Let your voice be heard about the Howard University
Hospital Proposal for a new National Capital Medical Center and trauma
facility on the site of the former DC General. Learn about:
- Terms of the agreement between
Howard and Mayor Williams for a state-of the-art hospital;
- Why Howard wants the hospital;
- Why many health advocates think
the $400 million estimated cost would be spent more wisely on other
ways of providing health care to low income residents in Northeast and
Southeast Washington;
- Next steps before the agreement
can be made final, and more.
Unit Meetings listed below are open to all members and
guests.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
9:45 am, Southwest Unit will meet in
the home of Leona Rumsey (863-7484)
12:45 pm, Northwest Day will meet at IONA Senior
Services, 4125 Albemarle St. NW (Tenleytown Metro (red line), Barbara
Yeomans, (363-8940)
6:30 pm, Capital Hill will meet in the
Northeast Library, 330 7th St. NE (at Maryland Ave.), 6 blocks from
either Union Station Metro (red line) or Eastern Market Metro
(org/blue lines). LWVDC office (222-0710)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
9:45 am, Upper 16th Street will meet in
the home of Reggie Yancey (726-1929)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23
9:45 am, Chevy Chase/Ingleside will
meet in the Lounge at the Ingleside Apartments, 3150 Military Rd, NW,
Ruth Allen, 362-8953
7:30 pm, Northwest Evening will meet in
the home of Joan Domike (966-3865)
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Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Howard University, J. Armour Blackburn Center
The
Association for the Study of African Life and History's (ASALH) 2006
Black History Theme is: Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black
Fraternal, Social and Civic Institutions. The featured speaker at the
annual meeting will be Lonnie Bunch, Founding Director, Smithsonian
National Museum of African American History and Culture, Ph.D. in
history, American University. Call Madlyn Calbert at 832-7305 for
tickets.
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A panel program co-sponsored by League of Women Voters
of the National Capital Area and the District of Columbia Public
Library System, Division of Sociology, Education, and Government.
Saturday, March 25
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Memorial Library
Room 443 (top floor)
901 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Located at Gallery Place Metro Stop
(Red, Green and Yellow Lines)
Parking available beneath library building'
Panelists will include: American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) lawyer, American Library Association spokesperson on PATRIOT
Act, privacy issues, American Red Cross (National Capital Area)
Manager, Disaster Operations, Bioterrorism Expert, Potomac Institute
of Policy Studies, Metropolitan Washington Council on Governments'
Executive Director, and, Metropolitan Washington Council on
Governments' Legal Counsel.
This program is free and the public is encouraged to
attend.
Questions? Call Andrea Gruhl at 301-596-5460
(Homeland Security Comm. Chair, LWVNCA)
*Directions to parking area: Go west on H Street. Turn
left at Hyatt Hotel and go south on 10th Street. Turn left on G Place. Turn right onto
diagonal access path into clean, well-lit, security guarded basement parking.
See below for article entitled: Homeland Security:
Emergency Management Agency of the District of Columbia.
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Dramatic enactment of Clarence Darrow's battle for social justice, including Scopes trial on the teaching of evolution.
Additional information and location will be available in the next DC Voter.
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We are happily settling in at our new abode, looking at
insuring a good new year. Diana Young has ably taken on our
bookkeeping chores, supporting our treasurer Joan Domike to keep our
financial matters tidy. We owe years of thanks to Chris Matthews for
her long service on our books.
Member Natalie Marra has joined the Lobby Corps of the
US League. Grace Malakoff
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Corrine Alexander
Samantha Nolan, ANC Commissioner
Carol Waser
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UNITED NATIONS - For details on the results of the
"World Summit" on the United Nations see Summit website: www.un.org/summit2005.
Moving Forward with UN Reform, a panel
presented by the Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity and
The United Nations Information Centre of the Woodrow Wilson Center for
Scholars, revealed that increasing the professionalism of the UN staff
and modernizing UN back office record keeping remain in focus.
Broadening the membership in the Security Council is being discussed
as a matter of getting membership which is able to carry the heavy
burden of imposing UN authority, not merely representing a geographic
site. Japan was cited as a clear leader among possible members. Grace
Malakoff
GREAT DECISIONS - The DC League's Great Decisions
discussion group invites other interested League members to come to
its discussion meetings, which will take place the second and fourth
Mondays of the months February through May. The topic for February 13
will be UN Reform; our discussion leader will be Sheila Keeny while the topic for February 27 will be
Iran when our discussion leader will be Julia Cuniberti.
If either meeting interests you, call Sheila Keeny
(966-1692) for time and place. Looking ahead - we will discuss Human
Rights in March. Sheila Keeny, Great Decisions facilitator
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Applying for McKinney-Vento Funding
The LWVDC Board on January 11, 1005, approved action to
join the list of organizations supporting application for educational
support for homeless children. The Board of Education passed a
resolution calling for the action, reading in part:
'WHEREAS, the District of Columbia Board of Education
(Board) recognizes that an alarming number of children in the District
of Columbia (DC) are homeless, and that homeless children require
additional support in the form of transportation, supplemental
services, access to the educational programming that housed children
receive, the opportunity to maintain school stability despite
residential moves, and school enrollment assistance;
... children make up 31 % of the homeless population in
DC; ... homelessness often requires a family to move from shelter to
shelter with more than half of homeless children transferring schools
at least once and 15% transferring three times or more in one year;
... with each school transfer a child is set back an
average of four to six months and may need as many as eighteen months
to regain a sense of equilibrium, security, and control; ... at least
20% of the homeless children do not attend school at all and one in
four DC homeless children misses more than ten days of school per
year;
... homeless children in the District of Columbia are one and a
half times as likely to repeat a grade or perform below grade level on
reading assessments than their non-homeless peers;
... school
transfers are directly associated with higher drop out rates with less
than half of mobile students graduating from high school;
... homeless
children exhibit more academic problems such as alienation,
withdrawal, or discipline problems, than their non-homeless peers;
...
students who are homeless are more likely to suffer negative
educational impacts and are at an educational disadvantage;
...
homeless children are twice as likely to have poor health and more
likely to suffer from asthma, stomach ailments and allergies which
cause them to miss school;
... the Board recognizes that education is one way for
young people to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness in their
families;
... the Board acknowledges that providing every child with equal
opportunity to a high quality education may require the targeted investment of
resources; and,
... the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act:
Education for Homeless Children and Youth is the primary federal
legislation focused on homelessness and designed to address and
alleviate the problems experienced by homeless children;
... BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the District of
Columbia Board of Education directs the Chief State School Officer to
submit an application, within 60 days, to the United States Department
of Education for participation in the homeless program under the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act." Frances Gemmill
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Three ongoing activities that raise money to support
the League are:
Bed and Breakfast: Coordinated by Chris Matthews.
League members provide a room for visitors. Chris explains terms to
those seeking bed and breakfast and arranges a League hostess. Contact
Chris at 202 269-3890.
Private Elections Volunteer Opportunity:
Private elections are steaming along. We need volunteers for 6:30-9:30
pm February 23, 2006, for an ANC 4B open seat, with two candidates.
Also, the Consumer Health Foundation mail election will require
opening and tallying mail-in ballots at the office soon. Call 222-0710
for more information or to volunteer.
Travel with the League: The DC League will be sent $100
for each person who mentions the DC League when booking their travel.
Contact: Travel Concepts International Inc. 5550 Bucks Bar Rd.,
Placerville, CA 95667 Telephone: 1800 762-4216 or 1-530-621-3007;
Email: gwen@travelwiththeLeaque.com;
Web site: www.travelwiththeleaque.com
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Housing testimony was presented on Dec. 13, 2005, on
Bill 16-22 by Grace Malakoff, LWVDC President, to the Committee on
Economic Development of the DC Council. It supported Zoning Commission
recommendations on the duration (99 years) and proportion (30%) of
public lands used for housing that should be offered at affordable
prices.
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The Mayor's Library Task Force on Libraries is holding
a series of Public "listening sessions" to present its
findings:
Jan. 28, 1:30 pm, Martin Luther King
Library, 901 G St. NW
Jan. 31, 6:30 pm, Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW
Feb. 7, 1:30 pm, Martin
Luther King Library, 901 G St. NW
Feb 11, 12:30 pm, Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW
Feb. 15, 6:30 pm, Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. NW
Feb. 21, 6:30 pm, Mt. Pleasant Library, 3160 16th St. NW
Feb. 25, 12:30 pm, Northeast Library, 330 7th St. NE
Feb. 27, 6:30 pm, Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE.
Library Bill Enacted: On Wednesday, January 4, 2006 the
City Council voted for the "Library Enhancement, Assessment, and
Development Amendment Act of 2005," Bill 16-49. The full text of
the bill can be found on-line at: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20051214162244.pdf.
The bill establishes a "Library Enhancement Task
Force" of 11 members. They are to review half a dozen existing
planning documents. Then, they are to "Assess and recommend
methods of using DCPL assets to raise funds to modernize and enhance
the DCPL system, including:
- "(A) Developing mixed-use
projects that incorporate library facilities with revenue producing ventures;
- "(B) Selling or leasing air
rights above library buildings;
- "(C) Selling or leasing
facilities or real property used by or under the control of the DCPL."
They have 180 days to develop a strategic plan to do
this, and they are to "provide opportunity for public
input." Finally, it establishes a "Library Development Trust
Fund" for any funds raised under this Act, or otherwise.
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Transportation Committee Forming - Bus Service
Emphasis: With the DC Director of Transportation now in charge of
Metro, we can be in the middle of change for the better. Please join
Pat Hallman to form a transportation committee, with emphasis on bus
service. Date: Thursday, February 16. Place: LWVDC office 1717 Mass.
Ave NW, 6th floor (bring picture ID for entry). Time: 1:00-3:00 pm.
DC Bus Shelter Design and Location Hearings: Saturday,
February 4, 2006 at 11:00 am at 441 4th Street, NW (Judiciary Square
Metro Station - Red Line).
Metro Dedicated Funding: A bill to provide a reliable
revenue stream for the support of METRO transit has been introduced by
Jim Graham, chair for DC Council transportation policy. This is the DC
response to the regional call for dedicated sources of funding from
each jurisdiction.
Citizen Planning: A Working Group on regional mobility
and accessibility (RMAS) chaired by Vice Chair Emmet Tydings of the
Citizens Advisory Committee of the Transportation Planning Board (TPB)
of the Council of Governments has presented several regional forums. A
Special TPB Work Session on January 18, 2006 heard a presentation of
RMAS results:
- Increasing household growth and concentrating that growth in regional
activity centers would
- increase transit use, walking and biking
- decrease driving and congestion.
- Encouraging more development on
the eastern side of the region (east of Georgia Avenue) would improve
regional travel conditions."
Discussion from the TPB: DC stressed that the
Comprehensive Plan efforts are already incorporating these ideas.
Fairfax warned that investing in transportation should not be
neglected as less essential if land use is given a role in planning.
A second CAC Working Group chaired by Stephen Caflisch
produced recommendations on "how to improve information and
analysis for the TPB's key planning activities - the Constrained
Long-Range Plan for 2006-2008 (CLRP) and the Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP)".
In addition to recommending making more and better
information available to many more citizens further in advance, the
group requested that the TPB produce a list of unfunded regional
transportation priorities.
The LWVDC testimony (reproduced below) questioned
funding of the CLR. We were joined by the Federal Highway
Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, according to
remarks from Ron Kirby at the TPB Technical Committee meeting January
5, 2006. He said that the TPB argued that its support of the shortterm
funding package for METRO had satisfied certain requirements for
transit funding to meet air quality attainment goals.
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"The
League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia has been
participating in intensive transportation study and monitoring
activities since 1963. We have supported broad policies; such as
citizen participation in planning at the regional level. We have
especially called for public policy to insure "some form of
transportation for all". We have been disappointed at the lack of
explicit criteria for projects which indicate what plans are in place
for those who are not vehicle drivers due to lack of licenses,
resources, or ability or willingness to drive. We have noted that this
part of the community ranges easily as high as 50% of the population.
The financing cited for massive single projects in this
package will tie up a large share of public resources into the
foreseeable future. We believe the authority of the TPB may be legally
limited to a shorter outlook, and to sources of funding which are less
tied to hypothetical government actions.
Our consensus stresses the importance of open
decision-making, free of conflicts of interest, and adequate
information about the financial and environmental impacts of policy.
We urge projects which give priority to providing a "realistic
alternative to private auto use, and ending hidden support to auto use
such as subsidized parking. CLRP proposals include: widening roads to
twelve lanes, for which alternative transportation proposals have not
been studied. They propose levying untested tolls which, if found
practical, might be applied to meet more urgent needs.
Equally disturbing, the proposals seem to pretend that
they use resources that are in some way "private". However,
the resources described seem to amount to a Federal bond guarantee,
local government levies on the use of the roads (tolls), and a claim
on shares of typical government revenues allocated to transportation
projects (for interchanges, for example). How can these be understood
to be "private"?
Although the price tag for these projects is almost
unprecedented (nearly a billion dollars for a fifteen-mile road
improvement), the actual transportation purpose to be served is not at
all clear. Expensive roads already span the distance.
A project plan adds toll collections. This does not
seem to require a billion dollar test site. If toll collection methods
are to be tested, a more modest proposal should be made.
We cannot respond in detail to the 227-page proposal
before the Transportation Planning Board. However, we urge the members
of the Board to be on the lookout for, and disapprove, overblown
costs, costs which compound problems of subsidized traffic congestion,
and costs which tie up resources far into the future which are needed
for more modest proposals." (Emailed to Chair Phil Mendelson,
Chair of Transportation Planning Board, October 2005)
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From the Action front at the LWVUS:
"Reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act was blocked in the Senate
to allow more time to reconsider the law's impact on civil liberties.
...the House and Senate agreed to a one-month extension of the
expiring portions of the Patriot Act to allow for more time to
consider how civil liberties are balanced with homeland security. This
is a victory for the League and other organizations that have worked
tirelessly to bring attention to concerns about civil liberties since
the enactment of the Patriot Act.
Proponents of the conference report on H.R.3199, the
reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act, failed to get the necessary 60
votes to end debate and allow for a floor vote on the report. Many
senators were concerned about the increase in government secrecy in
the name of homeland security and antiterrorism without the checks and
balances needed to protect civil liberties.
Go to Roll Call to see how each Senator voted. A nay
was in opposition to ending the much-needed debate and in favor of
further consideration of civil liberties."
"The conference report to H.R. 3199 would have expanded the USA PATRIOT Act in the following
important ways:
- "Sneak and peek searches (Sec. 213) will continue using a broad standard that does
not provide for adequate judicial oversight.
- Information about Americans, such
as medical, banking or library records, can still be obtained by law
enforcement without necessary safeguards. (Sec. 215).
- The FBI will continue to obtain
the records of innocent Americans through National Security Letters (NSL)
without even going to court.... reported.. .NSL letters being used has
increased to an alarming 30,000 annually.
- Extends the sunsets for most
controversial provisions." For more info: Angela
Canterbury at lobbying@lwv.org
Quoted from LWVUS Action Alert Dec. 23, 2005
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Are you interested in a leadership position in the DC
League? Or, do you have a recommendation of a member for one of the
following LWVDC positions: Board member, vice president, secretary,
treasurer, and 2007 nominations committee?
Contact this year's nominations committee: Chair Judy Smith 202-882-3021; Kathy Schmidt
202-237-5550; Elizabeth Martin 202-537-3043.
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Alexandria League of Women Voters invites
you to hear Dr. C. Eugene Steuerle, Urban Institute Senior Fellow
"HOW CAN UNCLE SAM KEEP ALL THOSE PROMISES?"
Saturday, February 25, 2006
9:30 A.M.
Burke Library
4701 Seminary Road, Alexandria
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and many tax
breaks... The list of programs growing on autopilot is scheduled to
present federal and state governments with staggering future bills.
Meanwhile, the nation's tax system - even before recent tax cuts - is
insufficient to meet those promises. To compound the problem, future
benefits for the large baby boomer population must be provided through
the efforts of a relatively smaller group of younger workers. Many
believe that the expected benefits cannot be delivered. Congress and
the public have become increasingly concerned with this situation, so
this subject is a timely one for the League and others to study and to
support remedies.
Dr. Steuerle is an Alexandria resident and nationally
recognized expert, author of "Contemporary U.S. Tax Policy"
(www.uipress.org), 2004. Also see www.urban.org.
DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 395 north or south: take
Seminary Road exit east (toward Alexandria). Left turn from Seminary
Road onto Library Lane at first traffic light after the interchange.
The library parking lot entrance is on the right. The conference room
is on the upper floor.
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The Emergency Management Agency of the District of
Columbia was established shortly after 9/11. Establishment guidelines
followed those of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security. Similar
agencies were set up throughout the region, including Maryland and
Virginia. The DC office is located on the eighth floor of the Reeves
Center at 14th and U Streets NW.
When I visited the office I was surprised to find a
classroom of students who had been invited to the office. They were
being taught the importance of the office, how it operates, who is
responsible for its activities and how they could help to make these
known to their schools, churches, communities, and homes. They learned
how to prepare their home for emergencies, and to prepare their
parents automobiles in case they had to travel to another destination.
A test was given at the end of the lecture to determine whether they
could be leaders in this area.
Eighteen hazards were presented: terrorism (the
priority), winter storms, water supply failure, utility power failure,
thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and civil disorder.
The support functions that are available from DC are Health and
Medical Services, Urban Search and Rescue, (DC Fire and EMS
departments), Mass Care (Department of Human Services), Law
Enforcement, DC Energy, Community and Media Relations (Office of
Communications).
The mission of the Emergency Management Agency is to
administer a comprehensive community-based emergency management
program in partnership with residents and businesses of DC so that
together they can reduce the loss of life and property and protect the
environment. The Agency executes its mission in coordination with
District, regional, Federal and private sector agencies to meet new
and continuing challenges.
The Emergency Operations Center consists of 24
fifty-inch Mitsubishi rear projection television tubes. It can observe
or monitor 14 different television stations at one time, 57 traffic cameras and
video feed transmitted via satellite microwaves or the internet in any
standard format. The Center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
In 2002, meetings in the community consisted of two per
ward, with the Mayor conducting meetings in each ward. We had the
first interjurisdictional integrated wireless. We have been able to
integrate transportation and public safety radio, data and voice
systems. Much has accomplished, much still needs to be done.
Other agencies involved are: the DC Council of
Cooperating Agencies, Dept of Public Works and Transportation, Office
of Cable Television and Telecommunications, Washington Gas Co.,
Potomac Electric Power Co., DC Public Schools, American Red Cross,
Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Office of Latino
Affairs.
Included in the planning are four military
installations, 20 million annual visitors, 572,000 DC residents ,
20,000 business firms, colleges, universities, museums, monuments,
theaters and other sites of historical significance, plus houses and
apartments throughout the region. In addition,
- Procedures: tune in local new
radio for evacuation routes and shelter instructions.
- Schools in each ward have been identified as emergency shelter locations;
two schools in Wards 1 and 8; three schools in Wards 2, 3, 6 and 7; four
schools in Ward 5.
- For the frail and elderly:
thirteen hospitals and all clinics will be utilized.
- Funding is provided by both local
and Federal governments.
- A publication has been prepared:
"It's A Disaster, and What Are You Going to Do About It?"
Report by Leona Rumsey for NCA League Homeland Security Program 2003
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Protesters Target "Spot Improvements" on 1-66
at TPB Jan. 18, 2006 meeting
At least half a dozen witnesses appeared at the opening
of the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) meeting, as allowed in
their monthly agenda. All protested a proposal to add pavement to
1-66. They argued that it is a sneak widening project, and that
alternatives for alleviating congestion would be far more effective.
1-66 was constructed inside the Beltway after intense opposition by
Arlington, supported by the National Capital Area League of Women
Voters. At the time, part of the bargain was permanently limiting it
to three lanes each way. This proposal is seen as violating that
agreement.
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LWVUS Wants Your Email Address: The national League is
requesting that all members provide their email addresses to the
national League database. Your email address will be your logon ID to
access the LWVUS web site. For the moment, we are following the lead
of other Leagues who are urging their members to forward their own
email addresses to the LWVUS. To do this, go to www.lwv.org,
click on
login in the upper right hand corner; then, follow the login
instructions.
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Questions concerning League membership can be directed
to the League office at 222-0710. See the LWVDC MEMBERSHIP FORM.
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| SUN |
MON |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
| |
|
31 6:30 m DC LLS |
1 10:00 am, LWVDC Board
Mtg. |
2 |
3 10:00 am, NCA Board
Mtg. |
4 11:00 am, DDot Public
Community Meeting on Bus Shelters |
| 5 |
6 |
7 1:30 pm DC LLS
March DC Voter Initiative |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 12:30 pm DC LLS |
| 12 |
13 |
14 9:45-11:00 am, Voter
Registration at Naturalization Ceremony for New US Citizens |
15 6:30 pm, DC LLS |
16 1:00 pm,
Transportation Committee Mtg. |
17 |
18 |
| 19 |
20 |
21 9:45 am, Southwest
12:45 pm, Northwest Day
6:30 pm, DC LLS |
22 9:45 am, Upper 16th
? pm, Capitol Hill |
23 9:45 am, Chevy
Chase/Ingleside
6:30 pm, ANC4B Election
7:30 pm, Northwest Evening |
24 March DC Voter
mailing |
25 9:30 am, How Can
Uncle Sam Keep All Those Promises?
12:30 pm, DC LLS
12:30 pm, ASALH Annual Meeting |
| 26 |
27 6:30 pm, DC LLS |
|
|
|
|
|
