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January 8, 2012

Guilty Plea

Dear Court Watchers:

A full list of the court papers filed in the Harry L. Thomas, Jr., case, as well as press releases from the parties, is at http://www.dcwatch.com/council/ethics.htm. Two of the more informative papers in that list, papers that clearly outline how Thomas conducted the embezzlement, are the Statement of Offense from the US Attorney’s Office, http://dcwatch.com/council/ethics111223b.htm, and the DC Attorney General’s complaint against Thomas from last June, http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/occ110606.pdf. Below, Dorothy provides a key to most of the names that are left anonymous in that document.

Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge John D. Bates on May 3. But his sentencing won’t mark an end to corruption investigations, as US Attorney Ronald Machen has made clear. Federal investigations into the activities of Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown continue, as does the Harry Thomas investigation. The Thomas investigation, for example, is likely to result in additional plea agreements and/or indictments. Attention is now focused on the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, a “public-private partnership” supported entirely by government funds, which provided the grant funds that Thomas stole. The investigation could determine whether any similar schemes existed, and focus on any possible involvement of CYITC’s director at the time, Millicent West, who is currently the director of the DC Office of Homeland Security. Authorities could also investigate the knowledge and involvement of the CYITC board, especially John Hill and Wendy Carson-Smith, and of other councilmembers in the management and diversion of District grant funds. It is clear that future investigations also focus on the council staffers who assisted Thomas in his embezzlement scheme, especially Neil Rodgers and Ayawna Chase, and on the extent of their knowledge about any other corrupt schemes in Thomas’s office or in other council offices.

Gary Imhoff, themail@dcwatch.com
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

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Key to the Statement of the Offense
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

One of the most important documents in the Harry L. Thomas, Jr., case is the Statement of the Offense prepared by the Office of the US Attorney, http://dcwatch.com/council/ethics111223b.htm, which provides a roadmap as to how Thomas carried out the embezzlement, but the statement is hard to read because the names of so many people and organizations are redacted. Here are some of those names. Staff member #1, the committee director for the Committee on Libraries, Parks, Recreation, and Planning under Thomas, is Neil Rodgers. Staff member #2, Thomas’s director of constituent services and later chief of staff, is Ayawna Chase. Public-Private Partnership #1, the nonprofit organization that received city funds to benefit children and youth, is the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (CYITC). Executive #1, the chief executive officer of CYITC at the time, is Millicent West.

I don’t know what Organization #1, a for-profit organization that conducted arts-oriented youth programs, is, nor who Individual #1, the person who controls that organization, is. Organization #2, the nonprofit that operated youth activities at Langston Golf Course in Ward 5, is the Langston 21st Century Foundation, and Individual #2, its program director and the general manager of the Langston Golf Course, is Jimmy Garvin. Individual #3, president of the board of directors and executive director of the Langston Golf Course, is Marshall Banks. I don’t know what Organization #3, a nonprofit organization that conducted youth programs, is, nor who Individual #4, who controlled and operated that organization, is. Political organization #1, the local chapter of the national partisan political organization, is the DC Young Democrats.

If you can fill in the missing names, please E-mail them to me, so that I can publish a complete list.

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Ward 5 Politics
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

On Wednesday, the newly constituted Board of Elections and Ethics will meet for the first time and formally declare a vacancy in the Ward 5 council seat and set the date for a special election in the spring. Several District politicians, including Mayor Gray, Council Chair Kwame Brown, and at-large Councilmember Vincent Orange are currently trying to be the kingmaker in the Ward 5 race, and each is determining whether he should endorse any candidate to succeed Thomas.

The list of people who are likely to run to replace Thomas grows almost daily. Few are known outside their individual neighborhoods, many have been unsuccessful candidates for elective office in the past, and none appears to have the organization and funds necessary to run a successful ward-wide race. Some candidates have had serious trouble in the past, such a Mark Jones, currently the Ward 5 school board representative (see DC Office of Campaign Finance, Report and Orders on Mayor’s Fundraising Activities, Mark Jones, Docket No. CF2002-12, October 29, 2002, http://www.dcwatch.com/govern/ocf021029n.htm; as well as Office of the DC Inspector General, “Report of Investigation of the Fundraising Activities of the Executive Office of the Mayor,” OIG Control Number 2001-0188).

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Celebrating the Cold Snap
Gabe Goldberg, gabe at gabegold dot com

Bryce Suderow cited and requested movies about people in cold climates [themail, January 4]. Brrr, there’s also Ice Station Zebra: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063121/

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Cold Movies
Star Lawrence, jkellaw@aol.com

One of my favorite movies is McCabe and Mrs. Miller, with Julie Christie and Warren Beatty. Out west, muddy, snowy. Recently, I mentioned it on my gab list for writers and readers and someone wrote me that she played one of the “girls” Mrs. Miller brought to the town and that they were freezing in their camisoles even though Robert Altman brought in some heaters. It ought to be cold enough for you.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

DCCA’s New Year’s Resolutions Party, January 9
Debbie Schreiber, president@dupont-circle.org

Please join the DCCA Board of Directors as we celebrate the New Year and make resolutions to enhance our community! DCCA members (and a guest) are invited to attend free (others may pay $25 at the door). At Russia House, 1800 Connecticut Avenue, NW, on January 9, 7:30-10:00 p.m.

It’s that time of year again — time to renew your DCCA membership for 2012. If you have not yet renewed your membership, click http://www.dupont-circle.org/Default.aspx?pageId=785224 to pay your dues online. You may also renew your membership at the New Year’s Resolutions Party. If you are a resident of Dupont Circle and you are not a member of DCCA, we encourage you to join. Membership benefits include: discounts from Preferred Merchants, community services events and social get-togethers!

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Joan Wages, President of the National Women’s History Museum, January 12
Patricia Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com

Joan Wages will speak at the Woman’s National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, on Thursday, January 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cost of the luncheon for members is $25; for nonmembers is $30; and the lecture alone costs $10. For reservations, call 232-7363 or E-mail pfitzgerald@democraticwoman.org.

Joan Wages is a founding board member of NWHM and worked to raise the money and pass legislation to move the Suffrage Statue depicting founders of the US suffrage movement from the U S Capitol Crypt upstairs into the Rotunda where it now stands. For over a decade, she has worked to identify a building site for the Museum and to lobby Congress for a permanent home. She was elected president in July 2007. Lifetime Television honored her in its Remarkable Woman series with a public service announcement highlighting her efforts on the Museum.

Ms. Wages has served as president of Cash, Smith & Wages, a consulting firm with offices in Alexandria, Virginia. The firm specializes in government affairs, developing strategy, and communications for getting federal legislation passed. As a registered lobbyist, she has a wide range of political experience including state and federal legislation, national grassroots lobbying campaigns, lobbying federal agencies to influence the regulatory process, and political campaigns. She has written frequently for national publications.

Ms. Wages has focused on women’s issues on Capitol Hill and has worked with legislators, women’s organizations, and related political activities. Her legislative accomplishments include passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the smoking ban on aircraft, numerous aviation security measures and Delaware legislation preventing the takeover of corporations by corporate raiders. As a political action committees (PAC) director, she had frequent contact with members of Congress. Ms. Wages has been politically active and participated in numerous professional and political organizations. She also served on the Board of the Virginia Alliance for Health Care Freedom. Ms. Wages has worked in public relations giving radio and television interviews. She frequently speaks to groups ranging from 30 to 500 people and is a published author. She has a BA in Mathematics from Auburn University and an MBA degree in Philosophy from Columbia Pacific. Joan Wages will be on the cover of the January issue of Vogue Magazine, You can also see her NBC interview on the web site.

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Spotlight on Design Lecture with Jim Eyre, January 12
Stacy Adamson, sadamson@nbm.org

Jim Eyre, RIBA, is a founding director of London-based Wilkinson Eyre Architects. The firm won the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize two years in a row. Some of the firm’s best known designs are Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and Guangzhou International Finance Centre. One of Eyre’s designs for the National Building Museum’s Great Hall is included in the Museum’s Unbuilt Washington exhibition, which will be open for viewing prior to the lecture. Eyre will give a Spotlight on Design lecture on January 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW (Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line). $12 for members, free for students, $20 for nonmembers.

Prepaid registration required at http://www.nbm.org. Walk-in registration based on availability.

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2012 Military Spouse Career Forum and Hiring Fair, January 13
Harrison Boyd, hboyd@greaterdccares.org

HandsOn Greater DC Cares (HGDCC) partners with the US Chamber of Commerce, NBC4, NBC News, the Corporation of National and Community Service, Joining Forces, the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, and others for the 2012 Military Spouse Career Forum and Hiring Fair. HGDCC will provide volunteers for registration and recruit skilled volunteers from corporate and government organizations to facilitate career workshops for participants. The 2012 Military Spouse Career Forum and Hiring Fair will be held on Friday, January 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. At the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place, NW.

It will feature free makeovers, resume and interview coaching prior to the hiring fair, and national and local employers with open positions and on-site interviewing space. More than one hundred employers and more than one thousand military and veteran spouses are expected to attend. Dozens of nonprofits, associations and veterans services organizations dedicated to improving the lives of military spouses will participate. HandsOn Greater DC Cares is calling on volunteers to help with registration and assisting job seekers throughout the day. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, military spouses face multiple challenges to employment and upward mobility, including an average of nine moves over the course of a servicemember’s career, multiple deployments, state licensing requirements, and a lack of career networks and mentors. As a result, one out of every four military spouses faces unemployment. Nearly three out of every four working spouses are underemployed. Although military spouses are on average more educated than the general population — with 85 percent having some college — the wage gap between spouses and their civilian counterparts averages $10,000 per year.

The US Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program is designed to address these challenges by highlighting the depth and breadth of military spouses’ talents and connecting them with employers who will benefit from their skills.

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