Foxes in Charge of the Chicken Coop
Dear Feathered Friends:
The Public Employee Relations Board is described on its web site as
“an impartial, quasi-judicial, independent agency that resolves
labor-management disputes between agencies of the District government
and labor organizations representing agency employees.” “Impartial”
is the key word here.
As part of his war against city workers and the unions that represent
them, Mayor Fenty has tried to cripple the PERB. First, he allowed
positions on the five-member board to remain vacant for months and years
after members’ terms expired, so that PERB dwindled to one sitting
member who could not act in any of the cases before the board because of
the lack of a quorum. Then he named four appointees to the board who
were his personal friends, fraternity brothers, or jock buddies, but who
had no experience in or qualifications for judging labor-management
disputes. The city council refused to confirm those appointments. Now,
as a slap in the face of the council for rejecting his initial
appointees, Mayor Fenty has taken the ultimate step to destroy PERB as
an agency that can resolve labor disputes in a fair, impartial, and
independent way. With the assistance of Attorney General Peter Nickles,
who interviewed and screened the potential nominees, Fenty has made four
new appointments to the Board: Johnine P. Barnes, http://www.dcwatch.com/council18/18-228.htm;
John P. Isa, http://www.dcwatch.com/council18/18-229.htm;
Mary Oates Walker, http://www.dcwatch.com/council18/18-230.htm;
and Jennifer E. Chung, http://www.dcwatch.com/council18/18-231.htm.
These four nominees have one thing in common. They all have experience
and expertise in labor-management disputes, because they are all lawyers
who specialize in representing employers in labor-management disputes.
(Labor representatives had presented the mayor with the names of eleven
people they believed were qualified to serve on the board; Nickles didn’t
give any of them even a pro forma interview to sustain a pretense
of fairness.)
I have no reason to believe that any one of these four nominees is
unqualified to serve on PERB. I have no reason to believe that any
nominee isn’t honorable, or to believe that any nominee agreed to take
a position in order to favor city government managers or to routinely
rule against workers and their unions. I am sure that all four nominees
will testify that they can set aside their professional loyalties when
sitting on PERB, and that they will all say that they can make fair and
impartial decisions regardless of their professional obligations to
oppose workers and unions and to represent employers.
But I also have no reason to believe that a board on which four of
the five members are management lawyers will be a fair and impartial
panel. I have no reason to believe that labor unions or city workers
should trust such a board to be impartial or to represent their
interests fairly. I have no reason to believe that the mayor has changed
his position toward city workers, and that he wants them to receive a
fair and impartial hearing before PERB. Fenty and Nickles have presented
the city council with a dilemma. Fenty and Nickles can argue
individually that each appointee is qualified and should be approved;
but as a group of four representatives of management they would
constitute a board that at the very least presents an appearance and
presumption of unfairness and bias.
In the introduction to the last issue, I wrote that Tom Blagburn had
died. His funeral arrangements have been printed in the Post: “On
Monday, May 4, at 11 a.m., Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at
Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, 3630 Quesada Street, NW. Interment
private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Horton’’s
Kids, 110 Maryland Ave., NE, Suite 207, Washington, DC 20002.”
Gary Imhoff
gary@dcwatch.com
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Baseball Ticket Sidebar
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
Mayor Fenty and the city council continue to fight over baseball
tickets. The mayor is still hoarding the city council’s tickets and
denying councilmembers access to their own executive suite at the
ballpark. But what is the mayor doing with the tickets? Well, prior to
the coveted April 13 home opening game at the stadium, Ron Moten, the
Chief Operating Officer of Peaceoholics and the “facilitator” of the
scandal over the firetruck and ambulance donation to the Dominican
republic, called friends and acquaintances to invite them to the game
and to offer tickets and access to the city’s executive suite.
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Property Taxes: Punishing Honesty
Jack McKay, jack.mckay@verizon.net
I got my 2009 first-half property tax bill, a mere $131. Whoa, that
can’t be right! Well, it’s not. Turns out the tax office decided on
their own that I qualify for the senior citizen tax break, and not only
cut my current tax bill in half, but applied that cut retroactively to
my second-half 2008 payment, applying a chunk of that payment to my 2009
bill. Very generous, Mr. Gandhi, but no, I don’t qualify for that tax
break.
I stopped by the tax office to explain that I was being given this
senior citizen benefit, even though I had never applied for it. “Oh
yes you did,” the clerk snapped. Evidently only we citizens make
errors, the tax office doesn’t. She was no help, so I went home and
wrote a letter to the Office of Tax and Revenue explaining the
situation, after figuring out, and paying, what my tax was supposed to
be, sans senior citizen benefit and the credit from 2008. That was a lot
more than $131. My reward for this honesty arrived in the mail Saturday:
a “notice of delinquency” and a fat tax bill, with penalty and
interest, plus a rude threat of a tax sale if I don’t cough up
promptly. It seems that, when the tax office undid the senior citizen
credit for 2008, they failed to put the credit they had carried forward
into 2009 back into 2008, where it belonged. So they think that I’ve
underpaid for 2008 by $1388, and simultaneously that I’ve overpaid for
2009, by precisely the same amount. Neat trick.
I can see that I’m in for another long morning at the tax office,
trying to sort this out. The Office of Tax and Revenue offered me a gift
of almost three thousand dollars this March, and my reward for trying to
give it back is hundreds of dollars in penalties and interest, and hours
of my time downtown, hoping that I’ll find a clerk who will actually
take responsibility for this fumbling around, instead of blaming it all
on me.
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Right to Choose Naturopathic Health
Professional Gone
Albrette “Gigi” Ransom, ANC 5C12, gigifor5c12@yahoo.com
At the April 27 legislative session, the DC council passed by a 12-0
vote (Marion Barry absent), B18-60, the “Practices of Medicine and
Naturopathic Medicine Amendment Act of 2009.” Paraphrasing, this bill
limited authority to only medically trained physicians in naturopathy
for “suggesting, recommending, prescribing, or administering, any form
of treatment, operation, drug, medicine, manipulation, electricity, or
any physical, mechanical, or healing treatment, for the prevention,
diagnosis, correction, or treatment of a physical or mental disease,
aliment, injury, condition of defect of any person. . . .” B18-60
repealed the licensing of traditional naturopaths in DC. Interestingly,
last year B17-0801, the “Health Occupation Revision Act of 1985
Amendment Act of 2008,” was introduced, but no hearing was scheduled.
Last year’s bill retained the licensing of those who practice the “traditional
healing arts,” which were categorized as naturopaths. Licensing of
naturopathic healers has been recognized by the US Department of Labor;
by Congressional Acts in 1928-30); by thirty federal court rulings
(1958-78); and it is protected by the 9th and 14th Amendments to the
Constitution. Our citizens have always had the right to chose between
traditional naturopathic or conventional forms of medical treatments.
Under Bill 18-60, that right no longer exists. Thank you, Councilmember
Catania.
The practice of naturopathy is based on helping the body heal itself
in the least invasive, most fundamentally curative manner possible.
Those currently licensed as naturopaths in DC provide these alternative,
primary, natural, and holistic services. Their practices include
spiritual therapies, diet and cleansing therapies, hydrotherapy,
homeopathy, nutritional therapy, botanical and homeopathic medicines,
physiotherapy, and spinal manipulation to aid in the healing processes.
Prior to providing services, clients are informed that they must consult
with health professions, if they have not already done so. Natural
therapeutics became very popular during the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Conventional medicine took note of its impact, and created the NIH
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine which, after
obtaining information from naturopaths, began including specialized
naturopathic training in medical schools.
I tried to find if this privilege has been abused. There have been
over nine hundred active licensed naturopaths in DC, and there have been
only two Department of Health Naturopathic Disciplinary Actions from
2004 to 2008, one in 2004 and one in 2008. During the same time period,
105 Medicine Disciplinary Actions were taken against physicians, ranging
from license revocations, suspensions, probation, and reprimands, to
fines.
As many others do, I chose to use both forms of healing as
complementary medicine. Naturopathic remedies have long been a part of
the African, African-American, Native American, Asian, European, and
other communities, long before conventional medicine. Many of our senior
citizens have turned towards naturopathic medicine with a sense of
returning to their roots for healing aids at this time in life, due to
the high cost of prescription drugs. Justice Robert H. Jackson once
said, “Civil government cannot let any group ride roughshod over
others simply because their consciences tell them to do so.” I sense
that conventional medicine practitioners now feels that they have
learned everything they need from the naturopathic disciplines, and want
to take control of what is now a multi-billion dollar alternative health
care industry. The January hearing on this bill was held with short
notice; the licensed naturopaths were not notified; and, therefore, only
those who supported the bill testified. The bill should be reconsidered;
it should be recalled; and the Committee on Health should hold an open
and fair hearing for public input.
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A Possum in the Hood
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@macdotcom
Took my early a.m. walk a bit later today with my trusty Mountain
Ukranian Teutonic Toy, Trudy, a ten-pound tenacious squirrel chaser. As
we turned the corner from Massachusetts Avenue on to Van Ness, Trudy
took off after a possum who was leisurely (at first) strolling across
Van Ness. He disappeared in some bushes where he apparently had a hole
to crawl in. It’s the first time I’ve seen a possum locally, though
I’ve seen a fox and several deer in the neighborhood. Glad there was
no confrontation between my mutt and the possum.
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A Second Library Rebels Against Cooper
Bryce A. Suderow, streetstories@juno.com
I’ve learned that a second branch library has rebelled against
Ginnie Cooper. Last year Cooper gutted the collection at Cleveland Park
Branch, but for quite some time that library has been buying back its
lost books on Amazon. I assume this is being paid for by the Branch’s
Friends of the Library, but I don’t know for sure.
Unfortunately for every library that is trying to undo Cooper’s
mischief, there are ten that support her decisions, probably out of
fear. One branch head told me flatly, “I’m a company man,” and
expressed displeasure over my posting of last week regarding Chevy Chase
and over my general opposition to Cooper’s reign..
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Save the Anacostia River Trust
Sam Jordan, samunomas@msn.com
The DC council may pass the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection
Act of 2009 in the next legislative session. The act contemplates
generating funds from a five-cent fee on bags provided to consumers at
the point of sale in groceries and carryout shops. Should the measure
prove effective, consumers will become accustomed to bringing their own
reusable bags, thereby reducing the funds the Act can raise. START, the
Save The Anacostia River Trust and License Tag Program, if enacted or
added to the Clean Up bill, will raise funds from three sources: 1) a
specialty license plate that will require a donation of $25 above the
normal cost of vehicle registration; 2) a check-off box on the DC income
tax form; and 3) donations at any time in any amount from individuals,
corporations, foundations, and testamentary gifts.
Clean up and restoration activities on the river need funds. The
START program is completely voluntary, independent, and will not use
government money. You can help by supporting the effort to enact START.
How you can help: a) call Councilmember Tommy Wells at 724-8072 and say
you support START; b) volunteer this weekend to help collect signatures
on our petition at Eastern Market, East of the River Shopping Center, or
the Shopping Plaza at Alabama Avenue and Good Hope Road; and c) take the
online survey at http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=HODJM_18be1340
What did you decide? Call the START Team at 388-6661 or E-mail your
reply to samunomas@msn.com
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Health Care Now! Swine Flu Advisory
Sam Jordan, Samunomas@msn.com
Compiled from notes from the DC Department of Health (DC DOH) and the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Flu symptoms are cough, runny nose,
body aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Contact your health care
provider immediately to determine whether flu testing or medication is
needed. Don’t load up on antiviral medicines if you are not sick.
Tamiflu and Relenza, when used without a diagnosis of influenza, may be
poor health investments. Flu season typically peaks in the northern
hemisphere between November and May, but one can get flu at any time in
the year.
Preventive measures are to 1) avoid close contact with people who are
sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them
from getting sick too. Limit some group activities and maintain your “social
distance” where possible on trains, buses, at sports events, concerts,
church, schools, etc. 2) Avoid spray from coughs and sneezes of others.
Protect others from your own cough and sneeze spray. Turn your head, and
use a tissue. Don‘t shake hands after sneezing or coughing, then shake
hands. 3) Stay home from work, child care, school and errands when you
are sick, except to seek medical care. Keep sick children at home except
to seek medical care. 4) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing. Completely dispose of the tissue. 6) Wash your
hands often and well, at least twenty seconds each time. Time it by
humming or singing two rounds of “Happy Birthday.” Take off your
watch and wash above the heels of your hands. Hand sanitizers may add
another layer of defense. 7) Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or
mouth. Germs spread rapidly when a person touches something that is
contaminated then touches his or her face, eyes, nose, or mouth. Wash
soon after shaking hands, holding public stair rails, public door
handles. Don’t touch your face until you‘ve washed. 8) Practice
other good health habits as a routine: get plenty of sleep, exercise,
reduce your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat clean, nutritious
food.
The keys to wellness are to take control of your own health status,
obtain medical advice, practice prevention, be consistent, and teach
others.
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Initiatives and Referenda
Lars H. Hydle, larshhydle@aol.com
The rules for initiatives and referenda can be found on the web site
of the DC Board of Elections and Ethics, http://www.dcboee.org/regulations/initiative_and_referendum/initiative.asp
It is hard to do a referendum, which repeals legislation that has just
been passed by the mayor and council, because you have to collect
signatures during the period of congressional review, thirty or sixty
legislative days. It is easier to do an initiative, which would be new
legislation, because you have six months to collect signatures.
Unlike in California, you can’t do an initiative or referendum on a
budget-related matter. This is probably a good thing, because California
has gone deep into financial trouble because of various initiatives over
the years that have required spending without pay-as-you-go features. An
initiative might be a good way to resolve issues like gay marriage or
gun laws.
One problem with an initiative is that even if and when it passes,
the council and mayor can revisit it and repeal it after a year. A 1994
initiative imposed a two-term limit on the mayor and council, to take
effect with the 2002 elections. In 2001, the council and mayor repealed
the term limits before they took effect.
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I think I can tell Eric Woods why referendums are not used in DC to
resolve important or contentious issues: DC referendums are useless. Mr.
Woods must not be aware that when the controversial issue of term limits
was overwhelmingly approved by city residents through a legitimate
initiative it was subsequently and undemocratically overturned by the
city council in order to preserve their jobs as professional
politicians. I, for one, will never again vote in a city initiative
since I know that the results will be meaningless. Again, I repeat what
I have said in the past: whenever DC government officials complain about
the undemocratic way the city is treated by the Congress they should be
reminded about how undemocratically they have treated their own
citizens.
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Referendums and Gays
Michael Bindner, mikeybdc@yahoo.com
Eric Woods asks why referenda are not used more often on
controversial issues. Individuals are free to try, but it is an uphill
battle because the DC Board of Elections does not automatically prune
the voting roles when people do not vote (presumably because they either
die or move). Because a percentage of currently registered voters is
required for either referendum or recall, every year it becomes harder
and harder to participate in direct democracy in the District, and it
appears that the council likes it that way. Since no one has made this
an electoral issue, we can also presume that the public does not care.
Richard Urban is quite incorrect in stating that homosexuality does
not exist in the natural world. It is actually quite common among many
human-like species. His natural law argument that marriage (and
presumably sex) must be oriented toward childbearing, I would answer
that this would make marriage a rather utilitarian institution if that
were its only purpose. If he were really serious about this claim, he
would have to require that marriages without children must be dissolved
if one partner is infertile due to either disability or age. Marriage is
about much more than that, however. Marriage is good in and of itself,
regardless of the need to bear and raise children (and homosexuality is
no barrier to the latter — gay couples raise children all the time,
usually biological children from one or the other partner). Society, and
indeed organized religion, have a stake in providing marriage to
homosexual couples for precisely the reason that Mr. Urban states —
the fact that many gay men have a history of multiple partners. Marriage
is about encouraging monogamy. When you keep gays and lesbians outside
of marriage (and indeed, exclude their sexuality from the moral order),
you have no standing to teach about either God or monogamy. Not only won’t
God like that, but it is not good for society to encourage promiscuity
by denying gay marriage.
###############
Richard Urban writes [themail, April 29]: “When these universal
principles are discarded in favor of banal, crass relationships, the
very core of society is threatened. We must awaken to this fact and
vigorously defend the institution of marriage between and man and a
woman.” I agree with you on the monogamous relationships aspect, but
it obviously includes same sex couples. But, I will join you to “vigorously
defend” heterosexual marriage by introducing legislation in all fifty
states to simply ban divorce. One shot! You better choose wisely. If
your position is to be so adamant about marriage between a man and woman
and everlasting relationships, that should be an easy way to ensure
everybody complies. The good thing is, with more than 50 percent of
man-woman marriages in this country ending in divorce (those “banal,
crass relationships”), you’ll have less than 50 percent of the
remaining straight populations that believe in God to work with, and you
can afford to direct mail them all.
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Sorry, I just have to reply to the post by Mr. Urban on gay marriage
[themail, April 29]. I am a married heterosexual. I just don’t get how
anyone else’s marriage — be it a man and a woman or two same-sex
people — affects the status or validity of my marriage in any way. You
state that, “Men and women come together, centered on love and the
higher purpose of forming a family that will create children.” Does
this mean that a married hetero couple who decides not to have children
(which many couples do) has a lesser basis for marriage? Should such
marriages be annulled because they don’t support the purpose you
ascribe to marriage?
You also state, “Additionally, a Dutch study found that men in
homosexual relationships on average have eight partners a year outside
those relationships. In this aspect, these relationships are not what
most people would consider ‘marriage.’ Also, there is a large degree
of banality and crassness in many such relationships.” Even if I were
to accept either of these groundless statements as supportable truth, it
still would not be a basis to deny two people who love each other the
right to marry! By logical extension of your first argument (people who
cheat shouldn’t be able to marry), there are a great number of
heterosexual relationships that wouldn’t qualify for marriage. Further
banality and crassness exist in all types of heterosexual relationships.
As a police officer, I’ve been to far more domestic disputes in hetero
households than in same-sex households. Should we begin to apply the “Ms.
Manners litmus test” to couples before they are allowed to marry?
Mr. Urban, I respect your belief in a higher being. That’s for you
to choose. I choose not to believe in such. Fortunately, we live in a
country which separates religion from state institutions. That’s at
the core of what we’re talking about here — the state recognition of
marriage. If a particular church wishes not to perform marriages within
the confines of its buildings or ecumenical authority, that’s one
thing. But there’s no place in the America we now live in to say that
two people (of whatever gender) who wish to be legally recognized as
married should not be allowed to do so and to receive all the rights and
privileges that the law extends to them. That’s at the core of both
the Bill of Right’s protections of the Establishment Clause and the
Equal Protection Clause.
What we’re talking about here, sir, is equal rights for all people.
If you’re not convinced about the correctness of this analysis, please
think back fifty or so years when marriage between blacks and whites was
illegal in many states. The theoretical underpinning of such laws was
that “it was against the will of God” or “the law of Nature”
that people of different races be allowed to marry. Simply substitute
the word “race” for “sex” and fast-forward to 2009, and I think
you’ll have to agree that we’re really talking about the same notion
here.
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Can we manage to limit the Bible thumping in themail? I know that
there is a sizable portion of the society that hates gays and thinks
that God does too, but finding the biblical reference in the mail is
tedious tripe and not worth reading.
Mr. Urban should go find a pulpit to pound and leave us to discuss
other things than pillorying people because of their sexual choices.
Why is it that some people have such an unhealthy interest in what
consenting adults are doing in the privacy of their homes? Maybe they
need a better sex life of their own to keep them a little busier.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Department of Parks and Recreation Events, May
4-7
John Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov
May 4-27, Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Therapeutic
Recreation Center, 3030 G Street, SE. Therapeutic Tae Kwon Do.
Therapeutic Tae Kwon Do is offered twice a week to the public during the
month of May. Registration is required and attendance at all sessions is
preferable. For more information, call Kimball Barnes at 645-5708.
May 5, 11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m., Center for Therapeutic Recreation, 3030
G Street, SE. Tai Chi. This program offers Tai Chi for seniors and
adults with special needs and is suited for those who are interested in
learning how martial arts can be used for relaxation and stress relief.
For more information, call Victoria Cole-Rolon, CTRS, Manager, or Cheryl
Thompson-Walker, Pool Manager, 645-6516 or 645-8705.
May 5, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N
Street, SW.
Major Myths about Digestion Nutrition Workshop for ages 55 and up.
Senior participants will have the opportunity to ask a nutritionist
questions about myths or concerns they may have about digestion of
foods. For more information, call Kim Campbell, Recreation Specialist,
at 645-7454.
May 5, 11:00 a.m., Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701
Mississippi Avenue, SE. 2009 Golden Olympics Event – Men and Women
Tennis Singles tournament for ages 55 and up. This event is being
coordinated through DPR’s Senior Services program. For more
information, call 664-7153.
May 5, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie
Street, SE. World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global
Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around
the world. This year’s theme will again be “You Can Control Your
Asthma.” DPR will host a number of activities happening in May, aimed
at education on asthma and its many facets. For more information,
contact Charles Young at 673-7681.
May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28, 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Takoma Aquatic
Center, 300 Van Buren Street, NW. Lifeguard Training Class, ages fifteen
and up. This training class prepares the lifeguard candidate with the
skills and knowledge necessary to respond to aquatic emergencies,
including First Aid and CPR.
May 5, 12, 19, 26, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Sherwood Recreation Center,
640 10th Street, NE. Environmental Harps at Sherwood. This musical
activity with the use of therapy harps is designed for seniors and
adults who live in assistant living programs. Program is held every
Tuesday. For more information, call Victoria Cole-Rolon, CTRS Manager,
at 645-6516.
May 5, 12, 19, 26 (Tuesdays in May), 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fort
Dupont Park, 1900 Anacostia Drive, SE. Youth mountain bike rides for
ages ten to eighteen. In conjunction with Trips for Kids Metro DC, DPR
will be hosting weekly “introduction to mountain biking and
environmental awareness classes” for youth aged 10- 18. Trips for Kids
will provide instruction, equipment and healthy snacks for participants.
For more information, contact Environmental Education Specialist Kelly
Melsted at 671-0396.
May 6, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Fort Stevens Birthday Celebration,
Hagerstown Shopping Trip, Hagerstown, Maryland. This is a relaxing trip
for seniors ages 55 and up of shopping at the outlet malls in
Hagerstown. Please make a reservation by contacting Louis Jones at Fort
Stevens Recreation Center at 541-3752.
May 6, 10:00 a.m., Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701
Mississippi Avenue, SE. 2009 Golden Olympics Event — Men and Women
Tennis Singles and Doubles tournament and ages 55 and up. This event is
being coordinated through DPR’s Senior Services program. For more
information, call 664-7153.
May 6, 1:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m., Center for Therapeutic Recreation, 3030 G
Street, SE. Belly dancing for adults with special needs. Enjoy the
African art of belly dancing, which has many healthy benefits for the
mind and body. This activity is good for all adults. Special need
populations are encouraged to join in the fun! For more information,
call Victoria Cole-Rolon, CTRS, Manager or Cheryl Thompson-Walker, Pool
Manager, at 645-6516 or 645-8705.
May 7, 14, 21, 28, 11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m., Center for Therapeutic
Recreation, 3030 G Street, SE. Adapted boot camp style work out for
seniors and adults with special needs. Program is scheduled for every
Thursday. For more information, call Victoria Cole-Rolon, CTRS, Manager
or Cheryl Thompson-Walker, Pool Manager, at 645-6516 or 645-8705.
May 7, 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Parkview Recreation Center (Community
Room), 693 Otis Place, NW. Mother’s Day brunch. For more information,
call Ms. Ricks or Mrs. McBride at 576-5750.
May 7, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Kalorama Recreation Center, 1875 Columbia
Road, NW. Mother’s day program. Participants will make Mother’s Day
cards and crafts. Light refreshments will be served. For more
information, call John J. Borges at 673-7606.
May 7, 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Lamond Recreation Center, 20 Tuckerman
Street NE. Flag football tournament for ages 9-13. Participants will
play in a 7-on-7 flag football tournament. For more information, call
Ricky Davenport at 576-9541.
May 7, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th
Street NE. Mother’s day dedication. Arts showcase dedicated to the
life lessons learned from our mothers. For more information, contact
Karena Houser-Hall, Recreation Specialist, at 698-3075.
May 7, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Marie Reed Recreation Center, 2200
Champlain Street, NW, Mother’s Day Tribute for youth twelve and under
and their mothers. This Mother’s Day Tribute includes light
refreshments for participants. Each child participant will receive a
rose which they can then give to their mother. For more information,
call Ludie Baker, Recreation Specialist, at 673-7768.
May 7, 6:00 p.m., Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert Street,
NW. Community meeting at which DPR will provide updates on the Guy Mason
Recreation Center improvement project. For information, contact
671-0421.
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Funk Fenty Concert and Rally, May 7
Parisa B. Norouzi, parisa@empowerdc.org
Join DC residents from across the city as we protest Mayor Fenty’s
attack on teachers, school workers, recreation department employees,
fire fighters, police, mental health professionals, and other city
employees. Stop the sale of school buildings and other city property to
developers. And stand up to demand that residents have a say in how this
city is run. Come to the Funk Fenty Concert and Rally to save public
property and protest Fenty’s attacks on Chocolate City residents and
workers. Thursday, May 7, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Freedom Plaza, 14th
and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (rain date, May 8).
Live music by local rock/funk bands Godisheus, Machestres, DC
Hip-Hop/Go-Go on the Wheels of Steel, DJ Earth 1ne (Classic Hip Hop LLC,
Mental Salvation Radio, NOI), and DJ Soyo. More to come; stay tuned!
Speakers and solidarity action to stop Fenty’s policies, including
Lawrence Guyot, civil rights organizer, on diminishing the role of
residents in local politics; Johnny Barnes, ACLU, on violations of civil
liberties; Roger Newell, DC Jobs with Justice, on attacks on public
sector unions; Linda Leaks, Empower DC, on cuts to housing that harm
tenants; and more. Come out to get involved and save eleven DC public
schools Fenty wants to give to developers. Save the fifteen Parks and
Recreation child care centers Fenty wants to close. Save the public
mental health care system that Fenty wants to privatize. Protest Cuts to
public services and attacks on city workers and public sector unions.
Join us for great music and great energy to save our great city from the
Mayor Betrayer. For more information, call Empower DC, 234-9119.
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The DC Voting Rights Act into the Courtroom,
May 20
Tom Smith, tmfsmith@starpower.net
The Ward 3 Democratic Committee Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Policy
has assembled a distinguished panel of legal experts and invites you
into the courtroom to hear legal arguments for and against the
constitutionality of the DC Voting Rights Act. Many DC residents are
hopeful that the DC Voting Rights Act will make its way through the US
Congress this year and signed into federal law. However, we also realize
that the DC Voting Rights Act also must withstand constitutional
challenges that are likely to make their way to the US Supreme Court. On
May 20, you can get a sneak preview of these legal proceedings when two
panels of legal experts will argue for and against the constitutionality
of the DC Voting Rights Act. Participating in the proceeding (confirmed
at this time) will be Professor Jamin (Jamie) Raskin, American
University’s Washington College of Law and Director of the Law and
Government Program; Professor Jonathan Siegel, George Washington
University Law School; Richard (Rick) Dykema, Chief of Staff to
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); Katherine Broderick, Dean of the
University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law;
and Stephen Pershing, Professorial Lecturer in Law, George Washington
University Law School.
The event will take place at American University’s Washington
College of Law on Wednesday, May 20, from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., in the
Law School’s Moot Court Room. I want to express my appreciation to the
Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Policy Issues and Mike Gold, its chairman,
for organizing and convening this special program. There will be no Ward
Three Democratic Committee business conducted at this event.
###############
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