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September 29, 2004

Follow the Money

Dear Suckers:

It is obvious from the gushing, uncritical, unquestioning coverage of the Major League Baseball announcement today that the local media are not going to act as an effective brake on the DC’s government’s rush to broker the worst possible deal for the citizens of the District -- and the biggest possible giveaway for the eventual owners of the team. We’re going to be presented with voodoo economics studies promising phantom benefits, phony low-ball cost estimates that will lead to massive cost overruns, and far-fetched explanations of why this whole scam won’t cost DC taxpayers a dime. The members of the Sports Commission and the Williams Administration and the Councilmembers who will vote for this lousy deal -- and they will vote for it — are going to stand before us, look us in the eye, and lie to us. They’re going to know that we know they’re lying to us, and they won’t care; because they don’t think we have any power and can’t hold them accountable.

Even if you think building a baseball stadium is the highest public priority for this government, even if you think giving public funds to the richest people among us is the best use of government money, the public officials of this city have shown themselves to be the most inept bargainers and the worst businessmen in the nation. But the DC press is not going to expose the foolishness of this stadium deal, and how much worse it is than the deals struck with sports leagues by other cities. That’s why the politicians think they can get away with taking our money by the truckload and giving it to their wealthy favorites.

The question isn’t whether the stadium deal will pass. Of course it will. The question is whether the politicians are right about us and justified in their cynical contempt for us, whether they’re right that we won’t hold them accountable for their skewed priorities and exploitation of us, or whether we will hold them responsible for their irresponsibility, and punish them for it either in November or at the next election.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com 

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Baseball Team Name and Corporate Sponsorship
Doug Harris, wemmickdc@yahoo.com 

Since they will no longer be the Expos, I propose they be named the Ex-Expos. Then we shorten that to XX.

I look forward to cheering on the new team and drinking a cold beer at Dos Equis Stadium.

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He Oughta Go to Jail
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom 

That creep, Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, has blackmailed Major League Baseball and will likely secure major financial concessions from the commissioner of baseball in order to preclude Angelos from suing to prevent the move of the Expos to DC. Mind you, I’m not at all in favor of having the Expos come to DC if the taxpayers will be forced to pay much of the expense for the new (and unneeded) stadium. And, I’m sure that we will be paying for this losing operation for many years and in many ways.

How much better it would be for DC to come up with practical plans for revitalization of poor and blighted neighborhoods and then present a cogent financial plan for improving those neighborhoods and the local schools. Instead, the pockets of a few of Tony’s imperialists will likely be the only beneficiaries of moving a lousy baseball team to DC.

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Baseball Is Back
Clyde E. Howard, Jr., ceohoward@hotmail.com 

If you recall, a statement was printed to expect 3,000 jobs during the building and operation of the stadium for baseball. I have worked every stadium in this city, including Fed Ex Field, and I can assure you that 3,000 jobs will not happen. All the managers will be imported from some other city to manage the stadium. The ushers, venders, and custodians will work only when there is an event at the stadium and will only be paid for their time. Maintenance people and the ground crew will work steadily. Construction crews are imported, and anyone who believes that city construction workers will work in large numbers on the site is living in a dream. Every time a construction project is started in this city, some politician will shout about the number of jobs that will be had on the site. There have been many slips between the cup and the lip, the number of jobs supposedly available for local talent simply does not exist. The statement only serves as a means to an end -- to achieve public blessing for the project -- and the jobs go to others that are not from this city. If you have doubts, look at who’s working on the condominium site above Best Buy on Wisconsin Avenue; they are not from the city, and you can take that to the bank.

To all who are in ecstasy now that baseball has returned to the Nation’s Capitol please remember that you will pay for its return in more ways than one. The announcement that the money will come from the businesses in DC providing it through taxes will boomerang and end up in all residents’ pockets whenever they shop in DC. The cost of milk and bread will rise, the cost of a dinner will rise; the cost a cocktail will rise and the cost of the cover charge will rise. Yes, each and everyone will share in the cost of having a baseball team in DC. Add to that the rise in the cost of utility bills and gasoline. Even the cost for a newspaper will rise; the cost for a hotel room will rise, all the simple things that we have taken for granted will now rise in cost to compensate for the increase in taxes to the businesses to pay for baseball in DC. Guess what, those businesses that do not want to support baseball will move their business out of the city because they are paying high taxes now and they do not wish to pay any higher taxes.

And now the clincher: what will we do when the team plays like the Senators of old -- losers? What will we do with a stadium when the team wants to moves to more fertile ground; who will be the suckers then? And add to that, the congress will vote out DC’s gun ban and all the pigeons that will be attending night baseball in SE will become victims to the gun toters of the city intent on enriching their pockets. DC MPD will not be able to cover the area to offer much protection. Oh what a tangled web we weave.

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Educating At-Risk Children, Call for Papers and Panelists
Travis Mayor, Editor-in-Chief, lawreview@firebirds.udc.edu 

On October 29, the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law - Law Review is hosting a symposium entitled “Educating At-Risk Children in the 21st Century.” Panels will include: No Child Left Behind, federal/DC vouchers, education reform/charter schools, school finance reform, special education, and single-sex public education.

We seek to open national and local debate on each of these topics. Our Law Review editorial board invites your proposals for panel participation and/or submissions of articles for our special Educating At-Risk Children in the 21st Century Symposium issue.

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Pegoraro Straying from the Mark a Bit (Still a Great Reporter)
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com 

Washington Post technology reporter Rob Pegoraro, whose writing is infused with sound judgment and common sense, strayed from the mark a bit in his recent review of the Portable Media Center device that lets people watch video on the go. I agree with a lot of the points in his review, but disagree on his conclusion that there’s no good reason for people to carry video portably with them. For a different point of view, see http://www.his.com/pshapiro/videoipod.html (Rob’s review can be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49320-2004Sep25.html). Keep in mind that Rob is a professional writing about a product that does exist, while I’m an amateur writing about a product that doesn’t yet exist.

An interesting larger question to think about is the question that technology reviewers (or any reviewers) need to try and assess a product (or creative work) from an “everyperson’s” perspective. To reach a perspective embracing and encompassing multiple points of view is no easy feat. If I were a reviewer, I’d engage in as wide consultation as possible before I synthesized my views. I’m beginning to think that wisdom and consultation are one in the same. I’d love to hear what you think, though.

Incidentally, a tip of the hat to Tenleytown resident Edward P. Jones for his being chosen for the MacArthur Fellow Award, http://www.macfdn.org/programs/fel/fellows/jones_edward.htm. And to think you could have run into him at the Tenleytown library standing in line to sign out books ahead of you. Giants walk among us. My own list of nominees for MacArthur awards is at http://teachme.blogspot.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Alone in the Mainstream, October 1
Debra Truhart, debra.truhart@dc.gov

Friday, October 1, 12:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room 215. Gina A. Oliva, professor of the Physical Education and Recreation Department of Gallaudet University discusses her book, Alone in the Mainstream: A Deaf Woman Remembers Public School. Public contact: 727-2145 (TTY or voice).

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Community Yard Sale at Temple Micah, October 3
Sid Booth, sidbooth1@aol.com

The annual Temple Micah Community Yard Sale and Sukkot Fair, to be held this Sunday, will offer used household goods, books, CDs, electronics, children’s toys and equipment, clothing for all ages, and furniture, plus food, children’s games, and a magician. The event will be in the Temple parking lot, 2829 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, just below Massachusetts Avenue between Fulton and Garfield Streets, on Sunday, October 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Ms. Anna Kima, International Peacemaker From Sudan, October 5
Ginny Spevak, gspevak@earthlink.net

Learn more about the current situation and future prospects for peace in this war-torn nation. Ms. Kima serves with the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) as an ecumenical women’s peace mobilizer and comes to the Washington, DC, area under the auspices of the PC(USA) International Peacemaker program. She is well-versed in topics such as women’s role in peacemaking and the church’s role in peacemaking. Light refreshments. Free. Tuesday, October 5, at 6:30 p.m., Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church (Geneva Hall), One Chevy Chase Circle, NW. Phone 363-2202 or E-mail Ginny Spevak, gspevak@earthlink.net.

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Join Rep. Kennedy and Support DC Voting Rights, October 6
Sean Tenner, DC Democracy Fund, stenner@mrss.com

Please join Congressman Patrick Kennedy at an exciting DC Democracy Fund reception at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6. Congressman Kennedy is helping us fight Congressional attempts to overturn DC’s local gun safety laws, and has been a longtime supporter of DC voting rights. In 1963, Congressman Kennedy’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy, oversaw the last expansion of voting rights to DC residents when the US constitution was amended to give us the right to vote for President. We’re still fighting. DC Democracy Fund is the nation’s only Political Action Committee dedicated to supporting Federal candidates who back DC residents’ right to vote and control our own affairs. On Wednesday, you can learn about the DC voting rights issues pending in Congress and talk with Kennedy about his fellow New Englander John Kerry’s campaign for the White House:

DC Democracy Fund Reception with Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Wednesday, October 6, 6:00 p.m., Hall of States Building, 8th Floor Terrace, 400 North Capitol Street, NW. Closest Metro: Union Station (Red Line). The event is being sponsored by Michael Brown, an outstanding DC voting rights advocate. As always, we ask that those attending our DC Democracy Fund receptions to contribute an amount they can afford to our cause.

In addition to electing pro-DC voting rights candidates like Illinois Senate nominee Barack Obama, a civil rights/voting rights attorney who would also become the only African-American in the US Senate, DC Democracy Fund is working to fight the attempt by Congressman Mark Souder (R-Indiana) to overturn DC’s local gun safety laws. Thousands of independent voters in Souder’s district will soon be getting phone calls, letting them know that even Souder’s hometown paper thinks overturning DC’s gun safety laws against our will is a bad idea! We need leaders like Obama in the Congress to pass a DC voting rights bill — and we need to stop Congressmen like Souder from overturning our local laws. And we need your help to make a difference.

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National Building Museum Events, October 6-8
Brie Hensold, bhenhold@nbm.org

Wednesday, October 6, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Diamond + Schmitt Architects, the Canadian firm whose work exemplifies an architecture shaped by the life around and within it, has been commissioned to design the new Sidney Harman Hall for the Shakespeare Theater Company of Washington, DC. Jack Diamond, FRAIC, FAIA, will discuss the theater and present the firm’s work, including Jerusalem’s Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Life Sciences Center at the University of British Columbia. $12 Museum members and students; $17 nonmembers. Prepaid registration required.

Thursday, October 7, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Opening Reception, Washington: Symbol and City. Museum members and invited guests can enjoy a celebratory reception of this major exhibition with a curator-led tour. To inquire about membership, call the Membership Department at 202.272.2448 or E-mail membership@nbm.org.

Friday, October 8, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Member Preview, Washington: Symbol and City. Curator-led Tour: 12:00-1:00 p.m. To register for the tour, call the Membership Department at 272-2448 or E-mail membership@nbm.org by October 1. 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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Mendelson Hearing on Retail Stores and Labor, October 7
Anne Heutte, heuttea@earthlink.net

Councilmember Phil Mendelson has responded to the recent concern over Wal-Mart’s appearance in DC with the announcement of a hearing on Thursday, October 7, “Labor Relations and Retail Business,” 10:00 a.m., Room 412, John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. We have one week to find people willing to testify at this hearing. Whatever the label on it, it is an opportunity to speak on behalf of DC’s neighborhoods and small business‘s survival and growth.

A council chamber full of citizen witnesses will encourage Mendelson to run with this issue. It is necessary to convince people that all they have to do is sign up, follow the rules, and spend five minutes or less speaking for themselves about their concerns for this city’s health and prosperity. We are not, most of is, lawyers. But our citizen voices matter to those who craft the laws. As the Quakers say: Speak truth to power.

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Military Road School 140th Anniversary, October 16
R. Barbara Johnson, patriciatysnn@aol.com

The Military Road School began during the Civil War era. Its history is connected to Ft. Stevens and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As alumni of this historic school, we invite the public to join us for this celebration. The Military Road School’s 140th anniversary celebration "Remember When" luncheon on Saturday, October 16, at 11:30 a.m., at Simpson-Hamline United Methodist Church, 450116th Street, NW (please use Allison Street entrance). Special guest, baseball legend Chuck Hinton, #32 of the Washington Senators (1961-1964), founder of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, and author of My Time At Bat. Reservations, $10.00 per person. RSVP by October 13: call399-7926 or 577-6956. Mail checks to M.R.S.P.T., c/o Mrs. Barbara Johnson, #15 42nd Street, NE, Apt. 20, Washington, DC 20019. Sponsored by the Military Road School Preservation Trust, http://www.mrspt.org.

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First Annual Taste of Shaw, October 23
Cary Silverman, carysilverman@comcast.net

On Saturday, October 23, Shaw Main Streets will host the first Taste of Shaw, a progressive food and drink festival featuring Washington’s largest concentration of Ethiopian restaurants and one of DC’s hottest new clubs. Taste of Shaw will be a great opportunity for people from all over the Washington, DC, metropolitan area to visit some of the new restaurants and bars on Upper 9th Street, in one of the city’s most exciting historic neighborhoods. Tickets will entitle patrons to a drink or appetizer at each of the participating businesses, as they walk along 9th Street, NW, between T and U Streets, NW, to visit the establishments and sample food. A new “Shaw Dining, Arts, and Entertainment Guide” will also be introduced at the event.

Taste of Shaw will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23. At this time, scheduled participants include BarPortico, DC9, Queen Mekeda Restaurant, Sodere Restaurant, and Zula’s Restaurant. Tickets are $15 in advance (reserve tickets by E-mailing info@shawmainstreets.com or calling 232-2915 x109) and $20 on the day of the event. Tickets will be available at DC9, 1940 9th Street, NW, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on October 23. Taste of Shaw is sponsored by Shaw Main Streets, a community based nonprofit organization devoted to revitalizing Shaw’s historic 7th and 9th Street, NW business corridors. For more information, visit http://www.shawmainstreets.com.

The Fall edition of the Shaw Main Streets News is now available online in PDF format at http://www.shawmainstreets.com/fall_2004_newsletter.PDF. The Fall edition includes: Introducing Azi's Café: New Café to Open at 9th & O Streets; Letter from the Executive Director; News Briefs; New Historic District Signs Installed; Spotlight on Modern Liquors; Free Courses Build Stronger Businesses; The Shaw Historic Bicycle Tour; History: Blagden Alley & Naylor Court; Shaw Main Streets Committees Get it Done; and Upcoming Events including the First Annual Taste of Shaw and a Harvest Festival.

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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE

Chaise Lounge
Lyla Winter, mrscalabash@att.net

Upholstered in cream and taupe, raised "leaf" design, with large matching pillow. Six years old -- good condition. 6' long by 3' wide. $200 firm. E-mail mrscalabash@att.net (Tenleytown).

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CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED

Director of Finance and Administration
Robin Weiss-Castro, robin@ips-dc.org

Nonprofit ecotourism company seeks Director of Finance and Administration. This position responsible for overall financial management, grant tracking, general office management and administrative assistance to program staff to ensure smooth running of the office. Manage budget; produce quarterly budget reports, balance sheets, and cash flow statements; handle account payable/ receivable, deposits, and payroll; handle general office management; coordinate staff travel; maintain office supplies and equipment; assist in coordination of events and conferences; assist with logistics for board and other meetings; assist program staff with various projects and tasks. Additional qualifications: proficient in QuickBooks and understanding of basic accounting procedures; knowledgeable in tracking restricted funds; at least five years experience as a bookkeeper, office manager, administrative assistant, or similar post; excellent administration, management, and organizational skills; extensive knowledge of computer software -- Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, E-mail and Internet, desktop publishing (Quark & Microsoft Publisher); strong communication skills and excellent writing ability; fluency in English, Spanish, or additional language a plus; ability to work collaboratively with other staff; self starter with lots of initiative.

How to apply: please E-mail cover letter, resume, three-five page writing sample, and contact information for three references to laura@ecotourism.org. Resume review begins October 10, applications accepted until position filled. Salary: $35,000-$40,000.

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Computer Consultant
Cristobal Covelli, arribacenter@juno.com

The ARRIBA Center, a nonprofit organization that serves the physically and mentally impaired in the District of Columbia, is seeking to expand its computer and cybernetic capabilities. ARRIBA solicits bids for the following works: 1) The creation of a web site. The ARRIBA web site shall be flexible to allow continued input, user friendly, universally appealing, bilingual (English/Spanish), tamper proof, and more. 2) The establishment of data back-up capabilities. ARRIBA's rapid growth requires the backing up of computer data in a systematic, state-of-the-art, safe, and highly usable fashion. 3) Building fire-walls. ARRIBA's increasing use of computer technology and date storing necessitates real protection from outside intrusion. A fire-wall system shall be developed which offers more advanced guard methods than a simple virus detection program. 4) Network capacity. ARRIBA uses a total of eight computers in its operations. Computers are used by ARRIBA's staff and trainees. Interconnectivity between all systems is sought , as well as increased Internet access without limitations. 5) Assistive technology accessibility. ARRIBA seeks to have all of its computer systems accessible for the disabled and culturally challenged. Access systems shall conform to the needs of users who are blind, sight impaired, one handed, voice command users only, mouth pointer driven, third device interconnected, and long distance operable.

ARRIBA requests that the bids for the five works be presented and priced both separately and jointly. ARRIBA reserves the right to contract with different providers for the jobs at hand. Technology firms led by women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to submit proposals. Proposals shall contain examples of how the tasks are to be developed; samples of the final product; time line for completion of each task; pricing information; and an explanation of how advantageous it will be for ARRIBA to hire you, or your firm for these jobs. Proposals shall be submitted to the ARRIBA Center no later than September 30, 2004. To the attention of Dr. Cristobal Covelli, Executive Director. By mail: 5 Thomas Circle, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. By E-mail: arribacenter@juno.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING

Seeking Environmentally Conscious Housemate
Mary Vogel, maryvogel@yahoo.com

Older encouraged. $550, plus one third of utilities. Ten minutes to three Metro lines. Ideal Eastern Market location. Please see http://www.geocities.com/maryvogel/housing.html before calling Mary, 547-7820.

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CLASSIFIEDS — PETS

Dog Found
Elizabeth Buchanan, elizabethbuchanan@yahoo.com

My partner found a medium-sized black dog around 16th and Newton on Saturday, September 25th. His purple tongue and head indicate that he is part chow, despite his fur and slender build. Very friendly to people, other dogs and even cats. He has clearly been someone's pet, although he's a bit skinny, so he may have been out for a while. He has not been altered, which may explain his wandering.

If you know anything about this dog, please E-mail me or call ASAP. We would like to reunite him with his owners, but will look for a new home for him if we are unable to do that. Contact elizabethabuchanan@yahoo.com or 986-2745.

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Beautiful Dogs and Gorgeous Cats Ready for Adoption
Pat Yates, PatEdCats@aol.com

The DC Animal Shelter (run by the Washington Humane Society) has many wonderful companion animals ready for adoption at its shelter at 1201 New York Avenue, NE. The shelter is open for visiting the animals Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. To get complete information, and to see many of the animals that are currently in the shelter and in foster homes: http://www.washhumane.org.

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