Cowardly iPhone Users
Dear Cowards:
Be sure to read Hayley Peterson’s article in the Examiner, “Police
Chief Denounces ‘Cowardly’ iPhone Users Monitoring Speed Traps,” http://tinyurl.com/kspehp.
There’s an application for the iPhone that tracks speed traps, and can
alert drivers to things like red light and speed cameras. The
application gets drivers to slow down and drive more carefully; if you
believe advocates of red-light cameras, that’s exactly what they want
drivers to do. But instead of being happy that drivers would use the
app, Police Chief Cathy Lanier is angry about it. She wants drivers to
get expensive speeding tickets instead. The District doesn’t make any
money from selling the phone application. Instapundit (Glenn Reynolds)
comments on this article: “They watch you. They don’t want you to
watch them.”
Someone whose veracity and accuracy I can vouch for has sent me the
following E-mail about how the District government is withholding
benefits from fired employees who are entitled to them, but that person
doesn’t want to be identified because of Mayor Fenty’s well-known
penchant for retaliation: “The District Department of Transportation
has announced it will begin laying off up to 160 people starting July 6.
Hopefully they will start with vacancies, but I suspect that a number of
low-level employees will be laid off rather than Management Supervisory
Service employees, as there may have to be severance payments made to
MSS employees whose appointment are ended. There may be no real savings,
as we will keep the expensive employees. Despite what the severance
regulations state, if you are entitled to severance, you will not get
credit for the two weeks calculated for being a DC resident if your job
required you to live in DC. Here is some advice on the dysfunctional way
the current Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act practices in
the District are administered. I’m a person whose whole department was
laid off this spring, and I found out many interesting things: 1)
despite whatever the law says, you will not be allowed to continue the
dental insurance that you pay for. The District has not budged on this,
despite the Federal Department of Labor’s opinion that dental
insurance is covered by COBRA and despite efforts from Eleanor
Holmes-Norton’s office. The DC government’s rationale is that, ‘Our
contract with the insurer doesn’t cover it.’ Since when does a
contract abrogate federal law?
“2) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act legislation passed
by the feds in February and adopted within a week by conforming
legislation by the council ‘is under legal review.’ This legislation
was supposed to be retroactive to last October to allow persons laid off
to buy COBRA at the new 35 percent rate — something that would affect
the many DCRA employees laid off last fall. A letter was supposed to be
sent by April 17 informing everyone covered by the law that they were
eligible and how to apply. The reality? Up until June we have been
required to pay the full COBRA payment — for a family it is $1300 a
month. I was just informed that the District will make the new rate
retroactive only to February 17 and we will not receive a refund of
overpayments, but a credit. Everyone in DC government will deny
responsibility for making refunds, and it will take a team of coworkers
working simultaneously to find the right person. Once that person is
found, he or she will assist only the person who contacted them directly
even if you were trying to be helpful and contact them on behalf of a
group. Once you find the right person, you will not get the letter
required by Federal and DC Law but will then be told to fill out a form
“requesting” assistance and waiving your right to COBRA if you
become ‘eligible for’ (as opposed to actually receiving) other
health care coverage. If you had to go on Medicaid while unemployed,
you, according to this form, could not assert your rights under the ARRA
law.
“3) To further muck things up, the conforming legislation has only
been passed in emergency and temporary form and repeated requests to
Councilmember Cheh’s office for a hearing on the permanent
legislation, or at least information as to when a hearing will be
scheduled, has left us in limbo. As a result, the Attorney General’s
office can hide behind the excuse that the legislation is not permanent
yet.
“As for me, I calculate that I have paid my share of COBRA through
January 2010 and understand that as of yet the District has determined
it will not refund overpayments. The insurance company is clear (but
much more helpful than DC Department of Human Resources) that the
Federal law requires that the billing and refunds must come from the
employer. That has been confirmed by the Department of Labor. Yet the
bills still come from the insurer. I also have not heard if my
application for assistance with COBRA has been accepted by the District.
What has happened to the people who were retroactively eligible but who
could not afford coverage; when will the District send them the letter
that was required by April 17? Are they on Medicaid at a great cost to
the taxpayers, who are paying for their health benefits? As for myself,
since no open season will happen before January in whatever job I
accept, I see no reason to get coverage through a new employer until Jan
2010 — unless I get a refund of my overpayments. I am happy to assist
anyone with questions, I have copies of the severance regulations, the
DOL web site on ARRA-COBRA coverage and the name of at least one person
who can give you the ‘secret form’ — just E-mail me at lin2lynn@yahoo.com.”
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
This morning my wife, Barbara, and I heard some shocking news from
Councilmember Tommy Wells. Once again, a “community input” process
that gave the appearance of asking residents what they want when it
comes to disposition of public buildings and space may not, in reality,
be all it was cracked up to be. Certain people seem to feel entitled to
snatch public land for their own profit, and I’ve had enough of it.
Have you?
The public comment period on developing Hine Junior High ends Friday.
Wells says the decision about which developer to pick will be made
Monday. That makes me think the city won’t take the time to listen to
the community unless the community speaks in a roar with extremely large
numbers of E-mails in the next forty-eight hours, starting right now.
Barbara and I support Street Sense, because the Street Sense team is all
about involving the community in the process, and they will bring new
blood and new ideas to the neighborhood. They’ll bring in Tiger Woods
Foundation, which means bringing million of dollars of fundraising for
programs and foundations for kids to the Hine location, every year from
now on.
I could go on, but what we just heard from Wells tells us it is time
to cut short the discussion. Something is afoot and if you don’t help
us today, we are going to have a monstrosity no one wants imposed on us
at Hine because the views of the residents are ignored. Trust us. Send
this letter right now, and if you feel as strongly as I do that it’s
time to push back against those who feel entitled to snatch public lands
for private profits, get five of your friends to send the same E-mail as
well. Right now, before it is too late at Hine. Thanks! Call me or
Barbara at 202 543 1635 if you have any questions.
###############
Rewrite of DC’s Election Laws
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
On Monday, July 13, the council’s Committee of Government
Operations and the Environment will hold a public hearing on the “Omnibus
Election Reform Act of 2009,” Bill 18-345 (http://www.dcwatch.com/council18/18-345.htm).
The hearing will be held in Room 120 of the Wilson Building. Individuals
interested in testifying should contact Aukima Benjamin at 724-8062 or abenjamin@dccouncil.us.
Bill 18-345 was drafted by Councilmember Mary Cheh and her staff, and
is the first major rewrite of the District’s election laws in twenty
years. As I wrote in themail on June 16, “Key provisions of the bill
would establish an Elections Advisory Committee with five members
selected by the mayor and the city council ‘to assist the Board’ of
Elections and Ethics; permit election-day voter registration; allow
seventeen-year-olds to register to vote; eliminate the requirement that
pollworkers live in the District of Columbia; impose an unspecified
filing fee on candidates for elected office; allow voters to cast
no-fault absentee ballots; shift the nonpartisan Advisory Neighborhood
Commission elections from the general elections in November to the party
primary elections in September; establish a process and procedure for a
post-election audit of ballots cast; allow individuals to wear campaign
paraphernalia (including t-shirts, clothing, buttons, and badges
promoting candidates or parties) into polling places; and eliminate the
prohibition against circulators of initiative and referendum petitions
making false statements about or misrepresenting the petition in order
to secure signatures.
“In her remarks on Tuesday [June 16], Cheh indicated that the
purpose of the legislation is to ensure that all ‘votes are counted
and that the [electoral] process is fair.’ Since September, Cheh has
chaired a special council committee charged with investigating the
problems that occurred last year at the February and September primaries
as well as the November general election. She suggested that the
legislation was an outgrowth of that investigation. However, only the
post-election audit provisions of the bill have anything to do with the
problems that occasioned the investigation. The other proposals, which
comprise the majority of the bill, such as moving nonpartisan ANC
elections to September primaries, have nothing to do with the problems
that were identified, and were never recommended or discussed at any of
the hearings Cheh’s special committee held. Indeed, many of the
components of the bill, such as same-day registration and elimination of
the residency requirement for pollworkers, will be difficult to
implement and administer, and will be likely to result in additional
problems, increasing the opportunity for election fraud.”
###############
Consider Expanding Benefits of Marriage to
More Groups
K. West, kap8082@aol.com
Lately there has been a lot of talk about benefits, particularly with
non-married couples versus married couples and more so with same-sex
couples seeking marriage and its benefits. Well, since the definition of
marriage is about to collapse and benefits are to be extended to some
groups and not others, then why not open up benefits to everyone that
wants to look out for a loved one? Let parents put adult children on
their insurance or let adult children put their parents on their
insurance. Look out for anybody in the household or connected in any way
as a loved one. Grant benefits to anyone who lives in a household or who
has a loving, caring partnership of any kind. Consider it a partnership
between the parent and the adult offspring who has gotten out of college
and does not have a job with good health coverage. Let an ex-spouse put
the parent of his or her children on his or her insurance and access
other benefits.
Pass around some of the tax benefits. Give benefits to two siblings
that might live together. How about allowing friends to put
non-relatives on their health insurance policies, or as beneficiaries of
other work benefits? What about a man and his mistresses? If there is to
be fairness and no discrimination, then take the discussion steps
further and dish out good benefits to as many groups as possible.
Instead of discussing changing the definition of marriage, begin a
discussion on what coveted financial benefits of marriage need to be
shared with others. How do we spread the costs of health care to help
unrelated or non-married people? How do we as a society make taxes
fairer to everybody? Just sharing a few thoughts while the subject of
changing the definition of marriage to accommodate other types of
potential spouses is on the table.
###############
Johns Hopkins Hospital — Your Next Vacation
Destination
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com
I recently spent a week at Johns Hopkins Hospital and had the most
wonderful time. The accommodations were comfortable, the service
excellent, and the cuisine divine. Eggplant Parmigiano with butterscotch
pudding for dessert. Lasagna Al Forno with stewed pears for dessert. I
honestly don’t know why the hospital doesn’t advertise itself more
as a vacation destination. Close to all the downtown Baltimore
attractions. Oh, and the doctors are pretty good, too.
###############
Just as Promised
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@macdotcom
Repaving construction began today that will replace the roadbed on
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, from Ward Circle to Westmoreland Circle over
the next three months. This is the result of responses to the Department
of Public Works by many of the residents on Massachusetts Avenue who
have found that the deteriorated concrete road bed had produced some
major faults that resulted in sonic booms and earthquake caliber
vibrations from the large trucks which use the north-south artery into
and out of DC. Those vibrations shook the foundations of bordering homes
to the point that cracks in the ceilings and floors of many of these
homes were evident. Many of these homes, built some sixty years ago, had
never had any of these cracks until the roadway began deteriorating some
five or six years ago. The DPW tried many forms of repairs that somehow
exacerbated the vibrations, much like speed bumps do for the passing
trucks. After amassing a bunch of these complaints to the DPW,
Councilperson Cheh convened an ad hoc meeting of residents, the
DPW, and the DC police (who brought records of speeding citations). The
result was a promise to repave Mass. Ave. beginning in late spring or
early summer. Just as promised, construction began today, July 7, up
near American University and Ward Circle. If you make nice with DC
officials you’ll get the right response. Pay attention, Tenley Library
NIMBY’s.
###############
Years ago, while Robert McNamara was on his way by ferry to Martha’s
Vineyard, of course relaxing in the stateroom with the other
self-important beautiful people, a young man, pushed beyond the limits
to see the arrogant McNamara, donned a crewman’s white jacket, rushed
into the stateroom, shouting, “Mr. McNamara, Mr. McNamara, message for
Mr. McNamara — follow me.” The self-important brilliant architect of
McNamara’s war followed the pretend crewman out along the boat
railing, at which point the pretend crewman picked McNamara up and threw
him overboard. Only by clutching frantically to the sides of the ferry
and crying piteously for help (in those moments did he hear the piteous
cries of others a half world away?), was McNamara pulled back from a
watery grave. The pretend crewman was not prosecuted.
So, on this day of reckoning, for those of us who remember, let the
watch word be: “Mr. McNamara, Mr. McNamara, message for Mr. McNamara
— follow me.”
###############
Dan Froomkin, a columnist who was recently fired from the Washington
Post, has become the Washington bureau chief for the Huffington
Post. Details about this move appear on Salon.com at http://tinyurl.com/mxmohc.
Read Froomkin’s ideas about news and newspapers at http://tinyurl.com/lagb5l.
The Huffington Post gets about nine million unique visitors per month, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Huffington_Post.
###############
We Got Ourselves a Center Fielder
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@macdotcom
At six feet he’s an inch taller than Jackie Robinson though, at 175
pounds, he weighs almost thirty pounds less than Jackie. He looks a lot
smaller than Robinson even in Robinson’s early days with the Brooklyn
Dodgers. His name is Nyjer Morgan and he promises to be as exciting a
player for the Nationals, who acquired him from Pittsburgh last week.,
as Robinson did for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He’s a real threat to steal
at any time he’s on base, driving pitchers crazy, and looks like a
real hitter. His real prowess lies in his ability to run down fly balls
hit deep to the outfield. Unlike Morgan’s predecessors in center field
for the Nats, nothing that stays on the field goes over his head. I
think the Nats have acquired a real “Jackie Robinson” caliber ball
player.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Call Boxes Recycled into Art, July 9
Joseph L. Grano, joegrano@netzero.net
The Rhodes Tavern-DC Heritage Society has written a letter of
commitment to Cultural Tourism DC to adopt and recycle into art four
call boxes in the western part of the old downtown. Here are the
locations of the four call boxes: northeast corner of 15th and F
Streets, NW; northwest corner of 15th and G Streets, NW; northwest
corner of 15th Street and New York Avenue, NW; and southeast corner of
10th and G Streets, NW. It is proposed that Boxes 1 through 3, located
on 15th Street, have themes relating to the White House, the old
Treasury Building, and Rhodes Tavern, and scenes from past inaugural
parades. Box 4, near the Ford’s Theater and the Petersen House, would
honor Abraham Lincoln. Succinctly, the aim in participating in this
project is to brighten up the Inaugural Parade Route and pay homage to
Abraham Lincoln on the bicentennial year of his birth.
The Rhodes Tavern-DC Heritage Society, is a 501c3 organization that
is devoted to the promotion and preservation of the history of the
District of Columbia, including the history of the historic Rhodes
Tavern. The Tavern was located on the northeast corner of 15th and F
Streets, NW, before its demolition in 1984. The Heritage Society was
formerly called The Citizens Committee to Save Historic Rhodes Tavern.
This Thursday, July 9, at 7 p.m., the DC Heritage Society will hold a
community meeting to discuss its plans for the call boxes. The meeting
will take place at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, in Room 120. At this meeting, there will be presented
specific proposals for the treatment of the four call boxes, along with
a budget, and a request for funding which will allow us to complete the
project by early September this year. It is hoped that, in particular,
those who may have an interest in the Old Downtown, including ANC
commissioners, religious leaders, business people and residents will
attend the meeting. Participation from those outside the area is, of
course, most welcome.
In order for the Historic Society to be able to receive a grant of
money from CTdc, it must first approve the designs for the call boxes
and there also must be a showing of sufficient commitments of funding to
complete the project by this September 20. The average cost of recycling
a call box is $2,000. The maximum grant of CTdc is $1000 per call box.
Presently, $500 has been committed. Therefore, to complete the project,
commitments of support by local donors in the amount of approximately
$3,500 are needed by no later than August 1. None of the call boxes in
the Old Downtown have yet been adopted and recycled. If you wish to
learn more about the program, please contact Carmen R. Harris, Project
Associate, Heritage Programs, at Cultural Tourism DC (626-1132). If you
have any preliminary questions, comments, or suggestions, please call
Joe Grano, president of the Heritage Society at 364-2526 or E-mail him
at joegrano@netzero.com.
###############
Department of Parks and Recreation Events,
July 10-11
John Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov
July 10, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Pier 4, 6th and Water Streets, SW.
Senior Luncheon Cruise for ages fifty and up. District of Columbia
Seniors will enjoy music, food, games and so much more. A musical show
featuring the cruise ship staff will also be enjoyed. Tickets are $35.
For more information contact the DPR Senior Services Division at
664-7153.
July 11, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Chevy Chase Community Center, 5500
41st Street, NW. Rain Garden Workshop for all ages. Participants will
learn about the benefits of using native plants on their property by
BayScaping and building Rain Gardens, as well as learn how to reduce
storm water runoff and create an aesthetically landscape. For more
information, call Kelly Melsted at 355-2568.
July 11, 6:00 p.m., 14th and Girard Streets, NW. 14th and Girard Park
Opening Celebration. DPR, in partnership with the Columbia Heights/Shaw
Family Support Collaborative, will celebrate the opening of Girard Park.
The community will be invited to come out and enjoy fun, food and
entertainment. For more information, call 671-0421.
July 11-August 15, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Turkey Thicket Soccer Field,
1100 Michigan Avenue, NE. Adapted Soccer for ages 5-15. This event is a
cooperative activity with Health Services for Children with Special
Needs, Inc. This program is designed for children with special needs to
enjoy sports and have fun. For more information, call Victoria Cole-Rolon
at 645-6516.
###############
Grants Workshop, Monday, July 13, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at Big Chair
Chess Club, 4322 Sheriff Road, NE, near Minnesota Avenue Metro. The
Humanities Council of Washington, DC, presents a workshop to assist
nonprofit organizations in planning projects and seeking up to $5,000
for programs that celebrate and document the cultural life of
Washington, DC. Free. Please RSVP at http://www.wdchumanities.org or
call 387-8391.
###############
Environmental Health Group (EHG) Events, July
14
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.
Tuesday, July 14, 7 p.m.: Monthly meeting of the Spring Valley
Restoration Advisory Board with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
The USACE has uncovered a number of chemical and conventional weapons
and is currently planning an “on-site” destruction of munitions on
the federal property behind Sibley Hospital in August 2009. 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.
###############
“Stampin’ with The Simpsons” First Day
Cover, July 18
Rebecca McOmber, mcomberr@si.edu
The Simpsons are stampin’ their way through the National Postal
Museum with newly issued postage stamps. To highlight the five Simpson
family members, Fox Studios and the Postal Service recently teamed up to
create individual postage stamps for each Simpson family member.
In celebration of this collaboration, the National Postal Museum is
devoting an entire day to the Simpsons. On Saturday, July 18, the first
1,000 visitors to the museum will receive a commemorative first day
cover with one of the Simpson’s stamps canceled on the first day of
issue. Visitors can come and see which Simpson family member will be on
their stamp. The National Postal Museum opens at 10:00 a.m.; it is at 2
Massachusetts Avenue, NE.
###############
Michael Jackson Worldwide Dance Tribute
Postposted to July 18
Al Hatcher, governmentcontracts@yahoo.com
Thank you to the many District readers of themail for offering to
volunteer their services for the Michael Jackson Worldwide Dance
Tribute, which is kicking off at Freedom Plaza, and has been extended to
more than two thousand cities, towns, and villages worldwide. However,
because the Jackson family and celebrities who were scheduled to
participate in the Freedom Plaza Michael Jackson Dance Tribute,
scheduled and attended a private ceremony on Wednesday in Los Angeles,
the family has requested that we reschedule the Michael Jackson
Worldwide Tribute to Saturday, July 18, at Freedom Plaza, between 13th
and 14th Streets, NW.
All fans of Michael Jackson are invited. Please wear your Michael
Jackson T-shirt or other apparel; dress cool and wear your favorite
dancing shoes. We have invited President Obama and First Lady Michelle
Obama, Mayor Adrian Fenty, former mayors Sharon Pratt Kelly, Anthony
Williams, Marion Barry, and all present and former city councilmembers
to join this historic event in honor of the King of Pop, Michael
Jackson.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the need to reschedule,
but we can assure you this celebration, through a worldwide tribute
dance to Michael Jackson, will be the largest worldwide dance tribute in
world history. Michael Jackson fans of all ages are invited. Bring the
family. Volunteers and sponsors are welcome to participate. E-mail or
call us at michaeljacksonworldwidetribute@yahoo.com,
301-272-0730.
###############
Aging Program Grant Application Deadlines,
July 24, 29
Darlene Nowlin, darlene.nowlin@dc.gov
The District of Columbia Office on Aging is looking for nonprofit and
for-profit entities to apply for grant funds to lead ward based agency
programs and operate Senior Wellness Centers for residents aged sixty
and older in the District. Lead Agencies are responsible for planning,
developing, implementing, and coordinating programs that provide
advocacy, health, education, employment, and social services to District
residents aged sixty and older so they can live longer and maintain
independence, dignity, and choice. In total, for fiscal year 2010 there
is approximately $4,712,599 available for the Lead Agency Grants, with
$252,000 to $736,800 available for each of the eight wards of the city.
DC Senior Wellness Centers promote healthy lifestyles, sound
nutrition, exercise, and general wellness among the aging population in
the District. This grant seeks organizations to operate Senior Wellness
Centers in Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8. For fiscal year 2010 there is a total
of $1,354,780 contingently available for the Senior Wellness Center
Grants, with approximately $300,000 available for each of the four Wards
serviced.
The Lead Agency Request for Applications and the Senior Wellness
Center RFA are available for review on the DCOA web site at http://dcoa.dc.gov.
The grant application deadlines are Wednesday, July 29, at 5:00 p.m. and
Friday, July 24, at 5:00 p.m. for the lead agency and wellness center
RFA’s respectively. For more information, contact Aurora Delespin-Jones,
Program Analyst, or Eric Manuel, Programs and Grants Manager at 724-8821
for the lead agency grant or Tiffanie Yates, Public Health Nutritionist,
and Mr. Manuel for the wellness center grant.
###############
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