High Finance
Dear Financiers:
The Executive Office of the Mayor issued a press release on April 4
about the CityCenter development, which is being built on the site of
the old demolished convention center, http://tinyurl.com/3d9gmg3.
It revealed that the financing of the project was coming from the
emirate of Qatar, through the Qatari Investment Authority and Bawar
Bank, an Islamic Bank licensed and regulated by the Qatar Central Bank.
The Washington Business Journal has published two articles on the
financing, “Qatar Fund Starts CityCenter Project with $700M
Investment,” http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/04/04/qatar-fund-starts-citycenter-project.html,
and “Qatari Real Estate Investment the First of More to Come,” http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/print-edition/2011/04/08/qatari-real-estate-investment-the.html
(available only to subscribers). At his press conference on April 12,
Mayor Gray confirmed that DC hopes that the city will have a “continuing
relationship” with Qatar, and that the emirate will finance several
major capital projects in DC in the future, since over the past few
years DC has nearly exhausted both its financial reserves and its debt
ceiling.
This deal is good news for the city’s finances — if you don’t
care about the international politics of Qatar, which is a strong ally
of Iran and Syria; or its exploitation of foreign workers, which gives
it a lousy human rights record; or its ownership of al-Jazira, whose
Arab language television service promotes the Muslim Brotherhood and
anti-American and anti-Western propaganda. It’s a good deal for both
parties — Qatar gets a safe haven for its oil and natural gas profits
and gets favorable publicity in the capitol of the United States, and DC
gets money. I’m sure the people of DC would have no qualms about
getting in bed in bed with Qatar, so there would be no need for the
Fenty or Gray administrations to check with the people and get their
approval before reaching a deal with such unsavory partners.
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There’s an interesting story on the Labelscar.com web site about
The Shops at Georgetown Park, Georgetown’s only mall, which gives some
little-known information on why over the past several years, with such a
great location, the mall has lost its leading shops and is now half
vacant, http://www.labelscar.com/redevelopment/the-shops-at-georgetown-park.
Thanks to Matthew Gilmore’s H-Net Network on History of the District
of Columbia for cross-posting it and calling attention to it.
#####
The Washington Teachers Union held a protest against the editorial
board of The Washington Post on Friday, and the protest was much
larger than either of the DC statehood protests that got much more
publicity. So, if you haven’t heard about it, read Candi Peterson’s
article below.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Approximately three hundred teachers, school personnel, city workers,
union and community members protested outside The Washington Post
building on Friday, April 15. This day was selected because it coincided
with a day-off furlough for DC Public Schools employees and DC
government workers. The protest was organized by the Washington Teachers’
Union (WTU) against the Post due to their biased reporting that
consistently vilifies DC public school teachers and fails to include
more balanced reporting of the obstacles teachers face in a mostly urban
school district. According to WTU President, Nathan Saunders: “You’ve
got to understand that the Washington Post has been vicious
against, not just teachers unions, but the Washington Teachers’ Union
in particular, for the last three or four years,” he said. “And
everything that the former chancellor, Michelle Rhee, has done in the
district, they have embraced wholeheartedly at the expense of working
teachers.”
In the words of Reflective Educator blogger, a former DC teacher: “Why
is the Washington Post such an awful place for citizens to get
information about what’s really going on with education in the
District?” We have to ponder why did it take USA Today
newspaper’s investigative journalists, Jack Gillum and Marisol Bello
to cover the story, “When Standardized Test Scores Soared in DC, Were
The Gains Real?” Another reason for Friday’s protest was to call
attention to the Washington Post’s relationship with Kaplan
Testing Company, which accounts for the majority of their revenue. It is
the Washington Teachers’ Union position that the Post fails to
adequately cover education reform from all vantage points, fails to
print letters to the editor from education stakeholders, colors their
editorial viewpoint, and heaped undeserved praise on former Chancellor
Michelle Rhee during her term in DCPS, despite her many transgressions.
At the protest, teachers carried signs that read: “Cancel your Washington
Post subscription today” and “We’ll stop buying until you stop
lying” while singing chants, as a big inflatable union rat loomed
large in front of the Post. Speakers included other union
leaders, including Jos Williams, President of Washington, DC Metro Labor
Council; Bill Simon, Former WTU President; AFSCME representative,
Caneisha Mills; AFGE representative, Johnny Walker; Vincent Orange,
At-Large City Council candidate; Robert Brannum, President of the DC
Federation of Civic Associations; Jerome Brocks, a now-retired activist
teacher; and Sheila Gill, a wrongfully terminated school counselor; and
a host of others, with closing remarks given by Reverend Grayland Hagler,
who encouraged protesters to march in solidarity around the K street
corridor. All in all, it was a beautiful day and just the start of
actions planned by the Washington Teachers Union which will seek to
build momentum and convince our government and the mayor of the need to
provide adequate funding for public education.
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It’s Not a Game; If It Were, We’d Be on
the Bench
Qawi Robinson, qrobinso@lycos.com
I was both amused and disturbed at the recent DC Vote sponsored
protest in response to the riders in the continuing resolution bill that
ended the government shutdown. While Gray, Kwame Brown, and Bowser can
be applauded for showing courage (where was this courage last year?), I
have come to realize that that this effort was more for theater and less
for advancing the rights for DC. The obvious reason is that the
Congress, the Supreme Court, President Obama, and other partisan
supporters are for the most part unfazed by such protests. Although they
all take an oath to uphold the Constitution, which guarantees the
citizens’ rights to be represented and treated equally, there will
always be an advantage to keeping the District of Columbia under the
Congressional thumb. That reason is precisely what played out in the
eleventh hour negotiations over abortion funding and school vouchers —
political power and manipulation. As a fifth generation Washingtonian, I
long ago realized that DC was never meant to be a state. DC is supposed
to be a federal territory and a microcosm of what Congress does. In
other words, DC is Congress’ lab experiment or, more precisely, their
puppet. Home Rule loosened the grip, but the puppet strings have not
been severed. A better analogy is turning twenty-on but still living in
your parents’ house. You may be legally an adult, but you are still
bound by House (and Senate in this case) rules.
In order for DC to have full independence, we must grow up and not
throw tantrums just because we don’t like our parents’ rules. We can
show discord and even disagree, but ultimately we must be prepared to
leave the house and govern responsibly and independently. We must show
that we don’t have to ask mom or dad for money when ours runs short or
even depend on their giving it to us. For Gray’s comment about not
being able to spend city’s money, he is correct; we shouldn’t have
to ask for permission. The problem though is that our Congressional
parents watched us blow money on stuff that was for special interests
but not in our best interests. Momma and Papa Congress watched us
overspend and let people steal from us with little to no repercussions.
In other words, DC’s track record has not been stellar since the
introduction of Home Rule when it comes to finance, spending,
governance, etc. And it is these very examples that the tantrums bring
to remind Congress that we are not ready for self-governance.
I use this analogy because in the grand scheme of things, DC Vote,
Eleanor Holmes-Norton, Mayor Gray, and the city council need to
understand that Congress is not interested in giving DC full voting
rights, nor interested in making “New Columbia” a state.
Furthermore, even the limited rule we have will be scrutinized if we
continue on this path. I am not saying we should lay down on the sword
and give up. But, in the current climate, especially in these first four
months of a new administration, now is not the time. And for those who
ask, “if not now, when,” let the people determine that, not the
politicians. Congresswoman Norton dropped the ball last year all because
of the Second Amendment. Fenty dropped the ball because of his failure
to collaborate. I can give further examples, but most should understand
that this effort should not be led by elected officials.
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Let’s face it, we will never get DC statehood as long as the
District is basically a one-party jurisdiction. The Feds wouldn’t even
grant voting representation to our Delegate to Congress when that one
party had control of both houses and the presidency (that party
essentially agreed that guns were more important than anything else.)
The real issue is that residents of the city should be able to vote for
Congressmen and Senators like other people in the country. It’s time
to change the game. First, the DC council should enact laws making it
legal for DC residents to have dual citizenship solely for the purpose
of voting in state elections for federal offices. In fact, DC should
encourage its residents to vote in state elections if they can. Then, we
should be working with any states that want to add lots of registered
Democrats to their rolls solely for the purpose of voting for federal
offices. Perhaps there are some states out there that currently have
narrow majority Democratic control and want to cement that advantage by
bringing in more Democrats. Perhaps there are states that want to
encourage DC Republicans to vote in their elections. This fight should
be about basic American citizenship, the right of all Americans to vote
for their federal representatives, not about statehood.
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I await your plan on how DC will achieve statehood, or any statement
that you favor DC residents obtaining equal rights.
Your Plan, please.
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Insulting Congress in themail
Michael Bindner, mikeybdc@yahoo.com
DC was created because Pennsylvania militiamen insulted Congress in
an orchestrated publicity stunt by Hamilton to gather support for his
vision of a state-of-the-art capital city. First, Congress was insulted
by being ignored by the militiamen — who did not care to see Congress
— they wanted to see the Pennsylvania state legislature. They knew
Congress was broke. Hamilton then staged a demonstration against the
continental congress to make his point. The problem with Hamilton’s
vision is that he tried to do it on the cheap. He did not realize that
no state would give adequate money for a model capital. The other
problem was the passage of the First Amendment — so the whole point in
giving Congress a place to go to not be insulted is moot. Insult away.
Being nice is not going to get statehood. Making the right financial
deals is with regard to the boundaries of the residual District (so that
New Columbia gets commuter taxes) and arranging the transfer of DC
prisoners to Maryland and Virginia in lieu of actually enacting a
commuter tax would be a step in the right direction for the mayor — as
well as demanding Obama appoint an administrator for the National
Capital Service Area to arrange for federal reimbursement for services
(without such an agreement, guess who’s paying for the Constitution
Avenue renovation). The final piece is calling the GOP’s bluff and
including retrocession in the statehood bill, at the option of Maryland’s
General Assembly and DC voters. If you do your homework, you get
statehood.
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Regarding the Demonstration and Arrest of
Mayor Gray
John Chelen, john@chelen.net
Finally, we have city leaders with a little gumption, but
unfortunately, there are too many like Courtland Milloy and Gary who
dismiss the honored traditional tactics of civil disobedience. I could
quote from a long list of political realists who have reminded us that
power isn’t freely handed over, but it seems like we’re also
fighting against a type of “Stockholm Syndrome” thinking foisted
upon us by the media that dismisses street demonstrations by
progressives as unseemly yet fawns over the trivially small events of
the Tea Party. Yes, we need better organization, but isn’t this a
chicken-and-egg problem? People are emboldened and encouraged when
others stick their necks out, then they might take a chance since they
don’t feel all alone. A leader gets out ahead of people, even if she’s
not certain they will follow. It’s her willingness to take a risk that
motivates others to take a risk.
Kudos to Mayor Gray and our other fine civic leaders who took the
risk of being lampooned by the right and by weak-kneed liberals who won’t
take the same risk themselves. They need our support to do it again and
again and again, until we have enough Americans who understand the
servitude suffered by the citizens of the District of Columbia to grant
us our due.
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White House Response to DC Riders Is Tone Deaf
T. Lassoc, cei76@aol.com
Mr. Barr is right [themail, April 13]. And how well he remembers. We
were among those volunteers who knocked on doors in Prince William
County, Virginia (in a very upscale suburban neighborhood), two by two,
on a very cold, rainy, dreary day just a few weeks before the 2008
election. As expected, the reception was mixed — even hostile at some
doors — but overall the efforts of DC for Obama were very successful
— hence Obama’s historic victory in Virginia. Hope the President
really hasn’t forgotten “the DC ones” who brought him to the
dance. The infatuation is far past. Reality has long since set in. A
demonstration of regard and respect and what is right for the District
of Columbia is urgent. The time is now and the opportunity is at hand,
even as close as the Obama campaign for 2012. According to news reports
the Obama campaign kicks off tonight. He says he wants to make DC his
home for four more years. So as to DC issues, if there is no evidence of
a real commitment to DC and its residents, it could happen that “the
DC ones” just might not ask him out again.
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Comprehensive Transportation Plan Is Needed
Qawi Robinson, qrobinso@lycos.com
In the last issue of themail [March 13], Richard Layman respectfully
disagreed with my linking bus/bike lanes, bike sharing, etc.,
with my previous comment regarding the pending DC Taxi “Medallion
Bill.” While I stand firm on my belief (using those examples) that
legislation needs to be derived locally and not borrowed from other
cities, I do agree with Richard that the DC government needs a
comprehensive overhaul of its transportation plan or simply needs to
admit it doesn’t have one so the right people can come together to
work on it. No one wants to “reinvent the wheel,” but if you are
going to use a “wheel” from New York, Boston, Denver, or
Philadelphia, the least thing you can do is check that wheel for
operability and wear. In the contract world, this it is called due
diligence. I’m not convinced that due diligence has been exercised in
the authorship of this bill and definitely not convinced that the
proponents of the bill looked at how this “wheel” is working in
other states, along with the impact that it has made. Unfortunately,
this bill looks like special interest political steamrolling catching DC
councilmembers unawares. Critical research has not been done. Why else
would John Ray and Councilman Barry admit that the bill is not perfect
not long after it was proposed? Not that our DC city council should
strive for perfection, but I have concerns with any politician who would
put their name on or sponsor a bill knowing full well that the bill has
some problems with it from the beginning. This practice speaks to a
level of lacking integrity and not properly discerning what is good for
the welfare of the citizens of the District of Columbia. Instead, it is
politics as usual . . . allowing the will of the people to be usurped by
focus groups, lobbyists, and special interests. If the Medallion Bill
passes, it will be just the latest example of how the shortsightedness
(and greed) of a few can seriously impact the masses.
In regards to a comprehensive transportation plan, DDOT is sometimes
(borrowing from another transportation idiom) “asleep at the wheel”
when it comes to traffic management, streetcars, light rail, taxis, and
other means of moving people and vehicles through the city. Not saying
that this is solely their fault, but the current crown jewel of
insufficient planning is the intersection of New York Avenue, Florida
Avenue, Eckington, and First Streets, NE. This redesign done for “safety”
actually promotes more traffic lawbreakers than the previous
configuration. Changing streetscapes for aesthetic purposes is one
thing, actually designing and routinely reviewing traffic light timing
is another. Also lacking (or needed) for this comprehensive plan is
facilitating designs where all transportation components can
interconnect. The latest example of this is the H Street Trolley (street
car) project in its current configuration. Although I’m not a fan, it
would serve the city well if the tracks at least went to the obvious
Metro Stations at Union Station or Minnesota Avenue. Once again,
transportation within the city needs to be looked at as a whole and not
piecemeal.
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AU Expansion in themail
Michael Bindner, mikeybdc@yahoo.com
I suspect, as a former Tenley resident, that one reason for campus
expansion is to pull residents out of the neighborhoods and back to
campus. This may or may not reduce problems, since the campus still has
an alcohol ban, so students will stream into AU Park and Tenley, etc.,
for weekend parties — however, there should be fewer off-campus
residences to go to. Students with fake ID’s will simply go to
Georgetown or Adams Morgan. Why some people in the citizens associations
may object, however, is because some of them are probably landlords who
operate group houses that their neighbors find so obnoxious. If new
dorms are opened, there services will no longer be required (I lived in
two such houses during my time at AU and after). With a down housing
economy, selling the income property will not be so easy once dorms are
built.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Woman’s National Democratic Club Events,
April 19-21
Tonya Butler-Truesdale, gotonyago@gmail.com
All events at the National Democratic Women’s Center, 1526 New
Hampshire Avenue, NW.
Tuesday, April 19, Edward Flattau, Green Morality luncheon.
Nationally syndicated environmental newspaper columnist Edward Flattau
has published twice-a-week commentary since 1972 and is the longest
running columnist in the field. His prize-winning column first appeared
in June of that year, when he took over the assignment from former
Interior Secretary Stewart Udall. Flattau has written more than 3700
columns on pivotal, environmentally related events and personalities
from his Washington base and around the country, as well as from Europe,
Asia, Africa, and South America. His work has appeared regularly in as
many as 120 daily newspapers throughout the past four decades. He is the
recipient of ten national journalism awards.
Born in New York City, and a graduate of Brown University in 1958,
Flattau also attended Columbia Law School. Starting his journalism
career in 1960, Flattau was a political correspondent for the United
Press International Bureau in Albany, New York, when in 1967 he was
transferred to the Washington bureau to cover congress, various federal
agencies and the White House. Green Morality (2010) is Flattau’s
fourth book on environmental issues. His other books include Tracking
the Charlatans (1998), a rebuttal of ultraconservative and
Libertarian environmentalism critics; Evolution of a Columnist
(2003), recounting his career in journalism; and in 2004, Peering
Through the Bushes, a cutting critique of George W. Bush’s
environmental record. Green Morality will be available for
purchase and signing. The bar opens at 11:30 a.m.; lunch 12:15 p.m.;
presentation and question and answer session 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. $25
members; $30 nonmembers; $10 (lecture only). Register at https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5880/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=22569
Wednesday, April 20, traditional Chinese paintings exhibit opening
reception and appraisal of your antiques. A rare opportunity to enjoy a
dozen pieces from the most famous artists of traditional Chinese
paintings including top cultural master Qi Baishi (1864-1957)’s shrimp
and exquisite traditional style fine painting, Zhang Daqian (1899-1983)’s
meticulous work on Dunhuang Cave style bodhisattva, the first Chairman
of China’s Central Art Academy Xu Beihong (1895-1953)’s famous
horse, Li Keran’s buffalo, etc.
Mr. Dai is one of the foremost experts in Chinese paintings antique
and art investment. Born in Shanghai, Mr. Dai’s ancestors were high
rank officials served the Royal Court of the Qing Dynasty. Spanning five
generations, Mr. Dai’s family-collected masterpieces of traditional
Chinese painting and calligraphy are unparalleled in distinction and
value. A gifted artist himself, Mr. Dai learned Chinese painting and
calligraphy and won the second prize in the Junior National Calligraphy
Competition in China. He later turned his talent to collecting genuine
artworks himself. The Dai family emigrated to Australia and Mr. Dai ran
his family private art gallery in Sydney. In the past five years, Mr.
Dai ran a gallery of Chinese antique and art in New York City. He is the
founding president of the Australia Chinese Cultural and Art
Association, and an art critic for many international TV and radio
programs, newspapers, and magazines.
Mr. Dai will provide a complimentary appraisal of your collection of
Chinese paintings/antiques (jade, ivory, porcelain and bronze) during
the opening reception on April 20. The exhibition will run from April
20-May 21, 2011. Appraisal: 6:30-8:30 p.m.; bar opens at 6:00 p.m. The
antiques appraisal is complimentary; RSVP is required. Register at https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5880/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=22757
Thursday, April 21, luncheon with Alon Ben-Meir, New York University’s
Center for Global Affairs. Dr. Ben-Meir is an expert on Middle East
politics and affairs, specializing in peace regulations and conflict
resolution. For the past twenty years he has been directly involved in
various negotiations and has operated as a liaison between top Arab and
Israeli officials. He regularly holds briefings at the US State
Department for international visitors. Dr. Meir writes a weekly column
for the Jerusalem Post and has appeared in numerous newspapers,
in magazines, and on web sites. This is an opportunity to learn from an
expert. Bar opens at 11:30 a.m.; lunch 12:15 p.m.; presentation and
question and answer session 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. $25 members; $30
nonmembers; $10 lecture only. Register at https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5880/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=25033
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On Thursday, April 28, 6-10:00 p.m., come to a fundraiser for a
dental/medical mission to Sierra Leone. Learn to dance salsa with a
professional instructor, or just come and dance to salsa rhythms. Don
Juan’s, 1660 Lamont Street, NW., corner of Mt. Pleasant and Lamont
Streets. $15 donation at the door. Proceeds will go toward funding the
next Healing Hands Foundation mission to Sierra Leone, West Africa, in
June 2011. Surgeons, nurses, dentists, and educators will provide care
in Sierra Leone to adults and children with no access to clinics or
hospitals.
The Walk in My Shoes Global Project will distribute shoes to children
in need of them. For those who would like to contribute but cannot
attend, please go to http://www.thhfoundation.org,
and click on the ABOUT US section. At the bottom of page click DONATE.
Identify the purpose of the donation as “dental team/ossie,barbara,”
and complete requested information.
For more information regarding the salsa night in Mount Pleasant
fundraiser, the Healing Hands Foundation, or Walk in My Shoes Global
Project, please contact Barbara Cameron, Walkinmyshoesgp@aol.com
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