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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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
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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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
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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