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May 6, 2009

Transactions

Dear Transactors:

DC has gone halfway toward making its routine transactions with citizens less painful. It has systems in place so that — if you have computer access and credit cards — the most annoying encounters that citizens have with the city government, such as renewing driver’s licenses and car registrations and filing income taxes, can be done conveniently and easily online. However, DC hasn’t worked out what to do when things go wrong. Computer transactions don’t always go smoothly. When they go bad, and when government employees rely completely on their computers, dealing with the city government can be more difficult and worse than ever. The Office of the Chief Technology Officer doesn’t take responsibility for resolving these problems; line workers in agency offices are instructed to believe their computer screens and distrust citizens; and so there’s no easy way to get any mistake corrected. Nataki Goodall writes about her experience below, and Jack McKay has been writing about his adventures in recent issues of themail, and again below. Private companies are slowly learning that reducing the number of mistakes they make isn’t enough to improve their customer service reputations; unless they improve the way they make it right when they’ve made a mistake, they’ll still be thought of as companies to avoid. Until each office, department, and agency has its own ombudsman dedicated to making it right when citizens are wronged, does anyone have any suggestions for how to make the system work better?

Big city mayors learn from each other. Here’s a “separated at birth” story that shows the similarity between Mayor Fenty and Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley: “State of Corruption: Chicago City Hall, Mayor Richard Daley’s administration routinely deny requests for public documents: Daley administration routinely denies requests for documents that could shed light on how the mayor really runs the city,” http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-secret-government-daleymay04,0,5215778.story. The article’s first line, with just a name change, would be right at home in the Post, the Times, the Examiner, or right here in themail: “Mayor Richard Daley portrays himself as the most transparent big-city mayor in the country, yet he presides over an administration that routinely denies requests for records that show how Daley really runs Chicago.”

If you haven’t been to Ray’s Hell Burgers yet, don’t even try going now. At least Clinton, when he wanted a hamburger, went to the McDonald’s nearest the White House. That was thoughtful of him; McDonald’s can handle the crowds, and there are plenty of other McDonald’s outlets for Washingtonians to go to. But Ray’s is one small place with an even smaller parking lot. Before Tuesday, even though it’s now open for lunch as well as dinner, it already had long lines and long waits. Obama and Biden visited Ray’s yesterday, making not just local but national news. That visit will make it a destination for tourists worldwide, and will make it impossible for Washingtonians (and incidentally northern Virginians) to get in the door. Obviously, Obama has been reading themail and is taking my advice (themail, July 20, 2008), but I wish he had just ordered takeout anonymously. Dorothy and I last went to Ray’s just last week, but we don’t expect to be able to get in again for months.

According to an E-mail from Cherita Whiting, School Chancellor Michelle Rhee met with Washington Teachers Union Vice President Nathan Saunders this afternoon and ordered his to return to his union duties. This ends, at least for the time being, the charade that WTU President George Parker and DCPS Vice Chancellor Kaya Henderson went through to weaken Saunders’ role in the union local (themail, April 29).

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Expired and Withdrawn
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

On February 5, Mayor Fenty nominated Omar Nour, one of his jogging buddies, to a seat on the three-member Board of Elections and Ethics. As I wrote in themail on February 18, “Nour, who first registered to vote in DC in 2005, has no knowledge, interest, or experience regarding elections or campaign finance issues in the District. Nour would not bring any skills or requisite qualifications to the Board, and he would be joining a Board that already faces widespread criticism from citizens and the city council for its management of what has become a troubled agency.”

On Wednesday, May 13, Councilmember Mary Cheh’s Government Operations Committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing on Nour’s nomination. However, unbeknownst to anyone at the committee or at the BOEE, Mayor Fenty quietly withdrew Nour’s nomination on April 30. While we can speculate on the reasons for the withdrawal, it is clear that Nour did not want to subject himself to the level of scrutiny that his brother, Diaa Nour, received when the council considered and disapproved of his nomination to the Public Employees Relations Board on April 21.

As a footnote, Nour isn’t the first Fenty nomination to the BOEE that has faltered. On September 28, 2007, Fenty nominated another close friend, Hiram K. Brewton, to a seat on the BOEE. Although Brewton had a confirmation hearing before Carol Schwartz’s Workforce Development and Government Operations Committee, his nomination was deemed disapproved on January 10, 2008, when the council failed to affirm it within the statutory ninety-day time limit.

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A Snake and a Bushwacker
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@mac.com

That’s how I characterized council Chairman Gray before his election. And now he has demonstrated that set of skills in trying to undermine the power of the Mayor and Chancellor Rhee as they undertake a difficult reformation of the District’s public schools. The council should stick to the original plan and let the mayor and chancellor continue their efforts to make DC schools functional and effective.

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Better Thinking from Daniel Pink
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

DC author Daniel Pink is quoted in this New York Times article about the stresses of modern kindergarten (http://tinyurl.com/cn22y7). As usual, Pink explains how our priorities can easily get mixed up. While it’s true we need to keep our eyes on the prize, the route to that prize matters even more than the prize itself. (Perhaps the route is the prize?)

If you haven’t read Pink’s book, A Whole New Mind, you’re in for a treat. DC Public Libraries owns a couple copies of the book (http://dclibrary.org). Three hundred seventy-one fans of his book have gathered in a fan club on Facebook, too. (Search Facebook for A Whole New Mind.)

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Punishing Honesty (Personal Income Tax)
Nataki Goodall, nataka_goodall@earthlink.net

I read Jack McKay’s story about his experience with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue [themail, May 3], and was simultaneously relieved and disappointed that it’s “not just me,” as they say. In April 2008, I filed my 2007 personal income tax return electronically, and was surprised to find in my mailbox, less than two weeks later, an $800 refund check. I called OTR to notify them of the error, and, after being on hold for the better part of an hour, was subjected to all manner of accusation, including literally being called a thief and told that OTR would track me down and I would be in “big trouble” if I didn’t mail the check to some anonymous Post Office box. Given that this whole incident happened within weeks of the multimillion dollar embezzlement scandal at OTR, the clerk’s words and tone were both insulting and laughable. In any event, I mailed the check back and thought nothing more of it — until February 2009, when my federal income tax refund was garnished to pay for the money I had already returned, plus interest and penalties. Unfortunately, my job does not allow me the painful luxury of spending hours on end at OTR, so I have tried to resolve the matter via numerous letters and phone calls, to no avail. Ironically, though this matter remains unresolved, in March I received another refund — for my 2008 DC taxes.

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Property Taxes: Punishing Honesty (Continued)
Jack McKay, jack.mckay@verizon.net

Looks like somebody downtown gets themail. "I received an E-mail this morning concerning your first half real property tax bill," E-mails Richie McKeithen, Director of Real Property Tax Administration. Somewhat confusingly, he writes that the Tax Office has removed the Senior Citizen Tax Relief Benefit from my account, "along with any penalties and interest that may have accrued." Trouble is, the penalty and interest came about because they had removed the Senior Citizen benefit. Well, I hope they get it right, this time around. Also, "We have removed your property from delinquent status and it will not be included on any tax sale listing." Oh good.

That's encouraging, to be sure, though as of Wednesday evening, the on-line records still show a balance owed of $1693. That's the $1388 they lifted out of my 2008 payments, plus $139 penalty, plus $166 interest. "We will send you a revised real property tax bill," Mr. McKeithen promises. Yes, and I'm holding off on any celebrations until I see an official piece of paper declaring that I am not, in fact, in "delinquency,” and after I've checked the numbers to make sure they haven't blundered again. Yes, Mr. McKeithen apologized "for any inconvenience this may have caused you."

Maybe I'm too hard on them. After all, somebody thought he was doing the right thing, crediting me with the Senior Citizen benefit retroactively to 2008. What really irritates me is the Tax Office clerk who, when I said that I had never applied for this credit, snapped "yes, you did!" Pardon me, young lady, but I didn't, because I have yet to qualify, and the Tax Office really does, sometimes, make mistakes. One has to worry about residents who don't have the skill with numbers, and the records of prior years, to be able to catch and correct their mistakes.

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Referenda and Initiatives Revisited
Eric Woods, ewbushdoctor@gmail.com

I appreciated the healthy discussion about referenda in the last issue of themail. Indeed, I had forgotten about the term limits referendum, probably because I was incensed by the fact that the council and mayor could overturn the law in their own self interests. Readers pointed out the both the rules and the some issues that impede the successful use of referenda and initiatives. An initiative would appear to be a more realistic tool that citizens could access to have their voices heard by both the press and legislators. However, not in its present form. So I now ask how possible is it to amend the rules by: 1) adding a sunset provision (say, for about six months) that closes the window on the ability to overturn a publicly supported initiative; and 2) creating the opportunity for the citizens to overrule the council and mayor (in the event that they overturn an initiative) with a two-thirds vote (that is, two thirds of all votes cast)? Comments from Lars Hydle, Robert Evans, and Michael Bindner, along with having attended the school choice rally this afternoon on Freedom Plaza, have left me thinking that DC residents are primed to fight undemocratic treatment by government — local and federal. Perhaps, on the matter of valuing initiatives, a starting point may be to insist that the Fenty administration purge the voting rolls. Simultaneously, we would build momentum for making changes such as those cited above that could result in real and lasting initiatives. Can you picture a time when the council, mayor, Congress, and even the President would have to acknowledge that the citizens of the District have spoken?

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DPR Turmoil and High Grass
Bill Crews, billcrews@aol.com

In amongst the great replies supporting civil marriage equality against heterosexism in today’s themail (May 3), I find it curious that Department of Parks and Recreation can continue to post events in themail classifieds, but hasn’t been able to cut the grass in the pocket park between Massachusetts and Constitution Avenues at 7th Street, NE, even once this spring. Most grass in DC is a cool weather variety and springtime is a fast growing time. Perhaps Fenty and Tangerlini should have thought a bit more about their constituents’ neighborhoods rather than their bruised egos and fragile power mongering before gutting DPR. Mr. Mayor, please cut the grass!

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Response to Suderow Post
Nancy Davenport, Interim Director for Library Services, DC Public Library, nancy.davenport@dc.gov

Bryce Suderow’s assertions that the Friends of Chevy Chase Library and the Friends of Cleveland Park Library are buying old books on Amazon to supplement the Library’s collection are completely false. Maintaining viable and relevant books and other materials by refreshing its collection is what’s done by successful libraries across the country. Doing this keeps the materials current as well as ensuring that books in poor condition are replaced. This is common practice for public libraries. The DC Public Library’s process is to regularly examine its collections and refresh them with new and updated materials. For example, the Library may have the 2009 edition of a reference book. It will be discarded when the 2010 edition is acquired. Or the Library may have more copies of a particular book than it needs after its popularity begins to wane — think Harry Potter for example.

It is just as important to the Friends that the library has a viable and active collection of books. In fact, the circulation at Chevy Chase has increased by 31 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year. At Southeast, circulation has increased by 31 percent as well. In addition, circulation at Cleveland Park has increased by 22 percent. These patterns are in line with the overall 32 percent increase in circulation District-wide. It is clear from these numbers that the Library’s approach to maintaining its collection, with support from the Friends of the Library, has made it more attractive to the community.

The Library has made significant improvements during the last few years. They would not have been possible without the strong support of the Friends of the Library and DC residents. Join the Friends Group near you. We’ll be delighted to welcome you and you’ll get to better know your Library.

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Cleveland Park Friends Response to Suderow
Jill Bogard, Friends of the Cleveland Park Library, jill_bogard@ace.nche.edu

Bryce Suderow is 100 percent wrong when he asserts that the Cleveland Park Branch of the DC Public Library “has rebelled against Ginnie Cooper,” and that it “has been buying back its lost books on Amazon.” His assumption that “this is being paid for by the Branch’s Friends of the Library” is ludicrous. The Friends of the Cleveland Park Library (FCPL) have consistently worked with Ginnie Cooper and her staff to strengthen the Library’s programs and services. Before posting, Suderow should check with reliable sources like the Cleveland Park Branch Manager and the president of FCPL (me).

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Department of Parks and Recreation Events, May 8-11
John Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov

May 8, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Rumsey Aquatic Facility, 635 North Carolina Avenue, SE. CPR Class, ages fifteen and up. To learn the role of Professional Rescuer in providing Emergency care to the patrons in the Aquatic Facilities, to perform specialized skills and techniques in the proper and safe use of the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

May 8, 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m., Center for Therapeutic Recreation, 3030 G Street, SE. Special cane and crutch defense for seniors aged fifty and up. Seniors will learn how to use their cane and or crutches for self defense against personal attacks. For more information, call Victoria Cole-Rolon, CTRS, Manager, or Cheryl Thompson-Walker, Pool Manager, at 645-6516 or 645-8705.

May 8, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N Street, SW. Mother’s Day luncheon at Great American Buffet in Alexandria, VA for ages 55 and up. Senior participants will have a Mother’s Day Luncheon in their honor to celebrate them as parents. Each participant will receive a gift as appreciation. For more information, call Kim Campbell, Recreation Specialist, at 645-7454.

May 8, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N Street, SW. Grandparents take this opportunity to share stories and experiences with their peers. For more information, call Kim Campbell, Recreation Specialist, at 645-7454.

May 8, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Senior appreciation day. Guest Speakers will inform seniors on health care and nutritional information, a safe fitness workout presentation and so much more. Light Refreshments will be served. For more information call Ralph Wright at 282-2204.

May 8, 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Rosedale Recreation Center, 1700 Gales Street, NE. Pre-Mother’s Day Cook Out. Staff will cook on the grill for children and parents. Children will make arts and crafts for their mothers. Children will also participate in outdoor games and activities. For more information, call Brian Williams, Site Manager, at 724-5405.

May 8, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Ridge Road Recreation Center, 800 Ridge Road, SE. Salute to mothers. The Ridge Road youth will host a dinner to celebrate their mothers. Certificate will be given and dinner will be served. For more information, call Sonny Hicks at 645-3959.

May 8, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Fort Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie Street, SE. Happy Mother’s Day for ages six to nineteen. Boys to Men and the Young Ladies on the Rise salute to their mothers/guardians and fallen soldiers (Memorial Day tribute) by way of pictures, poems, while enjoying light refreshments. For more information, call Valerie Arnold at 645-3970.

May 8, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Turkey Thicket Community Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE. Citywide Double Dutch Madness. This is an expansion upon the normal Friday night, Turkey Thicket Double Dutch program. The regular Friday gathering is an intergenerational program facilitated by longtime Turkey Thicket patron Joy Jones. This special event is intended to revive the practice, and it is open to all city residents. Beginners and experienced jumpers are welcomed. There will also be a performance by Ms. Jones’ performing troupe. For more information, call Mark Williams, Site Manager, at 576-9237.

May 8, 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., Douglass Community Center, 2100 Stanton Terrace, SE. Video Game Challenge (Wii and Playstation) for ages thirteen to seventeen. Participants will enjoy one on one competition playing some of the most popular video games for Wii and Playstation. This video game challenge is designed for friendly and fun competition; light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Barbara Jones at 645-3980.

May 8, 6:00 p.m.; May 9, 4:00 p.m., SE Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Avenue, SE. In-House “Spring Bling” Tennis Tournament for existing SETLC tennis participants. It will allow the youth to see where their skill level is on their particular court. For more information contact Yvonne Ruffin, Tournament Coordinator, and Keely S. Alexander, 645-6242.

May 9, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Bald Eagle Recreation Center, 100 Joliet Street, SW. This Mother’s Day luncheon will include special poems by the youth of Bald Eagle Recreation Center. Small gift giveaways and lunch will be served. For more information, call Margie Robinson at 645-3960.

May 9, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., Trinidad Recreation Center, 1310 Childress Street, NE. Mother’s appreciation luncheon for ages six and up. Participants from the Young Ladies on the Rise Program will host a luncheon and fashion show, recite Mother’s Day poems, and present their mothers and other invited seniors a special Mother’s Day gift. For more information, call Anthony Higginbotham, Site Manager, at 727-1292.

May 9, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Columbia Heights Recreation Center, 1480 Girard Street, NW. Gospel fest for all ages. Come to Columbia Heights Gymnasium and enjoy a Gospel Music Concert. For more information, call Dallas Tucker at 671-0373.

May 11, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Fort Davis Community Center, 1400 41st Street, SE, Fort Davis Mother’s Day Lunch and Movies for ages 55 and up. Celebrate Mother’s Day with lunch and a movie trip to the Macaroni Grill and the Majestic 20 Movie theater in Silver Spring, Maryland. Participants must pay their own expenses, reservations required; call Tonya Cousins at 645-9212.

May 11, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Stead Recreation Center, 1625 P Street, NW. Mother and daughter/son social for ages eight and up. The youth of Stead Recreation Center will honor the prestigious women in their lives. For more information, call Vincent E. Hill, Site Manager, at 673-4465.

May 11–14, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Stoddert Terrace Recreation Center, 4001 Calvert Street, NW. April Showers Bring May Flowers. Youth ages 6-12. Youth from the community will plant flowers in small pots and watch them grow. All materials are provided for free. For more information, call Cleveland Dent at 282-2193.

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Environmental Health Group (EHG) Events, May 11-12
Allen Hengst, ahengst@rcn.com

World War I munitions, bottles filled with chemical warfare agents, and contaminated soil have been found in and around the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest DC. The Environmental Health Group (EHG) seeks to raise awareness of the issues and encourage a thorough investigation and cleanup. Every Sunday at 1:30 p.m., please join the Environmental Health Group for an informal discussion about Spring Valley issues. At Glover Park Whole Foods Market, 2323 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (one block south of Calvert Street). For more information, visit the EHG on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/Environmental-Health-Group/67807900019.

Monday, May 11, 1:00 p.m.: public roundtable to examine the environmental health consequences of the sixteen-year cleanup of the formerly used defense site in Spring Valley. The Army Corps of Engineers has uncovered a number of chemical and conventional munitions and is planning an on-site destruction of munitions in late May and early June 2009. District of Columbia Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Chairperson of the Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, invites testimony of interested parties. In Room 123 , John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. http://www.marycheh.com/HearingNotices/SpringValley.pdf

Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 p.m.: monthly meeting of the Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board with the US Army Corps of Engineers. At Saint David’s Church basement, 5150 Macomb Street, NW (one block north of MacArthur Boulevard), http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/WashingtonDC/springvalley.htm.

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Candlelight Vigil for Fallen Officers, May 13
Kevin P. Morison, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, kevin@nleomf.org

As part of the National Police Week observance in Washington, DC, the twenty-first annual candlelight vigil for fallen officers will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Judiciary Square. The ceremony begins at 8:00 p.m., and US Attorney General Eric Holder will be the featured speaker. During the vigil, the newly engraved names of 387 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty — 133 who died last year and 254 who died in “yesteryear” — will be read aloud and formally dedicated on the Memorial. The public is invited; no tickets are required. And if you can’t make it to Judiciary Square but want to witness the Candlelight Vigil, there will be a free live videocast of the event over the Internet. For more information and to register, visit http://www.LawMemorial.org/NPW2009.

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DC Federation of Democratic Women Advocacy Day, May 14
Hazel B. Thomas, thomashazelb@aol.com

The DC Federation of Democratic Women’s Club (DCFDW) will join with the Women’s National Democratic Club to host the second annual “Women in Blue” Advocacy Day and Legislative Briefing on Thursday, May 14 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the conference room of Council Chairman Vincent Gray at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Light refreshments will be served.

The District of Columbia Federation is the state organization of the National Federation of Democratic Women which was founded in 1971, and is the only Democratic women’s organization that has three seats on the Democratic National Committee. The DC Federation also holds two seats on the DC Democratic State Committee. The mission of the DC Federation of Democratic Women is to: promote active participation of women at every level of the political spectrum, to train women to run for office, to advocate on behalf of issues that foster the well-being of women and families; and to promote the goals of the Democratic Party.

This year’s Women in Blue Advocacy Day and Legislative Briefing will target legislation that is currently before the District Council, as well as, legislation DCFDW would like to be considered for introduction to the Council. Legislative issues this year will center on several broad areas: securing our economic future (housing and foreclosure issues), working for equity and employment (workforce training, preparation for ex-offenders’ return, grandparent subsidies), ensuring women’s health (mandatory vaccinations for preteens, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, domestic violence), securing community well-being (rezoning the District, UDC expansion, leadership for ANCs and community organizations).

For more information about the Women in Blue, contact Committee Chairperson Linda Jefferson at 285-5502, or Janice H. Davis , NFDW Legislative Chairperson, at Msjd@aol.com. To learn more about the National Federation of Democratic Women, go to http://www.NFDW.COM.

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Independence Day Tea Party, July 4
Mickey White, mickey@richmondteaparty.com

The Independence Day Tea Party will be held on July 4th at John Marshall Park, just two blocks from the mall at the corner of 4th Street and Constitution Avenue. The purpose of this event is to provide an outlet for area citizens to exercise their right to protest wasteful government spending, in the form of “Pork Projects” and the inevitable high taxation that follows. The Tea Party movement is a movement of the people, by the people, and is not affiliated with any political party or candidate.

This grassroots movement has grown popularity after fifty tea parties spontaneously erupted in late February, after Congress passed the pork-filled stimulus package, followed by the earmark-filled omnibus spending package, on April 15, over seven hundred fifty tax day tea parties were attended by over 350,000 Americans.

Sign up for updates at http://teapartywdc.ning.com/. To find out more information, contact Lisa Miller at TeapartyWDC@comcast.net

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