Local
Dear Locals:
I’ve been getting a number of E-mails recently about national and
international political issues, with some peripheral reference to DC. I’ve
turned these down for publication in themail, because this forum is for
discussion of local issues, and national and international debates are
out of bounds. One submitter objected to my rejection of his message
about the Bush administration. He pointed out that the latest issue of
themail contained my note about Pittsburgh and another message about
Chicago, and asked how those were local. Here’s what I wrote him:
“The difference is that both Pittsburgh and Chicago were brought up as
comparisons to DC. It’s perfectly fine to write in themail about
things other cities are doing that DC should (or shouldn’t) or could
(or couldn’t) do. That is really, in the end, about DC. But just as I
kept debate over Clinton and the Clinton administration out of themail,
I keep debate over Bush and the Bush administration out. There are
plenty of other arenas in which to engage in those fights. When the
federal government does something that has an impact directly and
specifically on DC, then themail is the proper place to write about
Congress, the President, or the Supreme Court. When Congress considers
or amends DC’s budget, when the President signs or vetoes the bill to
give DC’s delegate a floor vote in Congress, when the Supreme Court
rules on or refuses to take DC’s appeal of the gun ban, that’s the
time to write about the federal government. But don’t use themail to
say that you love or hate the President; use it to say whether you love
or hate the mayor.” Or are indifferent; that’s okay, too.
I have to admit, though, that I’m not always consistent. Another
rule, practically the only other rule, about submissions to themail is
that they should be kept short, and that messages of one or two
paragraphs are preferable. I’ve scrapped that rule entirely for the
first two submissions below, because they are both public resolutions
about a very important issue — the city council’s passage on July 11
of an “emergency” resolution (http://www.dcwatch.com/council17/17-xxx.htm)
to dispose of the West End Library, a fire station, and a police office
to a developer favored by the mayor and some councilmembers. This
ill-advised action has three major faults: it disposes of public
property that is needed for, being used for, and perfectly well suited
for public purposes; it disposes of that property to a politically
connected developer through a no-bid process and under terms that are
highly favorable to that developer; and it was passed through a process
designed to shut the public out, and indeed to eliminate the possibility
of the public’s knowing in advance that it was going to be done. Dirty
business, and we should talk at length about it.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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ANC2B Resolution for the Stewardship of Public
Property, June 11, 2007
Dave Mallof, mallof@verizon.net
Whereas public property includes all property in the inventory of the
District of Columbia, operated and maintained through taxpayer dollars,
such as schools, libraries, parks, government buildings, and all
properties under the jurisdiction of any DC government entity, and
Whereas public property in the District of Columbia exists to serve
community needs and uses, and
Whereas numerous community needs persist to which vacant or
under-used public property should be dedicated, and
Whereas the residents of the District of Columbia entrust the
District government with the management and stewardship of public
properties, in service of the community, and
Whereas the District of Columbia government has established a pattern
of disposing of public property to private development interests;
Therefore be it resolved that ANC2B calls for the mayor, city council
and all relevant agencies carry out the following: 1) an immediate
moratorium on the disposition of public property; 2) a complete
inventory of public property (as required by law), made available and
accessible to the community; 3) amendment of DC’s public property laws
to preserve public property for public use, instituting a transparent,
community driven input process to identify new public uses for vacant or
under-used public property; 4) maintaining valuable public assets and
protecting the long-term needs of DC communities by leasing, not selling
public property and retaining the right to reclaim those properties
leased to private entities when the need arises; 5) before any action is
taken to change the use of any public property, Advisory Neighborhood
Commissions shall be consulted for their “great weight” approval and
public hearings must be held to inform and to seek input from residents.
[This resolution was also sent to themail by Sharon Rohner, sharonrohner@yahoo.com.]
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Federation of Citizens Associations Resolution
on Square 37 Land Disposal, June 17, 2007
Ann Loikow, aloikow@verizon.net
Whereas the Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of
Columbia (Federation), which represents its fifty member associations,
believes that public facilities and property, such as fire and police
stations, public libraries, schools, recreation centers, parks and
similar facilities and property, are essential to the health and well
being of the citizens of the District of Columbia and to the economic
vitality of the city; and
Whereas good planning requires assessments of future estimates on
potential future public facility needs, size and potential consolidation
of these public facilities by required site area, size, and location in
the city as a whole and by neighborhood; and
Whereas Washington, DC, is a planned city and part of that planning
included the acquisition, whether through purchase or from the Federal
Government, land for schools, libraries, parks, streets and other
government facilities that is strategically located throughout the city;
and
Whereas such facilities and property are public properties in
which the citizens and taxpayers of the District of Columbia have a
direct and substantial financial investment and interest; and
Whereas no public property or facility should be disposed of without
an in-depth planning process including the development of a master
facilities plan, capital budget and detailed guidelines and controls
covering all aspects of the disposition process; detailed plans for the
continued provision of the services provided by such facilities to the
neighborhoods and residents and comprehensive assessments of future
needs, and full and well noticed public hearings in the affected
community and before the Council authorizes such disposition; and
Whereas it is prudent to reserve public lands where possible to avoid
diminishing public facility assets and the reservoir of public lands
because these resources may be needed in the future for public purposes,
including public facility expansion or consolidation;
Whereas because the disposition of such public properties and
facilities requires in-depth analysis, consultation with affected
communities and agencies that ensures the continued provision of the
affected public services to the affected communities, it should never be
approved on an “emergency” basis; and
Whereas the Federation is very concerned that the process used in
this case may have citywide implications, set precedents and possibly
subject the District of Columbia to significant financial damage claims
if the proposal needs revision:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Federation strongly urges
that the mayor not sign or approve any Land Disposition Agreement, make
any further commitments, or take any further action with regard
to Resolution 17-393, the “Square 37 Excess Property Disposition
Emergency Approval Resolution of 2007,” passed by the District of
Columbia Council (Council) on July 10, 2007, regarding the disposition
of the West End Library, Fire Station #1 and the Metropolitan Police
Department Special Operations Division Station; and urges the mayor to
immediately request that the Council: (1) immediately and specifically
rescind the grant for any development rights for such public properties;
and (2) properly notice and conduct public hearings on the proposed
disposition of such existing public facilities and the plans for
replacing them; and
Be it further resolved that the mayor and the council disclose all
relevant financial analyses, facilities plans and detailed and specific
reasons why these public facilities need to be rebuilt rather than
refurbished, including the analyses required by law under DC Code
§10-801(b-1) prepared by the mayor of the economic factors that were
considered in proposing the disposition of the real property, including,
when appropriate the chosen method of disposition, and how competition
was maximized; and that any resolution or legislation of the council
regarding the disposition of such public facilities should direct the
mayor, after consultation with the affected agencies, communities, and
advisory neighborhood commissions to solicit in a transparent manner
competitive bids for the properties to be sold and for the construction
of replacement facilities; and
Be it further resolved that before any further disposition of
District government property and facilities, the council should direct
the mayor to complete and publicly publish the full inventory of all
such property and facilities as required by law in DC Code §10-807; develop
a comprehensive Master Facilities Plan and capital budget for all such
property and facilities as required by DC Code §10-1031; constitute the
Master Facility Planning and Program Coordination Advisory Committee as
required by law in DC Code §10-1031; and develop detailed
procedures and guidelines for the disposition of such property and
facilities; and
Be it further resolved that the Mayor disclose any and all legal
opinions or analyses from the Office of the Attorney General or the
Office of the General Counsel concerning the emergency nature of the
resolution or its legality under DC law;
Be it further resolved that the Federation’ president or his
designee is authorized to revise this resolution as appropriate and
transmit it to the mayor and council.
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Say No to Nats’ Honky-Tonk Ballpark Sign
Ed Delaney, profeddel@yahoo.com
Nationals’ general manager Jim Bowden revealed on WTEM on July 17
that the new ballpark will display the word “Nationals” with lighted
red letters eighteen feet high on the ballpark’s southern façade,
which is part of the southern gateway into Washington’s downtown area
that preservationists have long sought to improve and protect. Bowden
added that the lettering will be visible from planes coming into and
leaving Reagan National Airport. While so many are being affected by the
current part of the Douglass bridge lowering — purportedly done as an
aesthetic “improvement” for the benefit of the west side of the
ballpark -- it’s inconceivable that Las Vegas-like lettering that will
be visible for miles is being considered for one of the most important
gateways into the nation’s capital. The city has given up enough
revenue and sweetheart perks to Major League Baseball and the Nationals
ownership; the giveaway needs to stop when these private interests plan
to use crass marketing like this thoughtlessly, in a way that could
significantly erode the stately and carefully preserved skyline at the
southern end of the downtown area that needs to feature national
monuments and landmarks rather than a private monopoly hocking its
product with neon-like tawdriness. Act now, or get ready for more of the
same, until DC’s skyline resembles Atlantic City more closely than a
nation’s capital.
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DC law allows the after-factory application of window tinting in
motor vehicles (DC Official Code §50-2207.02), provided the following
requirements are met: 1) there must be at least 70 percent light
transmittance through the front windshield or front side windows; and 2)
there must be at least 50 percent light transmittance through the rear
windshield or rear side windows. However, less than 70 percent light
transmittance is allowed in the windshield above the AS-1 line or within
five inches from the top of the windshield.
The reason the District prohibits after-market tinting of windows in
excess of these limits is that tinted windows pose a danger to police
officers effecting traffic stops because they impair the officers’
ability to see inside the car and know what the occupants are doing. DC
Municipal Regulations do not prohibit factory-installed window tinting
-- just aftermarket. People with medical conditions requiring protection
from bright sunlight or artificial light may request a waiver of the
rule from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Information is available at:
http://dmv.dc.gov/serv/medical/tintingMedicalWaivers.shtm.
All the rules of the road are available to the public in Title 18 of
the DC Municipal Regulations. There should be a hardcopy set available
in the central (MLK, Jr.) public library and at some branch libraries.
Unfortunately, Title 18 is not yet available online. By the way, the
assumption in DC is no different from that in any other state (no, we’re
not going to get into that debate here) in the union — when motorists
are licensed to drive they are assumed to know all of the applicable
rules of the road.
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Regarding automobile window tint, from the web site (I had to search
for “tint”; couldn’t find it within DMV’s section): there must
be at least 70 percent light transmittance through the front windshield
or front side windows; and there must be at least 50 percent light
transmittance through the rear windshield or rear side windows. You can
get a waiver for this with a doctor’s signature at http://dmv.dc.gov/pdf/Vehicle_Tint_Waiver_Request.pdf.
However, be prepared to be stopped by police and possibly ticketed by
parking enforcement folks, and I would suggest having this waiver handy
every time you get your car inspected. This is not from personal
experience, except years of experience with the fun of city services.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
DC Public Library Events, July 21
Randi Blank, randi.blank@dc.gov
Saturday, July 21, 11:00 a.m., Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park
Neighborhood Library, 7420 Georgia Avenue, NW. Upper Georgia Gateway
Festival. Enjoy fun, food and activities for all ages. For more
information, call 541-6100.
Saturday, July 21, 1:00 p.m., Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library,
3310 Connecticut Avenue, first Floor Auditorium. Joy R. Butler, author
of The Permission Seeker’ s Guide Through the Legal Jungle:
Clearing Copyrights, Trademarks, and Other Rights for Entertainment and
Media Productions, will speak about “Intellectual Property and
Licensing: How to Avoid Being Sued.” A book sale and signing will
follow. This event is co-sponsored by Capital PC User Group
Entrepreneurs and Consultants SIG. For more information, call 282-3080.
Saturday, July 21, 2:00 p.m., Tenley Interim Library, 4200 Wisconsin
Avenue, Suite 117. The Five Wishes: Advance Directives and End of Life
Issues. The Five Wishes is a program designed to assist adults in making
medical, emotional, physical, and spiritual decisions regarding end of
life issues. Upon completing the "Five Wishes" booklet
participants will have a legally recognized living will valid in forty
states, including Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The Five
Wishes booklet will be provided free to the first thirty participants.
This workshop will be led by Jonathan White, LGSW, an oncology social
worker in the Washington, DC, area who works with hospital inpatients
with advanced cancer. This program is supported by the Friends of the
Tenley-Friendship Library. For more information, call 244-3507.
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Intellectual Property and Licensing, July 21
Barbara Conn, bconn@cpcug.org
At this author talk and book signing, entertainment, intellectual
property, and business attorney Joy R. Butler will discuss the legal
jungle of getting proper permissions to use and license all matter of
intellectual property, a topic of interest to media producers, including
writers, publishers, filmmakers, musicians, composers, songwriters,
visual artists, and web site and software developers. Every creative
person eventually faces questions concerning the permissible use of
other people’s material. The material might be a quotation, real-life
event, image, celebrity name, song, or other material protected by
copyright or similar laws. These are rights clearance issues, and no
media producers — not writers, filmmakers, musicians, visual artists,
programmers, Web site designers, nor creative gurus — are immune from
them.
Speaker Joy Butler is the author of The Permission Seeker’s
Guide Through the Legal Jungle: Clearing Copyrights, Trademarks and
Other Rights for Entertainment and Media Productions. During her
presentation, she will explain how to spot rights clearance problems and
provide guidance on what you need to do before you incorporate other
people’s material into your books, web sites, artwork, films, and
other media productions. If you have a sticky copyright or licensing
issue, or even just a question, come to this event for helpful
information. The event concludes with a book sale and signing, courtesy
of the Trover Shop. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Friends of
the Cleveland Park Library.
Gather your colleagues, family members, friends, neighbors, and the
other creatives in your life, and bring them to this Saturday, July 21,
1:00 p.m., gathering of the Capital PC User Group (CPCUG) Entrepreneurs
and Consultants Special Interest Group (E&C SIG). This month’s
event is cosponsored and hosted by the Cleveland Park Branch of the DC
Public Library, 3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW (between Macomb and Newark
Streets), in the first floor large meeting room in Washington, DC, just
over a block south of the Cleveland Park Metrorail Station on the Red
Line. For more information about the presentation, the speaker, the
book, and CPCUG (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization), visit http://entrepreneur.cpcug.org/707meet.html.
To RSVP, send E-mail to Bconn@cpcug.org.
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