Costs
Dear Cost-Bearers:
The Chief Financial Officer released his “Cost Re-Estimation
Study” for the baseball stadium today (http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/sports050330.htm).
In December 2004, when the city council was considering the ballpark
bill, the CFO estimated the cost of acquiring the land for the stadium
as $115 million, but that estimate didn’t include the cost of
environmental remediation or of relocating the present landowners (or,
obviously, the construction cost of building the new stadium or other
associated costs to the city). The bill that the council passed required
the CFO to re-estimate the land costs, including environmental and
relocation costs, and it mandated that a new site for the stadium would
have to be identified if the new estimate of the cost were more than $50
million additional, or over $165 million.
The new land acquisition cost estimated by the CFO: $161.4 million.
That’s an additional $46.4 million, just under the limit set by the
council.
There are times when, no matter how many times you’ve seen the game
cynically played out in full view, no matter who inured you may be to
it, it is so breathtakingly brazen that words fail.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Is Williams Running Again and Rating DC Public
Schools
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom
Mayor Williams says he has not yet made up his mind on whether or not
he will run for Mayor in the next election in 2006. That’s probably
true. Is he being coy? Not really. The mayor is waiting to see if he can
get a better offer. It’s not very likely, despite the mayor’s
pandering, that an offer will be forthcoming from the present
administration. If no offer comes about you can count on Tony Williams
running again, if only to wait for the Dems to regain control of the
oval office and then seek a position in that administration.
In case you may have missed it, Wednesday’s Post describes a
web site developed by Standard and Poors that rates schools across the
country [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10050-2005Mar29.html].
You can get overall statistics for the DC school system or you can
actually get very good data on any school in the DC. system. Excellent
web site which shows how poorly the system is, as a whole, compared to
the national averages. You can reach the site at http://www.schoolmatters.com.
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How does one get on one of Kathy Patterson’s neighborhood listservs?
We live in ANC 3F4, Forest Hills/North Cleveland Park.
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In response to Mr. Barron’s “They Ain’t Making ‘Em Like They
Used To” [themail, March 27]: how does it take six weeks to repair one
escalator (a relatively short one at that)? Last month a renovation sign
appeared on the exit escalator at the Minnesota Avenue station. The sign
indicates that the renovations are scheduled to be complete in May.
There are a large number of people who stand waiting for the elevator,
many of whom do not look able to make the walk up the other stationary
escalator. I had blamed the constantly disabled stairs on young people
playing with the emergency stop but, alas, it appears poor maintenance
is to blame. I will reserve final judgment until after the repairs are
made, to see if the escalators will actually remain operational.
You know it’s bad when the young people are getting off of the
trains taking bets whether the escalators will be running today or not.
Is this a system-wide maintenance problem or is it isolated to specific
areas? I wonder.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Property Taxes at Cleveland Park Citizens
Association, April 4
George Idelson, g.idelson@verizon.net
The Cleveland Park Citizens Association meets on Monday, April 4,
6:30 p.m., at the Cleveland Park Library. Property taxes got you feeling
"house poor’? How can we fairly restructure property taxes in DC?
Plus the latest on the class action suit challenging the way homes are
assessed. Speakers include Phil Mendelson, At-Large Councilmember; Ed
Lazere, Director, DC Policy Research Institute; Ed Cowan, and Peter
Craig, attorney. Refreshments will be served
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National Building Museum Events, April 4-5
Brie Hensold, bhenhold@nbm.org
All events at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW,
Judiciary Square stop, Metro Red Line.
Monday, April 4, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Over the past three decades
Arlington County, Virginia has matured and prospered. It now faces new
and ongoing challenges to create vibrant places and house its workers.
Chris Zimmerman, vice chairman of the Arlington County Board, will
describe Arlington’s successes and challenges in this update on the
county -- the winner of the 2002 National Award for Smart Growth
Achievement for Overall Excellence in Smart Growth. Free. Registration
not required. This series of lunchtime lectures is presented in
conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Smart
Growth Network.
Monday, April 4, Monday, 6:30-8:00 p.m. The American Society of
Landscape Architects (ASLA) has designated April as National Landscape
Architecture Month. The theme of the 2005 celebration explores how
community design affects residents’ daily activity levels and, in
turn, their overall health. Joanne Westphal, MD, ASLA, a physician and
landscape architect, will discuss the health benefits that can result
when “active living components,” including parks, bike paths, and
sidewalks, are designed into neighborhoods. This program is presented in
collaboration with ASLA. $10 Museum and ASLA members; $15 nonmembers;
free to students with valid student I.D.s. Registration required.
Tuesday, April 5, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Since its establishment in 1991 in
Holland, the MVRDV architectural firm has captured growing international
attention with its experimental research projects and mind-bending
architecture. Most of the firm’s work can be found in Europe, but it
recently has been short listed for projects in the U.S., notably the
proposed Olympic Village that is part of New York City’s plan for the
2012 summer Olympics. In a program focusing on a number of the firm’s
recent and current projects, Nathalie de Vries, one of the three MVRDV
founding partners, will examine a range of the firm’s recent and
current projects, including: the Silodam housing project and the
redesigned Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam; the Mirador high-rise apartment in
Madrid; and the Dutch pavilion for 2000 World Expo in Hanover, Germany.
In addition to her architectural practice, Ms. de Vries is an active
educator. Currently, she is the Morgenstern Visiting Critic at the
Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Travel for Ms. de Vries has
been provided by the Royal Netherlands Embassy. $12 Museum members; $17
nonmembers; $10 students. Prepaid registration required.
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The Bridges of Washington Lecture, April 14
Jerry A. McCoy, sshistory@yahoo.com
In honor of Washingtoniana Division’s one hundredth anniversary you
are cordially invited to a free illustrated slide talk by transportation
planner Lee H. Rogers on The Bridges of Washington, Thursday, April 14,
6:00 p.m., at the Washingtoniana Division, Room #307, Martin Luther
King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, 727-1213.
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The Artists Care Effort is proud to present Waves of Survival: An
Evening of Stories for the Tsunami Relief Effort at The Seekers Church,
276 Carroll Street, NW, in Takoma Park, on Saturday, April 16, 8:00 p.m.
Ticket price $10 minimum suggested donation. Reservations: call
301-916-6328 or E-mail sawinchell@prodigy.net.
Street parking, Metro Red line Takoma stop.
In association with the Artists Care Effort, five wonderful
storytellers take to the stage in Takoma Park to aid the survivors of
the recent earthquake and tsunami tragedies. Host Amy Saidman (from the
Washington Storytellers Theater) will present some of the area’s best
storytellers including Moira Dougherty, Cricket Parmalee, Arianna Ross,
Ellouise Schoettler, and Susan Winchell in this evening sure to inspire
and uplift everyone’s spirits. All ticket sales and donations will be
sent to a certified tsunami victims relief fund.
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Washington Storytellers Theater proudly presents our 2005 annual
benefit performance and silent auction featuring EHT-NOH-TEC’s
performance of “Takashi’s Dream and Other Stories.” Eth-Noh-Tec
will share with us an evening of Asian wisdom tales that will lift your
heart and inspire your life with delightful and thought provoking
theater. “Takashi’s Dream” is based on the inspiring life of
Takashi Tanemori, atom bomb survivor from Hiroshima. Eth-Noh-Tec weaves
movement, poetic voices and music to recreate a dreamlike, haunted
landscape that became Takashi’s life as a victim and eventually victor
over the many perils that followed his life as a survivor.
Support Washington Storytellers Theater as we celebrate our fifteenth
anniversary season of bringing world-class storytellers to the greater
Washington community. Experience the unique and exciting Eth-Noh-Tec and
join us for an elegant reception at the enchanting Embassy of Austria
and bid on a wide range of wonderful items donated especially for our
the Silent Auction. Place: the Embassy of Austria - 3524 International
Court, NW, Friday, April 29, reception at 7:00 p.m., performance at 8
p.m. Ticket price $100 Reserved, $65 general in advance, $75 at the
door. Purchase at the door or in advance on-line or by calling 545-6840.
Street parking.
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Community Emergency Response Classes, April
and May
Darrell Duane, d@duane.com
Would you like to learn more about how to stay prepared in the event
of a natural or man-made disaster? Do you have an interest in emergency
response? There will be two offerings of Community Emergency Response
Team classes coming up, one in April and one in May.
Learn how to use a fire extinguisher, basic first aid, how to shut
off natural gas, do light search & rescue. There are also sections
on disaster psychology and terrorism. Best of all, classes are free.
More details and registration via http://dccert.org.
Do you already have this training, or other volunteer
disaster/emergency response training such as Red Cross Disaster Action
Team, Police Reserve Corps, Emergency Medical Technician or other
training, and want to align with a neighborhood based team? DC
Neighborhood Corps is organizing teams of citizens who will be active in
times of disaster and other incidents where basic service may be
overwhelmed or need assistance. No prior training is needed, more
details via http://dcneighborhoodcorps.org.
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CLASSIFIEDS — TRANSPORTATION
Looking for Rideshare to/from Reston
Luis Mendez, mendezla@msn.com
I am looking for someone interested in ride sharing from northwest DC
to/from Reston, VA. Please E-mail to mendezla@msn.com.
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CLASSIFIEDS — PETS
“Fraidy” is still missing. Last seen on 40th and Albermarle
Street. “Fraidy” is a long-haired, black dog, approximately forty
pounds. Has collar with a red ID tag and is micro-chipped. Any sighting,
please call Loretta Begg, 301-320-1181.
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