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December 5, 2007

Investigations

Dear Investigators:

On Tuesday, December 4, Council Chairman Vincent Gray announced that the law firm of Wilmer Hale and the auditing firm of Price Waterhouse Coopers will assist the Council Office of Tax and Revenue Investigation Special Committee, newly established by emergency legislation on November 20. This committee, on behalf of the council, will conduct its own investigation of the fraud and embezzlement in the Office of Tax and Revenue. Meanwhile, Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi has named retired Judge Stanley Sporkin to serve as his personal advisor to review OTR operations as well as "all elements of the investigation and make recommendations to strengthen OTR controls." Today, Gandhi also established an Audit Committee to Review Financial Management and Internal Controls, and appointed its five members: Sheldon Cohen of Farr, Miller and Washington; Donald Chapin, formerly of Arthur Young and Company; John Hill of the Federal City Council; James Hudson, formerly of JAH Development; and Irvin Pollack of Fulbright and Jaworski (http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/07-12-06.htm). At the same time, Mayor Fenty has designated his General Counsel, Peter Nickles, to coordinate an investigation and respond to the scandal on behalf of the administration.

Meanwhile, the real criminal investigation of the embezzlement is being run by the US Attorney for DC and the US Attorney for Maryland, with the assistance of the FBI, the IRS, and the Office of the DC Inspector General.

On Tuesday, Chairman Gray insisted that the council’s investigation can be run simultaneously with the criminal investigation, without any formal coordination or cooperation with the federal officials. Today, the representatives of the US Attorneys for Maryland and DC visited Chairman Gray. Chairman Gray insisted to the press that the meeting was friendly; the US Attorneys departed Gray’s office out the back door, without comment to the press. There’s only one real "investigation" of the crime; the mayor’s, council’s, and CFO’s investigations are all CYA efforts, attempts to deny that the mayor, the council and its Committee on Finance and Revenue, and the Chief Financial Officer all failed to conduct effective oversight over the Office of Tax and Revenue. Documents relating to all these ongoing investigations will be posted as we receive them at http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/otr.htm.

Gary Imhoff and Dorothy Brizill
themail@dcwatch.com and dorothy@dcwatch.com

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Wounded Knee on the Potomac
G. Murphy Donovan, Cathedral Avenue, NW, check6dc@gmail.com

What has happened at Palisades Park in 2007 was the local equivalent of running a bulldozer through Jamestowne. There have been many casualties associated with the 2007 “improvement” of Palisades Park, and now the destruction of the Park Service cottage, not the least of which was candor. The real tragedy of present and future intrusions is that we as a community have failed to consider the history of the entire 13.5 acres. In doing so we seem to have created a Wounded Knee on the Potomac.

This speck of green space was left largely untouched for nearly four hundred years for good reasons. It was the most important and only largely undisturbed American Indian settlement site in the District of Columbia. Numerous historical studies and archaeological reports on file with the Smithsonian, the District’s Office of Historic Preservation, and the Department of the Interior certify this pocket park as significant and unique. The two most recent surveys (1984 and 2002) called for preservation and further study. It was here and down the hill at Fletcher’s landing that John Smith met Potomack, the Algonquin chief for whom the river is named. Ignorance of this history is one thing, but willful destruction of this history is another matter altogether.

Almost every city and federal official with history, preservation or archaeology in their job titles seems to have been asleep at the switch this year. Local organizations like the Palisades Citizens Association (PCA) and the Friends of the Park (FOP) knew about the significance of the site as soon as the topsoil was breached to reveal relics and artifacts. Their only known action was to instruct the contractor and his laborers not to speak with anyone about what they uncovered — an admonition that was summarily ignored. Nonetheless, shame on you selfish citizens of the Palisades, you who would trade your history for a plastic soccer pitch and now a parking lot. A parking lot in a neighborhood without a parking problem. The Northwest Current and the Washington Post failed us also. It’s hard to know whether they were ignorant or lazy. In no part of their coverage of the long running debate over the park did they discuss the archaeology, the African American or American Indian significance of the site. Shame on those who wrote as if the only thing at risk was a Park Service cottage.

Yes, Mary Rowse and Historic Washington waged a valiant multiyear fight to save this perfectly usable Park Service cottage. Unfortunately, the forest of historic significance got lost under a tree that fell anyway. Such was the fate of the Jesse Baltimore house, demolished, ironically, the day after Thanksgiving. What could have been a nature center and prehistory museum will now forever be a “what could have been.” Surely these are the kinds of events that still make American Indians weep. In September, I appeared before the Historic Preservation Board (HPRB) to testify about the historic land upon which the Baltimore House sat. A less than gracious chairman gave me two minutes to testify about four hundred years of post-colonial and ten thousand years of Indian history, and not one of those two minutes was without interruption. The first query from the chair asked about the "relevance" of American Indian history. Relevance indeed! The Algonquins did not fare well before Mr. Tershberg’s board, thus clearing the way for another bulldozer in the park.

And while we’re at it, let’s not let the local politicians off the hook. Our city councilwoman, Ms. Cheh, and our two ANC representatives, Ms. Gates and Ms. Thompson, were no-shows at the HPRB meeting. It’s hard to know whether they were bullied or just too busy to put their views on the record. In this case, absence did not make our hearts grow fonder. Did I forget to mention that the aforementioned PCA Listserve posted no notice of the September 27 Historic Preservation Review Board meeting? I’ll wager they didn’t forget to E-mail their supporters. And finally, in the interest of candor, I can’t let myself and other neighbors, who sought to save the park and the cottage, off the hook. We spoke way too softly and way too late. We were not an organized voice; believing ourselves to be on the side of the angels — history, preservation, and real green space. We were wrong! They say that failure is simply the opportunity to learn. They never mention the cost of tuition.

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Straight Talk on DC Illegal Immigration
Dennis Moore, dennis@DCIndependents.org

Here goes another example of arrogant and autocratic DC public officials. Where is the straight talk on illegal aliens in the District of Columbia? Autocrats predictably ignore the rights and real concerns of citizens. That’s why they disguise, delay, deny, and lie when it comes to real accountability to us. Nevertheless, regarding DC’s illegal aliens, we cannot forget the socioeconomic, fiscal, and legal accountability to all District citizens.

There’s a clear difference between our hardworking legal immigrant neighbors and those who drain District resources through illegal alien scams. Illegal still means breaking the law. Of course, this does not exclude the corrupt DC officials robbing us blind. Thousands of District citizens desperately seek jobs and economic stability. So, why does Ward 5 councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., want to use over a half million tax dollars of legal DC citizens for illegal aliens, calling them day laborers? Is this his version of constituent services? Which constituents? But, illegal immigration in the Nation’s Capital? Harry, financing people who break the law to come and stay here it is not some minor issue. DC’s per capita unemployment, poverty, and crime rates are some of the nation’s highest, and rising. Every available dime and dollar of our tax money is needed for first class schools, job training facilities, plus night and day laborer centers for DC citizens.

The phony rhetoric behind illegal immigration continues. In the 1980s when this cheap labor scam began, my father asked: if you came home after a long day at work and discovered someone had broken into your house, ate your food, was resting on your bed, wearing your underwear, and claiming a right to stay, what would you do? What would Harry Thomas do? Can you spell 9-1-1? What if every pretentious sympathizer of illegal immigration had to take home and take care of an illegal alien? Can you spell hell no? So, now the politricks of illegal immigrant opportunists want to label it a racial issue. Reality check: illegal aliens come from Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, Mexico, South America and soon northern Virginia. Illegal immigration is an equal opportunity offense that offends every citizen and legal immigrant who waited for the opportunity to legally join and contribute to America. When you break the laws of membership from the start, you don’t have a right to be a member.

Every D.C. election year we must remember arrogant autocrats and their actions. Until then, every unemployed, homeless, underemployed, mixed-income and fed-up District citizen should demand their legal citizen rights. Are you listening, DC councilmembers?

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DC Public Library Podcasts
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

I stumbled upon this press release while visiting the DC Public Library web site. Author talks and other library events now available for on-the-go listening, or for listening on your computer. Way cool. http://tinyurl.com/3cando. These audio files are in MP3 format.

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School Closings
Gabe Goldberg, gabe at gabegold dot com

Responding to, “Others have expressed concern about the expanding some elementary schools through eighth grade. I know there are issues with having five-year-olds and thirteen-year-olds in the same school, but currently we have one middle school in the whole city that isn’t failing” [themail, December 2].

I attended (not recently) elementary school through eighth grade in New York City. Schools there were transitioning from K-8, 9-12 to K-6, 7-9, 10-12. My eighth grade class was one of the last to graduate from PS 102. I don’t remember any horrors of five and thirteen-year-olds being in the same building.

I always thought middle school was either a silly trend forcing an unnecessary change in school or was simply an expedient to deal with shifting school-age children demographics/populations. Attending a school for longer (vs. switching in mid-education) seems better, builds school ties and spirit, avoids transitions interrupting education, etc.

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Zippo
Malcolm Wiseman, malwiseman@gmail.com

Excellent piece, Mr. Imhoff [themail, November 25]! I had the exact romance with pipes thirty years ago, collecting many along with much paraphernalia over some years. I was copying my grandfather and my father, who looks very cool in his portrait, pipe in hand.

I had to “get off the pipe,” as they say, because the practice was confounded with my cigarette smoking which I wanted to cease. I subsequently gave away all my pipe stuff to a good friend who then learned cheaply that it was more about the works than the smoking.

You are right about Mr. Gandhi. Though nobody’s perfect, he has been nearly so. I am a Navy veteran, and I understand why the captain should go down with the ship. Even a good captain. That’s part of his goodness. Thank you, Mr. Gandhi, for an outstanding run! Perhaps you could be allowed to choose your replacement, and do for us one last great civil service.

By the way, I kept all my Zippos!

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS AND CLASSES

Public to Weigh in on Council Proposal for Tax Message Board, December 6
Kevin Kiger, kkiger@dcvote.org

Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray announced the scheduling of a public hearing by the Committee of the Whole on Bill 17-28, the “Taxation Without Representation Federal Tax Pay-Out Message Board Installation Act of 2007” http://www.dcvote.org/pdfs/dcbill17-28introduced.pdf. The public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, December 6, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

This is an opportunity for the DC government to educate the public that the taxpaying residents of the District of Columbia do not have voting representation in Congress. Like the ‘taxation without representation’ license plates, this sign is an important measure to raise visibility of the issue of the denial of voting representation.

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Guy Mason Recreation Center, December 8
Toni Ritzenberg, taritz@aol.com

Registration for winter 2008 classes at the Guy Mason Recreation Center (3600 Calvert Street, NW) begins on December 8, with most starting the week of January 14, 2008.

In the field of art, there are three different painting courses, an adult art and crafts workshop series, china painting, and pottery. For youngsters with adults accompanying there is Abrakadoodle and music together. Beginning French and Spanish at all levels are being offered, as are poetry for adults and digital photography. On Saturdays there are two classes for knitters. Ballroom and belly dancing are available as is yoga, move it and lose it, and senior momentum for those who love to be physically fit. And, as always, there is duplicate bridge.

To register online, visit http://www.dpr.dc.gov and click on Activities Program Registration and follow the instructions. For further information visit the Center’s web site at http://www.guymasonstudioarts.com or contact Robert Haldeman/Caryl King at 282-2180. To register in person visit the center, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. This is one of the real bargains the city has to offer.

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DC Public Library Events, December 8-10
Kandace Foreman, kandace.foreman@dc.gov

Celebrate Clerc-Gallaudet Week. Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m., Great Hall Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library.

Jazzy holiday music concert and lecture sponsored by the Holden Bequest. Sunday, December 9, 2 p.m., Francis Gregory Neighborhood Library.

Adult Book Discussion. Monday, December 10, 7 p.m., Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library.

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Mayor’s Public Meetings on School Closing Plan, December 10-January 11
Gary Imhoff, gary@dcwatch.com

The Fenty administration will hold public meetings on its plan to close and privatize several DC schools, which it describes as “an aggressive academic plan calling for the implementation of innovative programs and enhanced staffing models in the District of Columbia Public Schools.” This is the current schedule for these meetings. Wards 1, 2, and 6: December 10, 6-8 p.m., Tubman Elementary School, 3101 13th Street, NW; December 17, 6-8 p.m., Francis Junior High School, 2425 N Street, NW; and January 9, 6-8 p.m., Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE. Wards 4 and 5: December 11, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Noyes Elementary School, 2725 10th Street, NE; December 18, 6-8 p.m., Barnard Elementary School, 430 Decatur Street, NW; and January 10-6-8 p.m., Emory Elementary School, 1720 1st Street, NE. Ward 7 and 8: December 12, 6-8 p.m., Patterson Elementary School, 4399 S. Capitol Terrace, SW; December 19, 6-8 p.m., Plummer Elementary School, 4601 Texas Avenue, SE; and January 11, 6-8 p.m., Hart Middle School, 601 Mississippi Avenue, SE.

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Music for Christmas, December 15, 21, 22
Sarah Bright, sarah@thewashingtonchorus.org

Experience Christmas splendor with the whole family and capture the warmth and magic of the holidays. Enjoy your favorite music of the season. A processional, the glory of the massed chorus, and carols for all to sing-these concerts add a festive holiday shimmer to your December! As a part of The Washington Chorus’ Side by Side program the Chamber Singers from Arlington’s H-B Woodlawn High School, under the direction of Jeffrey Benson, join us for these concerts. Eric Stark, guest conductor.

Saturday, December 15, at 1:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 22, at 1:00 p.m., at Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Friday, December 21, at 7:30 p.m., at Music Center at Strathmore. Tickets: $15 - $55. Call The Washington Chorus, 342-6221; Kennedy Center Instant Charge, 467-4600; Music Center at Strathmore, 301-581-5100. Or order Christmas tickets online at http://yhst-52001442499088.stores.yahoo.net/sesu.html.

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Living in a Disposable World Recycling the Future, December 18
Sara Kabakoff, skabakoff@nbm.org

On Tuesday, December 18, 6:30-8:00 p.m., the National Building Museum will have the final program of part one of its series on “For the Greener Good” at 401 F Street, NW, Judiciary Square stop, Metro Red Line. The series examines consumer culture and the ramifications of product life cycles, disposable design, and waste. As our economy is increasingly driven by products with shorter life-spans, how do we put an end to filling more and more landfills; how can industrial designers create products with sustainability as a key element; and how are engineers creating lasting and sustainable buildings? The discussion will offer potential answers to such questions and will look at other solutions for addressing and reducing consumer generated waste.

This discussion is with Julie Bargmann, Principal, D.I.R.T. Studio; Chris Jordan, Seattle-based artist who explores the country’s shipping ports and industrial yards, documenting the accumulated waste of our consumption; Tim S. Kraft, AIA, LEED AP, Associate Principal, PSA-Dewberry Inc.; and Susan S. Szenasy, Editor in Chief, Metropolis Magazine (moderator). $12, Museum members; $20, public. Free for students with valid ID. Prepaid registration required. Walk-in registration based on availability. Register at https://s21.2coolweb.com/nbm/signup.asp. For series information and resources visit the For Greener Good web page http://www.nbm.org/Events/Calendar/greenergood/.

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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE

2008 Cartographic Calendars
Nikolas R. Schiller, DC [at] NikolasSchiller [dot] com

One of the easiest gifts to give during the holiday season is a calendar. This year I decided to make three different calendars for you to choose from. They are $24.99, plus shipping and handling, and will arrive at your house by December 24 if you order by December 9. The calendars all feature an antique concentric calendar from 1544 as their cover page. It was chosen to highlight how times change. Please contact me if you have any questions!

2008 Washington, DC, Area Calendar, featuring Adams Morgan, Alexandria, Bethesda, Catholic University, Eastern Market, George Washington University, Grant Circle, H.D. Woodson Senior High School, Rosslyn, Silver Spring, Washington Highlands, and Woodley Park. All eight wards of Washington, DC, and my four favorite satellite cities inside the Beltway. You can view the individual calendar pages on my web site: http://tinyurl.com/2kdnbg and purchase at http://www.cafepress.com/geospatialart.196330785.

2008 California Calendar, featuring modified aerial photographs of Beverly Hills, Dodgers Stadium, Long Beach, University of Southern California, Sacramento, downtown San Francisco, Mission Dolores, downtown Oakland, San Diego, Redlands, and Park La Brea. You can view the individual calendar pages on my web site: http://tinyurl.com/2fc9uh and purchase at http://www.cafepress.com/geospatialart.189477848.

2008 Urban America Calendar, featuring modified aerial photographs of Baltimore, Cambridge, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, New York City, Saint Louis, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. You can view the entire calendar on my web site: http://tinyurl.com/23edyk and purchase at http://www.cafepress.com/geospatialart.190569575.

If you would rather have a poster instead of a calendar, please visit my Imagekind printshop. You can have a poster custom printed on your choice of canvas or paper up to 60" x40" in size with optional framing. There are over 150 different posters available for purchase, including fifty-one of Washington, DC: http://GeospatialArt.imagekind.com/WashingtonDC.

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