Hagiography Versus Biography
Dear Biographers:
Courtesy of Instapundit’s link, this article is from The
Atlantic Journal-Constitution: “Superintendent Beverly Hall
ordered the destruction of investigative documents that detailed ‘systematic’
cheating on standardized tests in the Atlanta Public Schools, according
to a former high-ranking district official. APS human resources director
Millicent Few is accused of ordering Colinda Howard to destroy records
at the direction of superintendent Beverly Hall. Hall also instructed
subordinates to omit ‘adverse findings’ from a new version of the
report and then publicly cited the revised document in an aggressive
rebuttal of the cheating allegations, the former official says. When she
protested, the former official says, her supervisor said the district
had the right to ‘sanitize’ the investigation and that ‘the matter
was closed’ because Hall ‘had directed that all other documents be
destroyed,’” http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/ex-aps-official-hall-983590.html?cxtype=rss_news
How unfortunate for Hall that she doesn’t run the school system in
DC, where the city council assumed the Board of Education’s role of
oversight over the DC Public Schools, and then proceeded to shirk its
duty to do independent, effective oversight, and where such enterprising
corruption would be encouraged by not asking her any pesky questions
about it. I don’t share many opinions with Richard Whitmire, Michelle
Rhee’s hagiographer, but I do agree with one point of his article in
today’s Post, http://tinyurl.com/45xxzzk
The council failed to do its duty to ask Kaya Henderson any hard
questions when it held a hearing on her confirmation as Chancellor of
schools. Instead of the questions he suggests, however, councilmember
should have asked, among others, the nine questions suggested by Urban
Dweller, a commentator on Whitmire’s article, http://tinyurl.com/3oydcpj
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Gambling in the District
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
On Wednesday, June 29, the council’s Committee on Finance and
Revenue will hold a public roundtable hearing at 10:00 a.m. in room 120
of the Wilson Building on “i-gaming.” The term “i-gaming” refers
to gambling over the Internet, and the council hearing will focus on
Councilmember Michael Brown’s proposal to have the DC Lottery Board
establish online gambling in the District. Brown’s proposal was
inserted as an amendment in the District’s Budget Support Act during
closed door council meetings in December. Wednesday’s hearing will
provide the first occasion at which there will be a public discussion of
this controversial issue.
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Bad Problems at the DC Taxicab Commission
Ann Loikow, aloikow@verizon.net
I would like to urge readers of themail to read Pete Tucker’s
account of his and Jim Epstein’s arrest by the US Park Police. Why on
earth did the Park Police do the dirty work of the Taxicab Commission?
His account can be found at http://thefightback.org/2011/06/its-time-to-inspect-d-c-s-hack-inspectors/#more-2530.
These arrests of journalists just trying to cover an open meeting of
a agency of the DC government are absolutely outrageous. The Taxicab
Commission desperately needs to be educated on DC law governing public
meetings of DC government agencies.
I hope that the Metropolitan Police Department are educated enough in
DC law to know that arresting journalists for covering a public meeting
of a DC agency or for recording or taking pictures of that meeting is
not against the law, but is in fact is protected by law. Our elected
officials should promptly investigate this incident, reeducate the
Taxicab Commissioners, and hold them accountable as appropriate under
the law.
[See also Harry Jaffe, http://tinyurl.com/6boej4j;
Washington Post editorial, http://tinyurl.com/65s3a67;
Jim Epstein, http://reason.com/blog/2011/06/23/dc-commission-arrest;
and Judge Andrew Napolitano, http://reason.com/blog/2011/06/23/reason-on-tv-epstein-judge-nap
— Gary Imhoff]
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Mayor Gray Denies Responsibility for South
Capitol Street Murders
Richard Urban, Drichardurban@UrbanGrocery.com
Mayor Gray through a spokesperson, as reported in the Washington
Times (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/23/supervision-of-shooting-suspect-questioned)
on June 24, said the District government, “Bears no responsibility in
her (Brishnell Jones) death. As such, the Office of the Attorney
General, at the appropriate time, will move to dismiss this action.”
This was in response to the lawsuit filed by Nardyne Jefferies,
Brishnell’s mother.
I think that the mayor has a lot of gall to take that position. The
District routinely lets dangerous criminals out on the streets
prematurely. Sanquan Carter, the person who started the chain of
retribution, was wanted for armed carjacking. Why was he released? Why
are violent youths routinely housed together with less serious offenders
at DC facilities, such as the New Beginnings correction facility in
Laurel? Frequently, youth there have been out of control as well, as
evidenced by the recent guard beating and escape.
Yes, the DC government has to take responsibility for its role in the
deaths of Brishnell and many other DC residents. Dangerous criminals
need to be behind bars, regardless of their age. Those who wish to be
reformed should have that chance. Unfortunately, the DC Department of
Youth and Rehabilitative Services has not sufficiently distinguished
between different types of offenders, and DC law has frequently allowed
criminals who commit serious crimes with weapons to go free. The DC code
needs to be tightened and its enforcement increased, to protect all DC
citizens. Criminals or ex convicts do not have any “right” to wreak
havoc and terror on our community. Ms. Jefferies is right to file her
lawsuit, and her resounding victory will send a clear message to the DC
council and agencies to protect all citizens and to reevaluate and
reform the practices of the DC juvenile justice system.
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University Presidents’ Compensation
Ann Loikow, aloikow@verizon.net
Every DC taxpayer should take a good hard look at Washington Post
reporter Daniel de Vise’s June 22 article “GWU President Knapp
cracks $1 million in compensation,” http://tinyurl.com/686rbcr.
De Vise notes that GWU’s president earned $1.05 million in 2009,
Georgetown University’s president earned $911,613 in 2009, and
American University’s President earned $760,774 (perhaps in 2008). How
much are they all getting for 2011? This article should be a clear
indication of why college costs are way out of control and saddling
graduates with mountains of debt. In addition, there should be no need
for tax benefits, deferments, or breaks of any kind for institutions who
can pay their officials more than twice what the President of the United
States earns. I urge the mayor and council to start cutting back on any
local subsidies of these institutions. DC taxpayers have better uses for
their hard earned taxes.
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Continuing Education at the CCDC
Neil Richardson, ananda001@aol.com
Continuing Education at the Community College of the District of
Columbia grew by more than 30 percent during the first quarter of 2011.
Our online classes continue to lead the way in providing professional
development for people updating their skills whether you have a GED or
Ph.D. Providing more than a thousand online courses, Continuing
Education has extensive and best quality programming in accounting,
business, health care and fitness, hospitality, media and graphic
design, program management, legal studies, and much more!
Continuing Education is also pleased to be an official provider of
Dale Carnegie Training, which provides the very best executive
development anywhere with classes forming at our 801 North Capitol
Street, NE, campus. In March, we executed a unique agreement with the DC
Chamber of Commerce to provide our business community access to our
online program at discounted prices and we are completing agreements
with many other community based organizations around the city. Our
campus at 801 North Capitol Street, NE, is also featuring unique classes
this summer and fall, including grant application writing, Arabic,
Spanish, Feng Shui and notary public preparation.
The District, like other cities around the world, is in the midst of
intense and systemic change. District residents are competing with
workers regionally and globally; the jobs in emerging markets will
require new skills and adaptive mindsets in order to compete and
succeed. Stay up to date with continuing education at CCDC. For more
information, contact us at 274-5536 or ccdc_ce@udc.edu,
or go to http://www.ccdc.usdc.edu/ce
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Ward 8 Church Taxes Alleviated by
Councilmember Marion Barry
Jacques Chevalier, II, jacques.chevalier@comcast.net
This is a request to have published the names of the eight churches
in Ward 8 that had their taxes abated or alleviated by Ward 8
Councilmember Marion Barry via legislation. It seems ridiculous to me,
as an apartment owner who pays thousands in taxes every year. Many of us
in DC cannot fathom why the churches routinely stick it to the people
with the assistance of government officials and procure free rides off
the backs of regular business persons without political connections.
Tell us who these church folk are. I want to disclose that a church
sued me once in DC Superior Court for twelve million dollars — Faith
Tabernacle Church of Prayer for All People vs. Jacques Chevalier.
It was awarded one hundred dollars and no attorney fees. They spent
twenty-five thousand dollars on a lawyer in the case. It lasted almost
two years in court. May I say a lil prayer that FTCPFAP is not in the
giveaway list of taxes to be abated for churches.
[According to the DC Council web site, during the current legislative
session Councilmember Barry has introduced property tax exemption
legislation for the Allen Chapel AME senior residential rental property,
the Holy Christian Missionary Baptist Church, the Universal Holiness
Church, and the Thirteenth Street Church of Christ. — Gary Imhoff]
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[Re: themail, June 22] Marion Barry was and still is a disgusting
figure. I really believe the councilmembers who got caught today thought
they could get away like Marion Barry did then. I thing we are just a
little bit more hip to what is going on this city now, and we are not
going to give no kind of break if they mess up.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
National Building Museum Events, July 9, 16,
23
Stacy Adamson, sadamson@nbm.org
Saturday, July 9, 16, and 23, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Three Movements in
Architecture: Architecture 101. Be sure to note the Member and
Non-Member Series tickets available for these programs until July 8th.
Gothic Revival. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School. The Glass
Box. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about these architectural
styles, you can this July at the National Building Museum. Whether you’re
a professional or a novice, you’re welcome to attend one, two, or all
three lectures this summer. At the National Building Museum, 401 F
Street, NW, Judiciary Square Metro station. Register for events at http://www.nbm.org.
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