Election Countdown
Dear Counters:
Ben Aspero, below, objects to my reminder in the last issue that
Fenty does have a crime plan posted on his web site, and my asking for
opinions on how good that plan is. Ben asserts that my doing that
undermined his criticism of Fenty. That’s not my point at all. My two
points, which I’ve made repeatedly, are first that the
“anti-crime” emergency bill that the city council passed was a
political stunt that contained much that was bad and little that was of
value. And second, that Fenty, as the sole councilmember with the
courage to vote against that bad bill, put himself in the politically
difficult position of showing that he has ideas of his own about how to
fight crime effectively. My question remains: has he succeeded in doing
that?
This week, I got a telephone survey about mayoral candidates that
centered on three candidates: Linda Cropp, Adrian Fenty, and Mary Jones
— at least, that was how the surveyor kept referring to Marie Johns.
The survey was undoubtedly paid for by Cropp or by one of the business
committees supporting her. After a couple minutes of neutral questions
exploring my opinion of the candidates, it settled down to spreading
negative information about Fenty and asking which attack on Fenty would
be most effective. Would it make me think worse of Fenty if I knew that
he didn’t give a damn about crime and didn’t want to do anything
about it; if I knew that he was completely inexperienced and incapable
of governing; if I knew that he was a dirty, rotten scoundrel as a
lawyer? These are the themes of Cropp’s campaign, and of the two
mailings that I received from her campaign last week.
Colbert King, in his column yesterday (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/11/AR2006081101400.html),
suggests that Cropp’s campaign is negative, but that it presents a
good test of Fenty’s strength: “Now that Cropp has landed the first
blow, the city has a chance to see what Fenty is made of. It’s time to
find out if he can take a punch.” King’s point is that the mayor’s
job is tough, that lots of people both on the council and in interest
groups will want to bring down anyone who is elected mayor, and that we
need to determine whether Fenty has the strength to stand up to strong
personal attacks. Cropp, meanwhile, has something to prove on her own.
In today’s Outllook section, Councilmember Jack Evans presents his own
analysis of the upcoming primary (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/11/AR2006081100747.html),
and says that, “. . . the new mayor and council do not need a new
agenda; they need to complete the one already laid out. . . . Who are
the best people to implement the existing agenda?” Cropp is presenting
herself in exactly those terms, but to me the present agenda of the city
government has been dictated by big business and developers, and is not
in the best interest of residents. Is Cropp running as the candidate who
will implement the existing agenda of costly giveaways of taxpayers’
money and city assets, like the baseball stadium? If not, how does she
separate herself from the interests she has promoted in the past?
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Does Your Fire Hydrant Work?
Sharon Cochran, secochran@verizondotnet
Does the fire hydrant nearest to your home work? Are you sure? On
Saturday, August 12, there was a fire on Emerald Street, NE. There was a
man at home, in a burning house. The fire hydrant at 1342 Emerald Street
NE, did not work. The Fire Department had to take extra precious minutes
to run a fire hose from the 500 block of 13th Street.
Long time residents say that the fire hydrant hasn’t worked for
many years. It seems that the fire hydrant leaked and rather, than fix
it, it was just shut down. A fire department technician did test the
hydrant at my request and it did not work. Of course, though, we still
get tickets for parking too near it.
I was told that it is fire department policy not to use
middle-of-the-block fire hydrants. They are used as back ups. In this
case, there is no back up. I was also told by a very reliable source
that it is not uncommon for fireman to find non-working fire hydrants on
corners and in the middle of the blocks all over this city. How can this
be? Isn’t this a homeland security issue? PS: the fire department
reports non-working hydrant problems to the Department of Public Works.
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There has been recent discussion of the crime problem in DC and in
what parts of the city crime is increasing or decreasing. There is a new
web site, http://www.crimeindc.org,
that has a Google map of DC with the crime reports imposed over it. You
can look at crime in DC by day or street or type or hot spot or almost
any way. You can drill down to the details about a particular police
report or look at the latest forty crimes reported. You can get alerts
(or an RSS feed) about crimes within five blocks of your house or see
just the crimes on your street. The hot spot for crimes during the last
month was 1000-1500 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, with seventeen. This is a free
public service to the District from Thomas Cochran, and I am sure that
many people on this list would be interested. Thank you, Mr. Cochran.
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After months of speculation, City Administrator Robert Bobb
officially announced his candidacy for president of the DC Board of
Education on Wednesday. On Thursday, Bobb accompanied his campaign
manager, Paula Nickens, a former chair of the DC Democratic State
Committee, to the DC Board of Elections and Ethics to pick up petitions.
The petitions, with at least one thousand valid signatures of registered
DC voters, have to be submitted by August 30.
Bobb enters the race as at least one of the presumptive front
runners. However, in addition to his late entry into the race, his
campaign has several issues that it must address and hurdles that it
must overcome. For example, at the campaign organizing meeting on
Thursday evening, most of the attendees were government officials —
for example, Carol Mitten, Director of the Office of Property
Management, and Patrick Canavan, Director of the Department of Consumer
and Regulatory Affairs — and DC government employees. Of the
approximately twenty-five people present, there were few civic leaders
and not a single public education advocate.
Moreover, Bobb’s campaign distributed T-shirts with a simple
campaign message: “Vote Robert (Bob) Bobb for President DC Board of
Education (School Board).” However, the T-shirts violated Sec.
1-1102.10 of the DC Code, because they didn’t have the required
“identification of campaign literature” line that identifies who
paid for them. When queried, Bobb himself was very dismissive, arguing
that the “paid for” line wasn’t necessary because the T-shirts had
been donated, although they were being distributed by the campaign.
After the meeting, the attorney for the Bobb campaign, Scott E. Thomas,
a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission under Clinton, and
now an attorney with Dickstein Shapiro, tried to argue that the
identification is only required on campaign literature and when
soliciting a contribution. When informed that the T-shirts were covered
by the DC Code, since they “were intended for the support or defeat of
a candidate,” Thomas reluctantly agreed to look into the matter.
Finally, after indicating that he would answer questions from those in
attendance, Bobb was unable to answer a question from Sandra Seegars
about his position on charter schools. Rather than discuss his position,
Bobb said that he would “poll the community.”
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Set against the past week of world travails there is exquisite and
rather Dada solace in the art critic snob remark Gary mentioned last
issue: “So what, pleasure aside, is the point?” I would offer that
if pleasure were in fact truly the point, it would solve every damn
world problem from our current baseball stadium fiascos to the war in
Israel and Lebanon. But back to art! I just thought I would offer a
heads up to those who might be in the habit, as I am, of exposing very
little people to (often subversively pleasurable!) art, that the current
Henri Rousseau exhibit at the National Gallery, while quite interesting,
is absolutely downright scary to the toddler. You might be thinking
“Sleeping Gypsy,” and peaceable lions in the verdant jungle, but
there is in fact, quite a lot of fang-plunging into jugular type
pictures. There is also a frighteningly realistic taxidermal model of a
lion ripping apart a gazelle.
“What’s dat?” asks the two-year old.
“Well honey, the lion is having his lunch” (see jugular, above).
There are lots of “lions at lunch” pictures here. There is also a
huge sculpture of a man wrestling a bear, while choking a baby bear with
a noose and plunging his knife into mama bear’s neck. (ibid: jugular.)
So yes, take those babies to the National Gallery, but maybe stick with
still lifes (Grapes! Apples!) or portraits (where’s the doggie? can
you find the doggie?)
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Standing Up For Federal and Regional
Partnerships
Len Sullivan, lsnarpac@bellatlantic.net
DC’s key primary is now four weeks away. Relations between DC and
its federal and nearby state counterparts are seldom aired. DC leaders
often seem overwhelmed if not resentful of them. The Federal presence is
faulted for unwanted freeloading; the Congress as some latter day
plantation overseer. Maryland and Virginia are alien entities to be
distrusted, their commuters resented, their wealth and statehood
coveted. In turn, federal and regional officials are free treat city
leaders as second-rate and in way over their heads. There is no evident
downside to lording it over DC.
DC deserves respect as: the region’s core city and major
attraction; host to the seat of US power and global visitors; and symbol
of American urban life. But DC must step up to the plate to earn its
place at the head table. New city officials must live, work, act and
entertain like they hold the keys to the world’s most important
capital city. DC must improve its relations with Congress. Pushing
statehood and resisting Congressional oversight won’t work. Congress
can provide DC the equivalent of fifty states, and the Constitution
gives it the right to watch over its special district.
DC should press for much higher level oversight worthy of a national
institution (viz., a Joint Congressional Committee), not just your
annual appropriation. DC deserves Federal cooperation, not handouts and
micro-management. True partnership can make DC an equal to its
neighboring states. It can strengthen existing regional agencies that
now fall far short in real effectiveness (viz, COG and WMATA). It can
also inspire regional pursuit of common socioeconomic problems such as
subsidized housing, health care, special education, and so forth. Strong
DC leadership can increase Congressional cooperation through local
groups that benefit from a stronger capital city, such as: Chamber of
Commerce; Board of Trade; and Federal City Council; to say nothing of
30,000 K Street lobbyists. Elect leaders that will make DC a force to be
reckoned with.
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Is there anybody else who remembers Vince Gray’s record as the head
of the Department of Health and Human Services during the Kelly years?
The record suggests a pattern of mismanagement, political favoritism,
and bad judgment. The bottom line: Health and Human Services was a
troubled agency when he took it over and he was charged with the job of
fixing it. Instead of fixing it, he made it worse.
For example, the foster care agency was forced into receivership. On
that occasion the Post did an editorial (January 9, 1992)
criticizing Gray for making claims of “far reaching
accomplishments,” when in reality “the children entrusted to the
city’s care may have actually lost ground.” The homeless shelter
system in the city fell apart under Gray’s tenure. A special master
was appointed by the courts in 1993 to run the DC Mental Health
Services, which fell under Gray’s jurisdiction. Contract and
procurement problems were routine resulting in no-bid contracts (awarded
in some instances to curry favor with members of council, including then
Ward 8 member Marion Barry) and even fines for missed deadlines imposed
by the courts.
As Gray oversaw an agency that cut nearly $1 billion in services for
drug treatment and other essential programs, he was spending millions on
new office furniture and renovations. Buildings were being rented by DHS
without competitive bids in violation of DC law -- at least in one
instance from somebody under federal investigation for his dealings with
Marion Barry at the time. In fact, the city in one instance gave up free
space in an unused public school to rent a building from a Barry friend
and cohort at the same time that that the city’s severe financial
crisis forced serious cuts in direct medical care services funded by the
city. I could go on and talk about his hiring practices, the debacle at
the HIV/AIDS office — at a time when there was practically no HIV
education in this city and when an HIV diagnosis meant almost certain
and quick death — and other types of contracting abuses. But, the
overall pattern is clear.
I have not always agreed with Kathy Patterson on every position she
has taken on various issues over the last twelve years of her service on
the Council. But, I respect her independence, her commitment, and her
ability over the last twelve years to get legislation through the
Council and get the job done on behalf of the residents of the city.
That is what distinguishes her from Mr. Gray and demonstrates her
effectiveness at working with people. If the “consensus” that was
typical of Mr. Gray when he ran DHS means reaching political deals in
the back room that give favors to other councilmembers to put their
interests above the interests of the city, then I don’t want any part
of it. That’s what got this city into financial trouble in the first
place. That’s the Vince Gray I remember, and he has not been on the
council long enough to demonstrate otherwise.
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Follow the Money
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@macdotcom
I received a few negative E-mails about my posting on the source of
candidate Gray’s campaign finances. Here’s the link to an article in
the current issue of the Washington City Paper in the Loose Lips
column which confirms what I’ve heard and deduced from his Gray’s
financial records. The article claims that some of the financial support
for Mr. Gray comes from some rather dubious characters. If he walks like
a duck, etc. Check out the article at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/2006/lips0811.html?navCenterTop.
###############
Ed Barron seems to be losing his grip on logic and fair-mindedness.
In the August 6 edition of themail, Mr. Barron defends his reference to
“those who really count” as having been misinterpreted. However, it
was not unreasonable for readers to interpret such a comment as having
racist undertones, particularly given that it referred to a race (pardon
the pun) between a black and white candidate for council chair. Mr.
Barron claims that “a few interesting ‘facts’ emerge from an ‘analysis’”
of counting the contributors to both Gray and Patterson. Barron
mystically concludes there’s “one answer” as to why more
businesses have contributed to Gray’s campaign. Why, of course, it’s
because businesses want the school modernization program to be repealed.
What? This is an exceedingly strange leap of logic, as well as a misuse
of the words “facts” and “analysis.” I am further concerned
about Mr. Barron’s unsubstantiated allegation that Gray has promised
Barry the chairmanship of the Education Committee. Without offering
proof (or at least some form of evidence), any allegation is simply
irresponsible. Mr. Barron has done a disservice to his candidate and
honest political debate.
###############
Is Gray Too Green?
David Culp, Capitol Hill, davidculp@yahoo.com
Laurie Collins, lauriec@lcsystems.com,
has a history of attacking the local Sierra Club for its support of
Klingle Valley as a park. In her recent message to themail (August 9),
she attacks the Sierra Club as “special interests” in supporting
Vincent Gray for DC council chair. I hadn’t paid much attention to
Gray’s record as a councilmember, since he represents a different ward
from mine. However, now that he is running for a citywide office, all of
us will need to look at his record before primary election day,
September 12.
As a local Sierra Club member, Laurie has gotten my attention. She
motivated me to sign up for Gray’s campaign E-mail updates. You can
find out more about Vincent Gray at http://www.grayforchair.com.
###############
At the risk of interfering with a fool determined to hang himself,
let me respond again to Mr. Alexander. Having read themail’s edition
of August 10, I wish to retract my comment of August 7 (“Fact Versus
Fiction”). Apparently, the “imagined” double standard mentioned in
my piece is very real. Ms. Nancee Lorn substantiates this fact
trenchantly and factually in her post, which I enjoyed reading. Mr.
Alexander, however, writes that “. . . racism is about power. And
since black folks are nothing more than consumers who do not control any
of the institutions of this country; i.e., financial, media, and
government, it’s impossible for any one of us to be a racist.”
Well. As a certain Church Lady used to say: “How conVEEENient!”
It must be so nice, by virtue of one’s racial heritage, to be
automatically acquitted of racism -- no matter how bigoted or prejudiced
one’s language or behavior. This certainly explains a lot about Mr.
Alexander’s public pronouncements, and his complacent reaction to the
resulting criticism, but is he not mindful of the problem created by his
self-serving social logic? The dispensation he accords himself (and all
African Americans) is, by his own definition, shared by people of just
about every stripe (except, sadly, mine). If racism is all about power,
and if it cannot be imputed to those who don’t hold power, then a
whole host of groups in our society are freed from the racist label by
virtue of their history.
Examples abound. Women are underrepresented in the halls of power and
thus learn they cannot possibly be racists. (My family needn’t have
been embarrassed by my old Aunt Myrtle who, at every visit, never failed
to shout how fine and dandy things were during her childhood, when
"everybody knew his place.") We might expect our homosexual
brothers and sisters to be delighted; they hardly can be said to
"control any of the institutions of this country" and so are
now free to say or do what they want to any black person (or anyone
else, for that matter) and never ever be judged racist. If institutional
empowerment is to be the measure of racist potential, then most people
under the age of thirty are excused. The children in my family are now
armed with a surefire answer to us adults, when we beg them not to use
the language they hear in the music of certain black recording artists.
The list goes on and on. No power, no racism. Presumably, if it weren’t
for white males — including Jewish guys, of course — this nation
would be virtually without racism, a social paradise! Yet, even with us
here to spoil his fun, the unracist Mr. Alexander finds himself in a
very large majority. It must a novel feeling for him.
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Remembering Herb Leonard of Metro, An Unsung
Hero
Kathryn A. Pearson-West, wkpw3@aol.com
Thank you themail, Gary and Dorothy, for letting your audience know
about the demise of Herb Leonard of Metro, Government Relations [themail,
August 6]. He was a great person and a friend. I am so sorry that I
could not attend the services for him. I met Herb Leonard early in the
’80’s when I was just beginning my community activist days, had two
children under five, and was working for the US Department of Education
before moving to the District government. I remember seeing him and his
team come to meetings about the Green Line Metro, and the community
would give them some harsh words. Herb would always maintain a warm
smile and pleasant demeanor. He was much tougher than he looked and you
couldn’t really tell when you touched a nerve. He would be firm, but
compassionate.
Through Herb, I met other great leaders associated with the
construction of the Metro Green Line, such as the late Carmen Turner
(General Manager), Gladys Mack (Metro Board), William Fauntroy (Metro),
and Art Lawson (now Herb’s replacement at Metro, but then at Public
Works). I would call the office so much that the assistant answering the
phone knew my voice and immediately called me by name. The Green Line
discussion was heated, and at least once Mayor Marion Barry came out to
the community to discuss it. Herb was always there giving his best to
the North Michigan Park and Lamond-Riggs Park community and trying to
resolve issues and calm tempers.
Herb was missed when he retired from Metro, and it was not long after
that I lost touch with him. He’ll always be remembered as a major
player for Metro. Now that’s a person that deserves a plaque or
something named after him at Metro. For many of us, he was Metro. Like
the movie stars of yesteryear, they don’t make them like that anymore.
He’s a legend to be remembered and emulated. Hail to the unsung hero.
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A Vote of No Confidence in the BOEE
Regina Carmen Page, reginacarmenpage@aol.com
As I read the August 10 installment of themail (“A New Low at BOEE”),
I am submitting my account of the Board of Elections and Ethics’
disservice towards citizens who filed petitions challenging an Advisory
Neighborhood Commission special election held in 2002. The special
election was the second one held within three months to fill a vacancy
in Single Member District (SMD) 4B02, and it violated DC election code.
This second election followed a successful challenge to the first
illegal election. In both cases, the intent was to prevent a disfavored
candidate from running for the seat. In the first case, the elected
candidate was unknown to the community, had long relocated from the SMD,
and wasn’t even present on election night.
In the second case, in summary, BOEE’s legal counsel, Rudolf McGann,
unequivocally upheld the petition challenge and the board was prepared
to render a decision accordingly. Councilmember Adrian Fenty intervened
to support the position of constituents who opposed the challenge. He
sent a staff member to read the councilmember’s statement into the
testimonial record. The BOEE called a fifteen-minute closed-door recess,
which lasted more than two hours. Upon returning, the BOEE reversed
itself, ignored the election code, and, dismissed the petition challenge
in a condescending and impatient manner.
When submitting a recall petition several months ago, residents of
the same commission area found the same type of hostile atmosphere
Dorothy has described. I have no confidence in BOEE’s enforcement of
the election code.
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Realistic Public Safety Matters
Ben Aspero, benaspero@hotmail.com
I am a little surprised that the editor would seemingly jump to Mr.
Fenty’s defense by using a parenthetical paragraph at the end of my
commentary last week to undermine my comments regarding young Mr. Fenty’s
public safety position by quoting someone who at least five people with
decades of experience in MPD, DCEMA, and FEMS have never heard
mentioned. Frankly, I have never heard of Bonnie Cain; her endorsement
means little to me. In deference to the editor, I took time to look
Google her name. For readers’ information: she wrote two articles for
DC Watch in 1997 and 1998. While admirable in her field of study, a
Masters in Education focusing on adult literacy and, at that date of
posting, one not yet complete ANC term of experience, does not inspire
the same confidence as experts with professional lifetimes of
experience.
Since the editor introduced the topic of endorsements and, in the
interest of fairness, I thought it worth looking into what public safety
organizations or experts have publicly endorsed the viable candidates’
public safety platforms. Cropp’s plan is endorsed by the Fraternal
Order of Police MPD Labor Committee, former US Attorney Eric Holder, and
The DC Association of Fire Fighters. Neither the Fenty or Johns
campaigns have any endorsements listed on their web sites nor had any
campaign workers with the knowledge available to reply during phone
calls. (This actually surprised me about Johns campaign. I thought, like
Verizon operators, hers would have a basic knowledge-base about their
candidate.) Any candidate’s lack of significant public safety
endorsements speaks volumes to me. In this case, it indicates that of
those experts willing to step forward, particularly our first responders
representatives, know the Cropp plan and believe it will work better
than either Fenty’s or Johns’ plans. To me, those endorsements,
combined with my experiences inside the DC government public safety
arena and as an everyday resident, support the argument in favor of
Cropp.
This is about our safety, plain and simple. We should not gamble with
it. While it is easy to make promises, great weight should be given to
the endorsement of the people we residents hold responsible for
operationalizing them. Of the candidates, Cropp seems to have the best
and most realistic plan. In government matters, particularly public
safety, I prefer a realistic plan that experts are willing to publicly
support to those plans about which experts remain silent.
###############
This is to advise that the August 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 September 8 (the 2nd
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) “Washington Heights Historic
District Now Official in Adams Morgan Despite 82 Percent of Business
Owners in Opposition”; 2) “Explosion of New Retail Set for 14th
Street From Thomas Circle to Columbia Heights”; 3) “Adams Morgan Day
Festival Set for Sunday, Sept. 10.”
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Investigating Where We Live, August 18
Lauren Searl, lsearl@nbm.org
Friday, August 18, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Exhibition opening: Investigating
Where We Live. Celebrate the opening of this new exhibition showcasing
the results of the National Building Museum’s five-week outreach
program Investigating Where We Live (IWWL). IWWL teaches young people to
use photography as a tool for exploring and documenting neighborhoods in
Washington, DC. Through this process they gain an understanding of city
planning, architecture, photography, and exhibition design. As part of a
partnership with the Anacostia Community Land Trust, participants
explored three neighborhoods in the Southeast quadrant of the city:
Capitol Heights, Hillsdale, and Uniontown. Free. Registration not
required. At the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Judiciary
Square stop, Metro Red Line.
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Dumbarton House, a Federal period historic house museum located in
Georgetown, announces the following programs related to the history of
Washington, DC, during the War of 1812. For additional information
please visit our web site at http://www.dumbartonhouse.org.
Dolley Madison Week tours, Tuesday, August 22 through Saturday,
August 26. 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (last tour begins at 1:15 p.m.)
Washington in flames could be seen as far away as Baltimore on August
24, 1814. As the British Army approached the capital, the majority of
residents fled the city. At the last possible moment, First Lady Dolley
Madison saved the White House portrait of George Washington and escaped
to safety. Honor the anniversary of Dolley Madison’s flight, first to
Dumbarton House, as the British advanced on Washington. Learn about
Washington during the War of 1812, tour Dumbarton House, and sample
Dolley’s favorite cake during Dolley Madison Week tours. Fee: $5/
person. Reservations required for groups of five or more. Please call
337-2288, x 450.
Lecture and book signing, Thursday, August 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Join us
for an evening lecture featuring historian Anthony S. Pitch, author of The
Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814. In his talk,
Mr. Pitch will highlight documentary evidence he found proving that
Dolley Madison sought temporary refuge at Dumbarton House after fleeing
the White House when British forces advanced on the capital. Museum
tours, focusing on Dolley’s famed flight and Washington during the War
of 1812 years, will precede the lecture. Following the presentation, Mr.
Pitch will sign copies of his book, which will be available for sale. The
Burning of Washington has received recognition as a selection of the
History Book Club, winner of the Arline Custer Memorial Prize for best
book from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, and recipient
of the Maryland Historical Society’s annual book award. He has been
featured on C-Span TV, the History Channel, National Public Radio, Book
TV, Voice of America, and international television. Fee: $10/person.
Reservations recommended. Please call 337-2288, x 450.
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National Daughter-Daddy Reunion Tour, October
6-7
Jonetta Rose Barras, ddreunion@aol.com
You missed it last year; don’t miss it this time. Esther
Productions, Inc., presents the National Daughter-Daddy Reunion Tour,
October 6-7, at the National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, NW.
If you are a daughter growing up or have grown up without the presence
and active involvement of your biological father in your life; if you
are a practitioner or lay professional working with youth, fathers, or
female-headed families; or if you are a father eager to restore your
relationship with your daughter, then the National Daughter-Daddy
Reunion Tour is for you. For more information, call 232-0780 or
232-0781. Visit us at http://www.estherproductions.com.
The National Daughter-Daddy Reunion Tour is supported by CIGNA
Healthcare, MedStar Health, The Summit Fund of Washington, The National
City Christian Church, The Downtown Cluster of Congregations, The
National Center on Fathering, and the DC Healthy Marriages and
Relationships Coalition, and is presented in association with the
Together Is Better Initiative.
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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
Sporting Goods and Household Items
Mary Vogel, mevplan-16thSt at yahoo dot com
I’m getting ready to move, though I don’t know quite where yet. I
want to go back to the Pacific Northwest, but I may not get farther than
across town or just down 16th Street a few blocks. I want to ask for
your help in making my move possible. I need to lighten up and get some
of the possessions below into the hands of those who will put them to
good use. I have put prices by things to give some idea of what I’m
thinking, but I’m open to considering other offers. Please see my ads
on Craigslist “For Sale” under either Household Items or Sporting
Goods for photos of most items listed below. I would prefer phone calls
to E-mails, but either will get answered eventually. My land line is
547-7820.
Boreal Climbing Boots (I wear 9.5 AA in women’s shoes and they fit
me) - $30. Sierra West very lightweight tent - $20. Sherpa Snowshoes -
$25. Madden Backpack - $30. Big powerful electric fan - $15. Electric
radiator-type heater - $35. Dirt Devil small vacuum cleaner for cleaning
your car or couch - $10. TV Stand - $8. Hanging Lamp - $8. Large basket
suitable for gifts - $8. Candle holders with candles, be prepared for
power outages! - $8. Squirrel-proof bird feeder - $10. Large stainless
steel frying pan - $10. Stainless steel serving tray - $10. The rest
below I’m quite negotiable on price: stainless steel toaster oven or
microwave stand, stainless steel basket and non-stainless steel basket,
stainless steel soap dish, Pyrex pie pans, a sifter, decorative watering
can, glass vases, plastic pitcher, silverware and various kitchen
utensils.
Low VOC Paint, almost a gallon of pale yellow; will throw in the
quarter gallon of white (no smell, no carcinogens). Spackling paste, big
bucket, almost full. Stains, several colors, more than shown in photo.
Tung oil floor finish, protect your floor and your child or your pet, no
VOCs. Sand paper, lots of it (but not shown in photos). Painting
supplies: rollers, pan, tarps, cleanup fluids, not shown in photos. I’d
like to sell the above as a package for $30, but will sell separately if
necessary.
“Save New Orleans Stop Global Warming” T-shirts - $10. Back says
“Solutions Exist.” They were printed by and benefit New Orleans
Sierra Club and Alliance for Affordable Energy, whose logos are also on
the shirts. Only four left: two women’s large crew style (run small),
and two men’s medium (runs large).
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED
Full Time Legal Assistant
Jon Katz, jon at markskatz dot com
Silver Spring, Maryland. Full time experienced legal secretary.
Excellent pay ($30,000-$60,000), excellent benefits package (including
health insurance), paid parking/Metro, and training. Reasonable hours
and schedule. Unlimited career and pay growth potential. Highly-ranked,
caring, and friendly law firm in the news seeks experienced Legal
Secretaries (minimum one year legal experience required, preferably with
excellent private law firm trial litigation experience) with excellent
skills in communication, organization, loyalty to the law firm and its
clients, promptness with work, and productivity. The successful
candidate will be a team player who is drawn to our practice mix and
philosophy of delivering excellent service for justice. Requires a
person with common sense who thrives with a fast pace and a bachelor’s
degree or equivalent intellectual ability. Fax 301-495-8815, http://www.markskatz.com.
###############
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