Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Dear Pleasure Seekers:
In the last issue Yoma Ullman, seconded by John Whiteside in this
issue, wrote about how depressing it can be to read themail regularly. She
and he are right, but there's a remedy. Life in DC, as I've written often
before, can be delightful. The trick is not to think about it, to practice
a certain degree of obliviousness. This week, go to the Smithsonian
Folklife Festival on the Mall, and use the occasion to drop into one of
the Smithsonian museums. Go to a nice restaurant. Act like a tourist and
go to the monuments, while they're still open to the public. Shop a
little. Forget about the city government for awhile. Don't think about how
the Fire Department doesn't have radios that work, how the Police
Department has lowered their goal — the goal to which they aspire — to
solving a little over half of homicides (and the only reason that it's
that high is because a goal of less than half would have been even more
embarrassing). Ignore the schools, which is easier if you stay childless.
Don't think about my unemployed friend, dependent on DC's health services,
who finally got his root canal this week after two months of waiting with
a painful infected tooth — and then only because, as a former Hill
staffer, he knew how to persist after the system repeatedly denied him
service (“We take emergencies only on weekday mornings.” “We can't
find any record of your complaint.” “We can't find anyone who'll do a
root canal for what we're willing to pay.”)
Please don't misunderstand me. There is absolutely no need for us to
spend all of our lives dwelling on the failures of our government, when so
many pleasures await us in this city. People who don't think about the
government and who avoid all contact with it are happier than we are. But
if you want themail to be brighter and sunnier, write to us about bright
and sunny things. At the end of each issue, the description of themail
says that all postings “should be about life, government, or politics in
the District of Columbia in one way or another.” Life comes first in
that list, before government and politics, and it's perfectly possible for
us to celebrate life here while we continue to decry the other two
subjects.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Enough Is Enough
Kenneth Lyons, President, AFGE Local 3721, KENDU256@aol.com
If one were to view the DC Fire and EMS Department one year later, we
would see an agency void of leadership and vision, whose priorities are
lost in amidst of an antiquated tradition and culture that strangles
productivity and discourages innovation. Whose policies are discriminatory
and exclusive. We would see an agency willing to ignore the rights of
citizens to receive effective services whether it is fire suppression or
emergency medical care. It is an agency that callously flaunts its
misappropriations of funds knowing that accountability is for the other
guy. It is an agency that has created a system of haves and have-nots. A
system where all is not equal and just, and the few are forced to suffer
at the hands of the many and the powerful. A Fire Department whose human
rights record is tyrannical and repressive. It supports policies that
comprehensively and systematically violates the rights of women, but yet
stakes the claim of a new era. It is an agency that creates then enforces
policies that seek to alienate and ignore those who live in our city,
those who believe that giving back to the community is of the highest
priority. This is your Fire Department one year later, before and after
one of the most horrific events in the history of our nation, this is YOUR
Fire Department. Nothing has changed that existed fifty years ago. We are
still fighting ghosts of the past, and while this struggle continues, one
must ask, “Who will suffer?” It will be YOU, the rich, the poor, the
young, the old, the sick and the injured who will pay the price for this
utter indignation and arrogance. Enough is enough.
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The DC Public Service Commission (PSC, http://www.dspsc.org)
was chartered in 1913 and established in the Home Rule Charter as an
independent agency of the District government to regulate the local gas,
electric, and telecommunications industries in the interest of the public.
The PSC has three commissioners, but in February 2002 Commissioner Edward
M. Meyers resigned. For the past four months, the PSC has continued to
function and to regulate utilities in the District with the remaining two
Commissioners, who still constitute a quorum. For four months, the
Williams administration reviewed, assessed, and interviewed a host of
applicants to fill the vacancy. Now, on the brink of the Council's final
legislative session before summer recess, on July 2nd, the Mayor has sent
the nomination of Anthony M. Rachal, III, to the Council as emergency
legislation, which shortcuts the usual legislative safeguards against
hasty action.
The confirmation resolution for Rachal (see http://www.dcwatch.com/council14/14-787.htm)
was first distributed to Councilmembers and the public on Monday, June 24.
That very afternoon at 5 p.m., with no public notice, Sharon Ambrose's
Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs held a public roundtable
hearing on the nomination. Ambrose intends to push Rachal's appointment
through as emergency legislation at the July 2nd legislation session.
What is the need for such speed, to confirm Rachal before the public
has a chance even to become aware of his nomination, much less to react to
it? For the past twenty-four years, the membership of the PSC had always
included both an economist and a consumer advocate. If Rachal is
appointed, all three commissioners will be lawyers, none of whom is an
economist or an advocate of consumer interests. In fact, Rachal's private
practice as an attorney has included lobbying work for utilities and other
businesses and representing utility companies before the PSC. Utilities
campaigned hard for his appointment, and against several consumer-oriented
applicants for the position. His strong ties with several Councilmembers
(he lists Chairman Linda Cropp as a reference on his resume) guarantee
Rachal's confirmation, but it's best for the Mayor and the Council to get
him seated on the PSC before the public is alerted -- especially since he
is being positioned to replace the Commission's current chairman, Angel
Cartegena, whose erratic behavior and recent attempt to fire the entire
legal staff of the PSC make his departure after the November election
almost certain.
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DC Police Cut Goal on Closing Homicides
Shaun Snyder, shaunsnyder@starpower.net
The Police Department is lowering its homicide closure rate goal. I
have a new motto for them: MPD — lowering our goals to improve
performance. As Kathy Patterson put it, “The whole [idea] of performance
goals is to use the goal-setting to improve performance, not to make
yourself look better.” From the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45064-2002Jun25.html.
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Reduction in Closure Rates for Homicide Cases
Clyde E. Howard, Jr., ceohoward@hotmail.com
Can you beat that? We cannot close the homicide rates in a respectable
manner so we change the threshold to represent the true capabilities of a
police force that cannot change a light bulb without light. This police
force is the laughing stock of all police forces in the country. Yet they
have the audacity to recruit in another country for manpower. It would
seem that, if you are unable to get quality persons in your own country,
it ought to tell you something is wrong with the organization. Yes, we
have a police force straight out of the old comedy pictures from
Hollywood. The people in this city will continue to suffer until a police
chief can be found that has organizational ability and is a motivator and
a person instilled with training needs topped off with excellent police
capabilities.
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MPD Response In Ward Six — Another Data Point
Paul Michael Brown, pmb@his.com
In response to Bryce Suderow, who recently decried MPD response in Ward
Six to a cell phone request for a squad car to check out suspicious
persons, I would like to report a situation in which the cops moved with
far greater alacrity. I was out for a walk near Eastern Market when I
noticed a guy acting like he was casing houses on North Carolina Avenue. I
called 311. There was a 2-3 minute wait, but during that time I was able
to follow the guy from a distance. When the dispatcher answered, I
explained why I thought the guy was suspicious and she agreed to send a
patrol car. She also took my cell phone number. By that time the guy was
in the 500 block of A Street SE. Within a minute or two, a patrol car
arrived and an officer questioned the man. The dispatcher also called me
back and asked if I'd agree to be interviewed. I said I would and the
officer took down what I had observed. Even though the guy wasn't
arrested, I have to say MPD responded quickly and efficiently to my cell
phone report.
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I did these paintings from images at the big march on Washington (http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2002/02-06-26.jpg).I hope the police like the work.
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Since its restoration, the Sumner School Museum and Archives has been a
vital center for community groups in the city. Every day and every night,
its meetings rooms host DC's civic life. The school is still operated by
the DC Public School system and as such its staff is subject to Paul
Vance's decree. This in itself is disturbing enough, but now there are
rumors (and I emphasize that they are only rumors) that the school may not
continue as a community center. Staff are not accepting reservations for
use of the space past the end of July, for instance.
I hope that everyone who has ever used the school's meeting rooms will
watch for future developments and if the DCPS announces that it intends to
close the school to the community, that folks write or call Paul Vance and
express strong support for continued support of the school as community
center. And for those who are as impressed with the competence and
professionalism of the school's director, Nancye Suggs, and her staff as I
am, now would be a good time to contact Paul Vance (DCPS, 9th Floor, 825
North Capitol Street NE, 20002) and let him know you value Ms. Suggs and
her staff's work.
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A Mission or a Vision?
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
Mayor Williams has made “One City” the theme for his campaign for
reelection. What in the hell does that mean? It's not clear if this is one
of those fuzzy visions (like solving world hunger) or if he really intends
to try to make DC a united city. The latter is a tilt at windmills and
will never succeed. How much better it would be for the Mayor to set some
realistic, pragmatic, achievable, time-oriented goals and then decide how
best to achieve those goals. Why not establish goals in each of the major
city departments and grade those departments twice each year on their
progress towards meeting those goals? Any department that does not attain
a grade of 90 or above after three marking periods will get new
leadership. This would assure that the Mayor would accomplish something
over the next four years, instead of just spending his time preparing for
his next job.
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Larry Seftor made an interesting point about staff at DMV in the last
post. Shortly after reading themail, I received an E-mail copy of a letter
from DMV announcing the deadline for parking sticker compliance with new
ward boundaries, from which letter the following sentence is lifted:
“Boarder streets are identified by dual zones on the signs.” The 80's
had boarder babies, the 00's have boarder streets, I guess.
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I received a speeding ticket in the mail based on a camera stationed at
5700 MacArthur Boulevard. It's not clear whether I need to have my
response notarized or not before I send it in. Any advice?
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Looks like election season is upon us again. What really gets me going
though are the posters that are put up on every light pole in the city.
Dwight Singleton had a doozy of a weekend putting up three signs per light
pole, one low and the two others about twenty feet up. Guaranteed to stay
there for years on end! All along Military Road/Missouri Avenue from at
least Utah to Georgia Avenue. Then again down North Capitol street. Yes I
noticed his name, the signs worked; but so many of them on every pole
incensed me so much that I will not be voting for him. Does anyone have
the rules for what is legal and illegal about posting signs on light
poles? Also, what are my rights about tearing the ugly things down?
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Gloom and Doom
John Whiteside, john at logancircle dot net
Yoma Ullman asks whether it's reasonable to move out of DC, after
reading the depressing contents of themail. My suggestion: after finishing
themail, go for a walk around your neighborhood, talk to your neighbors,
visit one of your favorite places around town, and remind yourself of why
DC is a great place to live. If posts in themail were a complete
description of life in DC, let's face it: all but the most masochistic of
us would be long gone. Fortunately, life here is a lot better than it
sounds in this newsletter.
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There is also a bust of George Washington by the Foggy Bottom Metro, on
the campus of George Washington University. And if I remember correctly,
there is another statue of him, full body but miniature height, in one of
the university courtyards, maybe on 22nd Street? By the way, it is my
understanding that George Washington University was given that new name
early in its history in a blatant attempt to increase fundraising and
enrollment through an appeal to patriotism.
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Apart from the statues at the Washington Cathedral and Washington
Circle, copies of the Houdon statue (the original is in the Richmond
Capitol) are located on The Quad of GWU and inside the Washington
Monument. A rather large bust of GW is at the Foggy Bottom Metro stop.
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The Donkey
Agate J. Tilmanis, atil@loc.gov
The donkeys and elephants are whimsical and cute. As an art project
they limit the artist's creativity greatly. It is like asking for a
painting to match the sofa. But that is an issue not for themail. These
cute animals represent political parties, the nation. Washington is
forever grafted to the federal government. The city, then, is the
different neighborhoods — Dupont Circle, Anacostia, Brookland, etc.
Other cities can come up with symbols for whimsical art projects, Boston,
Chicago, Omaha (!), but we are still only the nation's capital.
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DC Donkey
Buddy Yingling, Western Avenue, buddydc1@msn.com
In the June 23, 2002, edition of themail Matthew Kessler writes
regarding the elephant and donkey art: "The only thing that I don't
understand is that we have many important problems that need to be
addressed in the city: no representation, a $19 million DMV system that is
not working, less than adequate schools, etc., yet so many people are
worried about this street art, including an elected official who was on
the news a week ago complaining that an elephant was placed on the
northwest corner of Wisconsin and Military Road rather than the southwest
corner. (What is the difference, you ask. Northwest is Maryland, southwest
is DC. He claims that is insulting to residents of DC)."
I don't know who the elected official he speaks of was, but both are
wrong. The elephant and donkey in question stand on the northwest corner
of Wisconsin and Western Avenues, not Military. Furthermore, that is in
DC, as all four of the corners are. The actual city line is on the north
side of Western Avenue and extends into the properties bordering it. Also,
the elephant and donkey in this case are sitting adjacent to one of the
old stone boundary markers, which should have clued in the elected
official in question.
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Party Animals
Tim Cline, Columbia Heights, Timandann@aol.com
Was anyone but me struck by the fact that more than 80 percent of the
200 Party Animals (which I really like, by the way) are in the NW section
of the city? NE has only five (including three around Union Station) and
SE has fewer than ten. By the bye, I did not cruise the city looking for
Party Animals, I took the info from the web site ( www.partyanimals.org)
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To date, there appear to be essentially three inscriptions being
considered by the DC Council for the new District of Columbia flag. They
are: 1) Taxation Without Representation; 2) No Taxation Without
Representation; 3) DC Statehood Now! While all of these slogans are worthy
of consideration, each is nevertheless problematic for the following
reasons: first, the proposed phrase, “Taxation Without
Representation,” would create a potentially paradoxical situation for
the DC voting rights movement because it could easily be misconstrued as
advocating for “taxation without representation” by people not
conversant with the political plight of District citizens. In any event,
it does not articulate a clear, proactive message and could sow
considerable confusion in the mind of our intended audience — the US
public.
Second, the proposed slogan, “No Taxation With Representation,”
while representing a better fit because its political message is
unequivocal and echoes the Revolutionary War cry, it should be noted that
this expression has been incorporated into the DC rights movement for two
hundred years and has yet to bear fruit. Further, it fails to articulate
perhaps the single most important reason why DC residents should be
granted full political rights — that they have been asked to die for
their country for nearly 200 years, without having had a voice on issues
of war and peace in their own national legislature. Another disadvantage
of the “No Taxation Without Representation” slogan is that while it
may cause a visceral reaction among DC residents that is helpful for
rallying DC residents to the cause, the argument, as a legal argument on
behalf of equal right for DC residents, has been refuted by every Supreme
Court addressing this premise since 1820. It is perfectly constitutional,
according to the Court, for the federal government to tax DC residents
while denying them full Congressional representation. As a result, the
battle cry is far less effective when used as a national slogan that is
meant to educate the American people about the nature of DC's anemic
political status. Further, it is important to note that the phrase
“Taxation Without Representation” has already been appropriated for DC
license plates. Taken together, the two phrases would send out completely
contradictory messages to the nation. The license plate slogan would, on
the one hand, appear to support taxation without representation, while the
slogan flying on the flag would back an antithetical statement: no
taxation without representation. DC residents might understand the
distinction and the conceptual rationale for the two different assertions,
but US citizens would understandably be somewhat more perplexed. If
national education is the chief reason for placing a substantive slogan on
the District's flag, then the last thing we want to do is to confuse the
American public by sending out completely contradictory messages.
Third, the proposed phrase, “DC Statehood Now!,” while perhaps the
ideal slogan, is, at this time, regrettably, an inappropriate message to
convey to the nation simply because the District is neither politically
nor legally eligible to apply for statehood. While the phrase should be
considered as a future slogan at such time as the District is, in fact,
eligible, it would send out, unfortunately, the right kind of message, but
at the wrong time. In view of the problematic nature of the aforementioned
slogans, the following phrase is proposed as an inscription for DC's flag:
“Equal Rights for Equal Responsibilities.” It is a simple, yet
eloquent, message has the virtue of being able to instantly make the case
for why DC residents should be entitled to enjoy full democratic rights
under law. After all, DC residents bear all of the responsibilities of US
citizenship, but are denied equal political rights. To argue against the
political proposition that all US citizens are entitled to enjoy equal
rights is to argue against the most fundamental of American principles.
Moreover, history shows that the language of the equal rights argument has
proven to be extraordinarily successful. The woman's suffrage movement and
the civil rights movement both employed the language of equal rights, and
both eventually won. DC can win, too, with the same national message. The
slogan, “Equal Rights for Equal Responsibilities,” should be given
consideration by the DC Council in its deliberations on the DC flag's
inscription because it succinctly states what it is that DC residents are
campaigning for as well as articulates the high burdens that they
continually bear. But perhaps best of it, the core message it delivers is
politically unassailable.
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Scholarship Source
Anne Anderson, psysrusa@cs.com
[In reply to a question about potential sources of scholarship funds.]
I hope you know someone that this may help. The following is a list of
links to 100+ scholarship programs for minority students. Please feel free
to circulate this list to anyone who might find it useful. 100 Minority
Scholarship Gateway List, created by Black Excel, http://www.BlackExcel.org.
Also see the Ron Brown Scholar Program (major Scholarships), http://www.ronbrown.org/;
Scholarships on the Net (1,500), http://advocacy-net.com/scholarmks.htm;
and FastWEB Scholarship Search, http://www.fastweb.com/.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
TasteDC.com’s Late-June/August 2002 Calendar
of Wine and Food Events
Charlie Adler, wine@tastedc.com
1) June 27, Thursday, TasteDC.com presents “Tasting and Reception at
the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan” at the Embassy of the
Republic of Uzbekistan, 1746 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 7-9 p.m., $48 per
person. This Embassy is spectacular! This recently renovated mansion
(formerly the Embassy of Canada) was constructed near the turn of the
century (where it was the scene for many fashionable gatherings) complete
with finely detailed plaster and iron work, woodcarving, and remarkable
hardware and lighting fixtures throughout. The menu features a traditional
Uzbek buffet, including salad, Monti dumplings with pumpkin and meat,
Samsa, Plov, an assortment of dim sum and desserts as well as a selection
of international wines. Please note: this is a stand-up/reception style
event, no seating is provided. 2) July 12, Friday, “The Official
Bastille Day Celebration at the French Embassy,” with the 1st Annual
Marie Antoinette “Let Them Eat Cake” Competition! La Maison Francaise,
the Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road, NW (Georgetown), limited
street parking available in the area as well as limited spaces in the
Georgetown U. Medical parking lot across the street on Reservoir Road,
7:00-9:30 p.m., buffet, 9:30-midnight celebration, $65 per person, tax and
tip inclusive. This event sells out every year! Join us at the Embassy of
France as we partake in France's annual celebration of the storming of the
Bastille by Parisians in 1789. This event includes a wide array of French
wines and Champagnes as well as three buffet tables catered by Executive
Chef Bart Vandaele from B'Arts World Cuisine and Executive Chef Yannis
from Bistrot du Coin from 7-9:30 p.m., and DJ and dancing until midnight.
This year we're adding the Marie Antoinette “Let Them Eat Cake”
Competition, where local pastry chefs will Design decadent cakes for your
tasting pleasure, the more decadent the better! There is also a silent
auction and raffle. Coffee service sponsored by La Colombe and Silver
Spoon. Attire is business casual. 3) July 13, Saturday, “Large Crab
Feast at Annapolis Grill,” Annapolis Grill, 1160 20th St., NW, 2 1/2
blocks from Farragut North Metro Stop (Red Line), limited street parking
available, noon-2:30 p.m. seated lunch, $55, tax and tip inclusive. Join
us at Annapolis Grill in DC, a Maryland-style seafood house and bar, as we
feast on fresh Maryland blue crabs. They get big and juicy in July, and we
will only be serving the large male crabs; they're meatier and easier to
eat! Also included with all the large crabs you care to eat is a cup of
terrific cream of Maryland crab soup, crab imperial appetizers, corn on
the cob, Cajun fries, and homemade cole slaw. We'll also be serving
top-rated microbrew beers and premium wines at the event; it's included in
the price. This event is seated indoor/outdoor with plenty of space to
spread out and eat your crabs. We'll also provide assistance to anyone
needing help cracking/cleaning the crab meat, it's a cinch once you get
used to it! 4) July 17, Wednesday, “Bar Rouge: 3 Chefs, 3 Attitudes,”
Bar Rouge inside the Hotel Rouge, 1315 16th Street, NW, just north of
Scott Circle off Massachusetts Avenue on 16th Street, very limited valet
parking, closest Metro Dupont Circle (Red Line) 4 Blocks, 7-9 PM, $55, tax
and tip inclusive. Chef John Wabeck, Bar Rouge and Topaz Bar; Chef Haidar
Karoum, Asia Nora Restaurant; and Chef Andrew Saba, The Tabard Inn. Please
note this is a stand-up/reception style event, no seating. 5) July 29,
Monday, “Taste of Spain at Cafe Ole,” Cafe Ole, 4000 Wisconsin Ave.,
NW, very limited street parking, Tenleytown Metro (Red Line) is six blocks
away, 7-9:00 p.m. seated indoor/outdoor dinner, $55, tax and tip
inclusive. Add romance and longevity to your life; the Spanish have been
drinking delicious country wines and eating their famously healthy
Mediterranean fare for many centuries! We'll also enjoy indoor/outdoor
dining with live Spanish music under the stars. All wine has been provided
by Vinexcal Wines Export Group of Castilla y Leon. This event is seated
and all dishes are served family-style, wine is included in the price. The
event is rain or shine. 6) August 4, Sunday, “3rd Annual Lobster and
Wine Festival,” Sea Catch Restaurant, Canal Square Building, 1054 31st
Street, NW, free complimentary validated parking available in the adjacent
Constitution parking garage as well as limited on street parking,
noon-3:00 PM, $70 per person, tax and tip inclusive. Rain or Shine. If you
love Lobster, this is the event for you! We'll sit you down to a wonderful
1 1/4 lb. lobster with the fixings paired with three different wines, then
open up the courtyard for you to enjoy more lobster, wine and live jazz!
Don't wait, we've rented the whole restaurant with a capacity of 300
people. Attire is very casual, we'll even provide the bibs! Please note:
the first half is seated at tables, the second half is walk-around; this
event is rain or shine! Reservations: secure web form at https://labyrinth.dgsys.com/clients/tasteusa.com/order.cgi?X_DC,
or phone 333-5588 (phone surcharge $5 per person).
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CLASSIFIEDS — FREE
We have a complete bound set of Encyclopedia Britannica circa 1985 with
updates through the early 90's. We would be happy to give it to an
organization or individual who could make use of them. There are about
forty volumes and they are in excellent shape. I have no idea if anyone
has any use for such a thing any more. I would be happy to deliver them
locally. Otherwise, they will end up being discarded/recycled.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Paris Apartment to Sublet in August
Peggy Robin, probin@adlerbooks.com
My stepsister, Virginia Isbell (a former Washingtonian), asked me to
post this notice about August rental of her fabulous Paris apartment:
Paris penthouse apartment for rent, four bedrooms, two baths, terrace,
great views of the Eiffel Tower (15th arrondissement, near Motte-Piquet
Grenelle). One double bed and four singles. Fully equipped kitchen,
washer/dryer, maid service included. $1500 weekly or $2000 for 10 days.
The apartment is within walking distance of three Metro stops, a
supermarket, many bakeries, kids' clothing stores, one of the best
playgrounds in all of Paris, and more. With views that even many of the
best hotels don't have, this is an ideal location. To see photos, go to http://www.isbell-art.com/flat/flat.htm.
For more information, E-mail virginiaisbell@noos.fr
(if you have trouble getting through to that E-mail address, you can also
E-mail her at virginiaisbell@aol.com).
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