Shane

Dear Pardners:

Watching the eight-hour city council session yesterday on public financing for the baseball stadium was like watching Shane again. The casting of several roles was almost perfect. Jack Evans was obviously Jack Palance, all sneering condescension and dirty tricks as the gunslinger who is contemptuous of the homesteaders and town folk as he fights against them on behalf of the nefarious plans of the wealthy ranch barons of Major League Baseball. Vincent Orange and Harold Brazil fit well their roles as the minor supporting villains; bumbling and inept and almost comical, but dangerous nonetheless. David Catania and Adrian Fenty were Alan Ladd and Van Heflin, though I’m not yet sure which was which; rivals in many ways, but teamed up to defend the less powerful homesteaders against the theft of their property by the greedy and powerful. Classic Americana.

I’m still unsure whether Council Chairman Linda Cropp is playing Jean Arthur as the heroine of the story or not, but time will tell. The untold story of the six for (Evans, Ambrose, Orange, Brazil, Chavous, Allen) to four against (Catania, Fenty, Schwartz, Graham) to three abstaining (Cropp, Patterson, Mendelson) council vote is that it was Cropp who gave MLB its victory, and who saved the day for Mayor Williams, even after the disgraceful way in which the mayor and his supporters had treated her in the past month. All three abstainers, Patterson and Mendelson and even Cropp, were ready to vote against the financing bill; it was through Cropp’s persuasion that they agreed to abstain and allow the bill to pass on first reading. Cropp allowed the bill to pass because the proponents of public financing for the stadium agreed to her three amendments. Cropp’s first amendment holds out the hope of locating private financing to build the stadium; Cropp may actually believe that this will work, but since she fought against any effort to make it enforceable, all it really requires the administration to do is to go through a charade of pretending to consider private financing proposals before rejecting them all. Cropp’s second amendment supposedly sets a “trigger figure” at which the government will have to consider sites for the ballpark other than the M Street site, but what it effectively does is raise the council-approved estimate of the cost of the ballpark to $631 million. (By the way, in the debate over this provision, Evans revealed what the administration’s supporters will do to hide the actual cost of the ballpark. They will admit all the direct construction cost of the stadium, but refuse to consider any other costs of preparing the land, environmental remediation, the attendant parking, or the street and Metro improvements. They will pretend that the city would have done all that work whether or not the ballpark would have been built, and claim that the costs can’t be attributed to the stadium.) Her third amendment cut thirty million dollars that would have come from the general fund to “jump start” the so-called “constituent services fund,” but, contrary to press reports, did not cut the constituent services fund itself or the payoffs to Councilmembers Ambrose, Chavous, and Allen that secured their votes.

If, by some miracle, Cropp succeeds in her long-shot gamble, she will secure private financing to build the stadium, against the certain efforts of the administration to sabotage it. If she does, she will emerge as the heroine of the tale, having gotten a baseball stadium for DC without sticking the public with the cost. If she fails, she will just end up as just another ally of the MLB ranchers, the one ultimately responsible for fleecing the poor homesteaders of DC. In the meantime, Major League Baseball will soon begin its publicity campaign to woo the residents of DC. It will offer some small-change giveaways to Little League teams, and then it will spend twice what it actually gives away to advertise its generosity. As the fattest hog feeding at the public trough, the biggest recipient of public charity in DC, MLB can afford to let a few crumbs fall from its greedy maw.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Where Is Sharon?
Lisa Alfred, rmsview@starpower.net

Beijing is not in Barney Circle. First things first — I know Mrs. Ambrose is ill. I wish her well. I wanted to get that out of the way because during every discussion on Mrs. Ambrose’s performance, we end up focusing on her health. We must get beyond the health issue. My problems with Mrs. Ambrose are not focused on her person. My problems with Mrs. Ambrose are focused on her performance because we have the relationship of boss/employee. I am her boss (as a citizen of Ward 6), and she is my employee (as my Ward 6 representative). As her boss, I want to fire her. Not only doesn’t she show up for work most of the time, when she does show up, she is ineffective. My employer evaluation includes the following: 1) not present at DC City Council Baseball Stadium hearing, 2) not holding her own baseball hearings in the community, 3) not attending the major Southwest community meeting on the baseball issue, 4) not talking to the community in advance of making her back door land giveaway deal on St. Coletta, 5) not hearing the community on our desire to have a public/private development partnership at Reservation 13, but insisting on trying to get the federal government to give DC the land for free, which is impossible under current federal law, 6) not present at a single Middle Anacostia Community (MAC) Traffic Study meeting where the DC DOT is talking about making major changes to local and metropolitan exchanges, 7) not present at community/police discussions regarding the wheelchair bandits (paralyzed citizens selling drugs from wheelchairs) who are running amok, 8) not present at community/police/DC Department of Health discussions regarding the Department of Health’s centralization of its methadone facilities at Reservation 13, but 9) present to visit China with the mayor and her city council colleagues.

There have been times when her performance was outstanding. However, as her boss, I am entitled to a work product that benefits the company over the long term. We need current victories, not past glories. For those in other Wards, you probably want to know what all the fuss is about. Mrs. Ambrose only has two more years left in office. Give her the two years and call it a day. As her boss, I can confirm that due to the absence of this crucial employee, and even when present, due to the poor work product of this employee, this company is failing. Therefore, we don’t have another two years to give. Deals have been done at Southeast Federal Center, deals are being finalized for the baseball stadium, deals are being finalized for the new Waterfront Commission. Where is Mrs. Ambrose during these negotiations; when will Mrs. Ambrose come to her constituents to get our feedback; what are Mrs. Ambrose’s thoughts on any and all of these developments?

As her boss, I am having a hard time understanding how my employee, who can’t show up for Council/community meetings, can make time to go all the way to China (the Country, not Chinatown). It takes 15+ hours to get to China. It would take no more than twenty minutes to get to an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) meeting. The baseball meeting held near the Waterfront would have maybe taken half an hour during rush hour. As her boss, I hired her under the impression that she was an expert on Ward 6. Therefore, I expect my employee to know where important meetings are being held and to be there. I do not accept as an excuse that “I didn’t know about the meeting.” Mrs. Ambrose is an expert in Ward 6 affairs; she knows where every community meeting is being held and when it’s being held. And if she doesn’t, then I need to hire someone who does. Finally, as her boss, I feel that if she can make it to Beijing, she can make it to Barney Circle.

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A Wrinkle on Baseball
William Haskett, gollum@earthlink.net

I am a trifle puzzled at the mixed messages that reach me on the topic of the proposed baseball stadium and its associated costs. The real cost of the whole thing seems to be still a matter of argument, and this matters because the golden ball/lead balloon will be with us for a long time — at least one, and possibly two generations of taxpayers and beneficiaries. I don’t naturally know whether the forecasters of doom or the predictors of a heaven-on-earth are correct, although the doomsters have an impressive array of evidence — from economists and business analysts, from what is said to be a two-thirds majority of voters, from the government offices which find the mere cost of the land to be acquired (by eminent domain’s use) to be largely underestimated by those who argue for use of public monies to get the land on the Anacostia under the Mayor’s proposal, and from other sources of opinion and judgment.

I merely find unimpressive the allegation that a private purpose should be even partially financed by public funds and properties. I suppose that it is even-money that the US Supreme Court will rule on this very question in the spring of ‘05, and would mildly suggest that this might constitute a reason for the council to hold off any action on the stadium until the matter has gone through this particular wringer. As I understand the legal issue (begun in Connecticut) is whether a private property may be taken by government primarily to make a transfer of the land in question to another private party simply because the (property) tax on the land would increase: at first glance this appears to contradict the historical purposes of the power of eminent domain, which permit its exercise only for public and governmental purposes that are unavoidably and directly involved.

Naturally, this last has nothing to do with the absolute merits of whatever case might be made for baseball in DC, except as yet another mark of prudence, and looking before one leaps. However, with land cost a large part of the decision, anything that has prospects of raising costs has to be a part of anything proposed. It should, in other words, be recognized by the councilmembers that these issues are presently highly divisive: they have the same impact as Solomon’s dilemma over babies, a zero-sum game, in which you win a whole thing, but lose the confidence of the opposition. I suppose that what is going on in the Ukraine has the same flavor.

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Baseball Frenzy
Ju Walton, Ward 7, professor2hu@yahoo.com

“When something starts off bad, it just gets worse,” so goes an old adage. This baseball idea and “runaway” acquisition has turned into a fiasco. With our District so financially strapped, why are the city council and mayor rushing this project? This baseball project idea is getting worse! As a native-born third generation Washingtonian, I recently bought my first home in the District -- proof of my loyalty and belief in DC. Moreover, I have a deep belief in our city, and I have stayed with and in Washington, DC, throughout its ups and downs and, now, ups. This rush to judgment saddens me. There has been little to no input and acknowledgment from the citizenry. Yes, there were a few hours of citizen testimony, where the “pros” appear to have been given earlier slots — was this time strategy an attempt to wear down the ordinary opposing voices? We citizens are yelling, crying, screaming, begging, writing, and E-mailing for better schools, good working condition educational equipment, better roads, better qualified/paid policemen, better trained government workers, after hours recreational and education centers, and more inclusive health care.

Yet, what is the response to our voices — purchasing a baseball team and building a new stadium? This fiasco is being jammed down our throats by a mayor whom I believe still is not a homeowner and a recent transplant (deputy mayor) whom I believe has less than two-three years vested in our city. This bad idea is being jammed down our throats by a city council with two election-losing members from the wards that are most affected. This fiasco is being jammed down our throats by a city council and mayor that ignores the fact that there is already a "preexisting" structure and infrastructure (existing public transportation accessibility). Use business taxes to improve our educational, health, employment, and housing needs.

I am single, a college professor, a Ward 7 resident, and a graduate from our public schools (Eastern High School), who is willing to pay higher taxes for quality public education. Our schools are in worse condition than many underdeveloped countries’ schools. I attend a public clinic and sit on its board because I believe in public health and want inclusive health care for DC residents. I believed so very strongly, along with other Ward 7 residents, that I voted to remove Councilperson Chavous who became blinded to his constituents’ needs and concerns. And, now as a defeated Ward 7 representative, he is allowed to cast his vote on this issue that will have years of lasting financial effect. What kind of sense and logic does this make? There is no regard for what this “democracy” calls citizens; it appears this government is not for its people. This government via the city council enters into deals and projects and then tells the citizens what will be. There was no in-depth long-term planning, only short-term desires. It is like the “runaway jury.” The last election and voting has shown our ward and at-large representatives that we are tired of being ignored, mistreated, neglected, and abused. There are future elections, where this democracy’s citizens will also speak again, especially to voting councilpersons ignoring our voices, concerns, and needs. Many thanks to the city councilpersons who understand that this is something that started off bad and has gotten worse. Many thanks to the city councilpersons that are and have been listening to your citizens-constituents and thanks for representing us and not big business.

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A Part of How I Feel
Wenzell Taylor, Ward 8, Wink12@juno.com

Deep down inside of all of us, we all know and recognize as much as we will not admit it in public that this country’s and city’s governments are corrupt. They border on racketeering. How much plainer can the public be that their wish is not to have MLB bought to this city in exchange for their public money. Why is it so imperative Washington, DC, have a baseball team? Is there anyone out there who is going to die if baseball does not come to DC? Several people have died already, and it’s a certainty that a whole lot more people are going to die because this city does not have a public hospital. Are apartments included in this stadium deal for the homeless? How many classrooms will be made available for students? Do any of the scumbag owners of MLB pay taxes here? Do they pay taxes at all? You would be surprised. DC MPD already leaves a lot to be desired. They sure don’t need a stadium to be built in southeast.

When elected to public office, one is expected to perform in the best interest of their constituents. Right now in DC we have a handful of lame duck elected representatives bargaining in the open with public revenue for their personal insignificant legacies. They are accomplices in what amounts to unarmed robbery. This arrogant Mayor we have knows the majority of the citizens don’t want him here and that he will not be reelected. So is he trying to arrange as much kickback money as possible for himself before the end? Or is he trying to position himself for another office somewhere else? Damn you and your crony puppets. Unfortunate Wards Seven and Eight have made an attempt to change direction; Ward Six is expected to, and probably will, follow. Which leaves you Jack Evans in the cross hairs. There is still enough time to recall you. And good riddance. You act as though you are married to MLB. Mr. Graham, the citizens know this is a bad deal, and you know this is a bad deal; why were you bargaining? The damage done by this stadium deal if it goes through far exceeds the cost of the funding needed in The Libraries Fund.

There really isn’t that much interest in baseball in DC anyway. I’ll bet that most of the ten thousand tickets sold to date were sold in blocks to companies and organizations that will give them away as rewards and incentives and to charities. Sure, give me a free ticket and I’ll go. A lot of individual ticket buyers we don’t have. This baseball stadium deal must be stopped. It is time to put an end to the illegal, you kiss my ass and I’ll kiss yours bargaining and practices going on by flunky city officials to get legislation passed and to elect people who will conduct our city business according to our needs. These officials have forgotten whom they work for. And now think they are our dictators. They are probably thinking, “If we pass this stadium deal, they’ll get over it and go along.”

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Comparing Baseball with Metro
Harold Goldstein, mdbiker@goldray.com

A few points in the previous E-mail prompts me to make these, somewhat politically incorrect remarks. I preface by saying that now that I’ve moved to the country and the stadium in Baltimore is closer than either DC site, I really have become agnostic over this issue — despite being a lifetime baseball fan. There are some items for which a true economic analysis is unsuited and this is one. A cost benefit analysis of baseball will never be decisive since the bulk of the benefits are not monetary and will have to be assigned a value and whoever assigns said value will predetermine the analysis. Similarly you just cannot use the argument that the money would be better spent elsewhere because it just wouldn’t be there.

This is similar to arguments that should have been made, but weren’t really, when the construction of Metro was under question. I can hear all those groans - comparing baseball with our wonderful Metro system -- but wait. We are now starting to hear complaints that the system is falling apart, is potentially unsafe, needs to be rebuilt, doesn’t meet all our needs, etc. OK, it’s expensive, but we couldn’t do without it — could we?

Well back in the early 70’s the system was approved based on a two billion dollar cost estimate which everyone knew was way low . . . most thought by a factor of two or three, but it actually ended up off by a factor of five. So should it have been built? What would our roads be like without it? Don’t jump to answer. Metro did not effect the regional modal split significantly. It did not attract enough riders to change our work trip. Yeah, it did bring more people to public transportation, but Metro in and of itself generated much more traffic than the number of cars it removed from the roads. One can argue, not definitively though, that our roads may well have been better off without Metro. What I can argue definitively is that funding Metro at the time we did was, in the long run, very bad for the region. Look. In the latter stages of the twentieth century we built a transportation system for our nation’s capitol in the twenty-first century using technology from the nineteenth century! Yeah, one hundred years after NY started doing its thing we were copying them! How anyone can think this would be best in the long run amazes me.

So what were the alternates? There were other technologically advanced options that were never seriously looked at. Did you know that prior to the Civil War NYC had a pneumatically powered train running? Wasn’t a reasonable option then, but did anyone consider it? What about various other people mover systems that are feasible but untried? They never even looked at the options. Well, you say, this was the only tried and true technology and heck, the feds were paying. Yes, but by building Metro at the time we essentially precluded our getting any significant federal funding for public transportation for a good fifty to seventy-five years. Metro — love it or leave it — it’s all we have and all we can hope for in our lifetimes. On that basis it was a bad, bad move.

And the cost — to put it in perspective you could have given every person — infants, too — a brand new car for less money than the system cost to build. While I wouldn’t have wanted that, you’d think for that money other alternates would be considered. What about dedicated busways with electric buses? Maybe not a permanent solution, but one that could have served as a first phase while we decided on a truly twenty-first century system. Metro doesn’t even address transportation beyond the commute to downtown DC, and that is why our roads are such a mess. We created an inflexible dinosaur that cannot hope to help us deal with our roadway traffic today. And we created a system that we knew would have to start eating big money to maintain. We knew that but didn’t plan on it because we were in such a rush to fund it and build it.

One more thing — not sure if any of you remember the five-station system that was opened in 1976, since the city wanted to have something for the bicentennial. That cost us some thirty million. Chicken feed you say, the feds funded stage 1 fully. Well, if you wait till you have a significant system — maybe eighteen more months — you could have had a real stage 1, that would have some meaning transportation wise and would have cost about 100 million and which the feds would have funded fully as phase 1. The local areas would have benefited significantly if we had waited instead of wanting a showpiece for ‘76.

But all that said — if you had a simple popularity poll today, Metro would win easily. Why, most of you are probably anxious to start throwing rocks at me. So maybe, bad technology that it was and terrible economics that it represented, just maybe it was the right thing to do at the time. You might look back at baseball in the same way thirty years from now.

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DC Cabs and Traffic Stuff
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com

I read the article in the Washingtonian about DC cabs and, like so many, I concur. The sad part is the really good drivers/cabs are really good and those that aren’t . . . aren’t. Today, I was grateful that a cab picked me up on the Hill . . . with Congress out, cabs are not always plentiful on bad weather mornings. He did OK, didn’t always signal but at least had a clean cab and was pleasant.

On the way back to the Hill, was in an OK cab, but the driver (an older American one) used his cell phone without a headset. At the corner of Independence and 3rd Streets, SW, by the Department of Health and Human Services, around 11:10 a.m., another cab crossed three lanes of traffic (in front of cars) to pick someone up and then did a U turn to go toward downtown — no signal, and crossed again in front of cars. It was Your Way cab #100, in case anyone from the Commission is reading this.

On other traffic and safety notes: Phil Mendelson’s office (thank you again!) worked to ensure that we got stop signs and a crosswalk painted at the corner of 5th and Seward Streets, SE, and crosswalks at 5th and Independence Avenue, SE. At the former, people seem to believe that STOP doesn’t mean stop even when there are people in the crosswalk. I could make a bundle of money collecting! At the corner of Independence, there are more accidents than I can tell you -- and more almost-accidents. Traffic speeds down Independence and those coming out of 5th Street can’t see around the cars. I am begging the District for a stop light — even though there is one at 4th, we need it. Will it take, on either corner, someone being killed ( a strong possibility) before we get help?

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Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail
Neil Richardson, ananda001@aol.com

The Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail working group is proud to announce that our neighborhood has successfully completed its application and has been approved for a historic trail by Cultural Tourism DC. We join many of the storied neighborhoods in the District including U Street, Downtown, Capital Hill, and Dupont Circle in telling our community story with approximately sixteen signs placed throughout the neighborhood. Over the next year we will finalize our historic trail that creates a narrative for who and what Mount Pleasant is. Our hope is that our research tells the story of how our community evolved and how our diversity is our strength.

Did you know that the Ingleside estate that is now Stoddard Baptist nursing home was built for one of George Washington’s friends and later Hiram Walbridge purchased the property? In the Civil War, Mount Pleasant "founder" S.P. Brown’s home at the Triangle Park and Park Road was used as a hospital and the Mount Pleasant hospital was on the site of Tivoli theater in Columbia Heights. How about the Rosemount Center in its original incarnation as a House of Mercy as a “refuge and reformatory for outcast and fallen women”? The first Latino business in the neighborhood was DiLone’s and opened on Mount Pleasant Street in 1962, originally serving many of the nearby embassies. In 1963 Canaan Baptist moved to 16th Street and Newton becoming the first African American congregation on 16th Street. Did you know that nonwhite people could not move into the neighborhood until 1951? What happened to the Burger King? What do you know about our neighborhood?

Our research is not complete. In the next year we will finalize our research, find old photos and select locations for our signs. Do you have a story or artifact about Mount Pleasant? What about old photos or former neighbors who know part of our story? A special thanks goes out to Historic Mount Pleasant, Jack McKay, Dominic Sales and Will Grant, the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Alliance, and the hundreds of people who have expressed interest and shared their ideas and memories with us. We encourage you to visit the Heritage Trail in other neighborhoods; we are a community connected to many others near and far. To learn more about our project contact Neil Richardson at ananda001@aol.com or at 518-9574. Cultural Tourism DC can be contacted at http://www.CulturalTourismDC.org.

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Children and Youth in the City Budget
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org

DC ACT’s eleventh annual edition of What’s in It for Kids? will be available this week. The main findings of the report are consistent: Few gains have been achieved for children, youth, and their families in the FY 2005 budget. Level and reduced funding means that many young people and their families will once again go without basic services such as mental health and shelter. For other families, services that support work — such as subsidized child care and job training — are scarce. To get a copy of this valuable analysis, contact DC Action for Children at 234-9404 or dcaction@dckids.org. The book is free, but as a nonprofit, we always encourage donations!

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Street Sweeping Hiatus
Mary Myers, mary.myers@dc.gov

As it does every year, DPW will temporarily suspend daytime street cleaning from January 3 to March 18, 2005. During this time, "No Parking/Street Cleaning" restrictions will also be lifted in these residential areas. Residents and visitors who park along posted, alternate-side, daytime street sweeping routes will not be required to move their cars on street-sweeping days during the sweeper hiatus. Residential street cleaning resumes Monday, March 21, 2005.

However, overnight contract sweeping scheduled for major arterials (such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Constitution, Independence Avenues and others) will take place as usual all winter, with the attendant parking ban during sweeping hours. Contract sweeping is part of the street maintenance program administered by the Department of Transportation (DDOT) to keep DC’s largest and most heavily used thoroughfares clean. Motorists are asked not to park in these areas during the posted overnight hours. Enforcement is handled by MPD along these major routes.

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Cell Phone Directory Legend
Ron Leve, TheRon@comcast.net

Erich Martel passes on [themail, November 28] what is a semi-urban legend about a soon-to-be-published cell phone directory. From the website, http://www.snopes.com, here is a statement about this topic: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp.

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Impressions of France
Russell Cramer, ruslcramer@yahoo.com

I’m glad Ed Barron, following his trip to Normandy, altered drastically his negative impressions of the French [themail, November 28]. There are many more impressions Americans have of others that would also be drastically altered for the better if only they would read or travel more, rather than rely on their pandering, ratings-centered media outlets.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Democra-Palooza!, December 4
Sarah Pokempner, azepo@aol.com

Don’t miss this DC voting rights fun fest for kids (ages 4 and up) and their families. Stickers, crafts, door prizes, learning, and making a difference. All in one fun family outing! Come to the West End Library, 24th and L Streets, NW (Foggy Bottom Metro) this Saturday, December 4, 10 a.m.-noon. There will be presentations by the Sewall Belmont House Museum and DC Vote about the women’s struggle for voting rights and the DC struggle for democracy. The kids will enjoy hands-on activities -- materials will be provided to create posters, songs and chants for our spring voting rights rally and to write postcards to friends and family in other places to tell them about our problem and how they can help. RSVP to Kim Bassett, DC Vote, 462-6000, ext. 14, or jane@youngsuffragists.org. Please indicate number of adults and children attending.

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From Victim to Creator: Transforming Trauma Through Myth and Writing, December 4
Juliet Bruce, Juliet@arts-for-life.org

Dr. Juliet Bruce will be giving a free experiential talk for trauma survivors, the professionals who serve them, and artists in all media. December 4, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., at the Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, at Macomb Street. Learn how to use the classic "hero’s journey" myth as a paradigm for healing from any kind of trauma. Experience first hand the transformative power of creative community. No previous arts experience is required. We all have imagination and we can use it to recreate our lives. This is the second in a series of presentations on art as medicine sponsored by the Institute for Transformation Through the Arts. To learn more, call 667-3766 or see http://www.arts-for-life.org.

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Sierra Club Holiday Party, December 7
Jason Broehm, jason_broehm@hotmail.com

The Sierra Club Washington, DC, Chapter invites you to attend its annual holiday party on Tuesday, December 7 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Pizzeria Uno at Union Station (Metrorail Red Line). Socialize with other environmentalists over pizza and beer. Suggested donation of $10 to help cover the cost of food. Cash bar. Please RSVP by Monday, December 6, to Chris Craig, ccraig@zzapp.org, or Jason Broehm, jason_broehm@hotmail.com.

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Light Up the Night, December 11
Maude Bauchard, mbauchard@usaction.org

Come celebrate Hanukah with a good old-fashioned house party: dancing, frosty beverages, and klezmer music! What to bring: friends, coworkers, neighbors, or any family visiting you for the holidays. Saturday, December 11, 9:00 p.m., at Mackenzie’s house, 1302 Fairmont Street, NW, 213-6476. Hosted By: Carrie, Erin, Joelle, Lenny, Mackenzie and Maude. View the Evite: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=FOREECREGIKBOYYZAPVL&li=iq&src=email.

This is a fundraiser for an awesome local social justice organization, Jews United for Justice. A $5 donation will be requested at the door with all proceeds going to JUFJ. Check out http://www.jufj.org for more on JUFJ and why we care about the work they do enough to ask for a little gelt this Hanukah. Directions: The house is right at the corner of 13th and Fairmont. By Metro, take the Green line to Columbia Heights. Walk four blocks south on 14th street (downhill), then take a left on Fairmont Street. 1302 will be on the right side of the street near corner with 13th. By bus: We’re on several bus lines, including the H4 (from Tenleytown/Cleveland Park), the H1 and 42 (from Dupont Circle), and the 54 (runs up and down 14th Street). Check out http://www.wmata.com and try the nifty Ride Guide, if you’re not sure the best route for you. For help, E-mail Mackenzie at mbaris@dclabor.org.

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Accordion Concert, December 12
Mara Cherkasky, mcherkasky@thompson.com

The Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society will present a holiday concert Sunday, December 12, at 4 p.m., at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA 22044. Donation $7; kids free. A potluck supper will follow the concert. For more information, visit http://www.washingtonaccordions.org or call 703-671-5395.

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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE

Fresh Canadian Holiday Balsam Wreaths
Lavinia Wohlfarth, BrooklandCDC@aol.com

The Brookland Community Development Corporation offers to you beautiful fresh Canadian holiday balsam wreaths (24") for the holiday season at $20. This is a fundraiser for various community programs including our annual Celebration of Lights Trolley Tour of Brookland, which will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Sunday December 12. (Don’t miss it — our neighborhood is known for elaborate holiday lighting every December.)

Our elves will gladly deliver and install your wreath. Call 526-4848 to order. And please tell your friends! Brookland CDC promotes the arts and works to protect and capitalize on the cultural resources of the Greater Brookland neighborhood, and is the parent of Historic Brookland Main Street.

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