Opening Up
Dear Keyholders:
Mayor Tony Williams announced at his press conference today that two
changes had been made at the Wilson Building, the District government's
renovated headquarters at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The Office of
Community Outreach has unlocked its door, and will now actually be
accessible to the community; and the building's elevator has been
unlocked so that even ordinary peasants will be able to ride it all the
way up to the penthouse, where the Mayor's office previously enjoyed
splendid isolation. Mayor Williams insists, by the way, that the floor
on which he has his office should not be called the
"penthouse." The "PH" on the elevator button, it
seems, is really an abbreviation for “sixth floor.” If only the rest
of DC government could be opened up and democratized so easily.
As a minor footnote to this story, Mayor Williams announced today
that he was running for reelection. Imagine the shock and surprise.
Please keep opening up yourselves on what developments in the past
year have most affected your lives in DC. Was your life changed more by
a government policy or by a new deli opening in the neighborhood?
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Unfortunately DC Is Part of Maryland
Jonathan Beeton, jbeeton@netzero.net
Interesting (outrageous?) response from OfficeMax.com regarding why I
was being charged tax when they have no stores in DC. Question is, where
is all this sales tax collected from sales to DC residents/businesses
going? Sounds like to MD!
My message to OfficeMax: “Your policy says: 'Because Internet
vendors are required to collect sales tax in any state where they have a
physical presence, we must charge sales tax in all states where
OfficeMax retail locations and distribution centers exist.' I've
checked, and you don't have a physical presence in Washington, DC, so
why am I being charged tax?” (OfficeMax.com corporate tax policy: http://www.officemax.com/max/solutions/custserv/custServTemplate.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&edOID=536952102)
OfficeMax's reply: “Dear OfficeMax.com Customer: Thank you for
your recent inquiry. Unfortunately, Washington DC is part of the state
of Maryland. We do have physical stores in Maryland, therefore we must
charge tax for your purchases. If you have any further questions or
concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you for your
interest in OfficeMax.com. Sincerely, Jen, Online Customer Service, OnlineCSR04@officemax.com
.”
###############
Illegally Parked Cars
Bill Starrels, Georgetown, mortgagecorp@hotmail.com
Recently I testified at a council hearing on towing in the District
of Columbia. A lot of good ideas were exchanged. Presently it looks like
DPW is going to get seriously into the towing business.
In the meantime, what is it going to take to get illegally parked
cars off major roads during rush hour? $100 fines do not move cars that
block traffic. On my morning commute today, there were illegally parked
cars on Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, and M Street, NW.
These cars caused massive traffic backups. My trip was increased by 20
percent because of four selfish drivers. The Council is concerned about
the inconvenience to the offending car owners if they get towed. What
about the thousands of commuters that sit in traffic due to a handful of
offenders?
It is time for action. Council hearings are great, but those of us
who drive in DC should not have to wait for action to be taken.
###############
Since the Mayor announced that he will not reopen Klingle road to
traffic, many of my neighbors on Porter Street think that the City has
made us victims by keeping the road closed for this long and will make
life terrible for us if it is permanently closed. I have read in themail
both those who talk about parks and those who talk about the right to
use the road, but there is yet another side to the Klingle Road story --
the shifting of burdens in the false name of improvement. Klingle Road
runs through Rock Creek Park and helps unite the city. Just west of the
creek, Porter Street (where I live) branches off of Klingle and rapidly
climbs the hill to Connecticut Avenue in its own valley while Klingle
winds under Connecticut and on toward Reno Road and Wisconsin. Neither
is a wide or divided street and neither, by itself, can handle the
quantity of traffic generated by one of the few roads through the Park
and an exit from Rock Creek Parkway. Together, they divided the load,
with Porter handling the traffic to Connecticut and Klingle handling
some of the traffic west of Connecticut.
How much traffic? In 1997, with Klingle closed, Porter handled 18,200
cars a day. This compares to Massachusetts north of Wisconsin (much
wider and not residential) that had only about 20,000 a day or
Connecticut with its six lanes at rush hour (compared to the two lanes
on Porter) that had only twice as many cars at 36,000. This high volume
has overwhelmed Porter and caused a sharp rise in accidents at
Connecticut and frustrated drivers trying to cross Connecticut and push
through residential streets to Reno and Wisconsin. Now the District has
responded to this pressure by rebuilding Porter as a mini-speedway. The
part between Klingle and Connecticut is finished and looks like a jet
runway with grooving in the concrete perpendicular to the curbs. This,
the Federal Highway Administration says, is useful for flat roads zoned
at 50 mph or higher. Now they are doing the same thing for the portion
of Porter up to Reno (34th) that is zoned at 25 mph.
Because Klingle Road is closed, my street is being structurally
rebuilt to promote speeding in order to increase traffic flow, but will
still never be the equivalent of two streets. Because Klingle Road is
closed, neighboring streets are filled with frustrated drivers trying to
bypass this needless traffic bottleneck. Because Klingle Road is closed,
the District is even more divided between east and west that it need be.
Because Klingle Road is closed, a few people have a calm place to walk
their dogs while I and hundreds of my neighbors have the roar of traffic
racing over innumerable concrete groves. It is simply unfair that
Klingle Road remains unopened.
###############
Once upon a time, visitors from New York would marvel at the
cleanliness of our Metrorail system compared with the NYC subways. But
since September 11, presumably as a security measure, WMATA has removed
all the trash and recycling containers from Metrorail platforms.
Predictably, Metrorail platforms and trains aren't so clean anymore. Is
Metrorail doing anything to address this problem? Clearly WMATA hasn't
restored strict enforcement of the rule against eating in the system: in
recent weeks I've seen so many people eating on Metro platforms or
trains that the system is starting to resemble a food court. But strict
enforcement of the anti-eating rule won't by itself be enough. Are trash
cans inevitably so serious a security risk that we just have to put up
with trash on the platforms and the trains?
###############
Crime’s up, where’s the police? See residents read Chief Charles
Ramsey the riot act. View the 9-minute highlight video at http://clients.loudeye.com/imc/washingtondc/crimewaveindc4.ram.
Watch as folks vent over the failure of the DC police to curtail crime,
compile accurate statistics and solve cases. See Ramsey tire of making
excuses, but stop short of admitting that his force just can’t protect
the folks most victimized -- no matter how many police are thrown at the
problem.
Discuss the value of a good Department shake up, with strong and
continual civilian oversight versus spending more tax dollars on the
police. To discuss click on http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=16231&group=webcast.
If you need the Real Player to play the clip, get it free at http://www.real.com/.
Follow the commands to download the free player.
###############
Councils End Runs Charter Amendment Procedures
Michael Bindner, mbindnerdc@aol.com
In the category of “it happened this year” the Council of
the District of Columbia passed changes to the Charter concerning the
CFO and a resolution on the creation of an Attorney General. Instead of
sending these issues to the voters for ratification, they sent them to
the Hill for enactment. The real news, however, is that nobody noticed
that yet again the right of DC voters to amend their own constitution
was forsaken.
###############
Beginning to End of 2001
Mark Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
It is hard to believe we started the year in a dispute over a ballot
count and who actually won the Presidency, a dispute settled by the
Supreme Court. This afternoon, I attended the employee Christmas party
of the Supreme Court, as a guest. Chief Justice William Rehnquist led
the group of about one hundred in singing Christmas carols by a grand
piano. Apparently this sing-along is a yearly tradition. Associate
Justice Antonin Scalia took the baton for part of the event -- he seems
to have a good voice. As I left the Supreme Court building, there was a
beautiful and almost surreal sunset behind the Capitol building. I love
Washington, DC -- both federal and local. No area offers more inspiring
monuments and reminders of our nation’s ideals.
Since September 11, many issues that I care about have seemed dwarfed
by this tragedy. The sight of the big hole in the side of the Pentagon
— a building I once surrounded in protest with peace activists — and
the images of the smoldering hole where the Trade Towers once stood in
New York has been, for me, as powerful as the images of the atomic
blast. Though we often focus on the flaws of our representative
democracy, over the past weeks I have begun to fear that the terrorist
attacks have undermined it further, that access to our elected officials
has been weakened -- hopefully temporarily. I have wondered about the
fragility of representative systems and open society. These thoughts are
not new. But, I find myself back reading what Pericles apparently said
in a funeral speech for the Athenian war dead in the first year of the
Peloponnesian War (431/430 BC). Of course, that early experiment in “democracy” only lasted about a century. It had many flaws.
Attempts at democracy are rather rare, and are the exception
historically rather than the rule.
Here is a bit of what Pericles said (for more see http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/athens/athens.html):
“Our form of government is called a democracy because its
administration is in the hands, not of a few, but of the whole people.
In the settling of private disputes, everyone is equal before the law.
Election to public office is made on the basis of ability, not on the
basis of membership to a particular class. No man is kept out of public
office by the obscurity of his social standing because of his poverty,
as long as he wishes to be of service to the state. And not only in our
public life are we free and open, but a sense of freedom regulates our
day-to-day life with each other. We do not flare up in anger at our
neighbor if he does what he likes. And we do not show the kind of silent
disapproval that causes pain in others, even though it is not a direct
accusation. In our private affairs, then, we are tolerant and avoid
giving offense. But in public affairs, we take great care not to break
law because of the deep respect we have for them. . . . The way we live
differs in another respect from that of our enemies. Our city is open to
all the world. We have never had any aliens' laws to exclude anyone from
finding our or seeking anything here, nor any secrets of the city that
an enemy might find out about and use to his advantage. For our
security, we rely not on defensive arrangements or secrecy but on the
courage that springs from our souls, when we are called into action. . .
. The strongest are those who understand with perfect clarity what is
terrible in life and what is sweet and then go out undeterred to
confront danger. . . .”
###############
This Saturday I went east from North Capitol Street onto H Street,
NE, with a helper who drove me, my object all sublime being to go to the
DMV satellite office at 616 H NE to get a non-driver's ID. Which I did.
But this territory is foreign and strange, crowded with new, to me,
constructions, and I said to my driver: “A space-platform has
landed here.” And then we crossed over a bridge weirdly decorated
with many figures on each side. The heads seem to have one central eye,
the figures dancing some interminable dance, and I said, “Yes: this
is a space-platform landed here in my old DC.”
I am not happy with this display of artistic glitz. Has anyone else
seen this? Comments?
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
The Rising Stars concert series continues with a Young Soloists
Recital on Sunday, January 6, at 3:00 p.m. Performers include violinist
Joseph Kromholz and pianists Kristin Nivling, Chris Schmitt, and Jesse
Wong. The concert also includes a special acknowledgment of renowned
Japanese flutist Yoko Owada.
Owada is the first international honorary member of the Music Friends
of the Fairfax County Public Library, the organization that sponsors the
classical music series. All concerts are free and are held at the Alden
Theater in the McLean Community Center, located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue
in McLean, Virginia.
For more information call 703-324-8344, or visit the Library's Web
site at http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/library.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — PETS
Free to good home, seven-month-old brindle lab, fixed with shots,
trained and good with kids. Call 410-889-5608. Will deliver to DC area!
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
2 BR, 2 BA, W/D, 2-story row house for rent, tons of storage space.
Three blocks from U Street Metro, one block from Malcolm X Park,
ten-minute walk to Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. 20'x20' private patio
and additional 20'x20' yard (for garden, parking, dog run, etc.).
Couples/small families are preferred. Dogs welcome! $2,500 a month. One
year lease. Call 518-0329 for appointment.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
For sale: beautiful oak finish TV hutch, all wood, clean lines,
excellent condition ($290); English saddle ($100); Thule car rack, fits
1980s Hondas. Contact: Carol Dana, cdana@erols.com,
or 703-379-7079.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — ORGANIZATIONS
DC ACT Fax and E-Letter on Children, Youth, and Families
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org
DC Action for Children continues to publish its valuable resource for
child advocates, policy makers, budget analysts, service providers,
parents, and others — the DC ACT Legislative and Information Alert. DC
ACT is currently seeking new subscribers to the Alert, distributed by
fax and E-mail every other week. Subscriptions for individuals are
$10/year and subscriptions for organizations depend on the number of
copies ordered ($25 for 1 - 5 faxes/E-mails, $50 for 6+). For a
subscription form, E-mail DC ACT, dcaction@dckids.org,
or call us at
234-9404 (please note that we will fax or mail the form, so provide fax
number or name and mailing address). Direct questions to Susie Cambria,
Director of Public Policy and Editor of the Alert, scambria@dckids.org.
###############
Budget Advocates Sought
Susie Cambria, scambria@dckids.org
The Fair Budget Coalition continues to advocate for a fair budget in
the District, and we invite all interested to join us each month. The
monthly meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month (except for
in January 2002 when we will meet on January 9, the second Wednesday)
from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless,
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 6th floor. Questions? Contact Susie
Cambria, 234-9404 or scambria@dckids.org.
###############
I-59 Status: Ongoing Efforts Jeopardized
Wayne Turner, DC Initiative 59, Actupdc@aol.com
It appears that a group called the “Marijuana Policy
Project” has secured funding to do a new medical marijuana ballot
initiative here in DC. In their promotional and fundraising pleas, they
incorrectly state that our Initiative 59 was overturned by Congress.
I-59 was not overturned by Congress, but rather remains on hold, much
like DC's Domestic Partnership law has been for the past several years.
Despite our other successes in fighting the antidemocratic social
riders, Congress did once again add to the DC Appropriations Bill a
provision sponsored by Rep. Bob Barr (R/GA), preventing the
implementation of DC's Initiative 59 for FY 2002.
It has been part of our successful strategy to prevent Congress from
completely overturning I-59, which they have the power to do through a
Resolution of Disapproval. Our fear is that the current Congress, once
alerted to this fact, will strike the lethal blow and indeed completely
overturn I-59. For those of us who worked so hard and sacrificed so much
for I-59, its distressing to see the prospects for our ultimate success
now jeopardized. Our continuing efforts have focused upon building a
broad-based coalition working together to remove the Barr amendment and
all Congressional antidemocratic riders from the DC Appropriations Bill,
and to win budget and legislative autonomy for DC. This year, we were
successful in removing the block on DC's Domestic Partnership law, first
passed by the Council in 1992, and came close to allowing local funding
for clean needle exchange. After the 2002 elections, there will be a new
Congress, where hopefully our prospects for removing the Barr Amendment
will be greatly improved. I believe, with our sustained efforts, we have
a good chance of winning in 2003. My impression is that this effort
seems more interested in fundraising and publicity for marijuana, than
in an honest, long-term effort to make medication safely available to
seriously ill patients in the District of Columbia. I hope that their
financial backers in California and elsewhere will reconsider supporting
this ill-conceived effort.
The time, energy, and resources required to successfully place
another medical marijuana initiative on the DC ballot would be much
better utilized in the ongoing efforts in Congress. Many worthy local
and national organizations have been working effectively together and
deserve continued support: Stand Up for Democracy, the DC
Statehood-Green Party, the ACLU National Capital Area (and national),
the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, ACT UP/DC, the American
Foundation for AIDS Research, the Whitman-Walker Clinic, the Human
Rights Campaign, the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, to name a few.
Finally, a personal thank you to the many dedicated supporters who came
through when you were needed most. We collected the majority of the
32,000 signatures for I-59 in the five weeks after Steve Michael died
from AIDS. District of Columbia voters heard our message, and approved
Initiative 59 by 69 percent, passing in all eight wards, and in every
voter precinct. We achieved something really incredible together. And
we're still working to finish the job.
###############
themail@dcwatch is an E-mail discussion forum that is published every
Wednesday and Sunday. To subscribe, to change E-mail addresses, or to
switch between HTML and plain text versions of themail, use the
subscription form at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/subscribe.htm.
To unsubscribe, send an E-mail message to themail@dcwatch.com
with “unsubscribe” in the subject line. Archives of past messages
are available at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail.
All postings should also 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.
