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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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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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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