Home Invasions
Dear Invaded:
I have a new nominee for stupidest legislation, and I think I’ve
identified this year’s winner. Yesterday, Mary Cheh introduced the
innocuously named “Wildlife Protection Act of 2009,” Bill 18-498 (http://www.dcwatch.com/council18/18-498.htm).
Protecting wildlife is something we can all support, can’t we? It
sounds good. Except that the aim of Councilmember Cheh’s bill is not
to protect Bambi and polar bears and endangered species, but to protect
the urban wildlife that wants to share our homes, the cute and cuddly
squirrels and raccoons and opossums and birds and bats that get into our
attics and basements and build nests there and damage our houses. Toward
these home invaders, Cheh wants us to ask, “Can’t we all get along?”
The bill makes a grudging exception to allow the extermination of mice
and rats, but other than that these creatures will be protected if they
want to cohabitate with us. Most of the bill is devoted to setting up an
onerous system of licensing and paperwork reporting for professional
exterminators (renamed “wildlife control operators,” since they won’t
be exterminating any more). However, Tim Craig reports (http://tinyurl.com/ygetx2q)
that Councilmember Cheh wants to extend its provisions to homeowners who
are tempted to use self-help measures. Under the bill, our furry and
feathery wild housemates are not to be poisoned, killed, or trapped by
any device that can hurt them. In fact, “A wildlife control operator
may perform wildlife control only of an animal that is causing actual
damage to property or posing an immediate health or safety threat to
persons or domestic animals.” Simply preferring to have a varmint-free
home isn’t enough reason to evict unwanted wildlife guests; actual
damage must be shown. Then, raccoon whisperers are supposed to speak
softly to them to persuade them to leave. If that isn’t effective,
squirrel trappers can trap them alive and relocate them, as long as the
traps cause minimal stress and the animals are reunited with their
family units. If that doesn’t work, “Lethal control shall be used
only when public safety is immediately threatened or when nonlethal
control methods have been employed to address the specific problem at
the site and have proven unsuccessful.” Bats get special protection:
lethal methods cannot be used to remove bats; bats cannot be removed at
all for half the year, when they may be hibernating; and when bat
colonies can be removed, from March 31 to August 31 each year, the “wildlife
control operator” must get the prior permission of the Health
Department. So learn to live with bats or, better yet, relocate your
bats (with their intact family units) to Mary Cheh’s house, where they
can make friends with the large colony in her belfry.
On another subject, here’s the opening of Jonetta Rose Barras’
most recent column in the Examiner (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Politics-and-schools-in-D_C_-8405748-64706817.html):
“‘Schools, school, schools,’ Mayor Adrian M. Fenty answered when
asked for the top three issues of his reelection platform. His response
came as he and DC Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee were being
publicly excoriated for firing hundreds of employees. ‘[People] are
looking at what is happening and saying, “If [the mayor and Rhee] are
willing to take this type of criticism — if they really want to put
decisions affecting children ahead of decisions affecting adults —
this is a city that has its priorities straight,”’ Fenty continued.”
This is conclusive proof, if any were needed, that Fenty has succumbed
to a fatal case of self-delusion, the politician’s disease. He has
surrounded himself with yes-men who dare not contradict him, and he
believes the praise that he demands from them, so he has convinced
himself that everyone agrees with him. An elected official who is as out
of touch as Fenty shows himself to be in Barras’ column is ripe to be
toppled. Since even his supporters are at best lukewarm towards him,
Fenty can be beaten, not just by a slim margin, but by a landslide.
However, as I’ve been writing, he can be toppled only by someone (no,
Donahue Peebles, not you; finance somebody who doesn’t have your
history of deals with the city government, instead) who excites and can
organize public education supporters, good government supporters, labor
supporters, and traditional marriage supporters. Together, those
disaffected groups are a large majority of the electorate; separately,
they are just disaffected groups.
Everyone, Fenty believes, is happy about Chancellor Rhee’s school
“reform” — everyone, that is, except anyone who is knowledgeable
about or involved with the schools in any way. The public reaction
against the recent teacher firings finally led Council Chairman Vincent
Gray to call a Committee of the Whole hearing on the matter, and the
public responded. Over one hundred fifty people — education experts,
teachers, students, and parents — signed up to be witnesses, and the
hearing lasted until nearly 4:30 a.m. the next day. But, notes Jeff
Smith in the latest DCVoice newsletter: “The urgency and interest from
the full council appeared to be the first step toward a thirteen-person
commitment for reform, but as seen during the recent council hearing on
October 16th, only a handful of council members are really involved. A
mere five councilmembers were present any significant portion of time
during the eighteen-hour hearing.” While Gray is attempting to give
the impression that the city council is concerned and involved, most
councilmembers couldn’t be bothered even to show up to give the
illusion that they care what the public wants, or what is best for the
schools.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Do the Best Would-Be Government Workers Go to
the Feds?
Ted Knutson, dcreporter1@yahoo.com
After living in DC for ten years and suffering through many instances
of callousness and incompetence by city employees, I long ago came to
the conclusion that if you want to work in the public sector and live in
the area, you get a job with the feds, while the city generally gets the
dregs.
Agree?
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DC Democrats Seek Candidates for December 3
Special Election
David Meadows, Executive Director, DC Democratic Party, dcdemocrats@verizon.net
The District of Columbia Democratic State Committee, the elected
82-member governing body of the local Democratic Party representing the
312,855 registered Democrats in the District of Columbia, will hold a
special election for one male At-large member and two female At-large
members at its December 3 general meeting. This to fill the unexpired
terms of the three vacated positions through 2012.
The election is open to any DC registered Democrat who is interested
in serving on the local Democratic Committee. The Committee provides
input in the affairs of the Democratic Party at the block, precinct,
state, and national levels with regards to ensuring, preserving, and
protecting the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, and service
for the common good through political action activities supporting good
government for strong and vibrant communities, fair elections,
recruitment and election of Democratic officials, voting right and
statehood for DC, and the election of a Democratic nominee for President
of the United States. Customarily the local committee meets, sponsors
projects, craft positions and testifies on legislation, and works with
the eight Ward Democratic Committees and affiliate Democratic
organizations to engage DC residents in the affairs of the Democratic
Party.
If interested for consideration, click on the rules and timeline of
the election process here: http://dcdsc.org/docs/Special%20At-large%20election%20to%20DCDSC%20rules.pdf,
then print a copy of petitions for circulation here: http://dcdsc.org/docs/At-large%20petition.pdf.
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Bike DC Traffic Jam
Tac Tacelosky, Dupont Circle, tacman@gmail.com
I’m an avid cyclist, am thrilled that Q and R streets now have bike
lanes, regularly ride Beach Drive on weekends, and generally support
biking in DC.
But the traffic jam caused by Saturday’s Bike DC was horrible.
Because it was raining, I didn’t bike to Georgetown for a class I’m
taking, and I was pretty much trapped in my car in Dupont Circle. The
police were unable to provide any guidance as to how to make the short
journey. Eventually I gave up going south, went to Woodley Park and came
back on Rock Creek Parkway, where I saw a frightening north-bound jam. I
guess I should be happy it only took half an hour for my trip, I heard
horror stories from people trying to get in from Arlington and not
knowing which bridges were open.
I like the fact that we have events like this, but there must be a
better way to allow marathons and bike rides to coexist with driving.
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Last week I mentioned that because busses weren’t passing each
other, the speed of all of them was dictated by the speed of the slowest
bus in line. I also mentioned that bus drivers were telling riders that
they were making certain not to break any of Metro’s rules, one of
which is not to pass another bus.
Well, after two days the drivers went back to passing each other and
normal service resumed. Bus drivers told me they felt they had made
their point clear to Metro and to the public — that Metro’s rules
were unrealistic.
If I had not been told that this was the message, I would not have
known what they were trying to get across. Did anyone feel equally
confused?
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I writing to say that I’m not bored. Keep up the good work. You’re
doing just fine with your political commentary. However, I do have a few
questions I would like to put to the themail: 1) What’s happening with
the Deputy Mayor of Education, Mr. Reinoso? Has there been any
involvement on his part with the teacher firings? With all the talk
going on about DCPS, there is hardly a mention of Mr. Reinoso. 2) What’s
happening with Fenty’s bullpen?
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Time for Winds of Change, Fresh Beginning in DC
Politics
K. West, kap8082@aol.com
Don’t give up on the forces-that-be when it comes to finding
candidates to support for the 2010 elections. It just might be time for
the winds of change to blow over the Wilson Building and Capitol Hill.
It may be the opportune time for a paradigm shift, a sea change. It
might be time for talk about values and the civil/voting rights of all
citizens. In 2010, the following offices will be on the ballot: Delegate
to Congress Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Adrian Fenty, Council Chairman
Vincent Gray, At-Large Councilmembers Mendelson and Catania and Ward
Councilmembers Graham (1), Cheh (3), Thomas (5), and Wells (6). Elected
officials shouldn’t consider themselves safe, though sometimes egos
get in the way of reality.
Perhaps there isn’t a consensus candidate yet among labor, DCPS
parents, and traditional marriage supporters, but that does not preclude
a possible alliance in the near future to coalesce behind one candidate
per elected office. Sometimes it appears that the citywide leadership
has written off the wards with high concentration of African Americans
as if they don’t vote, so those are wards that may need a little
attention. I doubt that apathy is going to turn off African American
voters for this election, because many of them are fed up with the
leadership in many of the elected offices. It sounds like whites and
others are getting fed up as well. The mayor and Attorney General seem
to want votes so badly that they appeared to play the race card with the
Department of Parks and Recreation nominee for director that was not
confirmed. It seemed like they were trying to stir up a racial hornets’
nest to appeal to the Latino/Hispanic voting community. That was so
pitiful. Right now, there is so much disappointment with the leadership
of the mayor that Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck would be viable
candidates. So far, that “Anybody But Fenty” could be Leo Alexander,
who has announced. My personal favorite, Marie Johns, does not seem to
be likely to run. The Washington Business Journal reports that
Don Peebles may run. He is a native Washingtonian and accomplished
business leader. At this point, a candidate could announce in the spring
and beat the socks off the mayor’s $2 million plus war chest. Former
supporters of Fenty can be heard grumbling about him and how he has
changed from “the man of the people” to as yet to be determined. He
is extremely vulnerable, even if he doesn’t know it and his handlers
and media friends tell him otherwise. He is not invincible. There is
such a thing as a one-term politician. He is no Obama.
Congresswoman Norton seems to think that her position is to only push
for statehood and rubber stamp what the city leaders come up with and
then take it to Congress, or at least that’s the argument one hears
when quizzed about the mayoral takeover of schools without a referendum
as well as the efforts of the council and mayor to expedite the
redefining of marriage without a voter ballot measure to put before the
voters in 2010. Knowing that the Delegate is only going to mimic and
support without question what the mayor advances and the council rubber
stamps, why go to her at all, when the halls of Congress are free to
roam? Norton has been a good soldier on the Hill, but even she is not
indispensable. One must not forget that several highly visible, once
popular members of Congress have fallen from grace when they did not
serve the voters the way they wanted or expected. Somebody like former
councilmembers Kevin Chavous, Vincent Orange, or Kathy Patterson, or
even Marie Johns could shine in that seat. An attractive candidate with
ties to the business and labor communities might do quite well running
for this seat. Norton may need a strong challenger just to make her more
accountable to the residents instead of to the elected leadership. She
probably has a strong presence in the Congress, though, and can be
effective on some issues. Residents may need to understand better her
role in Congress and her relationship to the voters and their local
needs. With a strong challenger, people would learn whether she is
invaluable in her position or whether it is time for someone else to
carry out her mission.
Councilmember Phil Mendelson and challenger Clark Ray would be
shocked to see somebody sneak in through the middle that they did not
expect. Perhaps there is room for a woman or someone from a ward
currently not represented by an at-large candidate. Regarding
Councilmember Catania, it is said that he is rarely seen in some
neighborhoods or at many meetings. By many accounts he is vulnerable,
but only to a really strong candidate that can address the issues well.
It might be worthwhile to see people like Karen Shook, former school
board president and president of the Woman’s National Democratic Club,
and Carolyn Steptoe, Ward 5, run at large. There is room for Marie Johns
as a Democrat here. Also, someone like Leo Alexander could have run at
large if he were not taking on the mayor. Ward 1 Councilmember Graham is
clearly vulnerable with the taxicab scandal and probably some other
issues. He has been there a long time and citizens might be willing to
trade him for fresh blood that can deliver. Councilmembers Cheh and
Thomas may also be vulnerable. There is a fair share of grumbling and
disappointments. The jury is still out on these two and they may
continue standing since they have been tough on some issues.
Councilmember Wells needs to broaden his reach to all of Ward 6 beyond
Capitol Hill and some other areas or he might be ready to exit, but Ward
6 is hard to read. He became brand new all of a sudden after leaving the
school board and becoming a reliable ally of the mayor on most issues. I’m
still confused as to why he wanted to a law to allow people to keep
chickens as pets in their backyards.
Chairman Gray is coming across stronger on the council now, but is it
too late? Many citizens warned him against the mayoral takeover and the
confirmation of the Attorney General. The takeover made the council look
irrelevant. The AG is not a favorite of citizens. Furthermore, Gray
could have requested a Council Advisory referendum on the definition of
marriage and didn’t. Does he have three strikes against him? The other
council members that were elected in 2008 get a reprieve for now and any
discussion of them will have to wait unless one of them tries to run for
another office this year. And if Gray runs for mayor, there has to be a
discussion on possible candidates for the chairman’s seat.
A savvy candidate for office might support the right of DC voters to
vote on the definition of marriage without stating his/her own position.
That’s easy. The candidate should also proclaim his or her respect for
free speech via a ballot initiative to express the will of the people. A
potential candidate should offer to rein in Chancellor Rhee a little to
get her bean-counting and leadership abilities in order so that she can
better manage the city, her employees, a decreasing student body, and
the fewer-responsibilities- than-her-predecessors-had that she has now.
It will not be political business as usual in 2010. It may take a couple
of legal challenges, but somehow there will be a voter ballot measure in
next year’s election and candidates will be held accountable. One way
or another, voters will take the matter to the ballot box. January or
February should be enough time for a really good alternative to mount an
effective campaign if voters are disgruntled enough with incumbents. In
the interim, it’s time to form a strategic alliance of labor, parents,
business leaders, educators, traditional marriage supporters, or voting
rights advocates for the right to vote on marriage, and the faith
community to bring new beginnings to elected office to move forward a
vision for all the people of the Nation’s Capital. And by the way, it
is all right to be a candidate over forty.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
River Park Nursery School Yard Sale at Eastern
Market, October 25
Eric Rosenthal, eric.rosenthal@mac.com
River Park Nursery School, serving children on Capitol Hill for
several decades, will hold its annual yard sale and bake sale on
Saturday, October 25, from 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the William H. Rumsey
Natatorium at Eastern Market. Buyers will be able to purchase gently
used furniture, books, household items, toys, and clothes. We will also
have Halloween crafts and baked goods for sale.
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National Building Museum Events, October 27-28
Sara Kabakoff, skabakoff@nbm.org
October 27, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Spotlight on Design: Léon Krier. Hear
architect and urban planner Léon Krier discuss his work, including the
town of Poundbury, England, which he designed for the Prince of Wales.
Following the lecture, he will sign copies of his book The
Architecture of Community (Island Press). $12 members; $12 students;
$20 nonmembers. Prepaid registration required. Walk in registration
based on availability.
October 28, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., American Institute of Certified
Planners National Symposium: Planning for Sustainable Communities: It’s
More Than Being “Green.” Panelists discuss the role of planners in
fostering communities that are environmentally sustainable as well as
economically strong and equitable. Hear experts discuss the livability
principles outlined in the new interagency Partnership for Sustainable
Communities among HUD, DOT, and EPA. $12 APA, AICP, and Museum members;
free students; $20 nonmembers. Prepaid registration required. Walk-in
registration based on availability. At the National Building Museum, 401
F Street, NW, Judiciary Square Metro station. Register for events at http://www.nbm.org.
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Hard Times in the Land of Plenty: A
Conversation with the Blues, October 29
Karen Szulgit, kszulgit@dcpsa.org
DC Primary Care Association’s twelfth annual meeting will be held
on Thursday, October 29, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., with blues performances
from 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., at the Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet
University, 800 Florida Avenue NE.
DCPCA draws inspiration from the blues — looking at the realities
we face in hard times, and creating new opportunities out of the
struggle. Blues performers will feature Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin,
and The Nighthawks. Perkins and Sumlin are two of the last great
Mississippi bluesmen still performing. The Nighthawks’ hard driving,
soulful, and sometimes raucous live performances earned them a
reputation as “the world’s best bar band.” For more info,
including sponsorship opportunities, contact Audrey Kudler at akudler@dcpca.org
or 638-0252 x 246.
Register for this event. The meeting is free and open to the public.
A suggested donation of $20 will be accepted at the door for the blues
performances.
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Chairman Gray and Chancellor Rhee at Ward
Three Democratic Committee, October 29
Thomas Smith, tmfsmith@starpower.net
The Ward Three Democratic Committee will hold a community dialogue
with DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray and DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee
on Thursday, October 29. The meeting will begin at 7:15 p.m., Chancellor
Rhee will speak at 7:30 p.m., and Chairman Gary will speak at 8:00 p.m.
The meeting will be held in the Great Hall of St. Columba Episcopal
Church, 4201 Albemarle Street, NW, one block off Wisconsin Avenue at
Tenleytown Metro. For more information, contact, Thomas M. Smith, Chair,
Ward Three Democratic Committee, 364-7130, tmfsmith@starpower.net
, or see the web site at http://www.DCWard3Dems.org.
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Environmental Links to Breast Cancer, October
29
Cerise Bridges, cerise@elpnet.org
The Environmental Leadership Program presents No Family History, a
film about the environmental links to breast cancer, n important movie
screening and discussion with filmmaker Dr. Sabrina McCormick. Thursday,
October 29, 12:00-1:00 p.m., at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Auditorium and Science Center, 1301 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD (two blocks from the Silver Spring Metro
station). RSVP to cerise@elpnet.org
by Oct. 27. Co-hosted by National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
People Committee.
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“Getting Your Stuff Together” Workshop,
October 29
Grier Mendel, gmendel@aarp.org
AARP DC and the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly are hosting a free
two-hour workshop on wills, advance directives, and adult guardianship
considerations on October 29 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in the AARP
Brickfield Center, 601 E Street, NW. This session is designed for
District residents concerned about ensuring that their assets go where
they want them to go, providing directives to be followed should they be
unable to make health care decisions for themselves, or figuring out how
to take over an incapacitated relative’s affairs. Legal experts will
be available to answer questions. Seating is limited. Advance
registration required by October 26. Call 434-2487 to reserve a seat.
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Department of Parks and Recreation Events,
October 29
John Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov
October 29, 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m., Bald Eagle Recreation Center, 100
Joliet Street, SW. Six Flags Park Fright Fest for ages thirteen and up.
Youth will travel to Six Flags to enjoy an evening of fright and
amusement. For more information, call Margie Robinson, Site Manager, at
645-3960.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Rosedale Recreation Center, 500 19th
Street, NE. Halloween Party/Carnival for ages six through fifteen.
Participants will be provided with candy giveaways, carnival games, and
music. For more information, call Brian Williams, Site Manager, at
213-5649.
October 29, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Langdon Park Recreation Center, 2901
20th Street, NE. Costume Contest for all ages. We will have participants
model their costumes to the horror music and we will decide the best
costume. We will have music, chips, hot dogs, and soda. For more
information, call T-Jai Farmer, Site Manager, at 576-6595.
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Google Teacher Academy in DC, December 9
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com
Do you know a K-12 school teacher in the DC-area who is interested in
receiving some free training from Google? This upcoming one-day workshop
in early December is free: http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html
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