Conundrums
Dear Riddlers:
Over the weekend, commenter “rhhardin” wrote on Ann Althouse’s
blog: “Practice safe exposition. Always use a conundrum.” In her
item below on Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr.’s settlement with DC
Attorney General Irv Nathan, Dorothy asks some of the conundrums raised
by the terms of the settlement.
The most interesting point raised by the settlement agreement and
consent judgment may be the addition of a new name to Councilmember
Thomas’s legal team. Lawyer, lobbyist, and local fixer Fred Cooke has
been joined by the previously unannounced Abbe Lowell, who specializes
in helping politicians and other white-collar criminals evade the
consequences of their acts, especially at the appellate level. Lowell’s
joining in Thomas’ defense may be the best signal yet that the US
Attorney is pursuing criminal charges against Thomas, aside from rumors
in Ward 5 that a grand jury has already been hearing evidence in Thomas’
case.
In the past, US Attorneys for DC have been reluctant to pursue
criminal charges against DC public officials. When he was the US Attorney,
Joseph diGenova was roundly excoriated by local home rule and statehood
activists for pursuing drug changes against Mayor Marion Barry,
seemingly on the theory that local politicians should be immune to
federal law. DiGenova’s successor as US Attorney for DC, Eric Holder,
took that admonishment to heart — he didn’t bring a single case
alleging corruption against public official in DC when he was in office
between 1993 and 1997, when there were plenty of cases that could have
been brought. Thomas’ case and other cases yet to be heard may test
whether under our current US Attorney, Ron Machen, being elected to
political office in the District of Columbia is no longer a
get-out-of-jail-free card.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
On Friday evening, Mayor Gray’s administration issued a report on
his first two hundred days in office: http://www.dcwatch.com/mayor/110722.htm.
In the “Letter from the Mayor” that opens the report, Gray writes:
“When I was elected Mayor, I promised a commitment to transparency and
good government. I also outlined my vision for ‘One City” with a
focus on four priority areas; quality education, fiscal stability, job
creation and economic development, and safe communities. During my first
months in office, I have assembled a strong team of managers and
together we strive to keep the promised made during my campaign.”
In light of the many scandals and issued that have dogged his
administration and his refusal to answer questions regarding his
campaign and transition finances and the management of his
administration, Gray’s stated commitment to “transparency and good
government” is both shocking and unbelievable. In addition, the report
details a list of unremarkable accomplishments in four priority areas
— fiscal stability, quality education, jobs and economic development,
and safe communities. Some of the accomplishments Gray has decided to
highlight in the nine-page report include: a cross-agency initiative to
reduce truancy, selection of a strong and experienced education team
(the appointment of Kaya Henderson as Chancellor of DC Public Schools);
meeting with bond rating agencies in New York; nominating new members to
the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia;
hosting the “obesity action plan” summit; engaging social media
outlets to communicate with citizens; and participating in the US
Conference of Mayors meeting.
Originally, the report was supposed to have been released at the
mayor’s weekly press conference last week. Apparently, however, the
mayor’s staff realized that the press would ask critical questions
about it. As a result, the “First 200 Days” report was released
after the close of business on Friday while the mayor was away in Los
Angeles attending the summer leadership meeting of the US Conference of
Mayors.
###############
On Friday afternoon, DC Attorney General Irvin Nathan issued a press
release (http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/occ110722c.htm)
announcing a written settlement agreement with (http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/occ110722a.htm)
and a consent judgment against (http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/occ110722b.htm)
Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. The agreement resolved a civic complaint
filed against Thomas in DC Superior Court on June 6, 2011, that alleged
that he had “attained largely for his personal use more than $300,000
(in District funds) that had been earmarked for ‘youth baseball
programs’ and solicited, with a District charitable solicitation
license and without a 501(c)(3) organization, more than $80,000 from
private donors for alleged charitable purposes that were never
established.” Under the agreement, the District has agreed to dismiss
its civil suit, and Thomas will make a total payment to the District of
$300,000, with an initial payment of $50,000 today [July 22], and five
more installment payments of $50,000 each between now and December 2013.”
The settlement does not include any requirement that Thomas repay the
$80,000 he took from private donors.
In his press release, Nathan stated that, “We are pleased that
Councilmember Thomas has agreed to cooperate with us, repay his debt,
and spare the District the burden, expense, and distraction of proving
its case in court. In a tweet from Los Angeles, Mayor Gray praised the
agreement and indicates that he is “please that complaint against CM
Thomas has come to a quick resolution. Applaud AG Nathan for his work
and glad settlement benefits kids.” While Gray and Nathan appear to be
patting each other on the back, most District residents have serious
concerns and questions regarding the settlement, especially since Thomas
has neither admitted his guilt nor apologized. In his press release on
the settlement (http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/occ110722d),
Thomas arrogantly states instead that, “the allegations in the
Attorney General’s complaint about there being no service provided and
a purposeful misuse of any funds are not true.”
Some of the remaining questions are: why is Thomas being allowed to
treat his misappropriation of District funds as a no-interest loan, and
permitted to repay the $300,000 over three years with no penalty or
interest? With an annual DC government salary of $130,538, how is Thomas
going to get the $300,000 repayment, when he can’t even repay his
outstanding student loan of $16,000? How will he pay his lawyers’
bills? Will the funds come from a syndicate of political contributors
and business interests in DC? Will Thomas have a legal defense fund that
accepts contributions from government contractors, Ward 5 strip club
owners, and developers seeking to do other projects in Ward 5? Will
those contributions go unreported? Does the settlement of the civil
complaint undermine any effort by the US Attorney’s Office to bring
criminal charges against Thomas? Would a private citizens who wasn’t a
councilmember be able to reach such a settlement? What deterrent message
does the settlement send to DC government employees? Will Kwame Brown
reconstitute the council’s Economic Development Committee, and
reappoint Harry Thomas as its chairman?
###############
David McIntire, reluctant but persistent neighborhood activist, has
passed from our world. This is not a traditional obituary, for he did
not follow the conventional path. David grew up in a small town in
Pennsylvania. He loved to read: the first thing he said to his first
teacher was, “teach me to read.” In high school, being one of the
tallest, he played basketball, and was known for his fade away jump
shot. For the same reason (height), he played the sousaphone in the
marching band. School was his respite from a complicated family life,
and he excelled. He was also the class clown. David was the first in his
family to graduate college, the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown
University, a few years before another non-Catholic country boy, Bill
Clinton.
During the Vietnam era, he tried the Peace Corps training and found
it lacking — too many psychological profiles, a climate which
encouraged turning in your fellow trainees, and failure to impart useful
practical knowledge. He enlisted in the Army and spent two years in
Elvis’ old unit in Germany, defending the eastern border, and then
touring with two buddies in a VW van for a year afterwards. His forays
into eastern Europe, and later, having a roommate who was the brother of
one the Catonsville 9, earned him FBI attention. The day we moved to
Park Road, a group of early teenage boys offered to help unload. For
several years thereafter, they were in and out the (group) house, and
went with us on expeditions to the mountains and the beach. Dave loved
popcorn, and between that and the friendly dogs, there were always kids
knocking at the door.
David was a DIY guy. He taught himself building skills, and what he
made is solid, and will take something very powerful to undo. He learned
to play the guitar Mississippi John Hurt style. He had a lifelong
interest in photography. He took up botany, to relieve the tedium of
walks in the woods, an in-law tradition. He did little theater,
appearing in “Lock Up Your Daughters,” “The Rainmaker,” and “The
Crucible.” His baritone voice served him well also in community
meetings, and many a leader cringed at the sight of him.
David’s prime characteristics were his curiosity and tenacity. When
he discovered an interest, he pursued and researched it thoroughly. He
loved to debate even before encountering the disciplined Jesuits of
Georgetown. Although his only course was Constitutional Law, he was
proud that, like Perry Mason, he had never lost a case: his friend’s
court martial in the army, a small claims case, a speeding ticket, and
the nightmare next door property dispute. He honed his concise E-mail
style on a creationist discussion board, where he became known to his
adversaries as “the McIntire.”
Fascinated by the then new computer technology, David taught himself
and created a Columbia Heights web site (http://www.innercity.org )
which, with a history and pictures, oral history interviews, an archive
of press articles, a list of neighborhood resources, and interactive
features including a listserv, gave a more positive view of the area
than was prevalent at the time. As an activist, he was relentless in
pointing out the shortcomings of planning decisions based on political
connections. Some may remember the first protest demonstration,
organized through the listserv, when the new Mayor Williams was pursued
around Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park, and the larger event coinciding
with the opening of the Columbia Heights and Petworth Metro stations.
Beyond his delight at having almost unlimited knowledge at his
fingertips, plus solitaire, all the newspapers, audiobooks, music,
radio, and movies, David believed in the capacity of the Internet to
equalize opportunities and improve democratic processes. He worked with
several organizations to provide public access to those without home
computers, and tutored children and community members in the basics.
David was among the group of volunteers that conceived and operated
the first Columbia Heights Community Marketplace on the then vacant lot
at 14th and Irving Streets. He was its unofficial photographer; his
photos underline the community aspect of the name. His most recent
passion, genealogy, led him to create the web site McIntires.info, and
to expand its focus from family to include history of the Scots-Irish.
He found that his willingness to challenge authority might be in his
genes.
David loved road trips and exploring the gravel roads of the Virginia
and WV National Forests, where there are ample secluded camping
opportunities. After years of roughing it and idle musing about a
country home, David became a landowner in Hardy County, West Virginia,
near the beautiful Lost River Valley. And then he understood how much he
had been missing the quiet peace of the country and nature up close,
since his youth. He contended with winter plumbing crises, and witnessed
and escaped a mountain tornado that spared the house and car while
toppling twelve mature oak trees. He joked that he practiced natural
gardening, leaving the weeds and wildflowers be, and proudly pointed out
this year’s crop of jewelweed and thistle. He spent all the time he
could there, and hoped to retire there, and was pleased that the DSL
connection was better than in Washington.
David belonged to the CHANGE, Inc. and CAS Development Corporation
boards, and was chair of the Board of Directors of CHANGE-All Souls
Housing. David was the grandson of Jefferson and Alice Wagner McIntire,
and the son of Paul McIntire and Marguerite Shandelmeier McIntire. He
leaves his wife, Elizabeth, sister, Colleen Fleshman, nephew Raymond H.
Fleshman, niece Annette Cole, grand nieces Megan Smyers and Cheyanne
Fleshman, grand nephews Brian Fleshman and Brock David Cole, and another
grandchild on the way.
Those who knew and loved David are invited to a memorial service on
Tuesday, August 23, at 3:00 p.m., at the Festival Center, 1640 Columbia
Road, NW. Please come to remember him and to share your part of his
story. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CHANGE, Inc., 1413
Park Road, NW, WDC 20010, or the Mathias-Baker Volunteer Fire and
Rescue, PO Box 59, Mathias, WV 26812.
###############
So it seems that there was another round of DC teacher positions
eliminated by the District of Columbia Public Schools. Inside sources
report that ten teachers were excessed on July 16 from the DCPS Mentor
Teacher program (formerly known as the Helping Teachers program) . This
leaves approximately fifteen DCPS teachers to mentor first and second
year teachers citywide in the District.
Given that the research is full of literature and research
documenting the importance of mentor teachers, DCPS couldn’t have
picked a worse time to reduce their already scanty mentor teacher
department. The Center for Inspired Teachers cites a 2006 New Teacher
Center report that shows that students whose teachers received strong
mentoring support make bigger gains in reading than those in un-mentored
classrooms. The New Teacher Center also found that in a comparison of
approximately one hundred new teachers in three school districts,
teachers who received two years of support from mentors, their students
made gains comparable to those of students of veteran teachers.” Are
you wondering what those in charge of DCPS could be thinking ? I know I
am. So I asked a recently excessed DCPS mentor teacher how these cuts to
DC’s mentor teacher department would affect new teachers. The teacher
requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal, but had this to say: “New
teachers will now have limited support and wouldn’t have that one to
one professional and technical guidance that a mentor offers such as
organizing their classrooms, understanding instruction and data, getting
through a typical day and classroom management skills, etc. Our students
will suffer in the long run.”
Given that data is now available from the US Department of Education’s
(DOE) Office on Civil Rights, we can see educational trends across
school districts in the US. Based on 2009 DOE data, 42 percent of
teachers in the District of Columbia have two years or less of teaching
experience while only 10 percent of teachers have less than two years
experience in Fairfax County Public Schools and Montgomery County Public
Schools, which are much larger school districts. I would venture to
guess that other school districts like our suburban counterparts
recognize the importance of teacher mentoring programs and would fight
to the death to keep these types of programs in place even during a
tight economy. If we want real transformative change in public
education, then we must first be honest about what’s happening in our
public schools, we must stop supporting knee-jerk administrative
decisions to cut valuable programs which are not in the best interest of
teachers or students, and we must stand together with other Americans in
a Call to Action rally to save our schools on July 30, on the national
mall. Hope to see you there.
###############
School Testing Scandals
L.B. Lesser, lblesser@aol.com
I know I’m a little late chiming in and I know that I’m no expert
on education theory and practice, but the Atlanta school scandal that
Erich Martel wrote about in the July 14 themail needs to be compared
further to the DCPS situation. I think the management issue is that when
you place enormous importance on student test scores and base career
decisions for teachers on their student test results you are building in
enormous incentives to cheat. (Ever notice that teach and cheat are
anagrams of one another? Like kitchen and chicken. (Well not exactly.))
It’s unfortunate and it’s corrupt, but first and foremost it’s
self-preservation. It’s a terrible basis for organization management.
We know that there are abnormal numbers of erasures and substitutions
of correct answers in the test books of many DCPS students at many
schools — just like in Atlanta. ’Nuff said.
###############
During summer 2004, the issue of whether to legalize slots in the
District was extensively debated. As a result of the good work of
Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff, the proposed slots initiative did not
even qualify to be placed on the ballot. Now, under the guise of revenue
enhancement, slots gambling has become District law. What has changed
since that 2004 debate to justify council approval without reasonable
notice, debate, or public input? How did it happen? Who benefits? Who
was responsible? Who failed to stand against such apparent slight of
hand? Reprising Richard Nixon’s Watergate, what did they know and when
did they know it? Those responsible, and those who failed to take a
stand, should be called to account.
[In the interest of full disclosure, complaints against the 2004
slots initiative were filed at the DC Board of Elections and Ethics by
DCWatch, DC Against Slots (a project of the United Methodist Church,
headed by Regina James), and by attorney Ron Drake. — Gary Imhoff]
###############
Trash and Recycling Collections Beginning at
6:00 a.m.
Kevin B. Twine, kevin.twine@dc.gov
The DC Department of Public Works announced today that its trash and
recycling crews will begin their collections an hour earlier, at 6:00
a.m., throughout the week of July 25, due to predicted 90° and above
temperatures and the effect of the 90° plus heat index. Residents may
put their trash and recyclables out for pickup starting at 6:00 p.m. on
the day before their collections, so they do not have to change their
morning schedules and to make sure these materials are collected.
Throughout the summer, when the temperature and heat index are
predicted to be 90° or higher or the Metropolitan Washington Council of
Governments announces unhealthy air quality (Code Orange or Code Red
days), DPW collection crews will begin their work at 6:00 a.m. to avoid
health or environmental issues.
###############
InTowner
Breaking
News
P.L. Wolff, intowner@intowner.com
This is to advise that we have posted at the top of our home page
[http://www.intowner.com] breaking news reporting on the final
disposition of the nearly five-decades-long empty (except for parking)
lot at 17th and O Streets, owned by the First Baptist Church on 16th
Street.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Free Poetry Event at MLK Library, July 25
Sistah Joy, poetsistahjoy@aol.com
The District of Columbia Public Libraries will present award-winning
poets Lamont B. Steptoe and Sandra Turner-Barnes at a discussion and
book signing to be hosted by Sistah Joy. Monday, July 25, 6:30 p.m., at
Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, in the
Black Studies Division. For further information, call 727-1211.
Lamont B. Steptoe is an African American with Cherokee ancestry, born
and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Temple University,
he is the author of twelve collections of poetry and the editor of two
collections by South African poet, Dennis Brutus. Steptoe, cited by
James Baldwin as “a most valuable brother witness.” is the
founder/publisher of Whirlwind Press, a Vietnam veteran, father and
photographer. He is the recipient of an American Book Award, a Pew
Fellowship in the Arts, two fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on
the Arts and an inductee of the International Hall of Fame for Writers
of African Descent by the Gwendolyn Brooks Center at Chicago State
University. His work appears in the edited by Keith Gilyard and the
edited by Arnold Rampersad. His most recent books are A Long Movie of
Shadows, Uncle’s South China Sea Blue Nightmare, Crowns and Halos, and
Oracular Rumbling and Stiltwalking.
Sandra 0Turner-Barnes is the winner of the
1995 Ebony Magazine Literary Award for Short Fiction. She is also the
author of three books of poetry, and her latest book of poetry .
Additionally, Sandra’s popular poetry and jazz CD, September Will
Never Be the Same, is available throughout the United States and the
United Kingdom. Sandra’s first children’s book, Beyond the Back
of the Bus, illustrated by artist, fellow poet, and Lawnside
resident, Bernard Collins, Jr., was published in 2010. In 2006, Ms.
Turner-Barnes collaborated with renowned jazz pianist and composer, Miss
Geri Allen, to create and produce a memorial concert in tribute to the
victims, survivors, and families affected by September 11th. The Sacred
Jazz Suite, entitled, “For the Healing of the Nations,” was inspired
by Revelations 22.2, and featured over forty instrumentalists and
vocalists, including eight Grammy nominated jazz artists, as well as the
Howard University Afro Blue Chorus, and Ms. Turner-Barnes, performing
two original poems featured in her newest book, But, Mostly Love! Miss
Allen composed the music and Ms. Turner-Barnes composed the lyrics. The
recipient of the numerous community recognitions and literary and
cultural arts awards, Ms. Turner-Barnes was appointed Executive Director
of the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission in May of 2006.
###############
Graffiti In DC, July 26
Kevin B. Twine, kevin.twine@dc.gov
How do you feel about the graffiti in your neighborhood? Is there a
place for it in DC? What is your impression of the people who illegally
tag? How would you like to see graffiti handled? Join MuralsDC as it
launches its 2011 program with a look at the culture of graffiti and
discussion with people involved on all sides — former taggers,
artists, agencies who clean graffiti, and those who fund public art.
Help us achieve a better understanding of graffiti and what we can do to
achieve solutions that last.
MuralsDC Panel Discussion on graffiti, Tuesday, July 26, 6:00-8:00
p.m., at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street, NW, Langston Room. Contact
Nancee Lyons at nancee.lyons@dc.gov
or 673-6833 with questions/comments.
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