The Trial
Dear Inmates:
Reading Jack McKay’s message below, I am reminded of Orson Welles’
great adaptation of Franz Kafka’s novel, The Trial. What
happens when the paranoid fantasy of government as a never-ending maze,
with no allies, no guides, no explanation, and no exit, turns out to be
reality? Your guilt is assumed; your crime doesn’t even have to be
named.
Councilmember Harry Thomas’ threat against the Brookland
Heartbeat neighborhood newspaper and its advertisers, reported by
Jason Lee-Bakke in the March 4 issue of themail, has become national
news. The Romenesko column on Poynter Online, a web site about the news
industry, featured it on March 9, http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=159824,
and linked to Marc Fisher’s March 9 article about it in the Post (but
not to Michael Neibauer’s article about it in the Examiner on
March 6, http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/Councilman-fights-negative-press_03_06-40812462.html).
Can anyone explain why Thomas doesn’t just admit he made a mistake and
apologize? Does he really believe a neighborhood newspaper should print
nothing but praise of him?
Another Examiner story, an exclusive that hasn’t been picked
up by other newspapers or broadcast stations, shows how the District
continues its defiance of the Second Amendment: http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/DC-rejects-womans-handgun-over-color-40983407.html.
When DC dropped its transparently unconstitutional definition of all
semiautomatic handguns as “machine guns” that were banned, it
adopted a requirement that the only guns that can be licensed in DC are
those on the approved list of the state of California, which amounts to
much the same thing. Now DC has denied a gun license to a woman because,
although her gun is on the California list, California lists it only in
different colors from hers. I can’t wait to hear DC’s legal argument
for why the color of her gun is relevant to whether her right to keep
and bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment. DC has also denied a
license to a man whose gun model isn’t on the California list
because it isn’t being currently manufactured, even though it’s
exactly the same model of gun that Dick Heller owned, and that the
Supreme Court ordered DC to license to Heller in Heller v. DC. DC
should just drop the California list requirement, rather than spend
millions more in taxpayer money to continue its defiance of the law, but
common sense is too much to expect.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
About a year ago, I had to remove a large diseased elm, and I needed
a few "emergency no parking" signs so that no cars would be
damaged by falling tree limbs. The officers at the MPD Third District
headquarters readily provided them, and that was that, in about three
minutes. Now another elm, same place, must be removed, so I went to the
MPD again, with the same request. Nope; we won't give you any no-parking
placards; you've got to go to DDOT, at the Reeves Center, 14th and U.
Okay, so there I went. Nope, again, you've got to go down to 941 North
Cap. And off I went again, glad that I wasn't trying to run this errand
by bus.
Arriving at 941 North Cap, I saw to my horror that I was being sent
to that torture chamber known as the DCRA Permit Center. I didn't want a
permit, I just wanted a few no-parking placards! Nope, the clerk said
brusquely, go apply for a permit. What, a permit just to clear out three
parking places for a while? But Mr. Clerk gave me the, "go away,
I'm done with you" look. Very well, at the computer kiosk I filled
in an application, puzzling over what kind of permit I was supposed to
request. The computer wouldn't let me leave that blank, so I picked
something that looked vaguely appropriate. Then I waited for forty
minutes until finally another clerk deigned to look at my application. I
just want a few "no parking" placards for some tree work, I
told him. Nope, he says, you've got to get a fire permit. Fire? Oy. Back
into a queue, where I cool my heels for another quarter of an hour,
until the fire permit clerk decides to give me a minute. Nope, he says,
you've got to go to another office, in another building, and get fire
department approval of a traffic control plan. Traffic control? For an
hour's work at the very end of a one-block, dead-end street?
Well, after dealing with four clerks in three separate District
government buildings, and now being told to go to a fifth clerk in a
fourth building somewhere else, I exploded. All I wanted was three
no-parking signs, and these clerks were giving a full-bore bureaucratic
run-around. Did I mention that this isn't my tree, and it's not on my
property, it's a city tree, on public space, but I'm willing to take it
down, at my own expense — over six hundred dollars — so that the
Dutch elm disease doesn't spread from it to healthy elms? And that it's
at the orders of the District that I'm removing the diseased tree? All I
want is a way to make sure nobody's car is parked under the tree during
the work.
I stormed out of the Permit Office, declaring that no homeowner
should be required to suffer this bureaucratic obstructionism, and that
I was going to do the job without any permits. I printed three "no
parking" signs of my own, posted them the requisite seventy-two
hours ahead of time, the cars went away, and the tree work was done, in
time to prevent the spread of the disease. But how is it that a task
that took three minutes at a police station last year, now requires
hours of time at multiple District offices, dealing with strings of
minor bureaucrats? Homeowner-friendly, this is not.
###############
Fenty Always Wanted to Visit Dubai?
Diana Winthrop, Dianawinthrop@gmail.com
It has been over two weeks since Fenty and family have returned from
Dubai, and I still find myself furious. I fault the Washington Post
and all other reporters for giving the mayor a pass on real questions
about Arab treatment of women. Fenty “always wanted to visit Dubai?”
The Arab country was the first country to come to his mind? Why not
Disneyland, because it was a family vacation? Even France or Britain,
but Dubai? It was so disingenuous from a mayor who appears to be bought
by the country who paid for his trip. And the mayor called it ’’ a
family vacation,” when he only took his boys and left his baby girl at
home? If it were, as Fenty explained, a “family vacation,” then his
baby daughter would have been in tow. Fenty is no fool. He has to be
aware of Dubai’s treatment of women as second class citizens as well
of the continuing problem with other Arab countries. The mayor turned a
blind eye to Dubai’s treatment of an Israeli tennis player, as Marc
Fisher of the Washington Post complained in his column last week.
I expected so much more from Fenty, who seems to put “economic
development” above moral and ethical issues. No, Mayor Fenty. Citizens
of DC care about much more than whether taxpayers dollars are used to
pay for a junket.
###############
Qualified Candidates
Ralph J. Chittams, Sr., rjchittamssr@gmail.com
The tax troubles of Councilmember Barry are now the stuff of legends.
However, his is not an isolated case. From prominent national figures
(both Democrats and Republicans) to relative unknowns running locally,
the nonpayment of taxes and non filing of returns seems to be occurring
with more regularity. But for me, the problem is more insidious when it
occurs on the local level. How can someone seek to represent me when
they are not pulling their own weight, and are in fact a lawbreaker. For
example, during a hearing on January 14 before the Board of Elections
and Ethics challenging the residency of Cameron Poles, a candidate for
Ward 7 Member of the State Board of Education, Mr. Poles stated, under
oath, that he had not filed his 2007 and 2008 taxes. However, this is
not a problem without an obvious solution. All prospective candidates,
including incumbents, should have to file a certified copy of their
current District of Columbia tax return when filing papers to run for
office. The absence of a current copy of the required certified tax
return would be a disqualifying event. This requirement would also apply
to write-in candidates. They would have to submit the required certified
tax return before being certified as the winner of an election. This
will also end another cherished DC tradition, of a candidate who
maintains two residences being able to cherry-pick the Ward or ANC from
which he or she chooses to run. Let's see the council enact, and the
mayor sign, that legislation.
We always hear the mantra, “no taxation without representation.”
There should be another mantra: “if you don't pay you can't play.”
###############
Religiously-Bearded Firefighters Prevail in
Court of Appeals
Arthur Spitzer, ACLU of the National Capital Area,
artspitzer@aol.com
On March 6, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled in favor
of our clients, a group of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish DC firefighters
and paramedics who wear beards as a matter of religious obligation, but
whom the Fire Department had ordered to shave, claiming that facial hair
is unsafe. The ACLU of the National Capital Area has been representing
these men since 2001, when the Fire Department changed its previous
practice of allowing beards and long hair. Most of our clients have worn
beards for their entire careers with the Department, some for more than
twenty years. Not one has ever had a hair-related safety problem.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a federal statute enacted in
1993, prohibits the DC government from “substantially burden[ing] a
person’s exercise of religion” unless it can show that the burden
furthers a “compelling governmental interest” and is the “least
restrictive means” of furthering that interest.
Finding that the Fire Department had not met its burden of showing
that facial hair was unsafe, District Judge James Robertson entered a
preliminary injunction in 2001, and a permanent injunction in 2007,
prohibiting the Department from firing or disciplining our clients for
wearing beards. The Court of Appeals affirmed that decision, rejecting
the Department’s argument that Judge Robertson had improperly refused
to consider some of its arguments. If you see a firefighter with a
beard, please join us in celebrating religious freedom — and safety!
###############
From the line waiting for the 1:00 p.m. Cleveland Park Library
opening to the Maryland Delegate’s SUV illegally parked in Friendship
Heights, Ward 3 has distinctive neighborhood problems. Councilmember
Mary Cheh’s solution is to hire an Outreach Coordinator from the pool
of University of Wisconsin alumni; details at: http://my.nowpublic.com/local//District+of+Columbia/.
Maybe all those new sub-union wage journalists being hired by the Washington
Post will cover these stories, http://tinyurl.com/aw3ndy.
Or, will
the Post raid talent from DC’s community papers undermining the
viability of these local print competitors as they undermine their own
established labor force.
But, we still have NBC4’s Tom “Slow Scoop” Sherwood. Late last
Sunday night themail was kind enough to publish my sincere best wishes
for speedy recoveries to Councilmembers Barry and Cheh. I even included
a link to Cheh’s Avon Walk for Life web page where in the second
sentence Cheh discusses her battle. Tom Sherwood sent me this 8:03 a.m.
Monday morning E-mail: “Cheh recently sent out an E-mail asking for a
basketball to practice for the council/media game next Monday (the 9th)
. . . what’s her illness?” I responded to my BFF Tom Sherwood
indicating that the Northwest Current had covered this twelve
days before. My next morning priority was to check the dcist.com web
site. I was surprised to see a link to a Monday morning Washington
Post article on Cheh’s health. Besides not reading the paper that
publishes his own column, the Northwest Current, it seems that
Sherwood reads themail, and me in particular, before the Washington
Post.
###############
The DC House Voting Rights bills, HR 157 and S 160, would give one
voting seat in the House of Representatives to the District of Columbia
and an additional voting seat in the House to the state of Utah. When
Representative Tom Davis from northern Virginia introduced these bills
in the 109th and 110th Republican congresses, he did not intend to
empower the people of the District of Columbia. The bills do not assure
full and equal representation in Congress for the District. They do not
give the District full, local control of our own laws, budgets, and
judiciary. As shown with the gun law amendment, Congress will continue
to govern the District. The bills do not give the District a fair
federal payment or a fair reciprocal taxing authority. The bills provide
no substantial material or political improvement in the status of the
District..
Given their history and purpose, it is stunningly deceitful for the
bills’ current promoters to insist that the bills are incremental
steps to statehood or self-government for the District. The bills only
give our Delegate the title of Member of the House of Representatives
and a second-class status in Congress. All icing, no cake. In 1980, the
voters of the District elected Delegates to a constitutional convention
and in 1982, ratified the Constitution of the state of New Columbia. The
will of the people on this matter was expressed at the ballot box. That
is the essence of democracy — the consent of the governed. Yet the
promoters of HR 157/S 160 have not consulted with the electorate in any
meaningful way. It’s ironic that “DC Vote,” the bills’ principal
lobbyist, would be the name of an organization that refused to
acknowledge the will of DC voters.
The DC House Voting Rights bill is another piece of “not yet”
legislation. Even without the Congressional meddling with our gun laws,
the legislation tells District residents you’re not yet equal, you’re
not yet self-governing, and you’re not yet fully American. HR 157 and
S 160 are trick bills that would give Utah, one of the reddest, whitest
states in the union, and a Republican stronghold, an extra vote in the
Electoral College without giving an additional Electoral College vote to
African-American, Democratic District of Columbia. We continue to avoid
discussion of race and democracy. An election in 2008 as close as those
in 2000 and 2004, could have been decided by one Electoral College vote.
Senator John McCain instead of Senator Barack Obama might have taken the
oath of office. That was Tom Davis’ purpose with HR 157, and he has
made fools of the people of the District of Columbia. We get nothing of
substance and Utah gets the power to decide presidential elections. The
election of 2008 has passed and the bills have outlived their
usefulness. By recycling them, we waste an historic opportunity with a
Democratic 111th Congress to make real progress toward political
equality. We demand that the DC council lead the march to statehood and
that the people of the District themselves organize community statehood
forums and create an informed, decisive grassroots movement to establish
democracy in the District of Columbia.
###############
Can’t Lose in themail
Michael Bindner, mikeybdc at yahoo dot com
Ed Barron writes about what he sees as a futile attempt at voting
rights [themail, March 8]. While I agree that the goal should be
statehood rather than voting rights in one house, I must challenge the
futility of pursuing this course. For one thing, it has already
revitalized the push for statehood. In the Senate, one Republican’s
becoming a Democrat could make this a reality and, given the
conservative attacks on Senators Specter, Collins, and Snowe of late,
one or all of them changing party is not outside the realm of
possibility. While voting rights without a state is likely not
constitutional, having the court say that raises the temperature on the
issue and reveals that statehood is the only realistic goal.
Retrocession is not a realistic alternative, since Maryland will never
vote for it. This means that it is time for Maryland to put the issue up
for a vote so that the Republican Party can no longer point to it as an
option.
###############
Digital Public Square is indeed a nifty site, per Mr./Ms. Lassoc [themail,
March 8]. Here’s the link: http://dps.dc.gov.
Let’s hope it stays that way as our excellent technology officer
departs for national doings.
###############
Recycled Paper and Soy-Based Ink
Paul Craney, pauldcraney@yahoo.com
As a Ward 3 voter, I recently posted a comment on the Tenlytown
listserv regarding Councilmember Mary Cheh’s unsolicited newsletter
that she sent to her Ward’s residents. My concern was that Cheh didn’t
print the newsletter on recycled paper or use soy-based ink, which is
friendlier to the environment. I asked the listserv for feedback if it’s
a good idea for Councilmember Cheh to stop sending out her newsletters
to save resources.
I was really surprised by Cheh’s staffer who responded on the
listserv, “Yet again, the Republican Party gets it wrong. The
newsletter was printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper.” The
newsletter didn’t indicate that, and the fact that the staffer used my
political affiliation was really unprofessional.
If you have ever had a similar experience as a Ward 3 voter, please
let me know. My contact is: pauldcraney@yahoo.com
###############
A Dim Outlook for the Nationals
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@macdotcom
With the current economic situation, the Nationals will likely find
that attendance will be greatly diminished this season. The team is
already selling single game tickets, which indicates that their sales of
season tickets are way down. Many folks who attended games last year
have already seen the stadium and the woefully inept Nationals team, and
will not be back this year. Or they will be back less often. Coupled
with the probable pullout of corporate buying of skyboxes, there will be
quite a few empty seats at the games this year, and at night games there
will be several more darkened skyboxes. As for the team on the field,
they will probably win a few more games this season than in 2008. The Z
man (Zimmerman) is locked up for two more seasons, but will bolt when he
becomes a free agent in 2011. Zimmerman wants to play for a pennant
contender. In all, it is a dim outlook for the Nationals this season. I’m
doing my part, though, by upgrading my partial season ticket to a better
seat. There are lots of good seats available.
###############
Thank you for your message on the so-called “Smart” Lighting Act
of 2009. What’s “smart” about it? Section I, Paragraph (1) was
simply absurd. I thought I was reading something from a pre-Edison,
nineteenth century, Luddite treatise on the evils of technology. The
council’s “findings” are simply archaic and so out of touch with
twenty-first century urban realities that one would think the council
members live in caves in the country or the forests primeval. While
there may indeed be some related energy savings rational and medical
findings to support their contentions of adverse health effects, I am
also concerned about safety and security that is enhanced by a well-lit
street at night. Don’t like it? It’s called an eye mask — get one.
My building, on Wisconsin Avenue and Porter Street, NW, has glaring
halogen security lights in our parking lot. Yes, they keep my bedroom
“lit” to some extent at night, but if those lights prevent or deter
car break-ins and thefts, and keep homeless folk from taking up
residence in our relatively secluded back parking lot, then I say keep
the lights!
As I continued reading some of the rationale for the SLA, it felt
more like I was reading from concerned citizens in remote southern
Arizona. Now, they’ve got a much more legitimate beef with such
lighting issues as border fence security lighting, that is well-founded.
Those Arizonians moved to the less-populated remote areas of the state
to get away from the big city lights, but massive stadium lights for the
border fence thwart their escape quest. Also, there are several
astronomical observatories in that area (Kitt Peak Observatory, for
example) that have a vested interest in minimizing any additional
lighting of the ambient night sky for their operations to continue,
telescopes unimpeded by artificially lighted ambient night skies. But DC
is not remote southern Arizona, folks! It’s an east coast city —
C.I.T.Y. Been that way for quite a while, I might add; and although I
don’t know exactly when electric street lights were initially
installed in DC, I’d hazard a guess that they’ve been in widespread
use at least since the early 1940’s.
Of the three purposes for the Act that the council articulates, these
two are the most hilarious: “Increasing the popularity and aesthetic
beauty of the District’s tourist destinations, residential
neighborhoods, and nightlife areas”; and “Restoring the view of the
cosmic natural beauty of the night sky.” Who do these jokers think
they’re kidding? Hello! Tourists do not come to DC to sit around in
the dark and contemplate the sky at night. They go to Montana, Wyoming,
and Alaska for such things. What about previous years’ Mall muggings
of tourists that E. H. Norton attributed to the poor nighttime lighting
conditions on the Mall? What, so now the council is okay with tourists
getting mugged while they’re stargazing or feeling their way around in
the dark? Pulleeeze. And if the council thinks that their piddly
suggestions for reducing night lights are going to actually “restore”
anyone’s view of the night sky to a “natural” state, then they’re
living in la-la land. They’d have to first eliminate all the
particulate matter in the atmosphere to get to that state; meaning, no
more cars, no more coal- or fuel-powered anything in the entire region.
And energy savings? Who’s gonna be saving? The way PEPCO customers
have been raped and pillaged by PEPCO this winter, despite individual
efforts to conserve, this energy savings argument rings hollow. Anyway,
much of the language of the act is just too idealistic and
unscientifically based to be taken seriously, and illustrates the
council’s shear ignorance of the science involved in what constitutes
the “natural” night sky. Too late, folks — it’s the twenty-first
century. Until we hear the people at the National Observatory grousing
and complaining about too much light in the city because it’s
negatively impacting their legitimate observational operations, then the
rest of us should simply accept that nighttime lighting contributes
significantly to safety and security. Get your minds illuminated. Live
in the light.
###############
At the National Main Street conference last week in Chicago, I
happened to talk with representatives from the company that is DC’s
primary vendor for streetlights. The company is introducing LED
technology that will significantly cut the energy use of streetlights.
In order to house the LED technology, the streetlights will have to have
“caps” on top of the globe, which will end up cutting out the light
that is emitted that goes “up.”
I do support the sentiment to limit light. At the same time, I agree
with Gary that cities are cities and light and action are a part of city
life that I would hope that we wouldn’t try to legislate away.
Similarly, just like you can’t take light away from the city, you can’t
make every plot of land in the city have “open space.” Again,
(thriving) cities are about buildings and activities, not emptiness.
###############
Let There Be Light
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@macdotcom
The bill before the city council to regulate the amount of light from
signs, etc., in DC is very flawed, in my opinion. Councilperson Cheh has
proposed a bill that should be voted down. Lights make places much safer
and appealing. Just look at 7th Street, NW. Several years ago that place
was a mess. Then the lights came on as businesses and the MCI Arena
opened up. That area is as attractive now as many places in the Big
Apple, with appealing restaurants, shops, and theaters. The lights make
all the difference. Let there be light(s).
###############
I can see merits both for and against the proposed legislation
against “light pollution.” I particularly understand the need to
reduce unnecessary energy consumption. However, I think that what is
really needed is a thorough reexamination of street lighting in general,
both to improve energy efficiency and improve public safety. For
example, look at 4th Street, SW. Like much of the city, it is obvious
that the main purpose of the street lights there is simply to light the
street for car traffic and not to make the sidewalks safer for
pedestrians. The lamps are like those on freeeways and interstates and
go up quite high and point down only to the middle of the street (unlike
DC’s great traditional lower sidewalk globe lamps, which lighted both
the streets and sidewalks). Now the trees have grown up high enough that
this street lighting provides even less secondary “spillover” to the
sidewalks. The result is often overly bright streets and very dark (and
dangerous) sidewalks. As with much of DC planning, the emphasis seems to
have been on protecting car traffic and not on pedestrian safety. All I
ask is that those tall lamp poles have a lower (not so bright) sidewalk
side lamp added that would shine down on the middle of the sidewalk and
help illuminate them against criminal activity (and protect against
tripping on DC’s ubiquitous uneven sidewalk concrete or bricks). In
the meantime, I will continue to take my chances against traffic and
walk in the safely lighted streets instead of the dark sidewalks when I
come home late in the evening.
###############
Lighting Fiction Can Kill
Gabe Fineman, gfineman@advsol.com
We have had several pedestrians killed crossing Connecticut Avenue
near the Uptown theater at night and in the rain, where the drivers said
that they did not see them. The solution is not to decrease lighting,
but to double it in this commercial area that is a proven fatality zone.
It’s an inexpensive solution that may save lives.
The Smart Lighting Act links its two main objectives of reducing
unshielded light fixtures and reducing excessive lighting intensity as
though they were one problem, but they are two distinct and unrelated
issues. There is no harm and probably benefit is directing lighting
toward the areas where it is needed and not in simply sending it into
the sky. However, to claim that street lights produce excessive glare
and are dangerous is preposterous. Full sunlight produces over 100,000
lux (the measure of light per square meter) (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight).
Street lights produce a completely different order of magnitude of light
that seems to be under 100 lux (see http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081031000327AAmywqp
and http://www.gg-energy.com/LED_Street_light_fixture.cfm)
by the time it hits the road or the eye.
Over the centuries, there has been a policy of improving public
lighting of the streets so that travel at night was not just for the
wealthy (or gangsters) with their entourages while the poor stayed at
home in fear. Perhaps the city council thinks that the streets are now
so safe that lighting can be reduced. I suggest that they travel without
their sycophants for a while.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Department of Parks and Recreation Events,
March 13-15
John Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov
Friday, March 13, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Trip to the National Museum of
American History on the National Mall, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW. Seniors aged 55 and up will enjoy a tour the newly reopened
National Museum of American History. For more information, call Ben
Butler at 645-9200.
Friday, March 13, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Joseph H. Cole Recreation
Center, 1200 Morse Street, NE. Sock hop for all ages. Enjoy an afternoon
of eating, dancing, slipping and sliding, at Joe Cole’s first Sock
Hop. For more information, call Kyanna Blackwell, Site Manager at
724-4876.
Friday, March 13, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Kennedy Recreation Center,
1401 7th Street NW. Fifth annual sports banquet for all ages. Youth
involved in sports and recreational programs throughout the year at
Kennedy Recreation Center will be awarded for their participation. All
participants will receive awards. For more information, call Freddie
Brown at 671-4794.
Friday, March 13, 7:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. Ages 14-19. Join in Teen Night
activities throughout various wards with Metro TeenAIDS, as teens will
enjoy music, games, and movies while getting tested for HIV in
partnership with Metro TeenAIDS. For more information, call Lou Hall at
671-0423.
Friday, March 13, 9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m., Fort Stevens Recreation
Center, 1327 Van Buren Street, NW. Young Ladies on the Rise
participants, ages eight through twelve, will go beyond movies,
munchies, and staying up all night, with this fun-filled sleepover
party. Activities include party games, arts and crafts, movies, nail
pampering, open discussions, double-Dutch, hula hoops, table games, and
other traditional camp and recreation games. For more information, call
Tiffany Johnson at 576-9541.
Saturday, March 14, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Hamilton Recreation
Center, 1340 Hamilton Street, NW. Story time for tots aged eighteen
months to five years. Kids will be entertained by a storyteller and do
drawings with help from parents. For more information, call Mike
Thompkins at 576-6855.
Saturday, March 14-15, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Trinidad Recreation
Center, 1333 Emerson Street, NE. Kickball tournament for ages nine and
under. Youth will compete in a tournament style of kickball games with
single elimination games. For more information, call Anthony
Higginbotham, Site Manager, at 727-1293.
###############
Flying in the Great Hall, March 15
Jazmine Zick, jzick@nbm.org
Sunday, March 15, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., A Day of Flying in the Great
Hall. Model airplane workshop, 9:00-11:00 a.m., construct your own
rubber-band-propelled model airplane with the DC Maxecuters, then launch
your plane in a test flight in the Great Hall. From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m., watch as DC Maxecuters fly their model airplanes in and across the
Great Hall. At the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Judiciary
Square stop, Metro Red Line.
###############
DCSBOE Meeting on Residency Verification
Regulations, March 18
Beverly Wheeler, beverley.wheeler@dc.gov
The DC State Board of Education (DCSBOE) will hold a public meeting
to vote on the proposed Residency Verification regulations. The most
notable proposed change is with regards to the date at which local
education agencies can begin their residency verification process. It is
being moved from July 1 to April 1 annually. Additionally,
representatives from the DC Public Libraries will also provide the State
Board members with a presentation on the DCPL children's programming and
work with the District's youngest students.
The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18, at 5:30 p.m.,
at 441 4th Street, NW, in the District of Columbia State Board of
Education Chambers, located on the lobby level of the building.
The State Board has received updates on the changes to the existing
regulations from Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
Additionally, the State Board held a public hearing to receive public
input. The remarks included explanations that the new enrollment date
would provide parents sufficient time to enroll their students. The
change would also create opportunities for school administrators to
prepare for the upcoming school year. This lengthened enrollment period
would allow school educational and support staff to arrange appropriate
trainings and materials for incoming students at a variety of levels.
Constituents who wish to comment at the public meeting are required to
notify the State Board of Education in advance by contacting the
Executive Director, Beverley Wheeler, by phone at 741-0884 or by E-mail
at Beverley.Wheeler@dc.gov
before the close of business on Monday, March 16. Please provide one
electronic copy and bring fifteen copies to the hearing for the Board
Members to view. The meeting will air live on DSTV Comcast Channel 99
and RCN Channel 18.
###############
ELP Honors Benjamin Wilson, April 2
Cerise Bridges, cerise@elpnet.org
The Environmental Leadership Program hosts a celebration of
leadership remembering Dr. King’s environmental legacy with special
guest Benjamin Wilson on Thursday, April 2, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at
The Wilderness Society, 1615 M Street, NW. Tickets are $25, and are
available at http://www.elpnet.org/midatlanticnetwork/marn_col.php.
A silent auction will be held during the reception. Food and beverages
will be served.
Benjamin Will joined ELP’s National Advisory Committee in the Fall
of 2008. As one of the founders of Howard University Law School’s
Environmental Law Program and annual State of Environmental Justice in
America conference, Benjamin truly embodies the values and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Come out and network with a dynamic crowd, meet
the inaugural class of Fellows in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and celebrate
the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Celebration of Leadership
allows you to learn, network, and support a worthy organization. This
promises to be a truly inspiring evening.
###############
themail@dcwatch is an E-mail discussion forum that is published every
Wednesday and Sunday. To change the E-mail address for your subscription
to themail, use the Update Profile/Email address link below in the
E-mail edition. To unsubscribe, use the Safe Unsubscribe link in the
E-mail edition. An archive of all past issues is available at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail.
All postings should be submitted to themail@dcwatch.com,
and should be about life, government, or politics in the District of
Columbia in one way or another. All postings must be signed in order to
be printed, and messages should be reasonably short — one or two brief
paragraphs would be ideal — so that as many messages as possible can
be put into each mailing.
