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November 25, 2009

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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