Crime and Punishment

Dear Punishers:

The Government Operations Committee of the city council will mark up the “Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011” tomorrow, and the whole council will be likely to vote on it Tuesday. If the bill is voted on and passed Tuesday, it is still likely to change in many ways, possibly substantially, before it is finalized by a second vote.

Nothing in the ten ethics bills that were proposed, nothing in the Code of Official Conduct previously adopted by the council for council period 19, and nothing in all the proposals included in the “comprehensive” reform act applies to the situation in which we have found ourselves this week. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department, and the US Attorney’s Office were all present at Friday’s raid of Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr.’s house, taking evidence for potential criminal charges and proceeds from crimes for which he could potentially be charged. Here’s the only provision of the “Bowser bill” that applies, “Section 209, Penalties for public officials. (a)(1) Notwithstanding section 208 of this act, the Board shall censure a public official for a violation of the Code of Conduct that the Board adjudges to violate the public trust. (2) The Board may recommend in such censure that the Council immediately convene an executive session to consider suspending or removing a Council member’s committee chairmanship, if any, committee membership, if any, or suspending or removing the member’s vote in any committee.” So what’s new in that? What penalty or punishment does this bill add that doesn’t already exist? What does the Board of Ethics add to the process?

The Harry Thomas case merely shows one more time, even before the bill is passed, that it isn’t a real step toward reform. Council Chairman Kwame Brown hastily called a meeting of the council on Friday afternoon, after news of the raid on Harry’s house spread. Then he called off the meeting, with the excuse that he wanted more councilmembers to attend, but really because neither he nor anyone else on the council knew how to give the impression that the council was seriously concerned about its ethical failures, without doing anything.

Things to read, if you haven’t already:

Colbert King, “DC Council Ethics Legislative Falls Short,” http://tinyurl.com/6r5uspn
Editorial, “Ethics and the DC Council,” http://tinyurl.com/7vr76p9
“Thomass’s Home Is Raided by FBI, IRS,” http://tinyurl.com/d2s55n4
Draft version of the “Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011,” http://www.dcwatch.com/council19/19-xxx.htm
Testimony of the American Civil Liberties Union on the “Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011,” http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/ethics111130.pdf

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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A Neighborhood ISP Blossoms in DC
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

If you live on Capitol Hill or in Adams Morgan and you’re sick and tired of the large telcos (Comcast, Verizon, and others), you now have a choice to get your Internet access from a small business — who happens to be one of your neighbors.

I’ve blogged about this for PCWorld magazine at http://tinyurl.com/84snb8u. DC Access tells me they have about one thousand customers. Worth thinking about. I’m all in favor of supporting local, home-grown businesses.

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Alert: Potential Neighborhood Post Office Closures
Debbie Schrieber, president@dupont-circle.org

The US Postal Service has mailed a survey to homeowners from Kalorama to Columbia Heights pertaining to the discontinuance of several of our neighborhood post offices “due to declining office workload and the availability of alternate sites nearby that provide the sale of stamps and the mailing of most package items.” This survey does not appear to be accessible online, so please look for it in your mail.

The study involves a review of delivery and retail operations of postal facilities. Its purpose is to evaluate each facility’s operations in an effort to meet retail needs, improve productivity, increase efficiency, and cut costs. If a decision is made to discontinue our Kalorama and Temple Heights, USPS expects PO Box customers to use the Columbia Heights station, 3321 Georgia Avenue, NW, 1.7 miles away, or receive carrier delivery.

The review process will take four to five months. It is expected that the 20th Street facility will close before the review period is completed. Written comments can be hand delivered to the Kalorama branch or mailed to: District Discontinuance Coordinator, Capitol PFC 900 Brentwood Rd, NE, Washington, DC 20066-9997. If you did not receive your study mailing, please contact Donalda Maas, District Discontinuance Coordinator, at 636-1441 immediately.

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Telling the Whole Story at the United Medical Center
Samuel Jordan, chairman, United Medical Center Foundation, samuel.jordan@msn.com

The Washington Business Journal seems to be maintaining a death watch over the United Medical Center. The UMC on Southern Avenue, SE, is a regional hospital. It is not only the sole hospital east of the Anacostia River in the District of Columbia; it also serves residents from northern Prince George’s County, Maryland. Rather than reporting the currently expanding range and improved quality of health care services available to DC and Maryland communities served by the hospital, the WBJ’s Ben Fischer seems to be concerned solely about its finances, asking only “Is it profitable?” In “UMC: Red Ink, Not Black,” http://tinyurl.com/7a4raqs, the main issue from the writer’s perspective was whether the hospital’s accounting procedure — the accrual method — reflected an accurate depiction of its financial condition. With more in-depth probing and reporting, Fischer could help community leaders ask if the UMC is a well-managed institution that can maintain long-term viability, and whether this hospital serves the needs of the community in ways that are not otherwise being met.

Fischer’s evaluation method is flawed and skewed to provide the answer he supports, which is that the UMC is not financially viable. Evaluating any business on the cash basis of accounting tells one little about its long-term prospects, and only describes the effects of short-term cash flow. Accruing revenues and expenses give the longer-term picture of financial health. By the accrual method of accounting, UMC will end the year with an eight million dollar profit. By the cash method, UMC may have a three million dollar shortfall. The difference between profit and loss at the UMC is collections of monies owed. A competent collections program can capture more than the bulk of the eight million dollars owed the hospital. Accounts receivable have grown from $9.3 million to fourteen million dollars during fiscal year 2011. This is a 50 percent growth in revenues earned, but not converted to cash. Such a condition demands answers regarding the quality and execution of a cash/financial management plan. Will the WBJ demand such answers, too?

An important issue impacted by the debate regarding the hospital’s profitability is the upcoming decision to sell the hospital to private owners, permit it to operate as an independent nonprofit institution, or as an ambulatory, “physician-centric” facility. Many factors must be considered in order to arrive at a sound decision. Can the UMC maintain its record of profitability established since July 2010 when it became a not-for-profit hospital-corporation? In the last year, the hospital has enjoyed its first net profit since 2001, when it was Greater Southeast Community Hospital. The hospital’s administrative team insists that the trend of profitable operation can be maintained.

The role the hospital plays in providing much needed health care services to DC residents in Wards 7 and 8 is conspicuously absent from the WBJ’s reporting on the UMC. Changes at the UMC in contrast to its old Greater Southeast days must be emphasized. A new pediatric emergency department, operated in collaboration with Children’s National Medical Center, is serving more than two thousand children a month, while the adult emergency department serves over three thousand per month — for a combined monthly average of five thousand visits. Contrast this with three thousand per month at Greater Southeast in its last year of operation. While we want to reduce the number of residents needing emergency room care, the numbers do reflect the growing confidence east of the river communities have in the UMC.

Also contributing to the revival at UMC is the increased number and variety in its medical staff. The addition of seventy-six physicians in specialties and primary care has been dramatic, and more health care professionals of all types are now attracted to the UMC. These professionals are drawn by an emphasis on quality and access to a patient population that has found its clinics and programs — including tobacco cessation, obesity, asthma and diabetes treatment, the latest in HIV therapies, maternity ward modernization, surgical successes, a new wound care center with bariatric (adjusted air pressure) chambers — to be concrete proof of UMC’s commitment to service and quality improvements. In January 2012, the UMC will be the only hospital in the District with micro-dosage, state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis equipment. The result of improved services at UMC and its growing community outreach program is greater value added to the quality of life of DC residents living east of the river. The UMC is rising to the challenges presented by a historically underserved population. The WBJ should be reporting on this unique aspect of the UMC, as well as its finances.

When the benefits to the communities served are measured, there is no proof more persuasive than the increasing numbers of patients coming through the doors. Nor is there a higher purpose for a health care provider — stabilizing and improving the health of its patients. To be fair, the media should tell the whole story.

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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Alan Grayson at Woman’s National Democratic Club, December 8
Patricia Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com

Congressman Alan Grayson speaks on “My Mother’s World, and My Daughter’s World.” The speech will detail the changing nature of the world in regard to women over these two generations at an evening reception at the Woman’s National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. Almost immediately after arriving in Congress, Grayson shot to stardom as a “darling of the liberal blogosphere” is known for his aggressive politics, embrace of YouTube culture, and controversial sound bites.

In 2003, Grayson was an attorney representing government contractors. But he was growing worried over the increasing reports of contractor fraud in Iraq, and of the US government’s failure to prosecute them. Following the US invasion of Iraq, he poured hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money into personally representing whistleblowers and filing lawsuits against government contractors. In March 2006, he got a jury to order contractor Custer Battles LLC to return $10 million in ill-gotten funds to the US government. The ruling marked the first time an American firm was held responsible for financial improprieties in Iraq.

He ran for Congress in 2008, knocking off a Republican incumbent, and brought his signature hardball style to the House. America got to know him in September 2009 during the heat of the health-reform fight when he took to the House floor and said that Republicans “want you to die quickly.” He refused to apologize, despite GOP demands, and instead called Republicans “knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.” Not being able to stand the Republican sweep in 2010, Grayson lost to Daniel Webster. He is running for Congress once again and is asking for everyone’s support to win back the district for the Democrats. December 8, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; cost: $45 members, $50 nonmembers. The Woman’s National Democratic Club is at 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW.

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Ward 7 DCGOP Christmas Holiday Party, December 8
Paul Craney, pauldcraney@yahoo.com

The Ward 7 DC Republican Christmas Holiday Party will take place on Thursday, December 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Denny’s in Ward 7. The Denny’s is located at 4445 Benning Road, NE. All are welcomed. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow Ward 7 DC Republicans and our candidates. Food and refreshments will be served. Please bring toys and gift items for children (ages 4-16), wrapping paper and ribbon to wrap gifts. Bring whatever items you can and we will collect them and distribute them to a local charities/churches for Ward 7 families. More information may be found at http://www.dcgop.com. If you have questions or would like to RSVP, please contact us at info@dcgop.com.

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The Dinner Game at Woman’s National Democratic Club, December 9
Ghada Alkiek, galkiek@gmail.com

Cinema night at the Woman’s National Democratic Club will feature The Dinner Game (Le Diner de Cons), a French comedy starring Thierry Lehrmite and Jacques Villeret. Since the holiday season can often be filled with both kindness and cruelty, The Dinner Game, while not seasonal, serves to illustrate what this can mean under different circumstances. The plot is light and funny, as well as rather cruel - and the end has a good message. Pierre Brochard (Lehrmite) and his friends have a competition to see who can bring the biggest idiot to their weekly dinner party. Brochard’s idiot, Francois Pignon (Jacques Villeret), who has been described as a spherical buffoon and whose talent is making models out of matchsticks, comes to Brochard’s apartment just as Brochard injures his back and cannot go to the dinner. Increasingly drastic and comic results ensue as Pignon tries to help him sort out his life. Francis Veber is the writer and director of the film, which was nominated for six Cesars at Cannes and won three — Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. Veber, a highly respected writer/director, has also made such well received films as Les Comperes (the Co-Fathers), La Chevre (The Goat), and La Cage Aux Folles (The Bird Cage). The bar opens and a light supper will be served at 6:00 p.m. The film screening will be at 7:00 p.m. The cost will be $5 for the film, $15 for the light supper. The Woman’s National Democratic Club is at 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW.

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DCGOP Citywide Christmas Holiday Party, December 13
Paul Craney, pauldcraney@yahoo.com

The citywide DC Republican Committee Christmas Holiday Party will take place on Tuesday, December 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the beautiful home of Teri Galvez and Michael Cleary. They are located at 1707 19th Street, NW, in Dupont Circle. All are welcome to attend. We will be supporting the Foster and Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center with toys and gift items for children (ages 4-16 years) and wrapping paper and ribbon to wrap the gifts. Please bring whatever items you can and we will collect them for Foster and Adoptive Parent Center. If you would like to learn more about the Foster and Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center, please visit their web site at http://www.dcfapac.org. More information can be found at http://www.dcgop.com. If you have questions or would like to RSVP, please contact us at info@dcgop.com.

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