Crime and Punishment
Dear Punishers:
The District of Columbia is not alone in being shamed by politicians
who have no shame. Prince Georges County is now blushing from the
behavior of Leslie Johnson, a member of the Prince Georges County
Council and wife of former Prince Georges County Executive Jack Johnson.
Both Johnsons were caught receiving bribes in a pay for play scheme.
Leslie Johnson didn’t resign from the county council on the day that
she was caught by the FBI, stuffing a cash bribe in her brassiere and
flushing a check bribe down her toilet. She didn’t resign when she was
indicted. She didn’t even resign when she submitted her guilty plea in
court and the court found her guilty. Instead, she has declared her intention to remain on the county council and draw her paycheck until
October 13, when she will be sentenced and will, presumably, begin
serving time in jail. Then, finally, a Maryland state law will kick in,
and she will be forced from office.
In recent days, both the Washington Post editorial board (http://tinyurl.com/3rnf3nj)
and columnist Robert McCartney (http://tinyurl.com/3php3bt)
have called upon Johnson to resign and upon her county council
colleagues — the majority of whom have remained silent about her case
— to publicly denounce her crimes.
Odds are that, as some current scandals ripen into indictments, the
District will soon face the dilemma that Prince Georges faces with
Leslie Johnson, and it’s likely to face it more than once. But if the
Prince Georges government is failing the test, failing to face up to the
corruption of elected officials, failing to repudiate them and their
corruption, the odds are also that the District government and its
elected officials will fail even more badly. After all, they wouldn’t
like to judge. And, correct me if I’m wrong, but I couldn’t find a
provision in DC law that requires elected officials to resign from
office if they’re indicted, convicted, or sentenced for a crime. I may
be missing something, but it looks to me like a DC politician can serve
in office while he or she serves time in jail.
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Here’s a proposal that doesn’t seem far-fetched anymore. The DC
government is moving to provide our soft drug needs through marijuana
dispensaries, to facilitate our hard drug needs through needle exchange
programs, and to provide our gambling needs through government-run slots
parlors. It is fighting to provide our abortion needs against the
resistance of backward, unenlightened federal legislators who don’t
understand that to us abortion is a sacrament. Government is providing
for all of our basic needs except for sex. Isn’t it time for the DC
government to open its own licensed and regulated houses of
prostitution? Legalized, government-run prostitution would increase the
employment of local residents at the same time that it would encourage
tourism. The DC government would make money by taking not just taxes,
but also the pimp’s share of the profits. Whore houses could be run by
the Department of Employment Services in cooperation with the DC Housing
Authority, and teens could be introduced to the profession through the
Summer Youth Employment Program. By having the government run the
program, we could ensure that there would be no sexual or gender
discrimination: male, female, and transgender sex workers and clients
would all be treated equally, perhaps assigned to each other at random.
And, just as Councilmember Michael Brown sells his online gambling
proposal as a consumer protection program to protect gamblers from
unscrupulous Internet gambling sites, the mayor and councilmembers who
support the proposal could promote it as a consumer protection program.
As government-run facilities, the brothels would serve only healthy
snacks, prescribed by Councilmember Cheh’s dietary regulations, and
they would not serve sodas or sugary juices, and they would ban smoking,
at least cigarette smoking. The brothels would protect everyone from
both fattening diets and secondhand smoke. We do have our values and our
priorities.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Kwame Brown’s Day of Reckoning
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
On Thursday, July 7, at 10:00 a.m., the DC Board of Elections and
Ethics will meet in room 280N of One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street,
NW. It will hear the case of the Office of Campaign Finance versus the
Committee to Re-Elect Kwame Brown (Institution of a Charge and Formal
Hearing). Following the OCF’s release on April 4 of its Final Audit
Report on the Committee to Re-Elect Kwame Brown (http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/ocf110404.pdf)
and further investigation by the OCF, on June 10 it filed a complaint
with the Board of Elections against Brown’s 2008 reelection committee
(http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/ocf110610.htm).
In the complaint, as the OCF’s press release stated, “The Committee
is charged, among other things, with failure to report 210 contributions
totaling $102,763.00, failure to report 53 expenditures totaling
$169,431.49, failure to amend its Statement of Organization to include a
bank account and identify a signatory, and failure to substantiate
$174,785.57 in expenditures, all of which are in violation of the DC
Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act.”
At the conclusion of the public hearing, the BOEE will deliberate in
private and review all evidence presented by OCF and Kwame Brown’s
attorney, Fred Cooke. If it follows its past practice, BOEE will then
issue a written order in which the board can decide to impost a fine for
the Committee’s violations of campaign finance laws and also refer the
matter to the US Attorney for the District of Columbia for criminal
prosecution.
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Vegas on the Potomac
Patrick Thibodeau, dcblogs@gmail.com
The District’s new gambling law has the potential of leading to
radical transformation of neighborhoods. Here’s how. This law was
approved as a rider to the budget last December. It was authored by
Councilmember Michael Brown, and approved with by the apparent tacit
endorsement of then Mayor-elect Gray. It was adopted with stealth and
for good reason. This law offers casino gambling electronically from
servers managed by DC Lottery and its contractor, Greek-based Intralot.
The initial games will include bingo, poker and slots. Gambling will be
allowed from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. DC Lottery will decide which
businesses can offer electronic gaming under the same process it uses to
approve lottery terminals at retail stores. There is no limit to the
number of restaurants, bars and hotels that can be approved as
electronic gaming venues. As it now stands, the local ANCs will not be
notified in advance or asked for input.
Bars and restaurants that offer gambling will see new types of
customers arriving in the morning and afternoon to gamble. Gambling may
become their leading source of profits as well as food and liquor sales.
These businesses may start focusing on supporting gamblers, such as
expanding the number of gambling terminals and creating environments
that cater to different age groups. Before too long, neighborhoods may
begin to see neon signs that say, simply, “casino.” Those signs will
be an entirely accurate description of the activity allowed inside these
establishments. Once inside a bar and restaurant that offers electronic
casino gambling, customers will log onto igamingdc.com, accessible only
through the District’s internal network, DC-Net. They will be able to
use their own laptops but bars and restaurants will likely offer
terminals for customer use. Bars and restaurants that offer gambling
will see new types of customers arriving in the morning and afternoon to
gamble. Gambling may become their leading source of profits as well as
food and liquor sales. Before too long, neighborhoods may begin to see
neon signs that say, simply, “casino.” Those signs will be an
entirely accurate description of the activity allowed inside these
establishments.
To gamble, you will need to set up an account. Credit cards will be
prohibited. Gamblers will be prohibited from adding more than to $250 to
their account each week, or $13,000 a year. It’s unclear whether the
initial $250 deposit will have to be exhausted before new funds can be
added. An important part of a casino’s operation is its financial
services in support of customers. Neighborhood casinos will want the
ability to accept up to $250 cash from a customer and put it on account.
Or, they may want the capability of issuing a “gift card” that a
customer can use to establish their online account. (A wide range of
customers may want a gift card option to avoid any risk of entering
their debit card information online, especially over a WiFi network that
may be in use). Payday loan type companies may set up shop next to
neighborhood casinos with offers of gambling specific gift cards.
In summary, DC’s casino gambling law has the potential of creating
neighborhood strips of blinking casino signs and payday loan companies.
Entirely new business ventures may take root in response to the law. The
4:00 a.m. gambling operation limit means businesses will be encouraged
to stay open longer. A crime increase seems likely. Neighborhood
gambling will also hurt neighborhood economies. Gambling doesn’t
create new wealth. It competes for household dollars now spent on other
goods and services. Following a Finance Committee roundtable last week,
Councilmember Jack Evans, called for additional study on the proposal.
He announced an agreement to prevent implementation of gambling in
neighborhoods until public hearings are held in each Ward about the
proposal. He wants to see rules that ensure neighborhood engagement. His
action was commendable, but the law remains a clear threat to city
neighborhoods. It’s also entirely possible that proponents may push
for downtown casino operations in the interim. Despite Evan’s action,
the law’s proponents remain on track to achieve their objective. I
urge people to raise this issue with our elected leadership. [For more
information, see stopgambling.com]
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Ward Five Is Not a Den of Corruption
Kathryn Pearson-West, wkpw3@aol.com
Lydia DePillis has written an item in the Housing Complex blog at Washington
City Paper calling “Ward 5 a Den of Corruption,” (http://tinyurl.com/3kcltvt).
How insulting to the good people that call Ward Five home! True, Ward 5
is going through a somewhat embarrassing period of scandals, where some
in leadership may possibly have stumbled, but that is not the way of
life or culture in Ward 5. The leadership accused of wrongdoing has not
gone to court or pleaded guilty to anything. The judge’s gavel has not
yet come down on the accused; therefore, so far, the troubles amount to
trying times, though the possible outcome might bring pause. Scandals
are never pretty and are not representative of the ward. While Ward 5
has its share of problems and challenges, it is far from a den of
corruption, and the citizens refuse for their ward to be painted or
labeled as such.
Contrary to what one may read, Ward 5 is a ward marked with
heightened civic activity, pride, and responsibility despite relentless
efforts to turn a section of the ward into a red light district or
perhaps to establish a future zone for marijuana dispensaries. Many
citizens want to make sure that there are no plans to target Ward 5 as a
preferred site for online gambling at or near libraries, recreation
centers, or elsewhere. Ward 5 is a ward filled with long time residents
that take pride in their communities and newcomers seeking to take root
in a promising ward. It is a ward filled with diverse communities and
cultures. Yes, the ward still has some issues that need to be resolved.
It is not perfect or flawless but it is not corrupt.
Ward 5 has many citizens in their twilight years making old age seem
like a time for many seniors to strut their stuff. Many eighty and
ninety year olds can be seen enjoying life and keeping up with young
folks. Check out some of the social events and see them dancing, joking,
and living life to the fullest (even if some bring a cane with them).
Try keeping up with some of their social calendars. And on the other end
are families raising bright young children ready to succeed in this
magnificent city. There are good parents trying to make a difference in
the lives of their children and uniting with the proverbial village to
raise a child. Ward 5 is no den of corruption, and residents resent that
categorization. Ward 5 is a promising ward with a Costco on the way and
other merchants to make neighborhoods sustainable. Should leaders go
astray and be proven culpable in wrongdoing, residents will be ready to
send them packing even if they are saddened by the gesture. Ward 5 is so
keen on integrity and pinpointing potential problems that they
repudiated the Ward 5 Democratic Committee for holding an election
without ample notice, forcing the body to postpone the election until
September. And that was just for not adhering to the rules, no matter
how innocent the inaction may have been. There are watchdogs in the ward
and there are citizens that will speak up and denounce unscrupulous
activities or basically anything that deviates from the established
rules. Rules are not made to be broken. Ward 5 is a ward of hope,
dreams, and aspirations. It is a ward of citizens seeking change for the
better and a ward of second chances, high expectations, and anticipation
for a brighter tomorrow. Ward 5 is still standing with the doors open to
a purposeful destiny and it is moving beyond the remorse of yesterday to
reach the potential of the ward and its future. Citizens encourage
strong ethics and when some fall short, redemption, prayers,
rehabilitation, forgiveness and all that come into play, but clearly
distance away from the public coffers is required for violators of the
public trust, faith, and confidence. Ward Five nor the nation’s
capital is a den of corruption or any other negative classification or
moniker. The mighty Ward 5 is alive and well, but encountering a few
potholes along the way to greatness. Ward “Fivers” are proud of
their ward and if the leaders don’t measure up, then they are out and
time moves on. But still, due process must be exercised and respected
before residents call for your permanent exit, stage right.
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It looks like the first casualty of the redistricting battle will be
Yvette Alexander, the city council member who represents Ward 7. This
was revealed in a June 20 article in the Washington Times written
by Jeffrey Anderson, http://tinyurl.com/3wwvt2w. During the week prior
to June 20, twenty influential citizens from Ward 7 met in the offices
of real estate developer H.R. Crawford and decided they needed to pick a
candidate to run against Alexander next year.
There were three reasons given for this decision. First, Alexander is
under investigation for stealing money from her constituent service
fund. Second, she has not brought development to her ward. Third, and
perhaps most important, Alexander did not grab a profitable part of Ward
6 during the redistricting negotiations. Instead she settled for
Reservation 13.
Said Paul Savage (who drafted Anthony Williams to run for mayor
several years ago), “Ward 6 raised heck, and their councilman
supported them,” Mr. Savage said. “Ours didn’t. It’s about
fairness and equity, and we don’t have it here.” Savage was
articulating a bizarre but prevalent notion that is floating around
Wards 7 and 8. According to this notion, because those wards are poverty
stricken, somehow they are entitled to grab portions of wealthy areas
that are gentrifying.
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DC State Board of Education Opens Student
Representative Application Process
Agnes Moss Lurry, dcdocs@dc.gov
The District of Columbia State Board of Education is looking for two
students to serve as representatives for the upcoming school year
2011-2012. All applications for the positions are due by the close of
business on Friday, July 29.
The student representatives on the District of Columbia State Board
of Education will act as liaisons between the student population of the
District of Columbia and the District of Columbia State Board of
Education. In order to serve as a student representative, applicants
must be residents of the District of Columbia. All applicants must be
currently enrolled as a junior or senior in a District of Columbia High
School or a freshman, sophomore or junior in a local college or
university. The student representative term begins in September 2011 and
ends in July 2012.
All applicants wishing to serve as a Student Representative must
submit an application via E-mail to sboe@dc.gov
or by ground mail to 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 723 North, Washington, DC
20001. Applications may be downloaded on the DC State Board of Education
web site at http://www.sboe.dc.gov.
For further information, please contact the DC State Board of Education
Office at 741-0888.
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InTowner
Retail
Sales Listings
P.L. Wolff, intowner@intowner.com
Effective July 2011, the Selected Recent Real Estate Sales monthly
feature of intowner.com will no longer be published in the issue PDF but
instead now has its own web page and may be accessed directly by the
link in the middle of the home page or by the button in the left side
panel.
We have today posted our listing of closings that were recorded
during May that occurred for residential properties — including
single-family houses, condos, and co-ops — in the several
neighborhoods covered by us.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Smart Meter Education Workshop, July 6
info@opc-dc.gov
The DC Office of the People’s Counsel and AARP present a Smart
Meter Education Workshop on Wednesday, July 6, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., at
1901 Evarts Street, NE. Consumers will learn what to do to prepare for
the meter exchange, how to alert PEPCO that someone in your home has
special medical needs, the steps of the meter installation process, and
about proposed changes to rates, bills, and services. To request
disability accommodations or interpreter services, please contact OPC at
727-3071.
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Jazz Evening, July 7
Patricia Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com
The DC Federation of Democratic Women, the mayor, and members of the
city council invite you to an evening of jazz, cocktails, and auctions
on Thursday, July 7, 6:30-9:00 p.m., at the Woman’s National
Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. Music by Melinda Ford.
Contributions $40, payable to the DC Federation of Democratic Women.
Discount parking $7:00. For reservations or more information, contact
Nancy Smalls, 288-7606.
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Three Movements in Architecture, July 9, 16,
23
Stacy Adamson, sadamson@nbm.org
Every summer the National Building Museum hosts a series of lectures
dedicated to significant movements in architectural history. Be sure to
note the member and nonmember series tickets available for these
programs until July 9. On three Saturdays in July, novices or
professionals can learn about these movements in architectural history.
This year’s Three Movements in Architecture series explores the
following significant periods:
Saturday, July 9, 1:00-2:30 p.m., The Gothic Revival. Margaret M.
Grubiak, Ph.D., assistant professor of architectural history at
Villanova University explores the enduring legacy of the Gothic Revival,
an architectural style that stood in stark contrast to the classicism of
the 19th century.
Saturday, July 16, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Frank Lloyd Wright: Prairie
School. David Bagnall, director of interpretation for Sites and
Collections at the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, Oak Park,
Illinois, discusses the distinctly American building forms of the
Prairie school, created by Frank Lloyd Wright at the beginning of the
twentieth century.
Saturday, July 23, 1:00-2:30 p.m., The Glass Box. G. Martin Moeller,
Jr., National Building Museum senior vice president and curator, looks
at the resurgence of glass curtain wall systems in modern office
buildings, buildings that now offer energy efficiency and a “cool”
factor.
All events at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW,
Judiciary Square Metro station. Register for events at http://www.nbm.org.
For anyone who wants a closer look at the architectural styles featured
in the series, use the self-guided tour sheets found at http://go.nbm.org/Architecture101
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