Baby Steps
Dear Adults:
Mike DeBonis asked it as a question on his blog, “Sekou Biddle
Quits Job; Prelude to Another Run?” http://tinyurl.com/3upgwlc,
but it’s more than speculation, though slightly less than a certainty,
that Biddle will challenge At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange in
April’s primary election. The race looks like a rerun of last year’s
race among Orange, Mara, and Biddle, in which Biddle come in third.
Biddle already has the support of Councilmembers Michael Brown and Harry
Thomas, Jr., who are promoting him and trying to help him build a
campaign machine. Brown and Thomas view Biddle as a possible ally on the
council, someone who would join them in a voting bloc, and Councilmember
Tommy Wells has already given DeBonis a quote that could be interpreted
as an endorsement of Biddle. Wells said that “he thought Biddle was
‘caught up unfairly’ in the city’s political controversies earlier
this year,” but those controversies have only gotten more heated since
then, and the perception — and reality — that Biddle is allied with
Councilmembers Thomas, Wells, and Michael Brown is likely to be more
damaging to him now than it was then.
Another DeBonis story, “Brown Orders Sweeping Financial Disclosures
for DC Council Members and Staff,” http://tinyurl.com/42bmg3h,
is about Council Chairman Kwame Brown’s proposal to require
councilmembers and council staffers to file financial statements that
could potentially provide safeguards against conflicts of interest. It’s
a good example of how difficult it is going to be for city
councilmembers to do anything substantive that will convince the public
that they are serious about overcoming the council’s bad reputation in
ethical matters. The first problem is that the proposal isn’t, as it
is billed, a proposal for full financial disclosure, for openness and
transparency. The financial “disclosure” forms won’t be disclosed;
they’ll be sequestered in a locked file cabinet, and the only people
who will have access to them will be councilmembers and supervisors of
council support offices, who will be able to review the forms of their
own staffers, and lawyers for the council, who will only “offer advice”
on whether there is a possible conflict of interest. Even so,
Councilmember Mary Cheh objects to Brown’s proposal because its
standards are based on federal financial disclosure standards, and “we
have enough federal interference in the operation of our local
government without actively seeking to increase it.” Councilmember
Phil Mendelson has a more reasonable objection, that it’s not clear
that Brown has the authority to simply impose this new requirement, or
whether it’s something that must be submitted to the council to vote
on. In any case, Brown’s proposal raises the question of whether even
baby steps toward raising ethical standards are too big for our current
councilmembers to take.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Can anyone explain why the Wilson High School swim team is not
allowed to swim in the Wilson Pool? I hope I am just misinformed about
this, but I figured this should be cleared up. True or not?
[Please sign your messages with your whole name, not with initials.
Thanks. -- Gary Imhoff]
###############
PSC Will Stream Meetings Live on the Internet
Kellie Armstead, karmstead@psc.dc.gov
The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is
providing live video streaming of public meetings to District residents
and businesses. District residents and businesses will be able to view
public meetings live through the Internet. To access the live video
streaming of public meetings, visit the Commission web site at http://dcpsc.org/.
Scroll to the bottom of the home page, then click on the conference
listing.
The District of Columbia Public Service Commission is an independent
agency established by Congress in 1913 to regulate electric, natural
gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia.
###############
Our Gang in themail
Jean Lawrence, jkellaw@aol.com
“But Spanky and Alfalfa and Buckwheat and Darla — that’s
entertainment,” themail, September 7.
We are the Flory-Dorries! Loved it!
[Don’t miss the clip of the Flory-Dory dancers: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=166_1239136485
— Gary Imhoff]
###############
Kudos to Dorothy and themail
John Chelen, john@chelen.net
Civic advocates seldom get the praise they deserve. So, let’s take
a moment and commend Dorothy Brizill for keeping an eye out, doing her
homework, and calling our attention to things that need to be done. Even
the Washington Post has had to acknowledge her leadership in
holding the Gray administration accountable. Attagirl!
###############
September InTowner PDF Now Online
P.L. Wolff, intowner@intowner.com
This is to advise that the September PDF is available at http://www.intowner.com,
and may be opened by clicking the front page graphic on the home page.
There will be found news, commentary, and features content, including
the popular Scenes from the Past (this month titled “Here Once Was an
Octagonal House in Washington Not Far From Dupont Circle”) — plus
all photos and other images.
This month’s lead stories include the following: 1) “Dupont East’s
17th Street Neighbors Gearing Up for September 24th Event”; 2) “Adams
Morgan Business Improvement Group Up for City Re-Certification —
Supporters And Critics Present Comments at Hearing”; 3) “Corner
House Anchoring Early 20th Century Mt. Pleasant Row Rehabbed; Integrity
of Row Reestablished.” Of special interest this month in the “At the
Museums” column (issue PDF page 13) is the exhibition review of the
inaugural show at the African-American Civil War Museum in Shaw. This is
a follow-up to our August issue news story, “African-American Civil
War Museum Unveils its New Home on U Street.”
The next issue PDF will publish early in the morning of October 14
(the second Friday of the month as usual). For more information, either
send an E-mail to newsroom@intowner.com
or call 234-1717.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Environmental Health Group (EHG) Events,
September 13
Allen Hengst, ahengst@rcn.com
World War I munitions, bottles filled with chemical warfare agents,
and contaminated soil have been found in and around the Spring Valley
neighborhood of northwest DC. The Environmental Health Group (EHG) seeks
to raise awareness of the issues and encourage a thorough investigation
and cleanup. Every Saturday at 1:00 p.m., please join the Environmental
Health Group for an informal discussion about Spring Valley issues. In
the cafe at the Glover Park Whole Foods Market, 2323 Wisconsin Avenue,
NW (one block south of Calvert Street). For more information, visit the
EHG on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/Environmental-Health-Group/67807900019.
Tuesday, September 13, 7:00 p.m: presentations by project manager
Brenda Barber on the proposed plan for the final cleanup of 4825
Glenbrook Road and Johns Hopkins University's Dr. Mary Fox on the
forthcoming Spring Valley Follow-Up Health Study. At the monthly
Restoration Advisory Board meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers,
Saint David’s Episcopal Church basement, 5150 Macomb Street, NW (one
block north of MacArthur Boulevard), http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Projects/Spring%20Valley/.
###############
National Building Museum Events, September 14,
17
Stacy Adamson, sadamson@nbm.org
Wednesday, September 14, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Innovation in Construction
Technology. Tana Utley, chief technology officer for Caterpillar Inc.,
discusses innovation. Caterpillar is recognized as a construction
industry leader for quality and innovation and continues to innovate by
using sophisticated GPS equipment, advance hydraulic systems, and
cleaner engines. $12 members, $12 students, $20 nonmembers. Prepaid
registration required. Walk in registration based on availability.
Saturday, September 17, 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Big Build: A
Hands-on Family Festival. Explore tools, trucks, and building arts at
the Museum’s annual family festival. People of all ages can try
hands-on woodworking, design, and construction. Activities and
demonstrations are best for kids four to twelve. The youngest can sing
along with Bob the Builder, live and on stage; climb aboard a
construction vehicle; and much more. Free. Drop-in program. No
registration required. Both events at the National Building Museum, 401
F Street, NW, Judiciary Square Metro station. Register for events at http://www.nbm.org.
###############
Irvin B. Nathan on Ethics at Ward Three
Democratic Committee, September 15
Shelly Tomkin, shelltomk@aol.com
The Ward Three Democratic Committee will meet on Thursday September
15, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle
Street, NW. D. Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan will speak on government
ethics reform and will answer questions from the audience.
###############
Tenleytown Civil War Walking Tour, September
24
Mary Alice Levine, maryalicelevine@starpower.net
Come on the Tenleytown Civil War Walking Tour sponsored by the
Tenleytown Historical Society and DC Cultural Tourism on Saturday,
September 24, at 10:00 a.m. See the “top of the town” through the
lens of the Civil War. The Civil War transformed Tenleytown from a
sleepy community of farmers and landed gentry to a bustling place of
troops and commerce. Tent encampments of soldiers popped up throughout
the area, and where Best Buy is today there was a Union Headquarters and
later a hospital. Even though it was a Union stronghold, Tenleytown was
home to a number of secessionist, slaveholding families, including the
Lyles, the Loughboros, and the residents of Dunblane and Rosedale.
You will see Eldbrooke Church, the Methodist Cemetery, and Dunblane
and find out how they played their parts in the War Between the States.
You will visit the site where Fort Reno was located on the highest point
in DC and learn about the Fort’s role in a battle that took place when
the Confederates raided Washington.
This event is free, but reservations are required. Sign up at DC
Cultural Tourism, http://tinyurl.com/3kj66j2
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — CLASSES
West African Dance Classes, Wednesdays through
May 16, 2012
Afrika Abney, afrikamaabney@yahoo.com
Please join me at Dance Institute of Washington, 3400 14th Street,
NW, for West African dance classes for the pre-professional. Classes are
targeted for ages twelve through twenty-one, and are held on Wednesdays
from 5:30-7:00 p.m. The program ends on May 16, 2012. To register for
the classes please call DIW at 371-9656.
###############
themail@dcwatch is an E-mail discussion forum that is published every
Wednesday and Sunday. To change the E-mail address for your subscription
to themail, use the Update Profile/Email address link below in the
E-mail edition. To unsubscribe, use the Safe Unsubscribe link in the
E-mail edition. An archive of all past issues is available at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail.
All postings should be submitted to themail@dcwatch.com, and should
be about life, government, or politics in the District of Columbia in
one way or another. All postings must be signed in order to be printed,
and messages should be reasonably short — one or two brief paragraphs
would be ideal — so that as many messages as possible can be put into
each mailing.
