The Phony Promise

Dear Promise Keepers:

Democracy doesn’t work. A democratic system is inefficient and it takes too long to do things. It’s much better to put all power in the hands of one strong man, who can just command that things be done. That’s the message behind Mayor Fenty’s power grab for the schools, and it’s the message that councilmembers are ready and eager to vote for. A democratically elected school board is too much trouble, so its power should be stripped from it. Allowing DC citizens to govern themselves by voting on amendments to their own constitution is too cumbersome, so it’s better to have Congress impose the laws on the District of Columbia. Fenty has basically adopted the academic (http://www.dcpswatch.com/mayor/070223.htm) and special education (http://www.dcpswatch.com/mayor/070227d.htm) plans that Superintendent Janey and the Board of Education have developed, thus endorsing them. But Fenty says that Janey and the school board have taken too long to improve DC schools, and that if he’s given unlimited power to command he’ll bring about rapid — no, immediate — improvements in student education and achievement.

The Fenty coup, his takeover of the school system, has the votes to win in the city council. It will pass. So why are its supporters now so nervous, so defensive, so nasty? For two reasons: first, because they know that the takeover isn’t supported by the people -- which is why they’re avoiding the required public referendum vote. Second, because they know that they can’t keep the promises that they have made. The rationale for strongman governance of the schools is that a strong man in control can do what a democratic government is too slow and inefficient to do. But what happens after the strong man has been given all the power, and student test scores don’t improve immediately and dramatically? The mayor and councilmembers will be reduced to pleading with the public to be patient, to allow time (a long time) for their new governance plan to work. “The system didn’t get broken overnight; it’s won’t get fixed overnight.” I can hear it now. The inevitable exposure of the phony promises of quick fixes that they have made explains why Fenty, the councilmembers who support him, and his supporters in the press are so nervous.

That nervousness was in full display in an hysterical, personal, and petty attack on me yesterday by Harry Jaffe (http://www.examiner.com/a-587805~Hot_air_on_D_C__school_reform_pollutes_debate.html). Because DCWatch is a good government organization, it concentrates on the failures and wrongdoings of DC government and its officials. That’s our job. Harry smears Dorothy and me by claiming that because we pointed out when they did something wrong we “hated” Tony Williams and “hate” Adrian Fenty. That’s how it must appear to someone who has been an uncritical apologist for them both, but it’s demonstrably untrue. Even someone with a short memory should remember how I defended Fenty against what I believed were unfair attacks on him during his primary campaign. Harry also sneers at how Dorothy “packs her days with press conferences and public hearings,” but because she does we don’t have to rely on government press releases for all our information, like Harry does.

The burden of Harry’s argument, however, is that because Dorothy and I are unfortunately childless, we don’t have the right to comment on the public schools. Under that rationale, we have no right to comment on DMV because we don’t currently own a car, or to comment on the Board of Elections and Ethics and the Office of Campaign Finance because we’re not candidates, or to comment on the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner because we’re not dead. But Harry, because he does have children, says, “Now comes the Silent Majority of public school parents. I am appointing myself their voice. . .” to praise Fenty’s takeover proposal. Well, he praises it, but he doesn’t say why, except for calling the takeover “reform.” His column doesn’t cite a single reason for anyone to support it. Harry has to appoint himself the voice of public school parents, because Fenty’s plan has not been endorsed by a single organization of public school parents — not one, from Parents United for the DC Public Schools, to Fix Our Schools, to Save Our Schools, to the 21st Century School Fund, to the Ward Councils on Education, to the citywide Parent Teachers Association. So Harry stakes a position in opposition to numerous legitimate representatives of public school parents in the name of the “silent majority” of public school parents — presumably, just Harry.

There’s a well-known strategy among reporters and bloggers. When a little-known minor figure wants to call attention to himself, he picks an argument with someone much more important, hoping to start a feud that will inflate his reputation. So Harry, hoping to get something going, has passed over other, less important columnists who are just as critical of Fenty’s takeover plan as I am, B-listers like Adrienne Washington at the Washington Times and Colbert King at the Washington Post, and taken on the big dog, me. (I’ve learned from bitter experience that when I write something ironic like that, I have to point out that I’m being ironic, or somebody will take it seriously and assume that I have a tremendous ego. So, I’m being ironic here.) But the issue isn’t Harry or me, it’s whether sacrificing a democratically elected school board and giving the mayor total power will improve education for our city’s children — and neither Fenty nor Harry has given any reason to believe it will.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Geoff Griffis
George R. Clark, Federation of Citizens Associations, GRClark@GeorgeRClark.com

What concerns me as a lawyer about the debate over Geoff Griffis at the council last week was the attempt by certain members to turn the opposition into one based on the "manners" with which Mr. Griffis treats those who testify before the Board of Zoning Adjustment instead of his disregard for legal principles and standards. While a discourteous BZA chair would not be doing the job, the Federation’s opposition is hardly based on that. That also tells me that the Griffis supporters want to divert the focus onto subsidiary issues. And just to be clear, this is not, as Jack Evans sometimes puts it, about “who wins” a particular case — it is a matter of the integrity of an important process. That is why the Federation of Citizens Associations is so concerned about this appointment. The BZA and the Zoning Commission are supposed to follow the comprehensive plan and the zoning code. They are supposed to follow proper procedures in connection their deliberations which give citizens and associations and ANCs proper standing under the DC Administrative Procedure Act. Development proceeds in accordance with law and regulation, not at the idiosyncratic views of a commission member.

This is a quasi-judicial job. Citizens can better accept losing a zoning battle if they feel that the proper procedures were followed and they got a fair shake. When they see a decisionmaker trying to restrict their rights or appearing to have prejudged a case, they lose confidence in the process and have a hard time accepting an adverse decision. And the next case becomes even more bitter. The only way to break this cycle is to make sure that appointees will be fair and follow the law, not some other agenda.

For Mr. Griffis to say that any party who appears at the BZA can appeal an adverse decision ignores what all lawyers know. If you haven’t had a right to participate as a party in the proceeding, you will lose the appeal, and waste your time in doing so. In making this statement Mr. Griffis reveals his true belief — that BZA hearings are “show” and an unfortunate necessity on the way to reaching a result. Anyone who has that view should not sit on either the BZA or the Zoning Commission — or any regulatory or administrative body.

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Geoff Griffis Is Corrupt and Should Not Be Appointed to Any DC Government Position
Laine Shakerdge, laine.shake@verizon.net

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the reappointment of Geoff Griffis, current Chair of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, to any role in DC government. He has repeatedly conducted himself in an unethical manner, and he does not represent DC citizens well. It would not be wise for Mayor Fenty to begin his administration with an appointee who has a recent history of well documented corruption. This opposition is based on Chairman Griffis’ actions in Case No. 16970, Application of National Child Research Center (NCRC), a preschool located in a residential neighborhood in a historic district that sought permission to double its physical capacity and expand its authorized enrollment by fifty percent.

Geoff Griffis began every public BZA hearing with a declaration that, "All decisions must be made solely on the record" and a warning to attendees, “Do not engage Board members in conversation outside this hearing.” Yet during the course of at least six hearings on the NCRC case, Chairman Griffis was carrying on a covert romance with a trustee on NCRC’s Board of Directors, the woman serving as its project director! The hypocrisy is outrageous. He should have/could have recused himself from the case voluntarily. Instead, he was blatantly disrespectful of those testifying for the opposition. At the end, working with legal counsel, he made an obvious and partly successful effort to undo the BZA’s initial rejection of the application, by a 3-1 vote, with him being alone in the minority. It took three motions by the parties in opposition for Mr. Griffis to finally admit that he had to recuse himself.

NCRC was before the BZA again last month, in a continuation of the matter, but with a new case number, and there was Chairman Griffis, presiding again. His presence and his declarations of how above board the BZA is, made a farce of the proceedings. It was infuriating to many of those in attendance. There must be other DC residents who have the scope of experience that’s needed to serve on the Board of Zoning Adjustment or the Zoning Commission and have a sense of ethics that will ensure that cases before them are considered objectively and lawfully. Geoff Griffis’ blatant corruption should not be rewarded with another appointment to any public office.

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Griffis Nomination
Sallie Beckner, salliebeckner@verizon.net

While we wait for Zoning Commission nominee Geoff Griffis to answer new allegations of ethical and legal violations, I’d like to respond to his attempt to justify his misconduct as the BZA Chair in the well documented NCRC case. At his confirmation hearing last week, Griffis told the council that he didn’t start dating the NCRC Board Member and the expansion project co-director until a month after the case was decided. Wrong! Here’s why. The NCRC case was far from over, when over 150 of my neighbors and I asked Mr. Griffis to recuse himself in June 2004. In fact, the case continued to be before the BZA until May 2005, almost a year later. And just so you know, in their disqualification motion, the neighbors also asked for the opportunity to swear in witnesses and take testimony under oath to determine when this relationship with Clair Bloch (NCRC’s Board member) began. Griffis denied that request.

Griffis’ “no harm, no foul” argument misses the point entirely. The Canons of Judicial Ethics do not require litigants to play a cat-and mouse game with judges in an effort to discover the details of a conflict of interest. Rather, they require the judge (and members of the BZA and Zoning Commission are judicial officers) to act voluntarily, without waiting for a party’s request. No reasonable person can maintain that a judge’s impartiality is not suspect when he’s dating a trustee of a party in a case that is before him. The fact that Griffis did recuse himself in further dealings on the case is an admission that the neighbor’s position on recusal was correct. Before walking off the dais, Griffis singled several other people and me out, denouncing us as bullies and insisting that there was nothing wrong with his “new romance” and it was a “hollow, personal attack” for us to question his impartiality. What about my rights and my neighbors, afforded to us under the Constitution, to procedural due process and an impartial decision maker?

Mayor Fenty knew about the ethical problems in this case and nominated Griffis anyway for this promotion. The members of the council need to insist that this flawed nominee be withdrawn.

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Geoff Griffis and the NCRC Case
Ana Tejblum Evans, taaeevans@msn.com

I am writing about Mr. Griffis’ handling of the National Child Research Center matter several years ago, and what light this sheds on his candidacy for a position on the zoning commission. While the preschool’s application was before the Board of Zoning Adjustment, Mr. Griffis began a personal relationship with an active member of NCRC’s board. Mr. Griffis did not recuse himself from the case until he was confronted with the incontrovertible evidence of this relationship. It was not up to him to decide what impact the friendship had on his ability to review the facts impartially. Indeed, his handling of the case was odd, and his attitude toward the people opposed to the school’s expansion was dismissive. At the very least, Mr. Griffis should have acknowledged the impropriety of his actions. The fact that he did not, and continues to proffer implausible explanations for his behavior, indicates that he is not a suitable candidate for a position in municipal government.

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Geoff Griffis
Stephen S. Haas, Ward 3, sshaas@msn.com

I write to protest the appointment of Mr. Griffis to the Zoning Commission. He has revealed himself as a corrupt and unethical person in his mismanagement of the NCRC issue. In addition to his inappropriate affair with a member of the school board during the hearings and decision process, he demonstrated a mean and inappropriate response to the citizens of the community upon the revelations of his violation of public trust.

This is not the only example of his tainted record (City Partners, double dipping in homestead deductions, etc.). His protests are weak and are an attempt to manipulate the facts. We deserve better stewardship of this important position.

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DC Taxicab Complaints
Melanie E. Alnwick, WTTG-TV FOX-5, melanie.alnwick@foxtv.com

WTTG aired a story last night about major problems with the DC Taxicab Commission. Our focus was primarily on how some very serious complaints are dismissed or ignored. I’d love it if you’d post a link to our story at http://www.myfoxdc.com. I really want to find out from themail’s readers if this new computerized complaint system is working. They can contact me at the e-mail address above.

Of course, there’s more taxicab drama underneath: three nominees for commissioner, another move to do away with the Taxicab Commission is underway, and the perennial favorite — meters versus zones.

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Proposed Real Property Tax Assessments
Peter S. Craig, swedecraig@aol.com

At today’s hearing before Jack Evans’ committee, Mr. Evans volunteered the opinion that he sided with the Office of Tax and Revenue and against the city’s residential taxpayers in the District Government’s appeal to the DC Court of Appeals, asking for reversal of Judge Hamilton’s decision in the class action case finding that the across-the-board increases in assessments for tax year 2002 were in violation of the DC Code and the constitutional protections of Due Process and Equal Protection. Speaking for OTR was Sherryl Hobbs Newman, Deputy CFO for OTR, whose prepared statement alleged: “Beginning today, taxpayers will receive their first half FY 2007 property tax bills as well as next year’s FY 2008 proposed property assessment notices.” She claimed that the FY 2008 assessment notices "reflect the continual rise in District real property values from total value in FY07 of $150.4 billion to $172.3 billion in FY08, a 14.59% increase."

This is misleading. The numbers reflect OTR’s estimate of market values as shown in its own assessments, not actual sales data. Using conventional assessment/sales ratio comparisons, there was no material change in Cleveland Park values for single-family houses in 2006 versus 2005, although the proposed assessments for such properties were increased by an average of 8.37 percent. (Assessments for FY08 are supposed to reflect estimated market value as of January 1, 2007) A basic defect affecting all residential assessments is that the OTR erroneously assumes that gross sales prices, as shown on deeds, are the same as “estimated market value.” They are not. As held by Judge Hamilton in his decision of 2005, “estimated market value, as used in the DC Code, refers solely to the value of the real property being assessed and does not include personal property or services or taxes related to the sale of such real property that would be borne by the owner if the property were sold, such as agents’ commissions, fix-up costs (or seller subsidy at closing) and transfer taxes.” In the usual case, such non-real property items are about 10 percent of the gross sales price.

As a result of this error, the proposed assessments for single-family properties sold in Cleveland Park in 2006 average 111 percent of actual “estimated market value,” and, on a property-by-property basis, range from 95 percent of EMV to 134 percent of EMV. New purchasers in Cleveland Park should be aware of this fact. For most Cleveland Park homeowners, however, the proposed assessments (although excessive in most cases) have no immediate dollar impact, because of “caps” imposed by the DC Council. Fortunately, the new assessment notices will show both the proposed assessment and the taxable (capped) assessment for each property. In defense of OTR’s assessment practices, Newman testified, “We continue to see improved accuracy in our valuation processes. The coefficient of dispersion is 10.2 percent (standard is less than 15 percent) and the price related differential is 1.00 (standard is between 97 and 103 percent).” This, too, is misleading, as it is a comparison of proposed assessments for Tax Year 2008 with calendar year 2006 sales. This kind of comparison is rejected by professionals and the courts as “sales chasing” since it compares assessments made after December 31, 2006, with prior sales. Valid assessment/sales studies require the comparison of assessments with sales subsequent to the assessments.

There is no doubt that the proposed TY 2008 assessments in Cleveland Park are an improvement over TY 2002 assessments, which were invalidated by Judge Hamilton. In that case, the coefficient of dispersion (as calculated by OTR’s own consultant, Robert Gloudemans) was 29 percent for all single-family detached houses reassessed that year with a price-related differential of 129 percent (thus favoring the most expensive properties) -- both far outside of acceptable limits. However, Ms. Newman overstates the improvement. Within Cleveland Park, I do detect one minor improvement. For the first time, OTR seems to recognize that the value of houses along the 34th Street/Reno Road corridor are adversely affected by traffic. The primary defects in Cleveland Park assessments currently center on the erroneous assumption that the only variable in the value of land is lot size, without regard to other factors such as topography, view, traffic, noise, crime and site improvements (such as stone walls or retaining walls, outdoor lighting, lawn-sprinkling systems).

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Say No to $50 Million for Abe Pollin
Ed Lazere, lazere@dcfpi.org

Some say that we owe Pollin for moving the Wizards and Capitals back into DC and turning around the east side of downtown. But city taxpayers have been helping Pollin since the day the then-MCI Center opened. DC provided the land and charges Pollin only a nominal fee to lease it. Also, Pollin has not paid a penny in property taxes for the building, a savings of nearly $4 million every year.

Supporters of the tax increase say that it falls squarely on users of the Verizon Center. But if spectators ultimately will pay through a ticket tax, why can’t Pollin simply raise ticket prices or increase what he charges groups to lease the facility — and leave DC government out of the picture? I think the answer is that Pollin would get his $50 million but let DC take the risk if the new tax revenues are not enough to cover the costs. There are other ways to help Pollin that do not put a dime of DC taxpayer funds on the line, such as the Industrial Revenue Bond program. IRBs help businesses borrow at very low interest rates but leave them entirely responsible for paying off the bonds. Granted, the maximum amount Pollin can get from a revenue bond is $15 million, not $50, but it’s still a help.

In the end, DC should find ways to help businesses thrive, but there must be limits. In particular, the city’s finances should be protected. Isn’t it reasonable to say that public funds shouldn’t be offered when businesses can finance projects on their own?

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School Reform Is Tough, Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Is Not
Victoria McKernan, victoriamck@mindspring.com

There are a lot of tough issues facing the DC government. Sidewalk snow removal is not one of them. Many people were surprised to learn this month, as they stumbled and slipped over uncleared sidewalks, that while there is a law requiring people to shovel public sidewalks along their property line, there is no real method of enforcing this law or fining transgressors. This is an easy fix!

1) Pass a real law. “Every property owner is required to clear snow and ice from the public sidewalk adjoining the whole of their property line within 8 hours of the end of snowfall.” 2) Set real fines, equal to or greater than the cost of hiring someone to shovel your walk: row houses, $30.00; free standing houses, $50.00 (fines double for any house where the private steps and front walk is shoveled, but not the public sidewalk); small businesses, $100.00; big businesses, $200.00; churches (hello — you already skip out on taxes!), $500.00; churches that shovel their steps and plow their parking lots but won’t clear their sidewalks, $1,000.00 and the plagues of Egypt. 3) Establish enforcement. How about a good web site, someone to run it for a percentage of the ticket revenue and the many pissed-off neighbors with digital cameras to send in photos? It only takes five minutes to post (with photos) a couch for sale on Craigslist. How hard could this be? Or, since big snows usually mean schools close, what about hiring high school seniors or teachers to go out snapping pictures? Perhaps parking enforcement could do it? Lots of possible solutions here; none is complicated.

Clearly (and sadly) it seems that people in this city have very little sense of civic responsibility. But trashy streets don’t break bones — icy sidewalks do. Besides removing the obvious danger to the public, a law with real enforcement would also generate ticket revenue and provide income opportunities for industrious snow shovelers. After both recent snowfalls, my neighborhood was crawling with homeless guys shoveling. Since schools are probably closed, otherwise bored teens could be earning money. At ten or twenty dollars or more per house, it’s a pretty lucrative day’s work. The old and poor and infirm can apply for a free “get out of shoveling” permit, which would also provide a great community service opportunity for students and churches.

For all the world-planning that goes on in this city, people remain stubbornly unwilling to plan for snow removal. Yes, yes, you have to go to work and don’t have time to shovel in the morning. So plan ahead! You certainly know the snow is coming — it is announced like the apocalypse! If you can’t shovel yourself, arrange ahead of time to hire someone!

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Infrared Trash Cans
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

In case you haven’t been keeping up with infrared trash cans, don’t worry. Washington Post blogger Marc Fisher has you covered (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher). And because news is interactive today, you can comment right on this blog about infrared trash cans. Don’t hold back. Pile on in.

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Carmageddon
Mark Eckenwiler, themale at ingot dot org

Apropos of the recent discussion of Metrobus drivers, I’m reminded of Ambrose Bierce’s mordant apothegm (from The Devil’s Dictionary, 1911) and its accuracy in describing the behavior of most present-day drivers in DC:

“PEDESTRIAN, n. The variable (and audible) part of the roadway for an automobile.”

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DC Teachers Didn’t Vote for the Mayor’s Takeover Plan
Elizabeth Davis, lizday_1951@yahoo.com

Yesterday, George Parker, president of the Washington Teachers’ Union, announced that the 4, 800 members of the WTU supported Mayor Fenty’s proposal to take over the schools. On Monday, February 26, 2007, Parker met with WTU delegates elected by their colleagues from the various public schools throughout the District, to hear school board president Robert Bobb’s rationale for the Board’s proposal. Prior to Bobb’s invitation to meet the teachers, Parker afforded Mayor Fenty the opportunity to sell his proposal to DCPS teachers. Sandwiched between Fenty’s and Bobb’s meetings with teachers was an automated phone call from Parker to WTU members and a slick eight-page newsletter mailed to all members comparing the mayor’s and the Board’s proposals. Parker gave the mayor’s plan high marks, unlike the marks the mayor has given the schools, the superintendent, the teachers or its union. In his comparison, he failed to acknowledge that the mayor’s proposal was more about governance and less about improving academic achievement.

Although I attended the meeting as a non-delegate, I was permitted to ask a question. Why was the union leadership encouraging its members to embrace the mayor’s ‘takeover’ proposal in order to oppose the Board’s proposal? Why weren’t the members exposed to opposing views about the mayor’s proposal? Why weren’t we encouraged to, at least, consider the assessment of both proposals offered by the Council of Great City Schools? Although WTU delegates also wanted answers to these questions, they were not provided. Although we agreed that we did not approve of Board’s proposal or the mayor’s proposal, our union leadership took the liberty of supporting Fenty’s takeover proposal without our voice or vote. One thing can be said about our leadership: it is taking its style of autocratic leadership from Mayor Fenty: just go around the people that elected you and decide for them what they want. Wow, what a great lesson in democracy for our students.

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Citizens Seek the Best of Both Education Plans without Changing Governance
Kathryn A. Pearson-West, wkpw3@aol.com

After attending the Ward 3 and Ward 5 Democratic Committee meeting to discuss the mayor’s and Board of Education’s plans for the school system, it has become increasingly clear that DC residents want a joint plan that combines the best of plans with some additions and tweaks here and there. Many citizens don’t seem to want the school board to become an advisory panel and be emasculated, especially when there is skilled and promising board president like Robert Bobb. He seems most able, probably more so than the current mayor and council.

Many citizens are not clear on the details, options, and possible ramifications of the plan. What many citizens may connect with better than by just reading the legislation might be a laundry list, checklist, shopping list (call it what you what) that breaks down the proposed ideas in each plan in a concise list. Then put a check box next to the idea to be marked "for" or "against" or "like" or "dislike." For example, state, "Separate state functions from local school board functions" and give the respondent the opportunity to check for or against. Or, "allow the mayor to handle repairs, and buildings and grounds upkeep" -- for or against. There may be support for individual ideas, but few stakeholders support the whole plan and quite a few do not want to get rid of the elected school board, the first elected body. In fact, many were looking forward to the return of school board members for each ward and with real power and ability to get the superintendent to implement ideas and policies on an agreed upon, accelerated schedule with the appropriate budgeted costs. City leaders need to now break down all the proposed ideas and action items in the two education plans into a list, but should not indicate whether it is part of the mayor’s or school board’s plan. Mix the items up on the list. Then allow citizens to go to the list and pick what they prefer and what they don’t want to see in a joint, collaborative plan for the schools and our children. Add some of the ideas and recommendations presented in testimonies and at meetings. Disseminate and collect the information somehow (though a referendum would be a good way) by a trustworthy and respectable entity that won’t misinterpret data results. Use the feedback to develop one cohesive plan that can be celebrated by the whole city. [Finished online at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/07-02-28.htm#west]

It is so important to have buy-in from citizens if you want good, open government. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of listening in the discourse on the schools. The mayor and council are staking out their turf and political fiefdoms. The council appears to be carrying water for the mayor and it probably won’t be long before they report to the mayor to ensure accountability and one place to contact for the proper control and responsible person in charge. The relevance of the city council may soon become a question, as it is obvious that DC is moving toward a strong mayor-weak council form of government where the council is more of an appendage of or subordinate player to the mayor. Gone are the days when the council would throw hardball questions at a mayor. Why go to council members for anything when it appears that they work for the mayor and follow his edicts without question? Perception is everything; it is the political reality.

Councilmembers don’t appear to do their homework anymore because the mayor’s office seems to give them the information and script to follow. Watch the hearings and listen to comments in the media and you will see how unprepared many council members are in this discussion. Then when you go to the meetings and forums like the one that was held at the Ward 3 Dems, you find that the mayor’s people need to be a little sharper too. The diverse panel at the Ward 3 Dems meetings needs to take that show on the road. There was a wealth of information presented, and they got more than three minutes to make their case. That panel group could advise the council well on what needs to be done to really impact the schools without changing the governance structure. Bring these types of discussions and forums directly to constituents in communities on their turf. Give them the opportunity to learn from other great minds where there they can ask questions of the panelist and aren’t afraid to ask the questions that real citizens want to hear. They know who to grill a little harder than others and won’t be soft on any particular special interest groups. The community knows how to play hardball so that they can gauge the best options in a plan as well as the sincerity of leaders and panelists. As one panelist mentioned at the Ward 3 forum, "We are in a ‘gotcha’ mode." The city is trying to highlight all the problems and negatives and never the good things, progress, and rarely the reality of the situation nor the fact that their hand was part of the reason for the chaos and slowness in meeting goals. A lot of unnecessary finger pointing going on but some have to do that to accomplish the power grab without political repercussions. Oh that we could take time to play gotcha will all the things that the DC government has done wrong and continues to do. How much of the GAO negative procurement report was directed at other parts of the DC government and how many things could the Chief Financial Officer’s Office help control and remedy with a little collaboration on their part?

The mayor’s plan has been endorsed by a couple of labor unions, whatever that means to the average voter of DC. Somehow that doesn’t make the plan any stronger. Will the Teacher’s Union endorsement of the mayor’s plan bring greater accountability and teaching ability to the classroom? What percent of their children are in the DC public schools or attended them? How many live in the District of Columbia? How does the plan impact collective bargaining, workers, and children’s academic success? When will the public get to endorse the plan with a referendum? That is doubtful because there is the possibility that the plan could be rejected by the people. It is easier to orchestrate a hearing than to take a chance with a free-for-all referendum that the law stipulates be used when there is a change in the home rule charter, the constitution of the District of Columbia. States tend to use them when they make changes to their constitution, but DC only needs to bypass the citizens at will and run to Congress for approval. One hopes that these actions will not come back to bite DC leaders one day. A precedent is about to be set and once set legal arguments and questions of fairness can be built on it. Once Pandora’s Box is opened, it will be hard to close.

Confidence, bravado, charisma, and rhetoric do not always translate into the best policy and course of action. Citizens watch councilmembers operate as if they are a staff person for the mayor and do not deviate from the assignment. Leaders won’t even wait a month until council seats are filled in Wards 4 and 7. That’s either fear that the right council vote may not be elected or poor planning and risk management without contingencies allowed for public feedback and incorporation of ideas. Let the people’s will speak. Let them choose the best options out of both plans and proceed with a unified front. However, it seems like the days of collaboration are over and the mayor must get what he wants and the council must produce. Oh well, at least the citizens don’t have to think and participate any more because Big Brother is there to watch our backs and protect us without worry. Their will be done. Don’t let the hasty decisions and blind attention to a set agenda come back to bite us all another day.

A takeover is not a panacea. If it were, most jurisdictions in the country, especially DC suburbs, would be singing its praises and would adopt the practice. Instead, most jurisdictions rely on school boards that are empowered to hire and fire the superintendent and to do their jobs. The Board holds the superintendent and his actions accountable. The new school board has only been in office a couple of months and they seem to have good control over the superintendent. They couldn’t move on renovating all the schools until the Master Plan was approved which was done this January. Good timing since no one wanted to really talk about school closings during election time when careers might have been at risk. Look at other models of academic success around the world and see if it is governance or a changing culture, communities in need, teaching style, and a host of other things. Former superintendent Vance brought us the Montgomery County model, Janey the Boston model, and now the mayor brings the New York model. There has been a lot of changing going on in the last few years and then we expect the kids to excel on the standardized tests as the tests continue to change and the curriculum after the fact. Can we have a little stability in the schools and more insight into what children need to learn and be successful in a changing environment and global economy? And if the mayor wants to put his person in as superintendent/chancellor, then tell Janey and stop playing games. Then tell the school board that the reason for changing governance is to bring on his person. And forget about the added bureaucracy of a superintendent, deputy mayor, and whoever else is in that hierarchy with the council becoming the de facto school board.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS AND CLASSES

DC Public Library Events, repeated events
Randi Blank, randi.blank@dc.gov

Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Avenue, SE. Step aerobics. For more information, call 645-0755.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. And 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Adult Literacy Resource Center, Room 300. GED Practice Test. ID is required. For adult education and GED programs, call the Literacy Help Line at 727-2431.

Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m., Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, 3600 Alabama Avenue, SE. Spanish for Seniors Part II. Learn to speak, read, write and understand basic Spanish. Adults. For more information, call 645-4297.

Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th Street, SE. English as a Second Language Classes. Program designed to teach conversational English and fluency, and resume tips. Instructor will work with all levels. Young adult - Adult. For more information, call 698-3377.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, March 7-April 24, 6:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room A-5. The Audiovisual Division presents science fiction films. March 7, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), a double-bill of 1950’s sci-fi classics. Both films are rated PG. March 13, Blade Runner (1982). Ridley Scott directs Harrison Ford in this modern classic based on Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Rated R. March 20, Pitch Black (2000). Vin Diesel stars as a convict among a group of space travelers stranded on a hostile planet. Directed by David Twohy. Rated R. March 27, The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) and The Thing From Another World (1951) Another double-bill from Hollywood’s golden age of sci-fi movie making. Both films are rated PG. Coming in April: The Fifth Element (1997), Alien (1979), The Terminator (1984), and I, Robot (2004).

Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., West End Neighborhood Library, 1101 24th Street, NW. Qigong. Qigong is a form of Chinese medicine using movement, breathing and meditation techniques. Adults. The DC Public Library is not responsible, nor does it endorse health information given to participants during the program. For more information, call 724-8707.

Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, 416 Cedar Street, NW. Movie night at Takoma Park. Call 576-7252 for movie titles.

Thursdays, Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, 3660 Alabama Avenue, SE. Computer class for seniors. Introduction to basic computer use. Seniors. For more information, call 645-4297.

Saturdays, 3:00 p.m., Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, 3660 Alabama Avenue, SE. Knitting Sessions. Learn basic knitting. Bring your own yarn and needles. For more information, call 645-4297.

Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Petworth Neighborhood Library, 4200 Kansas Avenue, NW. Quilting Club. For people who love to work with their hands and be creative, come join the fun and partake of this African-American tradition. Make new friends, make family heirlooms, learn from the elders, and teach the children. For beginners or experienced quilters. For more information call 541-6300.

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HIV Prevention Education, March 1
Sam Jordan, samunomas@msn.com

Although District of Columbia governmental officials refer to the HIV crisis in the city as an epidemic, there is an anomalous deficit in investments in HIV Prevention Education. Very few organizations offer a systematic program of educational activities and training. Therefore, I am hoping to recruit as many as possible to attend the training offered by the American Red Cross. The HIV Starter Facts class is scheduled for Thursday, March 1, at 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at 6206 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, Maryland (PG Plaza MetroRail Station, Green Line). Tuition is $40, which covers text and certification. I will teach this class and many of the upcoming monthly sessions, as I have for the past two years. It has been recommended for agency certification, promotions, Peace Corps candidates, counselors, faith community representatives, community based organization leaders, students, and those who wish to take the next steps: Instructor and Instructor of Instructors. At whatever level you aspire to attain, we need your help.

To enroll, please call Cassandra King at 240-487-2116 or go to the web site at http://www.redcrossnca.org. Click “Register for a Class,” click “Health and Safety Education,” click “HIV/AIDS,” click “HIV/AIDS Starter Facts” and register online.

If you cannot take the course, but are associated with an organization or agency that would want to host a training at an off-site location for at least ten participants, please call me at 388-6661. Another alternative is to organize at least ten students who will take the course without the cost of text and certification. You may call me to make arrangements. I am a Red Cross Authorized Provider. We must respond now.

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DC Public Library Events, March 1, 3
Randi Blank, randi.blank@dc.gov

Thursday, March 1, 12:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room 221. Let’s Talk About Books. Mother Courage and Her Children, a play by Bertolt Brecht, will be discussed. April’s selection is the poetry of Sharon Olds. Please bring at least three poems to discuss. Call 727-1264 for more information.

Thursday, March 1, 12:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room A-5. Brown Bag Recital Series. Cellist Vassily Popov, pianist Ralitza Patcheva, with guest artists Sarah Geller, violin, and Wenhan Anderson, piano, will perform music by Brahms, Saint-Saens, and Paert. All ages. Call 727-1245 for more information.

Saturdays, March 3 and March 17, Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room 215. Saturday Technology Training Sessions. We will demonstrate new assistive technologies and provide group training. All ages who use assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired. For more information, call Adaptive Services at 727-2142.

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Ward 4 City Council Candidates Forum, March 5
Hazel B. Thomas, thomashazelb@aol.com

The DC Democratic Women’s Club will sponsor a forum for candidates for the Ward 4 city council seat on March 5 at 7;00 p.m. At St. Paul’s A.M.E. Church, 4911 14th Street, NW. Please come and bring a friend to hear the candidates in this pivotal election. The moderator will be Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, Director of Community Outreach and Involvement, University of the District of Columbia. Learn where candidates for the Ward 4 city council seat stand on issues that concern you! For more information, contact Selerya Moore, president, DC Democratic Women’s Club, 882-1561, or Margaret A. Moore, Ward 4 candidates forum coordinator, 722-6770.

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Ward 6 Democrats Community Forum on Education Reform, March 7
Charles Allen, ward6dems@aol.com

The Ward 6 Democrats will hold a community forum on education reform on Wednesday, March 7, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., at Hine Junior High School, 335 8th Street, SE. Join the Ward 6 Democrats for a community forum and discussion on education reform for DC Public Schools. We’ll have a panel discussion followed by an opportunity for community feedback. Joining the forum will be Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and School Board member Lisa Raymond. Make sure you come out to hear more details about the education reform proposals and have your voice heard.

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MLK Parade, April 7
Dorinda White, dorindaw@gmail.com

The 28th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., parade will kick off on Saturday, April 7, at 12:00 p.m. at Ballou Senior High School, located at 3401 4th Street, SE, and end at the corner of Good Hope Road and MLK, Jr., Avenue, SE. The parade will honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, Jr., in the nation’s capitol with the theme “Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present.” The parade will also celebrate the lives of the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the late Mrs. Rosa Parks, and the co-founders of this annual event, the late Dr. Calvin Rolark and the Honorable Wilhelmina Rolark.

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