hide and can’t afford to have one misstep in order for their scheme to be realized.

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Public Stadium Financing Limits DC’s Ability to Meet Other Needs
Ann Pierre, DC Fiscal Policy Institute, pierre@cbpp.org

Mayor Williams has proposed building a $440 million baseball stadium, almost entirely with DC tax funds. He claims that this would not affect funding for any other DC services. This seemingly paradoxical statement does not stand up to scrutiny. A new DCFPI analysis explains that most funds raised for a publicly financed stadium could be available for other purposes, if a stadium were financed largely by the new team’s owners. Public financing thus represents a choice to devote funds to a stadium rather than to other needs. Raising taxes for a stadium now also would make it harder, if needed, to raise taxes in the future to address other urgent needs.

The DCFPI analysis also points out that DC should be able to get the Expos without paying nearly all of the stadium costs as proposed. Other recently built stadiums in St. Louis and San Francisco had public financing of 15 percent or less. DC is a strong market for a new team, given our substantial population and high incomes, which means that the owners should be able to have a financially successful team even if they pay for most of the stadium's costs. The report can be found at http://www.dcfpi.org/9-23-04tax.htm and http://www.dcfpi.org/9-23-04tax.pdf.

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Winners and Losers
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom

Just back from a couple of weeks in Russia and a few of the Baltic Sea capitols and happy to learn that two empty suits (Chavous, and Brazil) have been turned out of office. Sorry to hear that Barry beat Sandy Allen, but that was predictable. Another big laugh for the rest of the nation at DC’s expense. Sorry to hear that DC may be getting the lowly Expos baseball team. Now it is important to deny any public funding for that foolish venture. Maybe Williams can smoke out some investors in China and Paris over the next trips he'll be taking in the near future. Hey Tony, I'll be in Paris in November. Maybe I can help find some folks who bought the Brooklyn Bridge to invest in the Expos for Washington.

Many folks in DC think that we'll be winners if Baseball Commissioner Selig announces that the lowly Montreal Expos will be moving to Washington, DC. In fact, however, this is a big loss for the taxpayers of DC who will be in debt for years paying for a new and unneeded new baseball park.

The real winners are those in Potomac, Virginia, who will be getting a minor league franchise that will likely be a very profitable venture for the owners and the community taxpayers. That's where I'll be putting my butt in the seats.

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Name That Team
Rick Rosendall, rrosendall@starpower.net

I have been thinking about a name for DC's prospective baseball team, so I was interested in James Puckett's suggestion. To his "Sons" I have several possibilities to add. If a team can be called The Miami Heat, why not The DC Vote? Or how about The Washington Ballots? Or The Washington Scandals? I certainly hope the owners will not resort to the tired old cliche, The Senators. How about echoing a new power center and calling the team The Washington Bloggers? Or why not The Potomac Fever? That would be a fun name for a team from the nation's capital.

I am not enthusiastic about Puckett's suggestion that the team adopt "Taxation Without Representation" as a motto. First of all, I thought we had cleared up the matter about the need for a “no” at the front of that message. But, while I do not expect to persuade the sorts of people who favor defacing the District's elegantly simple flag with a political slogan, a sports team should keep its focus on sports and not be expected to advocate a political cause, however strongly we may feel about that cause. We are not going to win people over by coming across as tiresome nags when everyone else just wants to yell, "Play ball!" But having an allusive name like The DC Vote could work because it is merely an apt topical reference without any overt demand or complaint. A new team will face enough of a challenge without having to bear the flag of our political grievances.

Let's do more brainstorming for a pithy name and make sure the powers that be are informed of the results. I expect that a naming contest will shortly be announced by the local news stations. But don't you steal my ideas, come up with your own!

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A Name for Our Team
Clare Feinson, cfeinson at erols dot com

My nomination for a team name is the DC Scalpers. It commemorates all those most interested in bringing MLB to DC — rapacious politicians, greedy sports promoters, insatiable real estate developers, business leaders who can hardly wait to write off their sky boxes as business expenses, etc., etc. And it has the added advantage of making the Redskins sound almost like an accolade.

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Get Ready to Pay More
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org

Is anyone else out there insulted by Eric Price’s comment in Thursday's Post article, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45647-2004Sep23.html, that businesses were approached first about the mayor’s baseball financing plan because they will bear the brunt of the cost? (“Price said city officials decided to brief the business community before describing the proposal to the general public because businesses would be footing much of the bill for the stadium.”)

I mean, what business do you know that will not pass along the increased tax to customers? If you don’t want to pay for the stadium, tell the mayor no DC taxes for baseball! E-mail mayor@dc.gov and eric.price@dc.gov now! For more information about the stadium proposal and its costs, go to http://www.dcfpi.org and read, “Should Baseball Be First In Line? Paying $440 Million for a Baseball Stadium Would Limit the District’s Ability to Fund Other Services.” You can also get information at http://www.nodctaxesforbaseball.org or receive a copy of a new fact sheet by E-mailing scambria@dckids.org.

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The Stadium
Harold Foster, Petworth, harold.foster@ppd.mncppc.org

I confess to having changed significantly in my views about this issue. As the grandson of an avid baseball (Homestead Grays and Senators) fan from 1922 (no: that is no misprint), and as a forty-odd-year Dodger fan (I go back to Jackie Robinson's last couple of years playing for Brooklyn), I have always wanted major league baseball back here in the city. Initially I felt so strongly about this that I did once think it might be worth it for the city government to participate financially in building a modern stadium for an expansion or relocated MLB franchise. That was then. This is now. More to the point, that was before we were saddled with Marble Man Williams and his pharoahnic ideas of what good public planning is for a city as desperately on the mend as this town is.

As, well, one of the last people working the same side of the street as Fidel, Nelson (and, apparently, Hugo Chavez and maybe Dennis Kucinich), I have developed major reservations about how much money Marble Man will invest in what amounts to another public entertainment project that diverts funds — or deters the private sector from putting up money — for far more critical and truly public works. First on that list is, of course, a state-of-the-art, full service open admission, public hospital. Although I have major reservations about Kwame Brown, I am glad to hear him pledging to organize a public hospital lobby on the Council, together with the other two victors in this month's councilmanic primaries.

I suppose I don't have a major problem with a massive renovation and modernization of RFK which, if we think back to all those tantrums the Cook family used to throw, is allegedly a baseball stadium anyway. (That, anyway, was Jack Kent's rationale for demanding that the city finance his new toy before he opted to go to Landover and beggar the taxpayers of Maryland instead.) Okay: fine. Then let's use the bloody thing as what it was designed to be: a baseball stadium. My understanding is that it is, in fact, feasible, though time consuming, to phase in renovations and modernizations of RFK so that it would not interfere with the playing schedule of the EX-pos once they were relocated here. In fact, even Marble Man himself says the minimum renovations needed to make RFK comply with current MLB stadium regulations will have to be integrated with next season's schedule, if in fact the EX-pos are moved here immediately. Anyway, the point here is that the extra time, and operational inconvenience to the team, of working modernizations in with the EX-pos schedule is far preferable to any financing scheme that would commit public funds to actually building a stadium. Never mind this nonsense from Marble Man and Eric Price that this would be a business tax only and that it isn't presently levied on anyone for anything. If there are these kinds of revenues out there, then tax the source for a public hospital, for an integrated and modern public university campus and for an eighth police district facility. And, if we really, want to get radical: tax them to fully fund the affordable housing fund. Short of that, as I said before: the team should go to Diamond Lake. Bud Selig and his crew can beggar the taxpayers of Virginia. We have more critical work to do here in town.

I have one, admittedly rather lame, suggestion for a new name for the EX-pos. Whatever else is wrong with this name, it appears, sadly, that it will be particularly appropriate given the militarized society we will have for the next four years: how about Capital Brigadiers? Fits right in with the ideology of the regime we'll apparently be suffering under for four more bloody (literally, I fear) years.

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Perry Mason and Baseball
Lea Adams, On the Waterfront, workinprogress247@mac.com

Gary hit a home run in the intro to September 22's show . . . oops, themail. It even had me guessing about the end until just before it got there. Good work. But about that stadium. Is it going to show up and disturb the peace near the river? If Little Anthony and the Imperialists have their way, the city will be all condos and rich people during the week and tourists and paying thrill-seekers on the weekends. Maybe that's what the Congress always wanted for the Nation's Capitol — it worked in ancient Rome — but it sure looks less and less like the hometown I grew up in. I thought I'd be out of the theater before the plot went this sour.

There's still a chance that those of us in the rest of the cast will stop acting like extras and StandUp for a leading role in our own story. The new public officials elected last week can live up to that promise, if they stay the course and remember that they were chosen not to lead, but to represent. The wonderful thing about living in the US of A is that there's always another election coming. People get ready, as the Chambers Brothers would say.

By the way, where are all the Della Streets of DC? More new women running might help move us back towards a people-friendly government. Or not, alas.

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$560 Million from Congress Is Not All Aid
Ben Slade, publicmailbox@benslade.com

The Washington Post had a blurb in the Metro section (page B3 on September 23) saying the recent DC budget bill approved by Congress includes $560 million in “direct federal aid” (sorry, no online link, inexplicably the article isn't available online).

My understanding is that as part of the “District of Columbia Revitalization Act of 1997” Congress phased out the “federal payment” in return for federal assumption of certain state-like functions. A large portion of the $560 million that the Washington Post refers to as “aid” is really Congress paying for the state-like functions which it agreed to take over (prisons, courts, state-like contributions to Medicaid)

While it's nice the feds have assumed responsibility for these areas, other federal restrictions still cost the District on the order of a billion dollars a year. That's why Congresswoman Norton has sponsored a bill (HR-4269) for $800 million in federal compensation against these restrictions. See http://www.OurNationsCapital.org for more information.

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Please Help Save the CRA
Antonio Arocho, aarocho@ncrc.org

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) has developed an extremely easy mechanism to get groups and individuals to weigh in on the very critical issue of having the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) leave the comprehensive community reinvestment act (CRA) exam in place. The FDIC has extended the comment period for their change to the small bank definition to October 20. Speculation is that the FDIC may put off this decision until after the election. It is imperative that we have individuals and community organizations in DC submit comments opposing the FDIC proposal (please visit http://www.ncrc.org for further information on the FDIC's efforts to weaken the CRA).

Now we have made it simply for you to comment, all you need to do is click onto http://69.36.186.20/letters/cra_letter.html, which will take you to a web page where you can submit your comment to the FDIC. This cuts out all the pasting and extra E-mailing. It takes all of thirty seconds to do; it couldn't be easier. Please share this with any friends or relatives. Numbers matter, they are counting the number of consumers versus banks that comment on the recent FDIC proposal to weaken the CRA.

If the FDIC is successful in raising the small bank definition to $1 billion (from $250 million) then woman and minority-owned business, affordable housing initiatives, anti-predatory lending efforts will all be negatively impacted. If you haven't sent in a letter, send it in now. Community development corporations, community development financial intermediaries, micro-enterprise organizations, IDA programs, all those working to build wealth in low-wealth neighborhoods will suffer the consequences of this change. NCRC needs your help to preserve the integrity of CRA!

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Patterson Plays Principal as Pawn
Ed Dixon, Georgetown Reservoir, jedxn@erols.com

Without representation from the principals' union, DCPS, or the Board of Education, Dr. Steve Tarason, principal at Wilson Senior High, opened testimony on a Council hearing on Councilmember Patterson's request. The hearing was held to discuss whether or not the collective bargaining units should have the right to discuss work conditions not only in DC's public schools but city wide. Friday's hearing, called by Councilmember Patterson, Mendelson, and Catania, discussed legislation crafted along with the Mayor, which, according to Councilmembers, has a general application but is directed specifically at the teachers' union.

Not surprisingly, the hearing was well attended by area wide union leadership who were concerned with the implications of the bills. Though not scheduled to testify, Jocelyn Williams of the Metropolitan Labor Council of the AFL-CIO showed up to forcefully inform Councilmembers that the hearing was political in nature and being held without formal allegations being made. Williams stated that Councilmembers were using anecdotal evidence drawn from Tarason early in the hearing to suggest that there was an overall problem in the collective bargaining procedures. Tarason's testimony described a day in the life of the principal with teachers at the only Ward 3 public high school. Not feeling that Tarason's testimony spoke to the proposed legislation, Councilmember Catania tried to draw out the controversies in the workplace between management and employees to show there could indeed be a problem. Though Tarason did mention that Wilson had lost fourteen teachers at the end of last school year, very little was made of the budgeting shortfall or its strain on the workplace.

Catania left the hearing after Tarason's testimony, never to return; and left Mendelson and Patterson to deal with the majority of opposition to the legislation. Williams's attack on the process had successfully quieted Mendelson through firefighters and policemen's testimony until teacher union representatives returned to the witness table. Mendelson's main complaint, drawn from Tarason's testimony, appeared to be that teachers shouldn't have the right to bargain the length of staff meetings as part of a contract negotiation. Mendelson made sure that the teachers' union knew that he knew that contract negotiations were impending. The last contract with the teacher's union was drawn up at the end of 2001 and the Council resolved to a 19 percent pay raise over three years in the spring of 2002. The Council and the Mayor received considerable support in the fall 2002 elections for this contract. A year later, the Council reneged on the legislated deal, causing the major layoffs last summer.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

National Building Museum Events, September 27-28
Brie Hensold, bhenhold@nbm.org

Monday, September 27, reception 6:00-7:00 p.m., lecture 7:00-8:30 p.m. Charles A. DeBenedittis: Winner of the 2004 Turner Prize. Charles A. DeBenedittis, senior managing director of design and construction at Tishman Speyer Properties, is the third recipient of the Museum’s Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology. Over a 50-year career, he has led the design and construction of major buildings around the world, including the Sony Center in Berlin; the Messeturm high rise in Frankfurt, Germany; and the John Hancock Tower in Chicago. In a conversation with Norbert Young, FAIA, president of McGraw-Hill Construction, Mr. DeBenedittis will discuss some of his notable projects and his involvement in innovations in building technology, materials, and methods. $12 museum members; $16 nonmembers; $5 students. Prepaid registration required.

Tuesday, September 28, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Building for the 21st Century: The Cost and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings. Compared to conventionally designed structures, green buildings are widely perceived to be substantially more costly and perhaps not justified from a cost-benefits perspective, although they offer clear environmental and health benefits. Greg Kats, principal of Capital E Group, will discuss the most current research that indicates green design is very cost-effective for most buildings today. Free. Registration not required.

All events at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th Streets, across the street from the Judiciary Square Metro (Red Line). Wheelchair access is available through the G Street entrance.

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The Human Face of DC Colonialism, September 28
Anise Jenkins, anisej@hotmail.com

DC's lack of budget autonomy (Congress' total power over the DC budget) may not sound sexy, but the US Congress has DC by the purse strings and it hurts! Find out from those who know DC history and why we all feel the pain! Learn how our lack of full democracy affects, among other things, our schools and hospitals, and even our gun laws! Panelists Include: 1) Paola Barahona, Executive Director of PreventionWorks! — the clean needle exchange HIV/AIDS prevention program in DC; 2) Johnnie Barnes, Executive Director of ACLU/DC; 3) Vanessa Dixon, Chair of DC Healthcare Coalition -- which fought valiantly against the Control Board's closing of DC General Hospital, our only public hospital; 4) Sam Smith, tireless DC statehood advocate and editor of the Progressive Review; 5) Mark Thompson, longtime DC statehood activist, a Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition founding member and Radio One talk show personality. Learn where our DC tax money really goes, how the annual Congressional review affects the quality of our lives and what we can do about it! Panel presentations will be followed by a question and answer session. Food will be served!

Tuesday, September 28, 6:30 p.m., at the Historic National Council of Negro Women, 633 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (Archives Yellow/Green Metro stops; 70, 30's, P12 bus lines). This teach-in is sponsored by the Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition. For more information call 232-2500 ext. 1, http://www.standupfordemocracy.org.

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DC Public Library Events, September 28-29
Debra Truhart, debra.truhart@dc.gov

Tuesday, September 28, 12:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, 2nd Floor East Lobby. Kenneth R. Kahn discusses his new book, Secret Judgment: How the US Government Illegally Executed Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Public contact: 727-1261.

Wednesday, September 29, 12:30 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, 2nd Floor East Lobby. Dr. Emma Etuk will speak about and sign copies of her book, Recipe for Success: The 21 Indispensable Things that Can Help You Succeed in Life. Public contact: 727-1251.

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Dance DC Festival, October 1-3
Mary L. Eckstein, mary.eckstein@dc.gov

The DC Arts Commission is hosting its first folk and traditional dance festival from October 1-October 3. The festival will feature free performances and workshops from a wide array of folk and traditional dance forms, including hip-hop, hand dancing, salsa, capoeira, bhangra, and tango. Local dancers will showcase the cultural dance traditions alive throughout the city. For the full schedule of events, go to http://dcarts.dc.gov/dcarts/lib/dcarts/services/grants/pdf/dance_festival_schedule1.pdf.

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Charter School Startup Seminar, October 16, November 13
Alicia Daugherty, daugherty@focusdc.org

Want Better Schools? Start Your Own! Friends of Choice in Urban Schools is pleased to announce our free 2004 charter school startup seminar. Local experts will speak on the following topics: What are public charter schools? Who starts public charter schools and why do they do so? What is the process for starting a public charter school? How do I begin to develop my school's academic curriculum? How do I create a business plan? How do I find a facility for my school?

The seminar will be held Saturday, October 16 and Saturday, November 13, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The same material will be covered at each session. The seminar is free. However, registration is required. To register, please call FOCUS at 387-0405, http://www.focusdc.org.

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CLASSIFIEDS — SPACE

Sublet Office Space in Dupont Circle with DC Nonprofit
Lisa Shochat, lshochat@sfcg.org

Search for Common Ground is seeking individuals or organizations to sublet office space at Dupont Circle location. Up to 3000 sq. ft. Flexible office suites, two to four offices plus open areas. Individual offices. Excellent location at Dupont Circle Metro. Telephone, voice mail, Internet, and furniture options. Terms flexible. Available immediately. Contact Lisa Shochat, 265-4300.

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CLASSIFIEDS — PETS

Two Kittens Seek Permanent Home
Tedd Appel, tappel5169us@yahoo.com

I am looking for a home for two ten-month-old kittens, brother and sister. They must be adopted together. Please go to my web page for pictures of the kittens and adoption details. The kittens have been spayed, neutered, and are up-to-date on all of their shots. The web page is http://www.mrgeoffreys.com/miko_1.html.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

Sewing Patches on Leather Jacket
Annie McCormick, amccormick@itic.org

I am looking for someone or some company to sew military patches on a thick leather jacket. I have checked with some dry-cleaning services, and have even tried a shoe repair place. Attention to detail is an absolute must, familiarity with the military a huge plus. I want to have this done ASAP, but absolutely done by the first week in November for the Marine Corps Birthday on November 10. Any recommendations?

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