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The DC Voter
League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia
Vol. 82, No. 5, May 2006

A Voice for Citizens — A Force for Change

1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036-2008
202-222-0710
Website: http://www.dcwatch.com/lwvdc, E-mail: LWVDC@aol.com

May Units on Education in the Public Schools
Family Learning Festival
Brown Bag Dialogue
Annual Breakfast Meeting of the League of Women Voters of the National Capital Area
President's Message
Congressional Representation: $200 Grant Proposed to LWVEFUS to Promote DC Voting Rights
Available from LWVDC for Your Civic Meetings
Africa: Art Tour and Speaker
Transportation
Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library
Riverbank Parklands/Georgetown Boathouse
LWVDC Joins in Request to the National Park Service for Environmental Assessment 90-Day Comment Period
National Capital Medical Center
Education in DC Public Schools — Myth and Reality
Contributions Acknowledged
International Relations
Member News
Travel with the League
LWVNCA Annual Meeting Reservation Form
Membership Form to Join or Renew
Calendar — May 2006

MAY UNITS ON EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

All LWVDC members and friends invited to attend any or all of the unit meetings on education in the DC public schools. See below.

UNIT MEETING SCHEDULE 

TUESDAY, MAY 16. 9:45 am. Speaker: Tommy Wells, Elected member, Board of Education. District 3 (Wards 5&6), wellsthos@aol.com

Southwest, Capitol Hill, and Northwest Day units will meet in the home of Audrey Hatry, 530 N St. SW, Harbor Square Apt. S-605 (tel. 554-4450) Street parking. From Metro Waterside, walk 2 blocks south.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17. 9:45 am. Speaker: TBA from the Office of the Superintendent of Schools. Upper 16th Street unit will meet vela. me of Patricia Hallman, 1312 Geranium St NW (tel. 829-8852).

THURSDAY, MAY 18. 9:45 am. Speaker: Victor Reinoso invited speaker, elected member, Secretary of Board of Education, District 2 (Wards 3&4) Email: Victor.Reinoso@k12.dc.us. Chevy Chase/Ingleside unit will meet in the Theatre at the Ingleside Apartments, 3050 Military Rd. NW. Ruth Allen (362-8953).

Make your reservations with your unit chairperson: 

Capitol Hill: Betty Pierce, 544-5547
Chevy Chase/Ingleside: Ruth Allen, 362-8953 
Northwest Day: Barbara Yeomans, 363-8940 
Northwest Evening: Jean Hall, 362-4526 
Southwest: Leona Rumsey, 863-7484 
Upper 16th St: Natalie Howard, 237-2163
Joan Domike, Unit Council Chair (966-3865)

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FAMILY LEARNING FESTIVAL!

The University of the District of Columbia and the DC State Education Office: Adult and Family Literacy are sponsoring a Family Learning Festival. It will provide families with resources and information to improve literacy skills. It will be held on Saturday, May 20, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center: 1100 Michigan Ave., NE. Contact Stacey Downey at (202) 274-7183, sdowney@dcadultliteracy.org. Source: DC VOICE upcoming activities email.

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BROWN BAG DIALOGUE

Charles Allen
Director of Public Policy, DC Primary Care Association

LATEST NEWS ON MEDICAL HOMES

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2006
11:30 am -1:30 pm
LWVDC Conference Room
1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Suite 600

Where are the clinics now?
Where are they planned in the near future?
Where are they needed most?
What's in the DC budget for them?

Open to the public.
Bring your lunch and invite a friend to join you. — Goody Braun, Chair Health Committee (723-2477) 

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ANNUAL BREAKFAST MEETING OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA

Saturday, May 13th. 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Arlington Hilton Hotel (just above Ballston Metro)
950 North Stafford Street

Keynote speaker: Michele Waslin, Ph.D.,
Director of Immigration Policy. Research
National Council of La Raza
Topic: Immigration
$28

Reservation Form

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: LOOKING TO ELECTIONS 2006

  • Possible ballot measure: an effort to put an initiative measure on the ballot for slot machines, previously attempted. (Source: DC EXAMINER Thursday, April 13, 2006 see mrupert@dcexaminer.com)
  • Election Dates 2006:
    • Primary: Tuesday, September 12, 2006; 
    • General: Tuesday, November 7, 2006
  • Registering and voting:
    • Last Day to register to Vote prior to election: 
      • Primary Election: August 14, 2006 
      • General Election: October 10, 2006.
    • Registration forms available at public libraries.
  • Running for office:
    • Nominating petitions available Friday, May 12.
    • Nominating petitions may be filed from Monday, June 12, until 5:00 pm July 5, with the Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE), 441 Fourth Street NW, #250, Washington, DC 20001-2745. (202-727-2525, www.dcboee.org)
    • BOEE will post petitions for challenge of candidate Eligibility, Monday July 10 through 5:00 pm July 17.
    • Write-in candidates must file "Declarations and Affidavits" by Tuesday, September 12.
  • Candidate Eligibility: 
    • First determination by BOEE of eligibility: July 10.
    • General Qualifications: Be resident of DC and over 18 years of age by January 2, 2007, not mentally incompetent and not incarcerated for a felony.
  • These qualifications are for the offices open this election year:
    • Mayor and Council seats (Chair, At-large); (Ward residence for Ward Candidates (1,3,5,6))
    • Board of Education (President); District Residence added requirement for District Candidates (3,4)
    • Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (286) Added requirement: residence in Commission District.
    • Also to be elected: Delegate to US House of Representatives (at least age 25); 
    • "Shadow" Senator and Representative.
    • All will be subject to primary election competition except Board of Education and Advisory Neighborhood Commission candidates.
  • Ballot Preparation:
    • Sample ballot printed DC Register Friday July 28. Public testing of vote counting systems, Saturday, September 9.
  • Absentee Voting
    • First Day for In-Person Absentee Voting and Last Day for BOEE receipt of requests for Mail-in Absentee Ballots: Monday, August 28.
  • Poll Watchers
    • Last day to petition for credentials Tuesday, September 5.

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CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION

$200,000 GRANT PROPOSED TO LWVEFUS TO PROMOTE DC VOTING RIGHTS

The District of Columbia Mayors office has included in the DC budget submission to Congress a grant for the League of Women Voters of the United States Education Fund (LWVUSEF) of $200,000 to do public education in communities nationwide about the lack of DC voting rights in the US Congress, and our unique relationship with the Congress. The LWVUSEF grant provides for targeted work in ten communities, to be based on League capacity, interest, media presence etc., and to encourage as many Leagues as possible to do community and media outreach on the issue. Jeanette Senecal, the US League's Election Director will be overseeing this project. Contrary to some of the local media coverage the grant is not specific to statehood but to Congressional voting rights.

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Available from LWVDC for Your Civic Meetings

  • Red, white and blue pamphlets that list offices to be filled and warnings that registration must show up-to-date address and name.
  • Lawn 'Vote Tuesday" signs (call Judy Smith 882-3021.) 

Want to volunteer for League election work?
Call 202-222-0710 or email lwvdc@aol.com.

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AFRICA: ART TOUR AND SPEAKER

SAT. JUNE 3 & SUN JUNE 4

TOURS AT 3 AND 4 -- SPEAKER AT 3:30
"MYTHS ON! ORIGIN AND THEIR IMPACT ON AFRICAN STATES"
AMBASSADOR DANE SMITH

AT HOME OF DANE AND JUDY SMITH
7628 17TH ST. N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20012

WINE & HORS D'OEUVRES
$25 - BENEFIT DC LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
SPACE LIMITED RESERVE NOW AT 829-88522252

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TRANSPORTATION

To follow Washington area transportation planning, look on the web: www.mwcog.org/regionaltransportationplan.

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MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., MEMORIAL LIBRARY

We are alerted by Gary Imhoff to a proposal to lease the MLK library for 99 years. The authorizing language is contained in the FY2006 Budget Support Act (Bill 16679, Subtitle D, Section 2032. Councilmember Kathy Patterson has requested that the provision be accorded a separate hearing, not included with the multiplicity of matters covered in the Act as drafted. Her request was contained in a memorandum to Council Chair Linda Cropp, and members Sharon Ambrose and Jack Evans. See April 12, 2006, editorial from themail@dcwatch.com, www.dcwatch.com

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RIVERBANK PARKLANDS/GEORGETOWN BOATHOUSE

Requests by the LWVDC and allied organizations for a full Environmental Impact Statement and presentation of alternatives to the Georgetown boathouse* proposal remain without response from the National Park Service. Release of the Environmental Assessment**, which is a very limited review, is expected in the near future.

*"At nearly 20,000 square feet, the structure would extend the length of a football field, and set a precedent for future development in the park. The new building would destroy trees and habitat, and threaten the fragile riverbank, canal, and historic structures with erosion and flood damage. A 70-foot private dock would block the shoreline route of recreational boaters and alter the river flow. To access the site (a floodplain which contains wetlands), a new road would be built." Yet the National Park Service claims "no significant impact", finding which allows it to avoid preparing a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). (Source: Fact Sheet, Defenders of Potomac River Parkland)

**To be notified when the National Park Service issues its draft Environmental Assessment for public comment, and prepare comments advocating a full EIS, email NCR Georgetownboathouse@nps.gov.

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LWVDC Joins in Request to the National Park Service for Environmental Assessment 90-Day Comment Period

Letter to Joe Lawler, National Park Service, April 13, 2006, from the Defenders of Potomac River Parkland: I am writing to request a public comment period of 90 days for the draft Environmental Assessment on the Georgetown University boathouse proposal. The Defenders group is an alliance of 21 local, regional and national environmental, recreational and civic organizations representing hundreds of thousands of individuals. For three years, the Defenders have been calling upon the National Park Service to consider alternative locations for the GU boathouse outside the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Given the level of controversy associated with the proposal, the Defenders believe a 90-day comment period is appropriate. The Defenders would also appreciate knowing the dates planned for the release the above-mentioned EA, and the public meeting related to the document. Defenders of Potomac River Parkland: Sincerely, Sally Strain, DC Coordinator, Defenders of Potomac River Parkland (202) 363-4546

(cc.) Fran P. Mainella, Kevin Brandt

List of the 21 member organizations of Defenders of Potomac River Parkland: American Canoe Association, American Hiking Society, American Whitewater Association, Audubon Naturalist Society, Canoe Cruisers Association, Citizens Committee to Save Laurel Lakes, C&O Canal Association, Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, Dupont Circle Conservancy, East Coast Greenway Alliance, Friends of the Earth, League of Women Voters of DC, Montgomery Sycamore Island Club, National Parks Conservation Association, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Potomac Conservancy, Potomac Heritage Trail Association, Potomac Pedalers Touring Club, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Sierra Club-DC Chapter, Washington Canoe Club.

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NATIONAL CAPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

On April 7, the DC League submitted to the DC Council and Mayor the testimony shown below on the National Capital Medical Center. DC Council members Phil Mendelson and David Catania responded appreciatively by return email:

"This is to record the position of the Board of the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia with respect to the proposed National Capital Medical Center at Reservation 13, in Southeast Washington.

Our unit meetings on this issue were held in February 2006. Our presentation balanced the arguments presented in favor of the hospital and those questioning its suitability for present medical service problems.

Argument in favor of the hospital proposal stressed the need for medical service for low income residents in the eastern part of the city. The opposing view was that alternative health care facilities better suit the current medical needs of the population. The run-of-the-mill need is for treatment of cuts and bruises, asthma attacks, simple fractures and continuing treatment for chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

The location could be the site of such alternative care.

There was broad agreement among members and board that the Certificate of Need process should take place before any approval of the hospital proposal, noting that $400 million dollars is being requested for the first three years, to be provided by the DC government and Howard University. Subsequent financing is not clearly in view.

The Certificate of Need process entails comments from health care providers, consumers and taxpayers. It promises to be a way to learn whether the center is needed, will be cost effective, well financed, and well managed. We could see no urgency in this decision that would justify avoiding this useful process prior to any decision."

From: Grace Malakoff, President, League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia.

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EDUCATION IN DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS - MYTH AND REALITY

From Separate and Unequal: The State of the District of Columbia Public Schools Fifty Years After Brown and Bolling, Advisory Report of Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools, March 2005.

"Promise of an end to racial isolation remains unrealized. The overwhelming majority of African-American students in District of Columbia public schools attend schools populated almost solely by other African-American students; 78% of African-American students attend schools where African-Americans comprise 90% or more of the student body. ... resources and facilities ... are well below ... most of the surrounding suburban school districts ... although DCPS enrolls a far higher percentage of students with special educational needs, such as low-income students (64%), than surrounding school districts like Arlington (36%), Alexandria (47%), Fairfax (19%), and Montgomery (23%), the District spends less per student than most of its neighbors. The District spends over $3,800 less per student than Arlington, $2,100 less per student that Alexandria, $500 less than Montgomery County and only $500 more than Fairfax County, where the percentage of low-income students is less than one-third of that enrolled in District schools." In addition, curriculum offerings in art, music, foreign languages, physical education and vocational education have deteriorated in the past 50 years, as has building maintenance. Teachers and principals in first-year positions receive lower compensation that their suburban peers. (From pp 1-3)

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CONTRIBUTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED

Many thanks for generous contributions received since the last DC Voter issue: Anne Anderson, June Bashkin, Jane Blair, Catherine Burnight, Suzanne Campagna, Joan and Arthur Domike, Jean Fleming, Naomi and Solomon Glass, Pat Hallman, Cecilie Jones, Sheila and Spurgeon Keeny, Rosella Kenaston, Barbara Luchs, Anna and Luther Marsh, Ruth Nadel, Jeanette Miller, Loretta Neumann, Betty W. Nyangoni, Marilou Righini, Leona J. Rumsey, Susan Smith Sedgewick, Constance P. Tate, Patricia Wheeler, Frances P. Wilkinson, Barbara T. Yeomans.

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The DC League's Great Decisions discussion group will hold its final meetings of the program year in May.

Brazil: Invented pasts and hoped for futures
Monday, May 8
(Geri Albers and Ruth Allen will lead)

Turkey: On Europe's verge
Monday, May 22
(Judy Smith will lead)

We will meet from 2 - 4 pm, conference room of LWVDC's new office, 1717 Massachusetts Ave., Room 600, an easy walk along Massachusetts Ave. from Dupont Circle Metro Station (south entrance); garage in building and across Mass. Ave.; on-street parking sometimes available. Call me if you are interested in joining us for either of these. — Sheila Keeny, 966-1692, facilitator

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MEMBER NEWS

We congratulate Sue Whitman who is one of 26 volunteers chosen nationwide by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging to receive a 2006 Metlife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Award presented at an afternoon luncheon on April 28. Sue was featured in a front page article in the April 12 edition of THE NORTHWEST CURRENT written by another League member Gina Trippi.

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TRAVEL WITH THE LEAGUE

Did you know? When you 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: 1-800-762-4216 or 1-530-621-3007
Email: gwen@travelwiththeLeague.com
Website: www.travelwiththeleague.com

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2006 LWVNCA Annual Meeting

Saturday, May 13, 2006, 9:30 am
(See above)

Click for a printable reservation form

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MEMBERSHIP FORM TO JOIN OR RENEW

Questions concerning League membership can be directed to the League office at 222-0710. See the LWVDC MEMBERSHIP FORM.

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CALENDAR — MAY 2006

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
  1 2 3 10:00 am, LWVDC Board Mtg. 4 5 10:00 am, NCA Board Mtg. 6
7 8 11:30 am, Brown Bag Dialogue
2:00 pm, Great Decisions
9 9:40-11:00 am, Voter registration at naturalization ceremony for new US citizens
June DC Voter deadline
10 11 12 Election 2006, 1st day nominating petitions become available for the September primary 13 9:30 am, LWVNCA Annual Meeting
14 15 16 9:45 am, Unit Meeting, invited speaker Tommy Wells 17 9:45 am, Unit Meeting, invited speaker TBA (call Unit chair) 18 9:45 am, Unit Meeting, invited speaker Victor Reinoso 19 20
21 22 2:00 pm, Great Decisions 23 24 25 26 June DC Voter mailing 27
28 29 30 31      


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