Guaranteed Job Rights
Dear Washingtonians:
The contract that Michelle Rhee negotiated with the Washington
Teachers Union may not do much, if anything, to guarantee teachers’
jobs, but it secretly guaranteed Rhee’s job. Last month, the mayor had
no idea where in his FY2011 budget the money was to fund the teachers’
raises in the contract. That’s when Rhee announced she had millions in
surplus funds, which have since evaporated. Now the city is looking for
thirty million dollars, more or less, to fill the gap between the cost
of the contract and the $64.5 million that foundations have pledged to
finance it. But good reporting by Bill Turque (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/27/AR2010042702791.html)
uncovered the commitment letters dated last month, but not revealed by
Rhee, from the foundations to the DC Public Education Fund, and from the
DC Public Education Fund to the Chancellor — and those letters say
that the foundations “reserve the right to reconsider their support
for this initiative if there is a material change in DCPS’ leadership.”
That’s guaranteed job security for Rhee, but it isn’t guaranteed
funding for the contract, and Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi is
obliged to say that he can’t certify the contract is funded, that the
money is securely pledged. Therefore, the administration will have to
come up with an additional $64.5 million if it wants to say the contract
is securely funded. And it has to do it by Friday, when Rhee and Gandhi
testify Of course, the Washington Post editorial board, as deep
in the tank as it is for Rhee, would advise the city to take orders from
the foundations, to write a long-term ironclad contract for Rhee, and
take the money — but even they, while giving that advice, would
realize that it would set a bad precedent.
#####
I know I’m a sucker for taking the bait, but I’ll be brief. DC
Vote, which seems to be trying to reinvent itself as an antigun rights
organization, writes in this issue that, “We’ve asked [President
Obama] to take a stand against the insane idea that Congress can impose
its will whenever it wants against the residents of the nation’s
capital.” Yeah, that crazy, insane idea that Congress can forbid the
DC city government from denying constitutional rights to its citizens.
DC Vote’s insistence that DC self-government gives it the right to
nullify the authority of the federal government is one more good reason
that DC voting rights is on a slow track, the very slowest track.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Lesser of Two Evils, Still Evil
Valencia Mohammed, Vmohammed16@aol.com
While the success of the media to paint the current DC mayoral race
as a two-man contest, intelligent voters view it quite differently.
Adrian Fenty, the incumbent mayor, touts his accomplishments and avoids
questions about corruption, overspending, increased taxes, and fees.
Vincent Gray, council chair, is without a platform, and claims if
elected as mayor he will do a better job of performing the goals and
objectives of the current mayor. In other words, the chair promises to
continue the accelerated gentrification of our city, allowing illegal
immigrants to take sanctuary here, ignoring the discrimination of
Washingtonians in the workforce, and overlooking corruption in the
government.
On the street some people say that, between the mayor and chair, they
are willing to vote for the lesser of two evils if not given other
options. The chairman is considered the lesser. But why substitute one
evil for another — it’s still evil. While campaigning for Leo
Alexander for mayor in Georgetown, intelligent voters spoke candidly
about their decision not to support either of the so-called front
runners, the two evils. Surprisingly, many homeowners who have stood in
long lines and waited hours or days for permits to build additions or
make repairs to their homes, despised the fact the chairman sought to
disregard city laws in the building of a fence on his property by a
contractor that receives contracts from the government. The chairman
also has been cited with alleged illegal activities by using official
stationary to collect funds for a political party. One thing I’ve
learned about white people in DC, they don’t want to be associated
with corrupt black officials. Smart voters will not support evil in any
form. It’s time for the media to open up the race and allow citizens
to make a wise choice rather than live four more years in the stench of
controversy.
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DC Vote Responds to Proposed Legislation on DC
Gun Control
Alexandra Ludmer, aludmer@dcvote.org
Today [April 27] Senator McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Tester (D-MT)
announced their plans to introduce legislation that would, among other
things, repeal the DC Semiautomatic Ban, repeal DC’s storage law,
absolve the ability for residential or commercial building owners in the
District to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms by tenants,
allow DC residents to purchase guns in Maryland or Virginia and loosen
DC’s firearm registration system.
The following statement from Ilir Zherka, DC Vote Executive Director,
can be quoted in full or in part: “This legislation is a prime example
of why we need voting rights in DC — to prevent intrusions such as
this. After the DC Voting Rights Act was pulled from the House floor
last week because of overreaching additions by the National Rifle
Association to the Ensign Amendment, we became more resolved than ever
to fight for the rights District residents so greatly deserve. We’ve
called on President Obama to state publicly that he will veto any bill
that contains or has a DC gun amendment attached to it. We’ve asked
him to take a stand against the insane idea that Congress can impose its
will whenever it wants against the residents of the nation’s capital.”
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Budget Promises
Patrick Thibodeau, dcblogs@gmail.com
In regard to one of the questions posed by Bryce A. Suderow in the
last edition [themail, April 25]: “What do people think of Fenty’s
rerouting the money that was collected on buying plastic bags at a
nickel a bag?”
At least Mayor Fenty is being, apparently, upfront in saying that the
funds will be used to offset some public works spending. (I honestly
thought that was the legislation’s goal from Day One.)
In approving and signing this legislation, the council and the mayor
gave their word that this money would be used to help clean the
Anacostia River. They have no choice but to follow through on it.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Ward 3 Democrats Committee Meeting, April 29
Tom Smith, tmfsmith@starpower.net
As a reminder, the next meeting of the Committee is this Thursday,
April 29, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church. The special
guest speaker is Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, a candidate for DC
Council Chairman. As the chair of the DC Council Committee on Finance
and Revenue, Jack will speak primarily about the budget challenges the
city faces this year. Following Jack will be a panel to continue
discussion on the budget with DC Council Budget Director Eric Goulet and
DC Fiscal Policy Institute Executive Director Ed Lazere. Precinct 27
Delegate Ann Loikow will moderate. For more information about the
program, please check out our web site at http://www.DCWard3Dems.org
For those of you who may not know, our web master is Precinct 9
Delegate Jeff Kraskin — optometrist by day and web master by night. We
are grateful for all the time he spends in updating and keeping the site
current. Please be sure to express your appreciation when you see him
Thursday night.
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Shaw First Saturday, May 1
Alexander M. Padro, Padroanc2c@aol.com
Come out and be part of the first ever DC Main Streets First
Saturdays promotion on Saturday, May 1. Shaw Main Streets’ events will
be starting at the Historical Society of Washington, DC, 801 K Street,
NW, at 12:00 p.m. It’s Preservation Month. Watch a performance by the
Wong Chinese Lion Dancers, take a free pedicab tour of Shaw, and win
prizes at the Shaw Architectural Treasure Hunt! See where history makers
lived, worked, played, and prayed; and sample food and beverages from
neighborhood businesses. Tour reservations required, so RSVP now!
Treasure hunt forms available at the Historical Society of Washington,
DC (http://www.historydc.org).
Wong Chinese Lion Dancers. The Chinese Lion is a mythological
creature that represents strength, wisdom, and good luck and has the
ability to drive away evil spirits. Come watch a performance of the Wong
Chinese Lion Dancers, where a procession of musicians playing gongs and
cymbals will be accompanied by a feathered, four-legged, carnival-like
puppet lion swirling, spinning, and rearing up on its hind legs. This
ancient ritual starts at 12:00 p.m. in front of the Historical Society
of Washington, DC, 801 K Street, NW. Free.
Shaw Pedicab Tour. Ride in comfort with National Pedicabs (http://www.nationalpedicabs.com)
for a tourguide-led tour of the neighborhood’s history, architecture,
and upcoming development. See sites associated with Helen Hayes, ‘Duke’
Ellington, the Washington Senators baseball team, the labor movement,
Black history, and much more. Visit an art-filled bed and breakfast in a
former mortuary (http://www.dcguesthouse.com),
and sample wine (http://www.modernliquors.com),
award-winning red velvet and lemon minicupcakes (http://www.chapmansbakeycafe.com),
delicious coffee and sandwiches (http://www.aziscafe.com),
and Ethiopian food (http://www.littlethiopiarestaurantdc.com).
Starts at 12:00 p.m. in front of the Historical Society of Washington,
DC, 801 K Street, NW. Duration: two hours. Free; reservations required.
Call 265-shaw or E-mail shawmainstreetsinc@gmail.com.
Shaw Architectural Treasure Hunt. Walk along 7th and 9th Streets, NW,
around the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (http://www.dcconvention.com)
and look up to find architectural details on historic buildings in the
area on the photo-illustrated treasure hunt form. Stop for free treats
at neighborhood businesses along the way. Turn in completed forms and
enter to win prizes from neighborhood businesses. Free. Starts at 12:00
p.m. at Historical Society of Washington, DC, 801 K Street, NW. Forms
available at information desk in Great Hall. Completed forms must be
returned to HSWDC by 4:00 p.m. in order to be entered in drawing for
prizes. Must be present to win. For more information, call 265-shaw or
E-mail shawmainstreetsinc@gmail.com.
Sponsored by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, http://www.dslbd.dc.gov.
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Military Family Appreciation Week, May 3
Keith Jarrell, keith.k.jarrell@gmail.com
I realize that many of you may have trouble getting out of the city
to attend this event. But I want to extend an invitation to everyone in
hopes that as many as possible will make every attempt to drive to
Occoquan, twenty-five miles from DC and experience this event. Lt. Col.
Maxwell was wounded in war, with a traumatic brain injury and an injury
to his elbow. He, like many others, had to learn many things all over
again. His story is remarkable and he now works to bring things to those
wounded that need. More information is at the SemperMax web site, http://sempermax.com.
For those who cannot make it but who want to donate, please let me
know, and I will make it a point to pick up any items donated. If you
want the list of needed items, E-mail me and I will forward the list.
Please join us on Monday, May 3, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., at 301 Commerce
Street Occoquan, VA, as the Pink Bicycle and Designing-Things kick off
“Military Family Appreciation Week.” The week begins on May 2 and
runs through Saturday, May 8. This event is all about gathering together
to show our appreciation and support for our wounded soldiers and the
agency that works tirelessly to bring some of the basic essential to
recovering service man and woman in our area. Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell
(Ret.) and his wife Shannon will join us to speak about their efforts
and how each and every one of us can help.
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National Building Museum Events, April 28-29
Johanna Weber, jweber@nbm.org
At the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Judiciary Square Metro station. Register for events at http://www.nbm.org.
May 4, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Book of the Month: Taxi: A Book of City Words. Join us in the Building Zone for an interactive reading of Betsy Maestro's
Taxi: A Book of City Words and take a city tour from the vantage point of a taxi cab. Readings at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Free drop-in program. Recommended for ages three to five.
May 4, 6:30-8:00 p.m., The Smart Growth Manual. Everyone is calling for smart growth, but what exactly is it? Urban planner Jeff Speck attempts to provide a quick, useful, and entertaining answer in this lecture celebrating his new book,
The Smart Growth Manual, co-authored with Andres Duany. A book-signing follows the lecture. $12 members, free students, $20 nonmembers. Prepaid registration required. Walk-in registration based on availability.
May 5, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Spotlight on Design: Pugh + Scarpa Architects: AIA Architecture Firm 2010. Hear Lawrence Scarpa, one of the founding principals of Santa Monica-based Pugh + Scarpa Architects, discuss the firm's sustainable and socially progressive work. The firm was the recipient of the American Institute of Architects 2010 Architecture Firm Award and two of the firm's projects were named AIA "Top Ten Green" buildings. $12 members, $12 students, $20 nonmembers. Prepaid registration required. Walk-in registration based on availability.
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The next monthly meeting of the Ward 4 Democrats will be held on
Wednesday, May 5, at 7:00 p.m., at Emery Recreation Center, 5701 Georgia
Avenue, NW. This meeting will feature a candidates forum for the
at-large seat on the council of the District of Columbia, and all
registered candidates have been invited to participate in this event,
which will include brief statements by the candidates and questions from
the audience. In addition, Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser will
provide her regular monthly update of key legislative and other
community issues affecting Ward 4 citizens. The meeting will begin
promptly at 7:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on
May 5. If you would like to receive regular notice of monthly meetings,
please join the Ward 4 Democrats listserv at: ward4democrats@yahoogroups.com.
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CLASSIFIEDS — GIFT CARDS
As Mother’s Day (May 9) quickly approaches, I have a suggestion for
a quick and easy, but meaningful, gift that your readers can send to the
mothers in their lives. Let Children’s Law Center do the hard work
this Mother’s Day. You tell us where to send a card (guaranteed to
arrive by Mother’s Day on May 9) and we’ll take care of the rest.
Your donation will help us to place an abused child in a mother’s
loving embrace. Send a card to your mother, grandmother, aunt, sister,
or friend! But hurry — the deadline to purchase to ensure on-time
delivery is Monday, May 3! One card for $25; two cards for $35; three
cards for $45, and four cards for $60. To view and purchase cards, visit
http://www.childrenslawcenter.org/mothers-day-2010.
For more information, contact Jessica Gelin, jgelin@childrenslawcenter.org.
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