The End of Offensive Language
Dear Bullies:
Lots of recent issues haven’t been covered here in themail. Here’s
three. 1) Whose ballot would you cast, if you had your choice? Attorney
General Eric Holder claims that voter ID is racial discrimination and
voting fraud isn’t a real problem, so on primary election day
conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe targeted Holder by having someone
walk into Holder’s polling place to see how easy it would be to pick
up his ballot, http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/04/08/DC-Polling-Place-Holder-Ballot.
In response, the BOEE issued a press release condemning, not voting
fraud, but O’Keefe’s “video showing fraudulent activity on
Election Day,” http://www.dcboee.org/newsroom/showASPfile.asp?cat=News%20Releases&id=957&mid=4&yid=2012
The BOEE says it will investigate, not how to protect against voting
fraud in DC, but whether there’s anything for which O’Keefe can be
prosecuted. 2) Whose store would you close, if you could? Councilmember
Marion Barry isn’t a fan of the stores in Ward 8 that are run by
Asians, http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/220247-offensive-marion-barry-comments-raise-dc-lawmakers-ire.
3) And speaking of bullying, Mayor Vince Gray announced today a “holistic
anti-bullying plan,” along with a fourteen-member anti-bullying task
force whose job, it seems, is to make sure that nobody in DC says
anything that would offend anyone else. I guess that means Marion Barry
has to stop saying anything from now on, and I’ll probably have to
stop writing, too. So take up the slack, write your opinion to themail,
and take a chance that nobody will be offended by what you have
to say.
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Ilir Zherka, the executive director of DC Vote, is profiled by Ariel
Sabar in the April issue of Washingtonian Magazine, http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/taking-it-to-the-street/.
Is anybody offended by anything Zherka says?
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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DDOT and Greener Storm Water Infrastructure,
Part IV
David Jonas Bardin, davidbardin@aol.com
How long will it take to add green infrastructure to streetscapes
throughout DC? It could take a century unless DDOT retrofits many
streets and sidewalks with green infrastructure ahead of its normal
cycles for rebuilding or repaving. And although DDOT’s Complete
Streets Policy prescribes that “improvements to the right of way
shall consider environmental enhancements” such as reducing storm
water run-off and improving water quality, as I noted at http://www.dcwatch.com.columns/bardin.htm,
some rights of way are unsuitable for green infrastructure, because of
narrowness or otherwise. Quite a challenge! DC’s largest retrofit
project, RiverSmart Washington, now in progress east and west of
Rock Creek Park, is well illustrated and described at http://www.rockcreekconservancy.org/index.php/what-we-do/riversmart-washington.
It aims to blanket two sites totaling twenty-seven acres — of which
thirteen and a half acres are now impervious — with numerous,
small-scale green installations running the gamut of DDOT’s tool kit:
as many as seventeen rain gardens in sidewalks widened out into the
parking lane (“bump outs”), seven permeable alley areas, thirteen
permeable parking lanes, and some permeably-paved road and sidewalk.
One site (in Petworth) is over 60 percent impervious, the other (in
Chevy Chase) is close to 40 percent and has far less sidewalk. The
project aims to capture rainfall of up to 1.2 inches running off into
the public space. DDOE leads a group of partners with DDOT managing
public space aspects, plus parking lanes and driveways. DDOT designs and
will install facilities. You can see DDOT’s initial plans at http://://dashboard.ddot.dc.gov/ddotdashboard/#ProjectDocuments/ItemID=4ProjectID=97PhaseID=2,
by clicking on the button labeled “documents.” Rock Creek
Conservancy, under contract to DDOE, manages contacts with private
property owners and entered into a landscaping contract. DC Water has
provided one million dollars. Casey Trees provides tree backup. From
July to December 2010, LimnoTech monitored sewer flows and local
rainfall and will do the same next year after retrofitting is all done
in order to measure effectiveness of the green infrastructure. LimnoTech
will compare overall results with those predicted by its latest
hydrology model. See Enhanced Green Build Out Model (2008), at http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/greencsos/pdf/4cs.pdf
and the summary of it at http://newsroom.dc.gov/file.aspx/release/15380/2008.11.06%20GBOM2%20Project%20Summary.pdf,
as well as the original GBOM (2007) by Casey Trees and LimnoTech at http://www.capitolgreenroofs.com/pdfs/Green_Infrastructure_Report.pdf
RiverSmart Washington is testing neighborhood outreach and
support. Would you go along with DDOT’s eliminating a couple of
curbside parking spaces near your home in order to install a “bump out”
rain garden? Achieving a sustainable DC might require thousands of such
installations in residential streets — and your support.
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Green Structures in Public Space
Denise Wiktor, denisewiktor@yahoo.com
In the last issue of themail [April 8], regarding green structures in
public space, such as rain gardens and the like, David Bardin poses the
questions, “Who would be responsible for maintenance of a privately
installed rain garden? How would DC inspect and enforce compliance? If a
utility has to access and replace facilities under a rain garden, what
level of restoration obligations might it have afterwards? Where would
it find competent contractors?” He seems to imply there are no active
standards. At least during the five years I was Public Space Manager we
followed Title 12 and Title 24 of the DCMR.
Privately owned facilities in public space, whether it be a rain
garden or a utility vault (think those grates you walk over), were
required under Title 12 to have a covenant of maintenance registered on
the deed, liability insurance, and a bond, before a permit would be
issued. We, in fact, did issue permits for rain gardens and alternate
water drainage in public space, and a large rain garden was installed
when a bridge near the Anacostia was rebuilt to control the runoff. The
only real issue we had was the use of permeable surfaces, but again
there is a standard in place for nonconforming sidewalk materials. The
real resistance I encountered was from a developer who wanted to install
new uses and expected the city to assume maintenance. So, unless things
have changed with the current Director and the new Associate Director
and new Deputy Associate Director of DDOT, these things are in place.
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My reaction to the Deana Iverson/Mike DeBonis story [themail, April 4
and 8] is that I am left wondering why someone as intelligent and
talented as Ms. Iverson would be attracted to DeBonis in the first
place.
Has Dorothy moved to fill a TMZ void that exists for local gossip?
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
MacIntosh Users Group Meeting, April 14
Ken Nellis, NCA-MUG, webmaster@nca-mug.org
The National Capital Apple Macintosh Users Group (NCA-MUG) will hold
its April meeting on Saturday, April 14, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, in the
first floor meeting room of the Cleveland Park branch of the DC Public
Library. MUG executive committee member Paul Suh will leads a Big Cat
Safari, following the trails of Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) and Snow Leopard
(10.6), as they lead to Lion (10.7). You’ll learn what you need to
know to transition to Apple’s latest operating system for the Mac
without a scratch. For more information, please refer to the group’s
web site, http://www.nca-mug.org.
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Emancipation Day, April 16
Ted Gest, ted.gest@dc.gov
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Emancipation Day, “Commemorating
the Struggle for Freedom, Justice and Equality,” on Monday, April 16.
This is a District of Columbia official holiday, and there will be a
parade, a festival, and fireworks. Learn more at http://www.emancipation.dc.gov
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Housing for All Rally, April 18
Shaunte Wilcher, intern@cnhed.org
A housing for all rally will be hosted by the Coalition for Nonprofit
Housing and Economic Development at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, on April 18 at 6:00 p.m. English to Spanish
interpretation will be provided. Children are welcome. If you have any
questions or concerns, please contact Elizabeth Falcon, efalcon@cnhed.org
or 745-0902.
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Woman’s National Democratic Club Meetings,
April 17, 24
Patricia Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com
April 17, What Is a Print? The fine art print encompasses an
extremely wide range of artworks with one thing in common: their making
involves pressing an image onto a surface, usually paper and usually
using a press. Prints are the gateway art form; they can provide the new
collector an affordable way to own original art. Ellyn Weiss, whose work
is currently exhibited in the club, will use her own monoprints, as well
as some historical work, to illustrate the variety of techniques a
printmaker can use. She will answer your questions and hopes to pique
your interest in this engaging field. Ellyn Weiss is a painter and
printmaker, curator, blogger and teacher, with studios in Mt. Rainier,
MD, and Truro, MA. Ellyn has had more than twenty solo shows and has
participated in numerous juried and group exhibitions. Her exhibit of
new monoprints, “Micro-organismic,” is showing now through the end
of May at the Woman’s National Democratic Club in DC. She is
represented by the Wohlfarth Gallery, Art Advisory, VisionArt and the
Adah Rose Gallery. At the Woman’s National Democratic Club, 1526 New
Hampshire Avenue, NW. Bar opens at 11:30 a.m.; lunch 12:15 p.m.;
lecture, presentation, Q&A: 1:00-2:00 p.m. Members $25, nonmembers
$30; lecture only $10. Register at https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5880/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=35257
April 24, luncheon with Nancy Grace Roman, an American astronomer.
This is a continuation of a series where WNDC members share their life
journey with Club members (Nuchhi Currier was the first). If you and or
member you know wants to share her story, please contact marciecohen007@gmail.com.
Our members are the most interesting women in the area. Throughout her
career, Roman has been an active educator and an advocate for women in
sciences, Roman received her Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore College in
1946 and her PhD. in astronomy from the University of Chicago in 1949.
After graduating, she joined the radio astronomy program at the Naval
Research Laboratory. Roman worked in NASA from 1959 to 1979, where she
was the first chief of astronomy in the Office of Space Science and the
first female to hold an executive position. She was responsible for
several astronomical satellites, including the Cosmic Background
Explorer and the Hubble Space Telescope. She has received many awards
throughout her distinguished career, including honorary doctorates from
Russell Sage College, Hood College, Bates College, and Swarthmore
College. She has an asteroid named in her honor (2516 Roman). NASA has
named a Fellowship in her honor: the Nancy Grace Roman Technology
Fellowship in Astrophysics. Cost $15, lecture only $10. At the Woman’s
National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. Bar opens at
11:30 a.m.; buffet lunch 12:15 p.m.; lecture, presentation, Q&A:
1:00-2:00 p.m. Members $25, nonmembers $30; lecture only $10. Register
at https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5880/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=35173
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National Building Museum Events, April 26
Stacy Adamson, sadamson@nbm.org
April 26, Designing Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging Population.
By 2030, one in five Americans will be over the age of 65. What are the
policy and design strategies needed to ensure that seniors have safe,
accessible, and affordable housing and communities? On April 26,
professionals and practitioners from multiple disciplines address
housing and neighborhoods for an aging population. The Honorable Henry
Cisneros, former HUD secretary, will deliver the keynote address. He
will also sign copies of the book Independent for Life: Homes and
Neighborhoods for an Aging America (University of Texas Press). The
book was co-edited by the staff of Stanford’s Center on Longevity and
is available for purchase in the Museum’s Shop. $100 members; $45
students; $150 nonmembers (Nonmember ticket purchase includes a one-year
individual membership to the National Building Museum). Symposium ticket
price includes lunch, beverages, and snacks. 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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Federation of Citizens Associations Annual
Awards Reception, May 23
Anne Renshaw, milrddc@aol.com
Citizens Federation members, guests, and DC officials will pay
tribute to its 2012 honorees at an Awards Reception to be held on
Wednesday evening, May 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in the
Undercroft of All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, located at 2300
Cathedral Avenue, NW, one block from Connecticut Avenue (Metro: Woodley
Park/Red Line). The Undercroft entrance is several steps below the
church parking lot off Woodley Place, NW.
The honorees in each of four award categories will be the Friends of
the Chevy Chase DC Library, “Outstanding Citizens Group”; Nancy J.
MacWood, “Outstanding Citizen Activist”; District of Columbia
National Guard (Army and Air), “Outstanding Government Service”; and
the Foxhall News and Glover Park Gazette, “Outstanding
Media Contribution.”
Reception reservations, due by May 9, can be made by sending a check
in the amount of $40 per person, payable to the Federation of Citizens
Associations of DC, to Armen Tashdinian, 2728 Cortland Place, NW,
Washington, DC 20008.
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