Cheaply Bought
Dear Watchers:
The mayor’s press conference was interesting today; watch it on
Channel 16 if you get a chance. Basically, the mayor announced that he
had bought off the opposition of a group of ministers to the baseball
stadium giveaway, and he paraded the ministers to testify that they were
happy with the payoffs they had received. As long as we get a part of
the loot for our pet projects, the ministers said, we’ll happily
abandon any principled objection that we may have had against fleecing
the taxpayers.
The mayor announced that he and Jack Evans had devised a scheme to
create a new TIF financing district around the site of the new stadium,
and that the new property taxes that would be created by all the
massive, rapid development that would take place in this district would
be placed in a TIF fund instead of in the general fund, and that that
fund would be used to pay for everything imaginable under the sun that
the ministers would want, from bats and balls for Little League baseball
teams, to housing and health care and hospitals and helicopters, to
streets paved with gold. Because the money would be in a special fund
instead of the general fund, it would be just like free money, not
costing the taxpayers anything. Although the scheme had just been
dreamed up in the past few days, and nobody had any facts or details or
specifics about anything, the mayor promised that the TIF fund would be
worth $440 million within ten years, and that he would find a way to
front load it so that the money would start flowing to the ministers’
projects almost immediately. And the gullible crew gathered at the press
conference pledged to abandon their opposition to the ballpark giveaway
on the basis of an inflated, if not complete empty, promise. When asked
why he believed he would really benefit from this scheme, one minister
replied that he was a man of faith, and that as a man of faith he always
believed the best would happen. The mayor beamed his approval at the
answer.
Attention, swindlers and confidence men: I have a list of easy marks
for you. These guys will fall for any con, no matter how lame. They can
be taken. E-mail me for their names and contact information.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
On Thursday, October 28, the city council’s Finance and Economic
Development Committees will hold a joint public hearing on Mayor
Williams’s baseball stadium proposal (Bill 15-1028, the Ballpark
Omnibus Financing and Revenue Act of 2004). The legislation will be
marked up by the Committees on November 3. In order to hold the vote
before January, when the terms of the three lame duck councilmembers who
support the stadium deal (Allen, Brazil, and Chavous) will expire,
Council Chairman Linda Cropp has scheduled the first vote on the bill by
the entire council for November 9, and the second and final council vote
will take place in December.
DCWatch has published or linked to nearly all the public documents
that are available on the baseball deal; they can be accessed from http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/sports.htm.
The most recent additions include the PowerPoint presentation on the
stadium created by the Williams administration and used by it at the
ANC6D and Southwest Neighborhood Assembly meeting on October 25; the
moving testimony by Daynna Dixon given at that meeting; financial
analyses by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute and the Cato Institute
released on October 26 and 27; and the letter from ninety economists and
the E-mail rationalization of the deal by Jack Evans mentioned in the
previous issue of themail. Within the next few days, we shall post much
of the testimony that will be given at tomorrow’s hearing.
###############
Baseball Stadium and MCI Center
Richard Wolf, richwolf1@verizon.net
This is to try to set the record set on several “facts” in the
Evans E-mail [http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/sports041021.htm].
The MCI Center did not stimulate “4 billion dollars” of development
— where does that figure come from? Most of the development in the 7th
Street corridor was set up by three major actions by government: a) PADC,
which for forty years spent hundreds of millions of dollars of tax money
buying and reselling property along Pennsylvania Avenue between the
Treasury and the US Court House. Much of that money was spent of
acquisition and development on the north side of the Avenue stretching
up to C and D streets. b) The establishment by the Zoning Commission of
a downtown residential district in those areas of newest residential
development — that implemented on a zoning basis the plans of PADC for
a residential core of at least 5,000 residents — now called Penn
Quarter. c) Historic preservation along the 7th Street corridor, which
created the requisite “urban character.” And, finally, MCI Center
with at least $100 million dollars in tax incentives, enlargement of a
Metro stop, and the continuing tax deals for Mr. Pollin that have never
been assessed by the city’s economic development authority. So much
for the MCI Center and its purported great economic engine.
As to the “great development” incentives of a stadium for the
Anacostia River front and South Capitol Street, the facts are against
Mr. Evans. As one engaged in planning in the Capitol Hill area for forty
years, and as a student of development on the Hill as well as a member
of the Solid Waste Transfer Facility Site Selection Advisory Panel,
which studied the area in question very thoroughly and issued its report
in November 2000, the area of the proposed stadium has been under
intense development for years. To wit, the huge one million square foot
Florida Rock development, which has already gotten zoning approval and
is located just across South Capitol Street, SE, from the stadium site.
Also, going east from the stadium site on the grounds of the Navy Yard
are approved plans for the DOT building and the soon to be approved
plans of Forest City — hundreds of millions of dollars of development.
M Street, SE, from South Capitol Street to 11th Street, SE, is already
built out with office buildings, the Capper-Carrollsburg mixed income
project, and the new Marine Barracks. New Jersey Avenue, SE, has both
apartments and a hotel approved between M Street, SE, and the freeway.
South Capitol Street between the Capitol and the bridge is under an
intense planning effort with developers just waiting to see what the
plan looks like -- what zoning will be proposed and public space
improvements made.
In short. the only thing a new stadium will be is a huge dead weight
for half the year; it will use space otherwise destined for
retail/commercial/residential. The public money spent on this project is
a huge waste of many times what was spent on MCI. But who’s interested
in the facts?
###############
Priority or Profit
Kenneth Lyons, President, AFGE Local 3721, kendu256@aol.com
As the union president for the hard working Emergency Medical
Services providers of Washington, DC (AFGE Local 3721), I am writing
concerning the mayor’s proposed finance deal for building a baseball
stadium. It seems clear to me and the citizenry that there is plenty of
money for a sports entertainment stadium but no commitment for emergency
health care in the District of Columbia! He has found a way to
creatively finance this stadium on the backs of the people of this city,
but cannot commit to the health and well-being of these same people. The
mayor seems to have set up an innovative financial package to the
District; showing great dedication to this idea, while ignoring the
basic necessity and obligations of a responsible government —
emergency health care!
It was a priority of Mayor Williams and his administration to shut
down the city’s only public hospital, DC General , taking away a
valuable resource to the residents of southeast Washington. Furthermore,
he closed the only trauma center serving SE, SW and NE Washington, which
accommodated 60 percent of the major trauma in this city. Now, with the
continuing exodus of trained paramedics to our surrounding
jurisdictions, and with our EMS advanced and basic services in critical
condition, where does he focus his attention? A baseball stadium!
The pre-hospital EMS work force functions and serves this city as a
vital component of the public safety network. Most perceive that we are
a uniform service sharing in the same benefits, pay and promotional
system as our peer firefighters in the DC Fire and EMS Department. I am
here to say we do not! To date fewer than a dozen civilian paramedics
and emergency medical technicians have retired from this agency, while
thousands of firefighters have retired enjoying a and well deserved
pension. Our EMS workers do not have a pension to retire to. They depend
on a formula of special security and a defined contribution plan to
survive on, after breaking their backs and placing their health and life
on the line while serving this city! This is woefully inadequate! As the
City Administrator Robert Bobb said under oath during a hearing of the
Judiciary Committee earlier this summer, “the current retirement
system for the District’s employees is inadequate!” We have lost
over 240 paramedics over the last twelve years, with more expected to
leave before the end of this year. After spending thousands of dollars
to train and nurture these paramedics, we are consistently losing them
to systems that understand and value them as equal public safety
employees. When will the alarm be heard?
Contrary to the Fire/EMS Chief Adrian Thompson and Mayor Williams
assertions that things are fine with our paramedics, emergency medical
technicians and the delivery of pre-hospital care, they are not!
Everyday paramedic units are being downgraded to basic life support
ambulances due to staffing shortages which are paramedics, this places
the critically ill patients of the District of Columbia in jeopardy.
Response times are up, out of service times are up, and the number of
recommended units are far below all the consultant’s reports by eight
to ten additional units for the last eight years. If the Mayor places a
value on your life, he knows what the proper remedy is. Give us our
retirement (with time served as EMS providers of this agency), and pay
parity and benefits, so that we can stop hemorrhaging our good personnel
to the other jurisdictions. As important as building this stadium is to
the economy of this city; it is more important to take care of the
emergency health care needs of its citizens! As easy as it was to find
the creative financing of $440,000,000.00, it should be as easy to
remedy and find the financing for top quality health care and a
commitment to recruiting and retaining your dedicated EMS workforce.
###############
Adventurous Virginians
Gabe Goldberg gabe@gabegold.com
In “Why Major League Baseball Won’t Work in DC,” [themail,
October 24] Ed T. Barron reported that, “folks from Virginia and
Maryland are not folks who frequently come to the District.”
C’mon, get real. Some VA folk travel downtown, some don’t. I’m
often downtown several times in a week. I and friends of mine do things
like volunteer at DC museums, attend meetings, take classes, sightsee,
eat, do business. We’ve just bought a house; an issue in our
"location, location, location" equation was continued ease of
getting downtown. I’ve no interest in baseball; my only concern about
it is when a baseball game will cause traffic jams. But all-inclusive
generalizations about Virginians not coming to the District are silly.
Ed shouldn’t assume that everyone in VA is DC-phobic just because his
friends are.
###############
The letter Gary quoted opposing a DC baseball stadium [http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/sports041021.htm]
states: “Most studies find that new sports stadiums … sometimes have
a modest negative effect on local economies. The reason appears to be
that sports stadiums do not increase overall entertainment spending but
merely shift it from other entertainment venues to the stadium.” This
claim overlooks the likelihood that much/most of the “shift” will be
from Virginia or Maryland venues, thus a net gain for DC. Moreover, if I
go to a sporting event, more often than not it’s splurge spending; it’s
seldom a question of going to the game in lieu of other entertainment as
I would otherwise just stay home.
###############
[An open letter to Councilmember Jack Evans]. I am a neighbor and a
longtime supporter of you. That said: your push to subsidize a bunch of
millionaires (the players) and centi-millionaires (the owners) is the
worst DC public policy measure since the Barry days. See my name as a
signatory among the ninety economists who are against the stadium.
###############
Fannie Mae Pays DC Property Taxes
Edward Cowan, Friendship Heights, edcowan1114@yahoo.com
A post in the October 24 issue concerned with the DC Fiscal Policy
Institute and property taxes stated erroneously that Fannie Mae escapes
paying those taxes on its campus and building on Wisconsin Avenue.
Fannie Mae does pay DC real estate taxes, according to a public affairs
officer, Janice Smith, with whom I checked. (The adequacy of its
assessment and liability may be another issue.) Pursuant to a
Congressional statutory exemption, Fannie Mae pays no corporate income
tax on its net earnings to the District or other states. I would repeal
that exemption.
[At today’s press conference, Mayor Williams and Councilmember Jack
Evans both said they would encourage Fannie Mae to “voluntarily” pay
the $28 thousand maximum annual corporate tribute to Major League
Baseball. Since Fannie Mae president Fred Raines is also a partner in
the politicians’ favored team ownership group, the billionaire boys
baseball club, I am certain that he wouldn’t hesitate to have the
corporation pay a few thousand a year for a deal that would net him
millions in personal profit. — Gary Imhoff]
###############
Laura Slover for Board of Education
Edward Cowan, Friendship Heights, edcowan1114@yahoo.com
I commend to voters in Wards 3 and 4 the candidacy of Laura McGiffert
Slover for the District 2 seat on the DC Board of Education. I heard
Laura Slover speak at a candidates’ forum. She made a strong and
favorable impression on me, more so than any of the other candidates,
including the incumbent. She struck me as well focused, alert, high in
energy, succinct and articulate in her expression, informed about the
issues and -- as she said herself -- someone who understands how to work
collaboratively and build a consensus. She seems to know a lot about
education and school problems.
Laura Slover is 36 years old. She has a BA from Harvard and two
master’s degrees in education, one in secondary education curriculum
and instruction from Colorado (Boulder) and one from Georgetown, in
public policy. She has classroom experience as an English teacher. Laura
has been tutor and mentor to a DC boy, now in 10th grade, since 1998.
The incumbent in the District 2 seat, Dwight Singleton, has been on the
Board for six years and has little to show for it. He and I spoke after
the meeting. I was unimpressed. On Election Day, I hope you will vote
for Laura McGiffert Slover for the Board of Education.
###############
Victor Reinoso for Board of Education
Joe Sternlieb, joesternlieb-at-comcast.net
I agree with Mike Spevak that there are three excellent candidates
running for the District II school board race and the incumbent Dwight
Singleton -- the school board’s weakest member -- is not one of them.
As the father of two DCPS elementary school students, I share his fear
that Allen, Slover, and Reinoso will split the vote and leave Singleton
with a plurality. I participated in the EdAction interviews of all the
candidates this summer. Although I was very impressed with both Hugh
Allen and Laura Slover, the rest of the group and I decided that Victor
Reinoso would make the strongest board member. Now that the election is
only a few days away, I’ll share my personal political observations
for what they are worth.
In order to beat Singleton, a candidate has to cut directly into his
base while attracting significant support in Ward 3. Victor is the only
major challenger who both lives in Ward 4 (where he is running hard at
Singleton’s base) and is competing in Ward 3. He has been endorsed by
the very popular and well-organized Adrian Fenty. Team Fenty is out in
force for Victor and Ward 4 voters are responding. Victor has also been
endorsed by the Washington Post and a large number of Ward 3
voters. While all three challengers would make great school board
members, Victor Reinoso is the only one who is working for, and likely
to get, equal support on both sides of the park. If you are looking for
a candidate with real appeal to voters across the diversity of Wards 3
and 4 and the qualifications and commitment to be a great school board
member, I highly recommend Victor Reinoso. For more information you can
go to http://votevictor2004.com.
###############
Keenan Keller for Board of Education
Chuck Thies, chuckthies@aol.com
For reasons that have nothing to do with students, teachers and
parents, there continues to be bizarre politics at play in the District
One (Wards 1 and 2) Board of Education race. Hopefully, qualifications
and integrity will matter to voters, not political alliances built of
ulterior motives.
If that’s the case, the choice in District One is clear: Keenan
Keller. But don’t take my word for it, the Washington Post
makes the case: “We endorse Keenan Keller, a parent, senior
congressional staffer and local school activist who has made valuable
contributions to the DC public school system at the elementary school
and superintendent levels.”
###############
No Answers to the Problem
Ed Dixon, Georgetown Reservoir, jedxn@erols.com
I assume that since Mr. Gorlick [themail, October 24] has redirected
my attention to “the answer to the problem” of the growing disparity
in the city’s ranks, he agrees that a problem exists but feels that
DCFPI’s analysis is not “the answer to the problem.” I agree that
developers are happily trying to move people on so they can flip
properties for profit. Similar tricks were used in the 40’s and 50’s
to scare people out of their homes using race instead of taxes as the
ploy. But, the rhetorical question that seems to being posed is “why
should the middle class take a hit for the poor?” Though I too wish
the city valued the middle class more, I do not see the middle class’
responsibility to the poor as any less pressing. And as to the DCFPI’s
answer to the problem, the assertion that the institute acts as a front
to serve the profiteers amongst us comes across as dubious at best. A
similar retort could be made regarding the Peter Craig lawsuit. Craig’s
work provides political cover for all those tax attorneys visiting the
Wilson Building and Judiciary Square to keep their clients’
residential and commercial properties (e.g. parking corporations) off
the roles or held at levels that reflect the political bribery and
extortion used to get them.
DCFPI testimony speaks to the contrary of Mr. Gorlick’s assertion.
The DCFPI has testified for closing corporate tax loopholes. The DCFPI
has had a conservative stance on letting the Tax Parity Act loose on the
city. The DCFPI has held a conservative stance on providing taxpayer
subsidies to the baseball stadium cabal. Further the DCFPI has
criticized the use of tax increment financing to help corporate henchmen
to redirect the tax system to pay off luxury projects. Mr. Gorlick’s
closing sentiment that "a powerful force in the displacement of the
District’s middle class by the wealthy and commercial interests"
exists, is true but DCFPI is not that force. Just imagine being able to
redirect all your taxes into renovating your home (as the Gallery Place
luxury condos, the Spy Museum and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel have been
allowed through public financing). Then imagine the gall it would take
to publicly propose such a venture while everyone else pays for the
police and roads. Does anyone recall the $20 million property tax relief
that the supposedly bankrupt Doctors Community Healthcare Corporation
got shortly after the Arizona corporation handed out campaign money in
the Wilson Building? Everyday these schemes are being concocted amongst
us and not being put to a stop. One needn’t wonder why the city seems
dysfunctional at times. Many very wealthy ventures are getting by with a
free ride. Until residents focus their anger on the real culprits and
charlatans looting the city, little will change.
###############
In reference to Pete Ross’ E-mail in themail on October 24 (“DC’s
Chinagate”), I do hope Mr. Ross realizes that no one these days refers
to travel to “the Orient.” One travels to Asia, or even to Southeast
Asia in the case of Bangkok, but not “the Orient.” It’s a phrase
loaded with mystical images of inscrutable men sitting around sipping
tea and pondering the universe, referring to a Jerusalem-centered model
of the universe (where things “to the east of Jerusalem” lie in
“the Orient” and things to the west in “the Occident”). The
phrase is archaic, and is considered offensive by most Asians, and
should not be encouraged. The Mayor, for all his faults, went to Asia
and Southeast Asia, much as Mr. Ross evidently does on a regular basis
even if he apparently learns little from theses visits, and not to
“the Orient.”
[Western, especially American, academics have scorned the word
“Orient” ever since Edward Said stigmatized it, but is there any
real evidence that Asians themselves are offended by it? I ask
especially because of last month’s National Annenberg Election survey
that found that, contrary to the repeated claims of anti-Redskin
activists, only 9 percent of American Indians felt the name of the
suburban Maryland football team was offensive, while 90 percent didn’t
object (http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/naes/2004_03_redskins_09-24_pr.pdf).
In this case, is the preference just academic fashion or based on actual
perceived offense? I’d appreciate any polls or equivalent evidence of
public opinion among Asians. — Gary Imhoff]
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Stephen Bright on the Death Penalty, October
28
Joe Libertelli, JLibertelli@Udc.edu
Please come hear Stephen Bright, Director, Southern Center for Human
Rights (http://www.schr.org), a
leading death penalty opponent, speak on current legal and political
issues. Lunch will follow his talk. There is no charge for this event.
Please feel free to forward. Thursday, October 28, noon to 1:30 p.m.,
UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Building
38, 2nd Floor. Red Line Van Ness/UDC Metro. RSVP: Joe Libertelli, JLibertelli@Udc.edu,
274-7338.
###############
District II School Board Candidates Forum
Ralph Blessing, rblessin88@hotmail.com
The Shepherd Park Citizens Association will sponsor a forum for
District II (Wards 3 and 4) school board candidates on Thursday, October
28, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Shepherd Elementary School, 7800 14th Street, NW
(enter at the corner of 14th and Jonquil). Submit questions in advance
to Dwayne Toliver, SPCA President, at dtoliver@nixonpeabody.com,
or Barry Hudson at blehudson@msn.com.
###############
Ross Elementary School Salsa Night, October 29
Dawn Dickerson, ddd668 at aol.com
The Ross Elementary School PTCA is hosting a salsa night at the
Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1530 P Street, NW, on Friday,
October 29, 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $25 (admits 2 adults, children free).
Tickets will be available at the door. Salsa lessons provided by Jesse
L. Golphin, Jr., formerly of the Latin Jazz Alley. Come experience an
evening of fun, food, and salsa dancing for all!
###############
The Fairfax County Public Library invites you to a live presentation
by NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell, who will discuss the outcome
of the 2004 presidential election on Tuesday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. At
the Alden Theater of the McLean Community Center. The event is free;
tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting
an hour before the event begins. For details go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.
###############
Donald Davis in Two Very Special Performances,
November 12-13
Brad Hills, bradhills@washingtonstorytellers.org
Washington Storytellers Theater Season 04-05 presents legendary
storyteller Donald Davis in From Black and White to Living Color on
Friday, November 12, and Laundry and Other Fresh Tales on Saturday,
November 13, at The City Museum of Washington, DC, 801 K Street, at 8:00
p.m. each night. Ticket price $15 (senior, student, and group rates
available). Purchase at the door or in advance by calling 301-891-1129
or on-line at www.washingtonstorytellers.org.
Street or garage parking nearby (check web site for details). Metro Red
line (Chinatown), Green/Yellow line (Mt. Vernon or Chinatown), and
Blue/Orange (Metro Center).
Washington Storytellers Theater kicks off its 15th Anniversary Season
with two very special performances by one of America’s premier and
best-loved storytellers, Donald Davis. Friday night will feature a
collection of stories commemorating the historic 50th Anniversary of
Brown v. Board of Education. Saturday night’s performance will
showcase stories brand-new to the DC audience, but filled with Donald’s
unique brand of homespun humor and charm.
###############
Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign, November 18
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org
You’re invited to the DC EITC Campaign 2004-2005 kickoff. Join the
DC EITC Campaign as we get ready for tax season with an EITC fair for
service providers, civic associations, government agencies, and
businesses. Thursday, November 18, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Martin Luther
King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room A-5 (lower level).
Free parking is available at the library in the garage under the
library.
Get free outreach materials, including flyers, posters, and important
information about free tax preparation, the Earned Income Tax Credit,
Child Tax Credit, and Child/Dependent Care Credit. Get answers to your
questions about the valuable tax credits and free tax assistance for
working families. Sign up for a half-day orientation for staff of
community-based organization, nonprofits, and businesses with clients
that are eligible for these credits. Refreshments will be provided! RSVP
to DC Fiscal Policy Institute, 408-1080, pierre@dcfpi.org.
###############
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