Closings

Dear Parents and School Advocates:

Please let us know about the schools in your neighborhood. We know that some schools, and probably many schools, are going to be closed. For now, please don’t write in general about the superintendent’s criteria for school closings, but about the school on your block or around the corner. If it were targeted for closing, would you care? Would it be an important issue to you? Would you be sad, mad, or happy? If it were closed, would you want it to be turned into a charter school, turned into a facility for another public use (and if so, which use), or sold to a developer? Please name names, and tell us which schools deserve to be saved, which would be good riddance, and why.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Who’s on First? A Call to 311
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com

The alley behind our building and thus behind Coyote Ugly’s is the new gathering place for interesting groups who are in search of leftover and thrown away alcohol. They gather to see what they can pour out of the thrown away containers. This past weekend, they — and one person in particular — were very loud, talking, arguing, and singing. (If the singing had been on key, it might have been better.) A call to 311 with an explanation resulted in my being asked at least five times what the address was. When I’d start off explaining it was in an alley without an address, and which streets the alley was between, the operator would say all the coordinates were needed to do something. I’d say what was going on and where, and the 311 operator, surly at best, would say she could do nothing without a street address. So it went for about three and a half or four minutes. Amusing but not. How does one pinpoint an alley without an address?

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NCMC: Two Steps Back
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

Today, at his weekly press conference, Mayor Williams announced that he was establishing a task force to “examine the National Capital Medical Center (NCMC) proposal and to review whether there are alternatives to improving health care in a way that is fiscally sound” (http://www.dcwatch.com/mayor/060419.htm). The mayor indicated that he had too many questions and reservations regarding NCMC to press forward without an independent review. He said he wants to look at options and alternatives to the NCMC.

Eleven people were named to the task force; however, the mayor indicated that additional appointments, including a representative from Howard University, would be made in the coming weeks. The task force will be chaired by Dr. Greg Pane, director of the DC Department of Health; a final report is due in sixty days.

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DC Residents Prioritize Kids Issues in FY 2007
Angela Jones Hackley, ajones_hackley@dckids.org

More than five hundred residents and service providers identified their FY 2007 budget priorities in DC Action for Children’s most recent budget survey. Additional funding for child care, school-based health, and substance abuse prevention were the clear winners in the survey. DC Action for Children conducted the survey to give those interested in children and youth the opportunity to influence budget decisions that will be made by the city council and Mayor Williams in May 2006. The mayor proposed 39 “opportunity enhancements” in his FY 2007 budget. Fifteen of these relate to children and youth. A number of what the mayor refers to as opportunity enhancements are essential to the well being of children and youth across the city. The three top priorities — child care, school-based health and substance abuse prevention — are actually programs being funded in FY 2006 — the FY 2007 proposed budget cut funding for these services.

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A. Scott Bolden Is Not the Public Safety Candidate
Danilo Pelletiere, Danilo.Pelletiere.C94@alumni.upenn.edu

Even though the campaign for the Democratic nomination for at-large city council is in its early stages, A. Scott Bolden has already shown a preference for finger pointing rather than substantive debate with his opponent Phil Mendelson. I was struck by his recent statement in themail [April 16] criticizing Mendelson for not pushing harsh anti-crime legislation, to which he added, “When I was a prosecutor my colleagues and I looked toward elected officials for leadership on public safety measures.” This is striking, because, whatever Mr. Bolden’s record in New York, here in DC he has made a career of representing clients charged with endangering public safety, including those tied to gun crime, as in the case of Club U, or assaulting police officers, as in the case of Christopher Barry. I respect his role as a defense lawyer, but I question, in that role would he support harsh minimum sentencing rules for his clients? Would he want them charged under a bill rushed through the council to make headlines? And, as to public safety, Mr. Bolden very publicly has opposed to a variety of DC’s environmental, public health, and consumer regulations, and represented a trash transfer station located in a residential neighborhood the city sought to close, a trash transfer station allowed to operate, might I add, by the very kind of rushed, shoddy legislation that he now calls on his opponent to support. If Mr. Bolden wants to run on his record he should run on all of it.

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Scott Bolden’s Wrong-Headed Idea
Edward Cowan, edcowan1114@yahoo.com

Scott Bolden, once a prosecutor and now a contender for an at-large Democratic seat on the council, clamors for legislation that would impose mandatory sentences on persons convicted of certain crimes — possession of armor-piercing bullets and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Mr. Bolden fails to recognize that we taxpayers pay our judges to judge, to use their good sense and discretion in imposing punishment. If the law permits long sentences for certain crimes, judges can impose long sentences as the facts and circumstances require, and in that prospect lies the presumed deterrent effect.

Still in prosecutorial mode, Mr. Bolden wants all who are convicted to get the same long sentence, regardless of age, post-prison record, extenuating circumstance, etc. With such a mechanical approach to the administration of justice, would we need judges? For the record, I am not a partisan of the Council member Mr. Bolden seeks to unseat, and I have not decided how to vote in this race. I write only because I think Mr. Bolden espouses a wrong-headed and possibly dangerous idea. And does so now because he hopes such advocacy will be politically expedient.

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Bolden and Mendelson on the Omnibus Bill
Bob Summersgill, bob at summersgill dot net

Scott Bolden has attacked Councilmember Phil Mendelson for his careful consideration of The Omnibus Public Safety Act of 2005 (themail, April 16). The bill is moving as fast as any major, complicated, and very technical bill does or should. The bill is 49 pages long with 22 sections. Testimony went on for hours, with a multitude of people and organizations finding many, many problems. Frankly, the bill handled down by the Mayor was very poorly written, and requires significant rewriting before moving forward. For instance, the definition of a child is different in section after section. That’s just a minor example of the inconsistencies that show up when a dozen proposals are tossed together.

The ACLU and other civil liberties organizations are also quite concerned about the civil rights violations that some of the sections would create. This is a lot like the Patriot Act. There are many good things in it, but it also has things that threaten our fundamental liberties, including the right to walk down the street. See http://www.aclu-nca.org/pdf/OmnibusPublicSafety16-247testimony.pdf.

Fortunately, Phil Mendelson is a thoughtful Councilmember who is carefully looking at the issues, studying the testimony, and rewriting the bill so that it is something that will protect us, without compromising our rights. Bolden’s rush to move legislation without careful considerations of its implications and effects is irresponsible and reckless. We need thoughtful councilmembers, and not those who prefer grandstanding and negative campaigning.

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Plans for Martin Luther King, Jr., Library
Jenefer Ellingston, Statehood Green Party, jellingston@greens.org

[An open letter to Councilmember Kathy Patterson] I write to ask for clarification of what is planned. At first, I thought you had asked to have the section on a 99-year lease of MLK removed from the Budget Support Act, and reentered as a stand-alone bill, thus assuring that it would have a proper, public debate and rise or fall on its own merits, distinct from the usual fait accompli.

I attended several “Listening Sessions” set up by the Library Task Force, hoping to foil, at least to recast, what the Task Force was trying to slip under the tent (a la camel’s nose). In each instance, the public confronted the Task Force facilitator (and Mr. Hill, chair of task force) and vehemently rejected their attempt to transform MLK and some branch libraries into “niches” in a commercial complex. In effect, our libraries are transformed and degraded into risk capitol — a despicable insult to one of the pillars of civilization. What do you suppose would happen if the mayor of New York City tried to bury the New York Public Library in a commercial complex?

Back to the story: Reading your message [in themail, April 16] the picture clouds over again. What is the meaning of your sentence, “I favor considering the issue separately which is why I sent the memo, and we take the bill up for first reading May 9”? Does it mean MLK leasing will be a separate bill, or does it merely mean there will be another chance (April 22) for the public voice to be heard in an open forum, although it remains in the Budget Support Act? We, the public, are all to used to being swept along as though our voice carried weight in the final decision.

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Jack the Ripper in themail
Michael Bindner, mikeybindc at yahoo dot com

[Re: the “Degas, Sickert and Toulouse-Lautrec:London and Paris, 1870-1910” exhibit at the Phillips Gallery, themail, April 16] Patricia Cornwell makes a convincing case that Sickert was the Ripper. That alone may make the Phillips show worth a look.

[I’m far from convinced by Cornwell’s case against Sickert, but she is a good writer. Here’s one interesting skeptical analysis of her book (Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case Closed) : http://www.casebook.org/dissertations/dst-pamandsickert.html. — Gary Imhoff]

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Thirty Pieces of Silver
Leo Alexander, Ward 4, leo_alexander1@yahoo.com

For the life of me I can’t figure this one out. For two years, the District and Howard University worked to formalize a partnership to provide healthcare to the underservered community east of North Capitol Street. Then, like a meteor, it unceremoniously flamed out. I don’t know what it’s going to take, but I plan to find out what happened. And I need your help. These questions have to be answered. Who was involved, how did they benefit in killing this proposal, and how much did they get for selling out this community?

This past week, Christians and members of the Jewish community celebrated two religious holidays, Easter, the rebirth of the savior, and Passover, the exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. What better time to come clean? In the Bible, we’re told Judas sold out Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. I want to know what or how much did those responsible get? How much are the lives of the nearly 200,000 people affected by this decision worth? Who else, at the Wilson building, was complicit in this dereliction of human compassion, morality, and decency for their fellow man? We know city councilmembers Evans, Patterson, Ambrose, Fenty, Barry, Mendelson and Schwartz chose to play slick games with the lives of this fragile community by talking out of both sides of their mouths, either by saying they support the National Capital Medical Center, but want it to go through a lengthy and costly certificate of need process, or, as in Barry’s case, remaining mute. This silence is deafening coming from "The People’s Mayor" on a quality of life issue affecting his core constituency. Why? Again how many pieces of silver did it take to buy off city hall? What happened to all that leadership from Cropp? We certainly witnessed her skills and political savoir-faire on the issue of baseball. But I ask you, how many lives will that save? Does Fenty only listen to deep-pocketed contributors as evidence by his recent "no" vote on affordable housing? At last count, Brown, Catania, Graham, Gray, and Orange backed the NCMC proposal. Is there any wonder why Vincent Orange is gaining momentum in his bid for mayor, given the strength of his convictions on this critical issue?

Together we can answers these questions, and maybe accomplish more than any citizenry has before in the District, by not ignoring the effects of racism and greed and how each impacts DC’s healthcare safety net. As always, your identity is safe with me. I will take the hits and tell the real story.

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Race and Privilege Are Issues
Andrew Willis, willisa [at] gmail [dot] com

I want to clarify that I am not writing in support of Leo Alexander and others who have defended the NCMC here; although I won’t claim to be well-versed in the matter, after working for a healthcare union I know of no reason to forego the certificate of need process, and the mayor clearly cares more about his phallically enshrined legacy than the demonstrable needs of Ward 6, 7, and 8 residents (otherwise he wouldn’t have closed DC General). Although not speaking specifically to what Gary calls “divisive racial politics” — which I assume to mean referencing race merely to gain the upper hand in a debate — I want to challenge his assertion (which echoes the sentiments shared by many contributors to themail over the last few weeks) that “successful candidates won’t run as black or white,” and that race, by implication, has no place in discussions about development and local politics (and that this is a biracial city). Race plays out as an issue everyday in DC on myriad levels, and I see no reason why local candidates should not be upfront about this or their respective backgrounds.

When white newcomers like me move into neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and Brightwood, making them more attractive to other newcomers, and helping drive up property values and, eventually, many longtime residents’ tax bills (or indirectly encouraging their landlords to seek condo conversion or use illegal tactics to force out lower-income renters), it’s an issue. When we start to change those neighborhoods according to our values or lifestyles, as with part of the recent controversy around the H Street, NE, restaurant rezoning, which exposes the confrontations and contradictions between mostly white newcomers and mostly African American longtime residents without actually addressing them, it’s an issue. When we initiate and trade what is often racially motivated gossip on PSA listservs (Brightwood), and when white residents lead calls for zero tolerance policing targeted towards Latino men (Mt. Pleasant), it’s an issue. Or when white and black residents attempt to have the Rinconcito Deportivo restaurant on 11th Street, NW, sanctioned in part because, as some complained a year ago, not enough of the staff speak adequate English, it’s an issue. And when I sit on a Superior Court petit jury, as I did last month, and watch eight other white jurors of twelve poorly conceal their prejudices about young black men, and make generalizations based on their incomparable relationships to the police and the prison system (in our attempt at coming to an “unbiased” decision) I know race, racism and white privilege are certainly still “issues.”

I agree with Gary that politicians should focus on serving the needs of current residents, but the reality is that race-based inequities exist in this city, from placement of homeless shelters and rec centers to a lack of specific kinds of care in overwhelmingly African American neighborhoods (as noted in the DC Cancer Control Plan released yesterday), to the demographic composition of lower-income longtime residents most affected by displacement (also known as gentrification). To claim colorblindness is to ignore both these institutional disparities and the degree to which each of us benefits or is affected. It’s also worth noting that white folks have long used the word “divisive” to stifle any discussion of racism and racial inequality (Tim Wise writes about this). I may be taking Gary’s words out of context, but raising race as an issue isn’t divisive; in DC, it’s often an essential component of any honest discourse on local politics, particularly any discussion involving the city’s white minority. And maybe in this case race isn’t as relevant to the NCMC as some claim; the point, to me, is that we acknowledge the general disparities and the reality that race, racism, and white privilege are legitimate points of discussion, and that shrugging them off as divisive gets us no closer to unpacking them in the context of the specific issue (NCMC, gentrification) in question.

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April 2006 InTowner
Peter Wolff, intowner@intowner.com

This is to advise that the April 2006 on-line edition has been uploaded and may be accessed at http://www.intowner.com. Included are the lead stories, community news items and crime reports, editorials (including prior months’ archived), restaurant reviews (prior months’ also archived), and the text from the ever-popular “Scenes from the Past” feature. Also included are all current classified ads. The complete issue (along with prior issues back to December 2002) also is available in PDF file format directly from our home page at no charge simply by clicking the link provided. Here you will be able to view the entire issue as it appears in print, including all photos and advertisements. The next issue will publish on May 12 (the second Friday of the month, as always). The complete PDF version will be posted by the preceding night or early that Friday morning at the latest, following which the text of the lead stories, community news, and selected features will be uploaded shortly thereafter.

To read this month’s lead stories, simply click the link on the home page to the following headlines: 1) “Adams Morgan ANC Gets Behind Historic District Designation for Large Swath of Area — 18th Street Strip Between Florida & Columbia to be Included”; 2) “Jubilee Housing Gets Major Rehabs Going — Ties to Area Strong;” 3) “The Phillips Collection Complex Expands — New Building a Winner”; and 4) “Adams Morgan Essay: Four O’clock in the A.M.”

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Is DCPS Getting Ready for 4-D Musical Chairs?
Len Sullivan, lsnarpac@bellatlantic.net

Superintendent Janey has proffered an ambitious Master Education Plan much like his earlier vision. Both include "lesser-order terms" that veil the few major issues that will determine if DC’s public school system survives at all. NARPAC picks up on two of these issues this month: 1) evident progress in making a Community School work, and 2) the beginnings of discussions about downsizing the school system. Take a look at http://www.narpac.org/PEMEPLAN.HTM and see what we found interesting.

The DC Council and School Board now indicate that the pace of closures must be quickened. But they have yet to show awareness of the true scale of the undertaking, or of the need to adopt a firm plan with fixed endpoint objectives. In NARPAC’s preliminary best case (others will likely disagree), just eight high schools for 8000 kids, thirteen middle schools for 9000 kids, and sixty-four elementary schools for 33,000 kids would survive. Some sixty school properties could become available for disposition, along with up to 250 acres of property worth well over half a billion dollars: enough to provide urgent care facilities, affordable housing, other essential, city services, and still provide revenues for capital improvements. You can find out how we got to these numbers at http://www.narpac.org/PEFDOWN.HTM. 

And the hitch? Up to 80 percent of all kids, their teachers, and support staffs would have to move at least once, maybe twice over five or six years, just due to realignments. Turbulence would be inevitable; administrative frustration and hectoring by disgruntled advocates would be corrosive; and midstream course changes, potentially destructive. But the longer you wait, the worse the trauma will get. Isn’t it worth biting the bullet now?

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Art and Artifacts Show, April 22-23
Afrika Abney, aashawarrior@aol.com

There will be an art and artifacts show featuring works by Penny Ross Burk and Afrika Midnight Asha Abney at The Culture Shop, 341 Cedar Street, NW, on April 22-23 from 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more info call 726-2211 or send an E-mail to customerservice@cultureshop.com or visit www.cultureshop.com.

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One Last Thing with the West Wing, April 23
Shelley Cohen, scohen@ameresco.com

Are you a “West Wing” fan? Already mourning its departure from TV? Please join the Gordon Campaign for one last fling with “The West Wing” as we welcome West Wing actress Melissa Fitzgerald (Carol, on the popular NBC drama) to DC and Ward 3. Melissa will be the headliner at a fundraiser supporting Robert Gordon, a candidate for DC city council, Ward 3 (and a huge West Wing fan).

The fundraiser will be held on April 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Parthenon Restaurant, 5510 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Contribution: $50. Come join us for a fun evening! For more information or to RSVP, please contact Will Balch, will@gordon2006.org, 557-0263.

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Book Release Party: Newcomer’s Handbook for Washington, DC, April 24
Mike Livingston, mlivingston@greens.org

I’ll be discussing (and selling for nearly one third off) the Newcomer’s Handbook for Washington, DC, fourth edition, just published this month by First Books. I was the lead author of the third edition (2002) and the Newcomer’s Handbook for the USA. On Monday, April 24, 6:30 p.m., at Teaism Penn Quarter, 8th and D Streets, NW.

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A Pilot’s Journey, April 26
George Birfkeet, gfnorfleet@comcast.net

Former Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot, Curtis Robinson, an author, George Norfleet, both of Washington, DC, will be discussing and signing copies of their new book, A Pilot’s Journey, on Wednesday, April 26, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petworth Branch Library located at 4200 Kansas Avenue, NW. The library’s telephone number is 541-6300.

The excellence of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II is undisputed. Theirs is an amazing story of leadership, of future generals, a US cabinet member, a US congressman, mayors of major cities, judges, college presidents, and doctors -- out to a group of fewer than one thousand men. But there is much more to know about the Tuskegee Airmen than just the portion of their lives spent as fighter pilots. A Pilot’s Journey provides an entertaining, informative, and factual journey into Robinson’s family’s history dating back from 1730s Germany and Africa, through mid 18th to early 20th century Orangeburg, South Carolina, onto the World War II Mediterranean theater of operations, into present day Washington, DC, and tells readers who these men, like Curtis Robinson, really are and captures the reasons that Robinson and his peers excelled so outstandingly during World War II and why they continued to succeed during their lifetimes.

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India-US Economic Relations, April 27
Michael Andrews, mandrews@udc.edu

Today in the streets of America, many citizens may hold the view that scores of their jobs are migrating to India where labor costs are cheap. This trend, be it true or false, is the focus of an upcoming discussion at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). The only public university in the nation’s capital is hosting “India-USA Economic Relations: A Two-Way Street,” an open forum to examine economic relations between the United States and India. Additionally, panelists will explore the opportunities, both for Indians and Americans that may grow from the recent agreement President George W. Bush signed with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The agreement covers trade, energy security, a clean environment, innovation, knowledge economy, global safety and security, deepening democracy and meeting international challenges for both world powers.

The overall growth rate of Indian immigrants to the United States from 1990-2000 was more than 105 percent. Thousands of Indian graduates from the Indian technological institutes migrated to America and have been contributing to the technological revolution that has been occurring in America over the last two decades. The University has assembled a prestigious group to spearhead these discussions. Panelists include His Excellency Ronen Sen, Ambassador of India; the Honorable Aneesh Paul Chopra, Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia; Raj Dwivedy, Chief Economist for Services with the US Department of Commerce; and Gerald L. Gordon, President/CEO-Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Other panelists include business executives and economists well versed in economic relations between India and the United States. The panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer period, affording guests the opportunity to interact with the panelists.

The forum will be held on Thursday, April 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Windows Lounge, Building 38, second floor, on the UDC campus at 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW. The campus is easily accessible on Metro’s Red Line, Van Ness/UDC station. Individuals interested in attending or seeking additional information should contact Dr. Sandra Lawson at 274-6272 or slawson@udc.edu, Mr. Paul Tennassee at 274-6277 or ptennassee@udc.edu, or Ms. Perita Baxter at 274-6246 or pbaxter@udc.edu.

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Lila Downs, The Cultural Institute of Mexico Events, April 27
Barbara Ruesga-Pelayo, bruesga@sre.gob.mx

Thursday April 27, 8:00 p.m., Lila Downs sings songs in English and Spanish as well as the indigenous languages of her mother’s native southern Mexico, at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Land, North Bethesda, MD (http://www.strathmore.org, 301-581-5100).

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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING

UDC Law Student Housing Sought
Joe Libertelli, jlibertelli@udc.edu

It may seem like we’re rushing the season, but as the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law grows ever stronger, admits students earlier, and takes larger classes, our need to find affordable, safe, clean student housing arises earlier in the season. So, while first-year classes begin the first week of August, many of our incoming students are already searching for suitable housing. Thus, if you have, or will have, between now and August, a room in your DC-area house or apartment, or basement to sublet, or house to rent, or know of someone with a space who you would recommend to your own family member (or should I say “someone you love”), please send Ariel Shea (AShea@udc.edu) a note with as much information as you can muster such as: 1) when available, 2) duration (month to month, year, etc.), 3) location, 4) mass transit info, 5) price, 6) whether utilities are included, 7) security deposit requirement, 8) smoking and pets, etc., 9) work-share possibilities, 10) any special situation/requests, 11) contact person, phone number, E-mail address.

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CLASSIFIEDS — PETS

Beautiful Cat Needs Single Pet Home
Pat Yates, PatEdCats@aol.com

Courtney, an astoundingly beautiful adult female cat, would be perfect in a single-pet home, where she could be the center of a loving owner’s attention. She is a petite, long-haired beauty, probably with a lot of Maine coon in her lineage, and she loves to cuddle while her human watches TV or reads.

Courtney was wandering around DC, hungry and matted, apparently lost from her own home, until several months ago, when she was found by Animal Control and taken to the DC Animal Shelter. She has been in my foster home for about two months now, and is a joy to be around -- except that she intensely dislikes my dog and other cats. She is spayed, has been tested, and is up-to-date on shots. Her coat is now looking quite radiant, and her overall health appears good.

Seeing is believing. Go to the Washington Humane Society at http://www.washhumane.org and link to cats in foster homes. If she doesn’t quite tickle your fancy, take a look at all the other wonderful cats at the DC Animal Shelter and in foster homes.

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