Clarity
Dear Clear-Sighted Readers:
A Clarus Poll on the 2010 mayoral race was released on November 23,
and its results are notable. (The press release is at http://www.dcwatch.com/election2010/091123a;
the major findings of the poll are at http://www.dcwatch.com/election2010/091123b,
and links to both are on the main page of the Clarus site, http://www.clarusrg.com.)
The most important finding is that Adrian Fenty is in trouble if he is
challenged by a credible candidate. His approval rating is under forty
percent on the following areas: managing city government (39 percent),
living up to high ethics standards (35 percent), putting city above
politics (30 percent), handling city finances (28 percent), and bringing
people together (27 percent). The only two measures on which he has over
fifty percent approval are keeping streets and public places clean and
in good repair (68 percent) and peoples’ feeling protected against
crime and violence (54 percent).
The second important finding is the striking disparity between white
and black citizens’ impressions of Fenty. In response to the generic
question of whether the respondents would like to see Fenty reelected or
someone new elected, whites prefer Fenty by 51 percent to 32 percent and
blacks prefer somebody new by 71 percent to 22 percent. I don’t really
think there’s anything racial in this difference of opinion; as I’ve
written before, I think the disparity lies in how much contact and
personal knowledge people have about the District government. People who
have to deal with the government themselves are understandably and
justifiably dissatisfied; people who have little contact with the
government (largely west-of-the-park whites who aren’t politically
active) can look around their neighborhoods and, if the sidewalks and
streets are reasonably clean, assume that everything is all right.
Two recommended articles: first, Chris Needham’s devastatingly
funny yet completely accurate description of what he terms Mary Cheh’s
“pro-vermin bill,” http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/DC-Considering-Pro-Vermin-Bill-71593882.html.
“At last,” Needham writes, “bureaucracy comes to pest removal.”
Second, Bryon York’s follow-up to the story of Chancellor Michelle
Rhee’s involvement as a fixer to cover up accusations against her
current fiance, Kevin Johnson, of sexual misconduct against minors in
his charter school, http://tinyurl.com/y9yehjv.
This is a major story. Rhee was a board member of Johnson’s school,
and she’s now Chancellor of a school system. If it’s proven that she
tried to cover up sexual advances to minors by a school official with
whom she was romantically involved, she should be disqualified from
working in any responsible position with any school system.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Decision on Marriage Equality Belongs in DC
Ilir Zherka, info@dcvote.org
As an organization, we [DCVote] do not have a position on marriage
equality. In fact, we have supporters on both sides on that question. We
do, however, have a very strong position on who should decide the
question of marriage equality: the District of Columbia. This is the
same position we have had on needle exchange, medical marijuana,
abortion funding, and other local issues in which Congress has
intervened. To learn more about our work, visit our Web site or contact
our Public Affairs Director, Eugene D. Kinlow, at ekinlow@dcvote.org,
462-6000 x13.
All of us are struggling to secure full democracy for DC. That means
full voting representation in Congress and full local control over local
issues.
We know that our opponents in the Congress will use every chance they
get, including a DC law providing for marriage equality, to restrict the
rights of DC residents. We promise to fight that congressional
intrusion. We ask that DC residents on both sides of the marriage
equality debate refrain from taking this fight to Capitol Hill. Let’s
stand in solidarity in support of democracy for DC.
[To me, what DCVote is advocating is the polar opposite of full
democracy. Unless and until Article I, Section 8, of the US constitution
is amended, the United States Congress is the ultimate legislative body
governing the District of Columbia. Any United States citizen has the
right to appeal to and lobby Congress, and for citizens of the District
of Columbia it is particularly important to preserve that right. DCVote
is trying to deny DC citizens their right to appeal to Congress, and
they are advocating limiting and restricting our access to our
democratic options. This strikes me as a modern-day version of a states’
rights position, hostile to the federal government and denying its
primacy. — Gary Imhoff]
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Black Eye for Charter Schools
Joseph Fengler, ANC Commissioner 6A02, fengler6A02@yahoo.com
I write in response to the article entitled “NIMBY in ANC6A” [themail,
November 22]. It is unfortunate when misapplied slogans are used to
discredit a group of residents who have concerns about their community.
In this case the “my backyard” is really a shared residential row
house wall, which is all that will separate this charter school and the
residents who live in the adjacent row houses. The underlying issue
deals with a zoning code initially written in the 1950’s, when public
schools had stand-alone building and yards.
Commissioner Mary Beatty has mischaracterized the nature of the
community’s opposition to this proposed charter school location as “fear
of children.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. The public
elementary school, less than a block away, is a much-loved neighbor with
a significant out-of-boundary enrollment. Our concerns are limited to
the application of zoning regulations. Commissioner Beatty neglected to
mention that the proposed location is egregiously out of compliance with
those regulations. Commissioner Beatty also failed to mention that she
currently serves on the board of trustees for a nearby charter school.
It may be that her advocacy for charter schools has created intolerance
for anything less than unbridled charter school support 100 percent of
the time — no exceptions.
Specifically in this case, in 2006 the DC Office of Planning and the
DC Zoning Commission recognized that the zoning regulations then in
place did not address the placement of public schools (both DCPS schools
and charter schools) in residential areas. The Zoning Commission then
enacted regulations setting a minimum lot size of 9000 sq. ft. and a
minimum lot width of 120 feet for public schools in a residential
neighborhood. The proposed site in my community has a lot size of only
4000 sq. ft. and a lot width of only 36 feet. This charter school
exploited a loophole in the zoning regulations in order to force DCRA
approve building permits. The Zoning Commission subsequently closed that
loophole in 2007. It is apparent that city planners have also concluded
that the proposed location is inappropriate. These are the facts. No
other public school will be able to open on a lot that is so out of line
with current zoning requirements. By ignoring the criteria set forth in
the current zoning regulation and by attacking the community’s motives
for opposing the location with simplistic jargon instead of discussing
the issues, Commissioner Beatty and the directors of this charter school
are giving all charter schools a black eye. That is a shame.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Construction History, December 2
Johanna Weber, jweber@nbm.org
December 2, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Symposium: Construction History: A
One-Day Exploration. Hear how construction history is being studied and
utilized. Panelists include Stephen Sandherr, CEO, Associated General
Contractors of America; Thomas McGrath, superintendent, National Park
Service Historic Preservation Training Center; and Museum curator
Chrysanthe Broikos. Georgia Institute of Technology professor and chair
of the Construction History Society of America (CHSA) Brian Bowen
delivers the keynote address. The event is organized by CHSA in
partnership with the Museum. $50 for members, $25 for students, $65 for
nonmembers. Limited availability. Please register through CHSA at http://www.constructionhistorysociety.org/events/php.
At the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Judiciary Square
Metro station.
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Tree Biology Notebook,
December 3
Beth Meyer, kensingtonbookevents@gmail.com
Richard C. Murray, local arborist, will discuss his recently
published book, Tree Biology Notebook: An Introduction to the Science
and Ecology of Trees, at Kensington Row Bookshop, 3786 Howard
Avenue, Kensington, Maryland, on Thursday, December 3, at 7:30 p.m.
Trees are a major part of the earth’s ecological system. They capture
solar energy, store carbon, and support a great diversity of life.
Environmental awareness has generated a greater public interest in
trees. Richard believes that, to be effective in our efforts to plant
and preserve trees, we need to know more about them. His
reference-oriented book features many photos of trees and dissection
samples that help convey specific topics. Samples will be used to
illustrate the talk and your questions are welcome. Murray’s web site
is http://www.s2623442789.onlinehome.us.
For further information, call 301-949-9416. This is a free event.
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