Early Retirement A Good First Step

Today, Mayor Fenty announced plans to offer early retirement incentives to more than 5,000 District employees. This action is an important step to ensure that we make room for a new generation of leaders in our city while continuing to take care of those who have served for years.



I have been knocking on doors in all eight wards of DC over the past few months, and one of the most frequent questions I get from residents is "What will you do to make our government actually work for the people?" It's a question that is extremely important to our future. We have a bloated workforce in the District government. Many employees proudly serve and do their jobs well every single day. But there are many who have lost the passion that they once had for serving residents.



The only way we will truly be efficient and effective is if we increase the number of performers in our government and trim those who are no longer working for the taxpayers. Early retirement is one step, but we need to look at other options, as well. Better methods of evaluation, rewards for good work, and penalties for under performance are all options that I believe should be on the table. Residents of DC deserve the best. The more effective and passionate our government workforce is, the stronger our city will be and fewer instances of corruption will occur.

An Oak Hill Thanksgiving

Last Thursday, most of us spent the day eating turkey and watching football; appreciating all that life has given us. But for 250 children, Thanksgiving was spent behind bars at the Oak Hill Youth Center, the District's juvenile detention facility. On Thanksgiving Day, I visited Oak Hill with Jauhar Abraham, CEO of The Peaceoholics. We were allowed to share Thanksgiving dinner with the residents of the facility.

Never before in my life have I felt so much pain. Just days before, a riot broke out in one of the buildings, and several of the residents were still confined to their cells. The tension in the air permeated everything and everyone. I realized that Oak Hill is not a place that rehabilitates inmates, it seems to create more anger. This was validated when Jauhar from the Peaceoholics told me that 90 children who were released from Oak Hill were later murdered. This is the face of juvenile justice in the District, and it continues to foster the cycle of violence that plagues our city.

Oak Hill is symbolic of the challenges that we face as we move forward in the District of Columbia. For years, Oak Hill has been ignored and children have grown up to become either criminals or a statistic. Finally, Mayor Fenty is working to change the facility and I support efforts that will improve the environment so we can have the best possible chance to rehabilitate our youth and welcome them to contributing to the continuing progress that our City needs.

This will not be easy. It is clear that the approach to this issue over the past several decades has failed. It will require fresh ideas and energetic leadership on City Council to find a solution and support Mayor Fenty's efforts. Anything less is unacceptable.

Toxic Trains Too Risky

Last week, a CSX Train carrying coal derailed and crashed into the Anacostia River. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the relatively benign coal caused little environmental damage. But suppose the train cars were filled with a toxic substance? We may have been faced with one of the largest environmental disasters in the history of our city. This accident should serve as a warning and actually brings back memories of an incident in 2005.



After a tragic toxic spill in Baltimore, the City Council moved to pass a bill that rerouted trains carrying dangerous substances. The bill has not been implemented because of lawsuits by CSX and the federal government. But this accident should serve as a reminder to keep pushing as hard as we can to ensure that our railways are safe and our environment is protected.



My opponent in my upcoming City Council race, Carol Schwartz, opposed the rerouting of toxic trains, despite overwhelming public support to pass the bill. Her decision to oppose the bill was based on the costs of fighting the lawsuits. But how high a price would we have paid if those trains last week were carrying fuel? It's not enough to rely on CSX to make their own decisions. As residents, we need to fight on to ensure that our safety and our environment are protected.

DC's Poorest Residents Crying for Help

A report released today by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute has confirmed what many of us have feared--the gap between rich and poor in this city continues to grow. The situation has become so severe that only Atlanta and Tampa have higher income inequality. An article in yesterday's Washington Post shed light on the human side of the issue, discussing the gradual shift in constituent services among our Councilmembers. In the past, constituent services focused on potholes, trees, crime and other city government issues. Today, we are seeing an increase in the number of residents looking to elected officials for financial help, including rent, utilities, and even funeral payments.



The constituent-service funds overseen by Councilmembers can alleviate many of these needs, and I am a huge supporter of their use for those in severe crisis. Unfortunately, the money can provide only temporary emergency assistance, not help for our neediest constituents to build better lives for themselves. Long-term projects such as school reform, vocational training, the improvement of UDC, and health care access are all essential to offering greater opportunity for our neediest residents to live decently.



The changing needs of residents as referenced in the Post article should be seen as the canary in the coal mine. If we do not find long-term solutions, the problem will escalate, causing future expenditures to spin out of control. Sonn, the constituent service funds will be used up.

Health Department Shake Up

Mayor Fenty's citywide shake-up continued last week with the firing of Gregg Pane, the director of the Health Department. While Pane came to DC with excellent credentials, health problems in the District persist, and I applaud the Mayor for his aggressive approach. Unacceptable levels of infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, obesity, asthma and now even staph have combined with an access problem in poor neighborhoods to create a real emergency. Just as with our school system, it is time for drastic change.



I hope that Mayor Fenty looks to cities around the nation for qualified health professionals and best practices when choosing a candidate. Whether it is New York City's successful HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns or California's proposed health care plan, we need to look to other regions and cities to find solutions that work elsewhere. We also need to seriously examine the bureaucracy to make sure that DOH employees are performing adequately and that we have the most qualified and dedicated employees.



Furthermore, I believe that the new director of DOH needs to improve response in the event of a large public health outbreak. This is a real possibility and an unprepared government can prove deadly. Washington, DC, can and should be an example to the rest of the country of quality heath care and health care emergency services. We residents deserve it. should demand it, and should hold our public officials accountable.

The School Libraries Project

More than a year ago, I became involved in the School Libraries Project (SLP), a non-profit supported by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation as well as DCPS. Realizing that the disrepair of our public schools included the libraries, a group of concerned parents on the Hill took matters into their own hands and began raising money to renovate the libraries in neighborhood schools such as Brent, J.O. Wilson and Peabody. On October 24th, the final library will be complete, capping a multi-year effort that highlighted the commitment of an entire community to solve a serious problem.



As good as this project is, it serves only one neighborhood and eight schools. Thousands of children around our city deserve to have quality libraries. SLP is one of the few public school successes ocurring before the launch of Mayor Fenty's aggressive school reform plan. IT is also one that needs to be expanded.



Parents and residents in neighborhoods all across the city have a great example in SLP to see what their own schools can become. I encourage you to visit SLP and see for yourself. It truly is a model we should strive for as a city. My hat goes off to Todd Cymrot, Suzanne Wells, Catherine Townsend and many other parents who made this vision come to life.

Violence on the Rise

In a blog posting from several months ago, I mentioned the concerns held by Fraternal Order of Police President, Kris Baumann, about the coming surge in DC violence. It appears that the surge is upon us, as children are being murdered nightly on the streets of DC. Each child that loses his or her life is a piece of DC's future that disappears. The surge in violence saddens me, but also makes me more determined to fix our city.



Last night, I attended the Peaceoholics annual awards benefit. Jauhar Abraham, the CEO and co-founder of the Peaceoholics, who is also a close friend, gave an award to one of the greatest success stories of youth turning their lives around. The infamous Choppa City Girls terrorized Anacostia just last year. The girls were sisters and attended Anacostia High School. Businesses, bus drivers and other students lived in constant fear of attacks by the gang.



One day, the girls were introduced to the Peaceoholics. Through the mentorship offered by Jauhar and other co-founder, Ronald Moten, the girls went from causing violence to preventing it. It was the Peaceoholics that made them realize the futility of their behavior. Jauhar took them under his wing and even brought them to North Carolina to visit various universities and worked closely with the schools to ensure that the girls would be accepted. Now, two of the sisters are attending Shaw University in Raleigh and frequently come back to DC to work side by side with the Peaceoholics to fight violence.



Jauhar and Moe are special people. Our city owes them a debt of gratitude for all the good work that they do every day. The Choppa City Girls are just one of countless Peaceoholics success stories. They are a prime example of a community coming together to save our children. Let's salute them!

HAA Fails Again

More than 70,000 condoms have been returned to the DC government by community groups due to defective packaging. This revelation continues the ongoing inability of the HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA) to effectively prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. While New York City can distribute millions of defective-free condoms per month, here in DC we are unable to provide just a few hundred thousand over the course of a year, with many of those needing to be returned.



What will it take to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the District? The first step is to put quality controls and distribution systems in place to make sure condoms are getting to at-risk populations across our city. The Fenty administration is working tirelessly to improve HAA, but things are not moving fast enough in my opinion. Each time a resident of DC contracts HIV, we have failed as leaders.



I encourage all of you reading this blog to make your voices heard. Send an email or letter to the mayor telling him you want more to be done to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The Importance of Quality Administration

DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee is working around the clock to improve our schools and give children in the District the same educational opportunities that students have in our surrounding suburbs. In a recent YouTube video, she discussed her frustration with our schools, describing the disconnect between the quality of education and the perception of the problem held by many parents. For example, she discussed a school with only 10 percent proficiency among students, but the main concern of the parents was the potential closing of the building.



Examples such of this are very troubling, because lack of understanding about the state of our education system can lead to increased barriers when Ms. Rhee is trying to make drastic changes. The biggest challenge she faces now is her attempt to remove underperforming administrators and reorganize the structure of DCPS. Certain residents have protested her attempts to fire hundreds of current DCPS employees, but while the political battle turns to protecting jobs, the kids continue to be neglected.



Ms. Rhee has an excellent plan to reform our schools. Our focus must remain on giving students the best education possible. I urge residents of DC to work together to support Ms. Rhee in her endeavour. She deserves the chance to succeed, and we need her to be successful.

DC's Greatest Epidemic

DC has serious health care problems. Finding ways to increase access, improve quality of care and upgrade facilities present big challenges to our city on an ongoing basis. But a scary epidemic is in our midst; and surprising little is being done to stop it. HIV/AIDS infects approximately one in 20 DC residents, and perhaps even more. It is not a problem faced only by the gay community or the African American community, as many believe. HIV/AIDS is a threat to all of us. Unfortunately, the DC HIV AIDS Administration (HAA) has been ineffective in curbing the spread of the virus.

Residents are not getting tested at the rates they need to be; there is little public education about prevention and treatment; the city is not tracking those with HIV/AIDS to help prevent its spread; and non-profit organizations paid by the District to help fight the epidemic are not held accountable for their performance. This must be fixed.

Last week, I met with David Mariner from DC Fights Back (http://www.dcfightsback.org/) who helped me understand the complexity of the epidemic in the District and brought me up to speed on some of the necessary solutions.



HAA must function at a higher standard. We need increased public awareness to educate residents about prevention and risk. We must do a better job focusing on prevention. For example, New York City distributes up to five million condoms each month. DC has been unable to distribute 250,000 condoms over the past eight months. This is unacceptable. Treatment and care also must be improved, and this requires partnering with non-profit groups with expertise, but we must also hold them accountable.



While DC has a higher HIV/AIDS rate than any other state in the union, we are lucky to have organizations like DC Fights Back to help educate our leaders and find concrete policy solutions.

A Healthy DC

Nearly one in four children in DC is overweight. That means we have the largest number of obese kids in the United States. With the growing epidemic of obesity in this country, this is not a statistic we District residents should be proud of. We are killing our kids, and it's only going to get worse if we don't do something about it.

Changing eating habits is not an easy task. Companies offering fast food and junk food spend billions of dollars every year advertising to children and their parents. Healthy foods are often not available in certain neighborhoods of this city. There is not enough emphasis placed on physical activity. This can all be changed, but it must be done with parents, schools and government working together.

My mother raised me on a healthful diet. Because I learned the value of nutrition at a young age, I naturally watch my diet now that I am older. And I will do the same with my children, making sure that they learn good eating habits. Parents and other adults must take an active roles in giving kids the tools and the knowledge they need to stay healthy.

Government and business can contribute, as well. We need to do more public awareness and outreach campaigns in our poorest neighborhoods. Messages directed to parents and children should encourage healthy eating and physical activity. Businesses should offer healthy options for residents as well, giving them the opportunity to eat right. Finally, our schools must to do more to promote a healthy lifestyle. This means better nutrition education, more rigorous PE and the removal of all junk foods from school. With a bit of imagination, school kitchens can provide delicious, nutritious, and well-balanced meals, without increasing costs.


Let's give our kids a head start and give them the tools they need to live long and healthy lives.

The Gap Widens

District Matters is back after a month-long hiatus. Though I haven't posted in the past few weeks, my crusade to make this city a better place for everyone has been ongoing throughout the summer.

As many of you know, keeping a strong and vibrant middle class in this city is a passion of mine. It is key to maintaining a strong and healthy tax base and will secure the long-term finanical health of our city. But a middle class must be about more than finances. A strong middle class must concern itself with the matter of human decency. When I read the data today from the U.S. Census Bureau about the widening income gap between blacks and whites in DC, I was extremely disheartened. The latest figures show that whites earn a median income of $89,000 per year while blacks earn only $34,000. The numbers don't lie; we have a problem on our hands.

This income disparity cannot be cured overnight. But the DC government can do its part to help level the playing field. We need quality schools, improved job training, quality health care and improved constituent services. DC residents in all income categories bring value to this city; we must provide possibilities for those with fewer opportunities to shine. I am committed to finding concrete policy solutions that will enable all residents in Washington to live productive, decent lives. DC is a family, and we must behave as such.

Health Care for Kids

Ensuring that our children have access to quality health care is just as important as providing an excellent education. While many kids have insurance coverage, many do not have access to decent facilities or the resources to get to a doctor's office. Wouldn't it be great if we could bring decent medical care to our kids instead of forcing them to travel to a facility?



I have been studying the concept of community schools. This approach takes a holistic approach to caring for children, and ensures that additional services of benefit to our kids are provided at their schools. Health care is one of those services that every child needs to have as part of their upbringing. If DC public schools provided adequate health care, like a physician assistant on site, for example, the quality of care our students receive could increase dramatically. Parents would no longer have the stress of figuring out how to get their kids to the doctor--and how to pay for those visits-- and increased regular check-ups would prevent escalating illness and the use of hospital emergency rooms for non-emergencies.



While I have not yet done the cost-benefit numbers, I think we can take existing funds from Medicaid, the Department of Health and from other sources to fund school-based health care. In the long run, it would not only save us money, but would provide a much-needed service for our children and families in desperate need of accessible, affordable, quality care. What do you think about this idea? I would really like some feedback.

WIN with Affordable Housing

Last night I attended Affordable Housing Accountability Night organized by the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN). WIN is comprised of a group of churches in DC dedicated to political action and the improvement of our city. Their Vote Neighborhoods First campaign centers around creating vibrant and livable neighborhoods that can be enjoyed by all residents regardless of income. The evening centered around a speech by Mayor Fenty about his commitment to affordable housing and his progress and plans for the creation of affordable units across the city.



With support from WIN, Mayor Fenty has embarked on a mission to provide 14,000 "Nehemiah" homeownership units, which are deemed affordable to residents with incomes ranging from $20,000 to $75,000. What was so impressive about the evening, was that the Mayor's plans were not just plans, they were already actions.



The vast changes in our city have caused many long-time residents to be priced out of the city. Through increased rents and property tax assessments, owners and renters alike have been forced to move to more affordable areas outside the District. This just isn't right, especially for those that have been DC residentss their entire lives.



There are some positive stories. though. For example, Ms. Brenda Jordan, who spoke at last night's event, started the Pleasant Park Tenants Association to organize neighbors and purchase their building when threatened with an owner who wanted to convert all the units into condos. But this is only one case, and not all residents can afford to do the same thing that Ms. Jordan and her neighbors did.



We must ensure that a certain percentage of all units in this city remain affordable and available for those with limited financial resources. Residents who do not want to leave our great city have the right to live here and participate in our urban renaissance.

Kenny Barnes is a True Hero

Kenny Barnes is an amazing man. He is the President of ROOT, Inc., which stands for Reaching Out to Others Together. This group is dedicated to ending violence in our city and creating peaceful and safe communities. ROOT's mission is to ensure that communities, police, faith- based organizations, media, business and others all need to work together if the violence epidemic is going to be stopped. In a way, this is very similar to Hillary Clinton's "It Takes A Village" theme. His inspiration for ROOT came from a very tragic circumstance.



On September 24th, 2001, his son was brutally murdered in Ward 1. He was shot in cold blood by a 17-year old. While Mr. Barnes was devastated, he was driven to find his son's killer, and worked tirelessly with members of the community to bring the perpetrators to justice. He found witnesses, worked with the police, and followed a trail that ultimately led to an arrest and conviction. None of this would have been possible if Mr. Barnes had not sought out and engaged members from across the community.



This experience led Mr. Barnes to start ROOT. If he could engage the entire community to find a killer, why not engage the same community to prevent violence before it happens? Churches, businesses and others can and should provide mentorship services to youth and offer ways to turn them away from violence. Mr. Barnes has had resounding success with his endeavor and is a true hero to his city.



To improve our lives here in DC, we must all work together. Government must encourage residents to get involved. Residents must hold their government accountable. Non-profit organizations can complement these efforts and help provide services that the government cannot. Teamwork is the only way we will solve our city's ills. Mr. Barnes has proved it.

More Greater SE Horror Stories

I hope that my focus on the quality of health coverage in DC is not becoming redundant to many of you, but I keep hearing of stories and problems that I feel need to be told. The story in Sunday's Washington Post gave me an even greater perspective on the crisis at Greater Southeast Community Hospital. It is hard to imagine that wings of the hospital are completely closed and that layoffs continue to reduce the staff despite a shortage of health facilities for residents. Is this the face of health care in this city? Why did the DC government allow this to happen? Some of our Councilmembers were asleep at the wheel during this ongoing deterioration. Fortunately, Councilmember Catania is now focusing on this issue and is determined to make things right.

The Post did an excellent job reporting on the state of the hospital, but I want to share with you the story of one of my good friends who was an in-patient at Greater Southeast. While he will remain unnamed, I assure you this is a true story. He currently suffers from a heart condition that causes him to to have occasional mild heart attacks. After one of these, he was admitted to Greater SE. While recovering, he had another episode while walking through the hospital. He passed out and fell to the floor. He was wearing a heart monitor which was working perfectly and detected his cardiac arrest.

While the heart monitor was working, he remained on the floor unconscious without anyone coming to help. Thirty minutes later he was noticed by someone who realized what had happened. In the middle of a hospital, wearing a heart monitor, my friend remained on the floor unconscious for 30 MINUTES and was completely ignored!!! He is lucky to be alive today, most likely because his doctor was able to move him to George Washington University Hospital. As I recount his story, tears are in my eyes. This could have happened to any of us and, sadly,one can only imagine such unfortunate incidents occurring again and again at Greater SE and other under-resourced health facilities in our city and elsewhere.

The wheels have come off our health system and we need to fix it. It is a problem that affects all of us. We have a moral obligation to care for each other. Over the next few weeks I will be presenting ideas to help increase and improve coverage for all DC residents. We can't sit idly and allow this to continue.

More Thoughts on Health Care

A couple days ago, my mother had an accident. She fell down the stairs, broke her wrist and suffered other bruises that have caused extensive pain. She called me at work right after it happened and I rushed home to take her to the hospital. We went to the Sibley Hospital emergency room. After hearing about the state of Greater Southeast and after watching the movie Sicko, I was prepared for the worst.

I was surprised though because the care at Sibley actually turned out to be great. We were in and out pretty quickly, with my mom wrapped up and all the tests complete. But we were lucky.

What this experience accentuated was the disparity of care our city. Even with the same insurance carriers, care can differ based on neighborhood and hospital. A human life is a human life, regardless of economic status. Everyone deserves the quality care that my mother was lucky to receive at Sibley Hospital. We must all fight to ensure that there are facilities east of the river and elsewhere that provide the same level of care.

Holiday Week Fireworks

The spectacular fireworks display at the Washington Monument on July 4th provides a night of family fun and celebration. But all across the city, legal and illegal fireworks are being ignited. From open fields to front porches, crackles can be heard constantly throughout this holiday week. For most, it's all in good fun, but let's remember how dangerous fireworks can really be. I saw a report from Christopher Metzler on the MPD 1D listserve this morning highlighting some disturbing behavior:

For about the last 30 minutes, a group of seven b/m teenagers have been
going up into people's front yards or on their porches, mounting bottle rockets
and shooting them off, running away, and returning three minutes later to do it
again. Also part of the entertainment includes shooting the bottle rockets
at people's houses and cars. I've called 311 a couple of times; no police
have been by as yet.

While this behavior is inexcusable, it's also disconcerting to see that there has been no response by the police. Personally, I debate whether this should actually be a 911 call as opposed to 311. The possible injury/damage that can be caused by these fireworks, as well as the trespassing that is occurring, seems to be pretty serious. It's up to all of us to keep on our police to make sure they enforce the law. It's also up to us to make sure our young people have other activities to do that keeps them from being mischievous.

If anyone has seen anything similar on their blocks, please feel free to post them here.

Healthcare Trumps All

The saga unfolding around Greater Southeast Community Hospital (GSECH) has, once again, ignited a debate about corporate profits vs. quality health care. Councilmember Catania has justifiably caused a stir by accusing the corporate owner, Envision, of putting profits ahead of patient care. What is happening at GSECH mirrors the healthcare crisis going on around the country. Unfortunately, it's in our home town, and the neediest of District residents are the ones suffering.



Quality health care is a right, not a privilege for only those who can afford it. Our leaders must find a way to ensure that DC residents have access to health care without first being frisked by corporate number crunchers. Governor Schwarzenegger has a far-reaching plan in California that guarantees coverage for every Californian. DC residents deserve coverage as well.



As long as the federal government continues to avoid dealing seriously with the nation's out-of-control health-care crisis, local leaders must lean heavily on Congress and the White House to make necessary changes and improvements while, at the same time, protect local residents from corporate profiteering. I applaud David Catania's efforts to stand up to a large corporation and to champion the cause of those who need our help desperately--too many struggling residents of the District of Columbia in need of medical attention.

Effective Curfew Enforcement

The attempt by Councilmember Tommy Wells to move the curfew for teens up an hour to 10 PM was blocked when another member of the Council changed her vote at the last minute. I support curfews because they have the ability to keep our children and streets safer at night and to allow our police officers to focus on our other pressing enforcement needs.

During curfew hours, youth on the street are either taken home or taken in by officers on duty, but curfews are difficult to enforce. MPD is already understaffed, and combing every street and alley for kids out after curfew is challenging. Sure, most teens will obey the law and stay inside, but many will just ignore it. A curfew is only as good as MPD's ability to make it work.

When sudden crime spikes occur, as we are currently experiencing in The District, curfews must be enforced. But we must also think long-term. Later hours for recreation centers, teenager-targeted events and midnight basketball are all options that will allow our youth to stay up late, yet also be productive. Curfews are important, but let's all think about what we can do to create long-lasting stability in our neighborhoods.

Gun Control Takes Center Stage in Ward 8

Last weekend, I went to the Ward 8 Democrats debate on gun control. In attendance, were representatives from the city, the NRA, the Brady Center and the Million Mom March DC. It was a spirited debate, but I came away pessimistic about finding a true solution to the problem, at least as far as DC is concerned.



The problem was eloquently summed up by Ladd Everitt in his email following the event. Ladd is from the Million Mom March and was one of the panelists:

I told people in my remarks that I found it sad that we point fingers at each
other and are duped into criticizing DC's gun laws when traffickers from VA, MD
and elsewhere EVERY DAY are channeling illegal guns to our kids and profiting
from the ensuing bloodshed.

Ladd has a great point. Without secure borders, how can our small city really control its own destiny when it comes to keeping guns off the streets? It is so easy to go into a gun store, buy a gun and then sell it in DC, completely undetected. The answer really lies in the strengthening of federal gun laws and also in better enforcement of the laws in MD and VA. Even the strictest gun laws in DC won't prevent gun violence in our city. Nevertheless, DC residents must have the right to determine the gun laws in the District. Gun violence in Washington is just another example of how District residents are affected by the decisions of others.

An Old School Fathers Day

All around the country, fathers and their kids celebrated their unconditional love for each other on Fathers Day. Unfortunately, for many in the District of Columbia, children are without fathers. In some cases, dads are in jail or were murdered. In other cases, they simple choose not to be a part of their kids' lives and upbringing. No matter the reason, Fathers Day should remind us that many youth of this city desperately need our help.


The government cannot create fathers. All the money in the world will not create never-formed or broken bonds. But several groups of courageous and dedicated black men in the District have come together to create organizations that mentor children and steer them away from violence and crime. Yesterday, two such groups, Peaceoholics and Cease Fire, held a special Fathers Day cookout and baseball game for kids whose fathers are not there for them.


The baseball game featured my team, the "new school" Peaceoholics, coached by co-founders Jauhar Abraham and Ronald Motten, against the "old school" Madness, coached by Cease Fire founder Al-Malik Farrakhan. We were sure we were going to win, but at the end of the game, we were beaten by the "old school" brothers 20-0!!! I have never been so surprised, but Al-Malik fielded an amazing team.


Today, I was reminded again of two things:

1) There are great people doing great things in this community, doing everything they can to save and support our youth.

2) Respect our elders. Not only do they have the ability to make a difference in our community, but they are very good at baseball!

The Art of Risk Taking

Our mayor now has the future of more than 55,000 school children in his hands. We knew all along that this new governance structure was not going to support the status quo, and on Tuesday we were proven right. As soon as he could, Clifford Janey was sacked in favor of a seemingly untested 37-year old who started a non-profit whose mission is to improve urban public schools with out-of-the-box thinking. Questions have arisen about Michelle Rhee's qualifications, but DC has had "qualified" superintendents for the last 20 years, and look where that has gotten us, in a race to the bottom.

Mayor Fenty is certainly taking a risk by appointing Ms. Rhee, an accomplished and successful professional, but one who has never run a school system. But to the naysayers, I urge DC stakeholders to give her a chance and to do everything possible to support her success. Her success will be our success, for our children will get the education they deserve.


I don't have a crystal ball, but I applaud the Mayor for taking the road "less traveled by," and for pushing change. This appointment is certainly symbolic of the transformation of this city. New blood, energy, creative thinking. All hallmarks of success. We will all be watching to see if the execution is as good as the idea.

Taking Note of our Diversity

On Saturday evening, I marched in the Capitol Pride parade with the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. My respect for the GLBT community in Washington, DC runs very deep, because I see the commitment to political action . The activism shown by Gertrude Stein and the rest of the GLBT community demonstrates how political involvement can yield positive results.

As a city, we must all realise that the GLBT community has faced discrimination for many years, but they did not take it passively. Groups like Gertrude Stein here in DC and Human Rights Campaign nationally have worked tirelessly to make their issues known and to fight for equal treatment regardless of sexual orientation.



Below are some pictures from the parade. Enjoy:

Tragedy at Unifest

DC made the news all over the world last Saturday, but this time for a local tragedy. A woman drove 70mph into a crowd of people, injuring 35, including young children. I have been addressing pedestrian safety issues on this blog for a while now, discussing dangerous intersections, enforcement, and ways to protect our residents. Unfortunately, the tragedy at Unifest has highlighted this problem once again. But this time, it has nothing to do with traffic lights, speed bumps or stop signs.



It seems that we are never entirely safe. No matter how much we work at it, tragedies can never be prevented entirely. What happened yesterday reminded me of the elderly man that killed 7 people with his car at a farmers market in Santa Monica, California. Bad things just happen every now and then, and we need to use these events to appreciate the value of human life and to cherish those closest to us.


How can we prevent future tragedies such as what happened at Unifest? Is it better safety barriers? Is it pedestrian vigilance? Is it better mental health care for those that may commit such acts? I would really like to hear ideas from readers today, because I think it's important for us to share our thoughts on this issue. We all go to street festivals in this city, and as summer begins, let's think about how we can make them safer.

Mayor Pledges to Examine Unsafe Streets

Back in April, after the tragic deaths of Crysta Spencer in Ward 6 and Ms. Covington in Ward 7, I asked readers to submit dangerous streets and intersections in their neighborhoods to Disctrict Matters so that I could deliver them directly to the Mayor and DDOT in attempt to prevent further needless pedestrian deaths. The Washington Post published this and I received a list of 24 intersections which residents felt needed some type of traffic control (lights, stop signs, speed bumps, cameras, etc.).

Last week I presented this list to Mayor Fenty at a community meeting on Minnesota Ave. traffic calming. The Mayor promised to look at each intersection on the list and examine them equally, regardless of ward, to see if safety improvements could be made. The dangerous intersections, as submitted by readers, can be found in the comments on my post from April 25th and listed here:

14th ST NW from Ft Stevens
5th Street NW, from Kansas Ave up through to Missouri Ave
100 Block of Chesapeake Street SW
Alabama Avenue and 18th Place SE
Buena Vista Terrance SE
C Street and 10th Street SE
C Street and Kentucky SE
Corcoran and 18th Street NW
E Street and 6th Street SE
K Street, West Virginia, and 11th Streets NE
M Street and 6th Street NW
Madison and 7th Street NW
Military Road and 14th Street NW
Minnesota Avenue and M Street SE
Missouri Ave NW between Georgia Ave and the PG county
line N Street NW between 1st Street NW and NJ Avenue NW
New York Avenue between 9th & North Capitol NW
North Carolina and 13th Street NE
Orleans Place and 6th Street NE
P Street and 5th Street NW
Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street NW
Q Street and 19th Street NW
Rhode Island Avenue and 15th NWSouth Carolina Avenue and 7th Street SE

The DC government cannot possibly know every single dangerous street in this city, and when a tragedy occurs, it is often too late. That's why it is so important that we as residents stay involved and let our leaders know when something needs to be fixed. When young Crysta Spencer and Ms. Covington died, it was a failure not only of our government, but of our entire community. We all have to work together to prevent these horrible accidents, so let's keep our feet to the fire, as well as our public officials'.

Reflections from a Town Hall

Last night I attended an Education Town Hall in Ward 8 hosted by Mayor Fenty. The auditorium had no air conditioning and was extremely hot, letting residents experience what their children have to go through attending classes. But the place was packed, as parents and activists alike filled the room to let their views be heard.

There were multiple tables at the meeting, each one with a facilitator who helped participants offer their ideas. Each table came up with their top ideas and presented them to the Mayor who guided the entire forum. I was very impressed with the efficiency and effectiveness of this model and its ability to draw opinions out of residents.

Ideas ranging from increased security to more busing to more parental involvement were discussed at each table and ultimately presented to the Mayor. Whether or not the Mayor takes all of these ideas and puts them into practice is up to him and his staff, but the fact that he shows up and wants to hear what residents have to say goes a long way. I look forward to attending more of these and encourage city residents to do the same.

To Close or Not to Close

The tragic shooting at a popular Southwest Nightclub has ignited calls from residents and local stakeholders for the permanent closure of H2O. Chief Lanier has announced a temporary closure of the club, which I believe is the correct action. Revelers need to see that their behavior has consequences, and a temporary closure sends that message.



I must say, however, that I am still unsure about permanently shutting down the establishment due to this incident. H2O screens and searches patrons before they enter, keeping the club safe inside. It's what happens outside that is the problem. Too much alcohol, combined with ready access to weapons, is a disastrous combination. That's we saw that over the weekend when the assailant went to his car to get a gun and then shot the victim in the head.


I see the event as an issue of enforcement. Adequate police/security presence both inside and outside the club can act as a preventative measure, likely reducing unlawful incidents. Kneejerk reactions are rarely the best solution. The calls to close H2O are understandable, but may just push the problem somewhere else instead of actually preventing violence. Instead of permanently forcing the closure of H2O, let's put the onus on MPD to ensure that the surrounding area is safe and require H2O to increse its own efforts to ensure a safe and fun evening for both customers and local residents.

Alarming Spike in Capitol Hill Robberies

This past weekend saw 15 robberies on Capitol Hill. The number is alarming. As a resident I can't remember a spike like that since my teenage days in the 90's. The weekend crimes included muggings at gunpoint, snatched money from cash registers, and even a couple walking home who were beaten with 2x4's.

As you may have seen on my previous post about youth crime getting ready to increase, the police are unprepared to prevent these incidents. We have seen community policing be effective across the city. Unfortunately there just isn't enough officers on the streets. Police presence will deter crime and the more cops we have out on the street, the safer our neighborhoods will be.

MPD needs both more resources and an overhaul of their booking system so that officers can spend more time on the streets and less time filling out paperwork at their desks. With crime increasing on Capitol Hill and across the city, I plea for help from our leaders. The better you can protect your consituents, the happier we will be and the more vibrant our communities will become.

Tax Cuts for Rich: Appearing in DC

The newly passed DC Council budget includes a round of tax cuts that take advantage of the region' s booming economy. Many of the tax cuts are warranted, especially since lower and middle-class residents have been getting squeezed because of increasing costs. I am happy that one tax cut was actually removed, because its only purpose was to benefit DC's wealthiest residents.

Councilmember Carol Schwartz -- a Republican -- had been supporting the elimination of the estate tax. How she was able to slip that into the budget is beyond me, but with all of the problems faced by residents of DC, tax cuts for the rich does not seem to be responsible policy. My reasoning for this lies in two general areas:

1) Lower and middle-income residents are the taxpayers who truly need the relief, not the rich
2) While we have a surplus right now, we don't know how long the economic boom will last
3) We should use the estate tax revenue for programs like affordable housing and decreasing poverty.

Fortunately, cooler heads have prevailed, thwarting the repeal of the estate tax. But it really does show that if we are not paying attention, deeply flawed policies for DC residents can be implemented right under our noses.

The Ward 5 Strip Club Saga

As a local resident, I don't think I would like strip clubs in close proximity to my home. I'm not a small business owner, but if I were, I would also not take kindly to the government forcing me to relocate. Here in lies the conundrum of the Ward 5 Strip Club proposal. Club owners were required to move in order to make way for the baseball stadium. But now, citizens elsewhere are rising up to keep them out of their neighborhoods.

It is policy situations such as these that make governing so difficult. Both sides are right. Residents moved to a certain community to maintain a certain quality of life. Businesses operate under the assumption that they will not be pushed around. Who is more important? Local residents or local businesses? Whether one supports strip clubs is really a values argument, but we cannot argue that these clubs are not legitimate businesses. They operate within the law and pay taxes.

Ultimately, the clubs will end up locating somewhere in DC, or the government will be on the losing end of a very large lawsuit. A reasonable solution will depend on skillful negotiations and the active civic engagement of all concerned.

Plagarism, Policy and Protection

The news last week that the Fenty administration took verbage, word for word, in its draft education plan from school system plans of other cities should not come as much of a surprise. The Mayor and his team specifically expressed that they were using best practices to make up the bulk of the school takeover implementation. Using best practices is an excellent way to find a solution that works, and an academic citing the work of others is completely acceptable. Unfortunately, this work was not attributed.

Fenty's gaffe is serious, but should not be used to criticize his administration's education policy. The Mayor is well-intentioned and wants a stellar public education system in Washington, DC. He made a mistake, now let him move on so that we can help our kids. What really worries me, though, is that blame is being put squarely on the shoulders of Victor Reinoso. Note that in an earlier blog I wrote about the risk to the oversight of DCPS if Reinoso had to spend most of his time facing attacks that had little to do with the day-to-day operation of schools. It looks as if we are facing that right now. Here is my blog from 4/5/07:

I haven't seen much publicly written about this topic yet, and criticism
has not really been aired citywide, but I would like to offer some advice. In
New York, when people attack Joel Klein, Mayor Bloomberg immediately rushes
to his defense. After all, Mayor Bloomberg is really the person in charge,
and he needs to take the heat so that the Chancellor can do his job without
distractions.Mayor Fenty needs to do the same thing with Mr. Reinoso if it
ever gets to that point. It will be some time before we can objectively rate
the job that Mr. Reinoso is doing, so let's not make predictions or launch
ad homonym attacks. Only the children will suffer if the new education
system falls prey to politics and public relations.

We are now at "that point." Now is the time for Mayor Fenty to ensure that Victor Reinoso is protected so he can effectively manage DCPS. We all know that plagarism is wrong, but let's put our childeren first and let the Deputy Mayor for Education concentrate on the job of educating our children.

The Military Solution

As a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve, I am required to serve in an active military capacity one weekend per month and two weeks per year. During times of crisis, I can be called to go to war in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. While I have not been sent to a war zone, I have been to other hot spots around the world, such as post-tsunami Indonesia, where I was part of a humanitarian relief effort. Serving in thhe Navy has been an extremely rewarding experience for me, as it has been for many others.

How does this connect to issues in DC? Sometimes, the military may be one of the only ways out for kids living in dire circumstances. While many youth in DC have fractured families and are surrounded by guns, drugs and crime, the military offers them a way to travel, become better educated, learn discipline and organizational skills, and perhaps pick up a trade that can be of value in the civilian world. In many ways, the military can harness young energy in a positive way that can turn lives around.

The war in Iraq has tainted the reputation of the military, despite the hard work and dedication of our young men and women in uniform. But let's remember that the military has been around since before our nation was born, and it has fostered some of the most well respected leaders in the history of our nation. Most of our Presidents have been in the military and so have many successful CEOs, writers and other outstanding citizens. The military is not the solution for everyone, but for some of our city's youth, it may just well be. I am proud to serve my country in the United States Navy and I know that many other DC residents are as well.

Public Safety Walks: Enhancing Community Engagement

Yesterday evening, Tommy Wells took residents of PSA 106 on a tour of alleys and other public safety hotspots in our neighborhood. This was the fourth such tour in Ward 6 that the councilmember has conducted, and the turnout was spectacular, perhaps more than 50 people.

Public safety depends on community involvement. Residents must understand the parts of their neighborhood that are at risk for crime and be vigilant to help prevent it. Tommy's walk-throughs enhancing MPD's community policing efforts by ensuring that average citizens participate in public safety initiatives. Police cannot be everywhere, so if neighbors are aware of high-risk areas, they can either avoid them or monitor them closely in order to report suspicious activities.

Involving residents in crime fighting efforts helps everyone. An engaged community deters crime and improves the standard of living for all. Tommy's efforts set the standard for community-wide public safety efforts, and I believe that councilmembers in other wards should use his initiatives as an example to replicate.

Job Training: Teach the Right Skills

Four industries make up the majority of DC’s economic growth: government, real estate, health care and technology. Hiring residents that live in the District for these jobs should be an integral part of maintaining a healthy middle class and a vibrant city. Unfortunately, many employers who want to hire citizens of DC have a difficult time finding skilled residents to take those positions.

While the DC Department of Employment Services has job training programs for residents, many of the programs are not in relevant industries; and furthermore, it is difficult to effectively track graduates of the program. For example, when determining eligibility for job training providers, nowhere does it mention the trades which they are required to teach. It only mentions "in demand" jobs, which could essentially mean anything.

Classes for people at the lower end of the economic spectrum can yield extraordinary benefits and allow them to move into higher paying jobs. But to do this, the DC government must help make them relevant to the people looking to hire.

To make our workers more competitive, it is necessary for our political leaders and DOES to customize their courses and contractor requirements to the skilled jobs in the District that are most available. The standards for these courses must be well regulated and oversight will be necessary to ensure that student performance is documented. More must also be done to bring employers and job training graduates closer together. Online job databases specifically for District residents and a streamlined process for hiring from these programs would go a long way to increasing opportunity for local residents.

Hine-Site is always 20/20

Tonight I attended what may have been one of the largest community meetings in the history of DC. My guess is that more than 1,000 people came out to Hine Junior High School to meet, debate and collaborate on the future of Eastern Market. Mayor Fenty, along with Councilmembers Catania, Mendelson and Wells, along with their staffs, were in attendance to listen and learn from community members and vendors. In the week since the fire, much homework and planning have been done, and several options that would provide a temporary location for the market while the rebuilding is underway have been researched. The three options presented were:

1) Closing 7th Street in order to house a temporary indoor market
2) Placing the market in the school yard of Hine Junior High School
3) Locating the market near the Eastern Market Metro stop on the other side of Penn. Ave.

Mayor Fenty's community-minded approach to solving urgent problems is admirable. He gave the community three options, and essentially let us take the future into our own hands. This was similar to his approach at the Temple Courts housing project. When a politician listens to an engaged community, Democracy flourishes in its purist form. It was an impressive and inspiring evening.

As for my decision on where to house the market: The site in the school yard of Hine Junior High School seems to be the best approach, and it is the choice of the displaced Eastern Market vendors. It provides room for trucks to deliver goods, leaves traffic unaffected, and still allows for plenty of space for childeren to play in the yard. Where do you want to see the temporary market? Contact the mayor or leave your comments here and I will let him know.

Violent Crime in DC - On the Edge of a Cliff

Last week I met with Kris Baumann, the President of the Fraternal Order of Police, to discuss issues of public safety. I came out of the meeting feeling a sense of urgency. It looks as if street crime will get worse before it gets better.

MPD is severely undermanned and burdened with a bureaucracy that forces officers to spend more time at their desks when they should be patrolling the streets. Combine a broken police force with a coming spike in the number of 13-21 year olds, the most likely violent offenders, and a perfect storm is brewing. Our city is not prepared, which is scary.

Nobody wants to return to the days of the crack epidemic when DC was the murder capitol of the nation. But that is where we are heading if we don't fix MPD and don't address our city's changing demographics. We need a combination of more stringent law enforcement together with programs providing greater opportunities for youth. Certain solutions that I propose include:

-Tougher sentences for violent offenders along with in-prison programs to lower the recitivism rate
-Redeployment strategies that ensure the proper number of officers are present in the most high-risk areas
-Reforming the police booking system to reduce time spent on paperwork
-Focus on prevention and rehabilitation to address juvenile crime. Increase collaboration with our community organizations, such as the Peaceoholics, to provide mentoring and mediation to young people.

I would encourage those with additional ideas to prevent the coming spike in violent crime to post here. As a city we are unprepared, and we need to make some serious changes.

Abortion, Teen Pregnancy and DC

A few weeks ago, the Supreme Court voted to take control of a woman's body and put it in the hands of the government. While late-term abortions are rare, the high court voted to prohibit them, even if the mother's life is at risk. This is a scary decision because it could signal the first of other attacks by the religious right to weaken a woman's consitutional right to choose.

This abortion decision got me thinking about teen pregancy, particulary in the District of Columbia, which has the highest rate in the nation. We are truly in a crisis here. Children having children, and so many born into poverty with little hope of growing up in secure families or having even basic needs met, seems to me a questionable choice. Sex education must become standard for all children growing up in DC. Teaching abstinence may, in some cases, delay the onset of sexual activity, but recent studies show that teaching abstinence alone may be inneffective in preventing teen pregnancy.

I do not in any way advocate abortion as a method of birth control. But the reality is, a restriction on Roe v. Wade may only make this problem worse. I'm an idealist at heart, but we need to be pragmatic about this issue. A woman's right to choose needs to remain a fundamental right.

A Rude Awakening

So much has happened over the past few weeks. The tragic hit-and-run accidents, the Eastern Market fire and the Georgetown fire have been much on my mind. The removal of the Awakening, a well-known piece of sculpture and a hallmark of Haines Point, to Prince Georges County is another loss to our city. The arts make a city vibrant, and our city's vitality is due in no small part to its monuments, public art, museums, and theaters. Should developers get to decide the fate of the famous hand that appeared to rise from the banks of the Anacostia River?

I do not understand why the Awakening wasn't owned by the city or the Parks Service in the first place. The sculpture is leaving our city. Done. Gone. And we will just have to live with it. Will something replace it to offer amazement and contemplation to residents and visitor's, alike?

I urge our city leaders to think about the important role of the arts in Washington, DC, a world-class city. The arts are not just for tourists and elites. They bring joy and pride to our residents who consider the culture and uniqueness of our Capital City an integral part of their lives. Let's audit the artwork across the city and make sure that we do not lose any more landmarks.

A Day with the Peaceoholics

I spent today with one of my favorite non-profit groups in DC, the Peaceoholics, a group dedicated to stopping violence. Founded by ex-offenders Ron Motten and Jauhar Abraham, the group uses crisis mediation and mentoring to keep disadvantaged youth out of trouble and teaches them skills to succeed in life. Jauhar took me under his wing for a day to see the group in action.

We spent the day in Ward 8, first at Malcolm X Elementary School and then at Anacostia Senior High School. At Malcolm X, we witnessed the convening of a "youth court," where a student accused of starting a fight was judged by her peers. It was amazing to see the childeren participate fully and take the case so seriously. Similar to a substence abuse-intervention, the court applied peer pressure to prevent future bad behavior.

At Anacostia Senior High School, we toured the facility and spoke with some of the students in the Peaceoholics mentoring program. We also observed a group attempting to get better statistical data on student attendance in order to track down truants.

This day's experience was incredibly moving. Hearing stories shared by some of the kids overwhelmed me with pain, but also with hope and admiration. It was absolutely heartbreaking to imagine the lives of some of the young children east of the river. With no parental guidance and a government that has essentially abandoned them, the heroic Peaceoholics have stepped in to do what they can to help some of our sons and daughters have a productive future. We owe Ron and Jauhar a debt of gratitude for all they are doing.

Check out the Peaceoholics website to learn more.
http://www.peaceoholics.org/home.htm

Eastern Market - The Day After

Yesterday members of the Capitol Hill community were overcome by emotion watching our beloved Eastern Market in flames. remembering years past and wondering what comes next. Today, we must focus on something extremely important. While we will miss the shopping, the emotional satisfaction and the neighborhood presence of Eastern Market, at least for the next few months, let us not forget those whose livelihood really depends on this historic landmark.

The vendors are the lifeblood of Eastern Market. Their small businesses suppy the goods, the personality and the character to improve our quality of life. Now, it is their quality of life that is threatened. Let's all come together as a community to support them. Not only do we need to show up in force this weekend to support the outdoor vendors, but we need to assist the indoor vendors, who have lost more than we can even imagine.

The Capitol Hill Community Foundation, run by Nicky Cymrot, has set up a fund to assist the vendors and help them stay afloat until they can reopen their businesses. The building can be rebuilt, but the businesses need our help to weather this storm. Let's do our part to help those who need us the most. To contribute, click here.

Eastern Market Is Gone

I write this in shock and grief for our beloved Eastern Market.

Early this morning, setting out on my usual run, there was a strong smell of smoke permeating the clear air of a gorgeous Washington spring morning. As I turned the corner, there were what seemed like dozens of police cars and fire engines. Heading from North Carolina Avenue on to 7th Street SE, I could not believe my eyes. Eastern Market, the keystone of our Capitol Hill neighborhood and one of my favorite spots since since childhood, was burned and destroyed. Flames tore through the roof of the recently restored building, and from peering inside, I could see that there was very little left.

Words do not come easily this morning, as I try to take in the tremendous loss to our city and to our neighborhood. Without Eastern Market, the centerpiece of Capitol Hill, our local community is without its anchor. Witnessing such complete devastation and destruction feels like having my childhood home burn to the ground.

Mayor Fenty was on the scene, making me feel very proud to have him as our mayor. In the few minutes he and I spoke, I felt the deepness of his sincerity for the loss of one of Washington, DC's, most important historic landmarks. He assured me that the city will rebuild and that the community will be involved.

If it were up to me, I would choose to have Eastern Market put back together just the way it was. The small businesses, the old ceiling fans, the bluebucks, and even the dirt and grit. Some things just shouldn't change.

If anyone feels clear headed enough to suggest what we should do now to make Eastern Market come back to life, feel free to post here, and I will share with Councilmember Wells, who I know is as deeply saddened by this, as well, and was on-scene at 2AM to offer support to the fire fighters.

Another Pedestrian Death, but This One is Ignored

The reaction by local officials to the death of Crista Marie Spencer has been exemplary. I specifically want to recognize Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, who rushed to the aid of the child's family and immediately worked to install stop signs to make the intersection safer for all pedestrians. Since joining the City Council, Tommy has been extremely responsive to local residents. I live in Ward 6, and he is doing a phenomenal job.

Now on to today's post. I was reading a comment in DC Watch yesterday from a woman named Trish Chittams who described the tragic vehicle death of a woman named Ms. Covington in another part of the city. While the accident was not a hit and run, it's interesting to note that this accident passed without a mention in the media, a visit from a politician ,or a candlelight vigil. The difference between the death of Ms. Covington and that of Crista Marie Spencer? Read for yourself an example of the "two cities" that make up the District of Columbia:

On Friday, April 13, Ms. Covington was hit while in the crosswalk of
Minnesota Avenue and M Street, SE. The driver stopped. On Saturday, April 21,
Ms. Covington died as a result of the injuries sustained during the accident.
The family mourns, the neighborhood pauses. There are no candlelight vigils, no
curbside memorial. Only orange markings to show that something happened there.
There are no TV cameras, no mayor, no Ward representative, not even an "In
Brief" mention in a newspaper. Two weeks later, there are no stop signs. Two
weeks later, no temporary stop signs, no speed humps. Two weeks later, we have
promises that the situation will be "reviewed," but they can't promise that
action will be taken.

We live in a city divided by the Anacostia River. Ms. Covington's death occurred East of the River, the section of DC with the highest rates of poverty, crime, unemployment and a host of other social issues that need to be addressed. The problem is, these residents are being largely ignored. We as a community need to let our elected officials know that East of the River matters to us. No matter what Ward we live in, we are all Washingtonians. Let's treat each other that way.

We've Lost One Life, Let's Save The Next One

Two days ago, a speeding SUV struck a six-year-old girl named Crysta Marie Spencer on her way to an after-school program on Capitol Hill. This tragic and needless hit-and-run death has grabbed the attention of city residents who are demanding greater traffic enforcement and regulation. Councilmember Wells rightly demanded that a stop sign be placed at the scene of the accident, and one has finally been erected, despite a sluggish response from the city.

While I am happy the stop sign is now in place, I am particularly disturbed that we were too late to save this girl's life. Doesn't it seem as if we too frequently make corrections after a catastrophe has happened, instead of taking preventative action? Might we have known earlier that we needed a stop sign at Sixth and New Orleans NE? Possibly, but it is impossible for our government to know everything.

Seeking out places in our community that could be a danger is really up to us. We are in our neighborhoods every day and are the best guardians of our children. I have a challenge for all residents: If you see locations that you think need a stop sign, a light, a reduced speed limit or any thing else that will enhance public safety and prevent needless injuries or deaths, like the one that happened on Wednesday, contact DDOT, your councilmember or your ANC Commissioner.

Finally, post those locations here for everyone to see. We need to prevent the next tragedy. I will be taking your feedback directly to DDOT and the Mayor.

#1 in Per-Capita Income.....HIV, Teen Pregnancy, Unemployment, Illiteracy, Poverty

There was great news for the District last week as the Bureau of Economic Analysis came out with its report on personal income across the country. DC ranked number one with a per capita income of $56,307. That's not the only measurement in which DC ranks near the top of the list. Our nation's capital also has more per capita cases of HIV, teen pregnancy, unemployment, illiteracy and poverty than any state in the country. We truly are a city of have and have nots.

For all the talk of one city, we are two cities, primarily divided by the Anacostia River. I admire Chairman Vince Gray's slogan of "One City." In fact, I wear a lapel pin with those words on my business suits. It's great on paper, but when you look at the economics of this city, it's just not true. For people living in Wards 7 and 8 who see the income numbers, do you think they feel part of the economic resurgence in DC? I doubt it, and it's a shame.

I think the first step to solving this problem is for people to become more involved in their communities. Since I work downtown, I'm a volunteer as a tutor Stevens Elementary School. It's one hour per week, but it goes a long way to enriching the lives of our public school students.

Here are some ways that you can help enrich your community:

1) Help out at a local school
2) If you are a parent, attend PTA meetings or volunteer in your child's classroom
3) Participate in counseling and mentoring programs
4) Use your job skills to train others for success

These are just a few ideas. Getting involved locally will increase camaraderie across the city and will ultimately expand opportunities for those who have been left out. When people know each other and work together to improve their communities, neighborhoods and cities become strong and vibrant. Everyone feels invested in community success. If you have ideas about how to help your community, feel free to post them here.

Community Policing in Action

Many of you know that I am a big proponent of community policing. Increased presence by MPD in our city's neighborhoods acts as a crime deterrent and gives officers and members of the community a chance to interact with each other, thus increasing mutual understanding. I came across a note posted on the 4th police district user group which is a very positive sign:

I was very, very happy to see this evening that officer's from MPD4 stopped
and talked to a group of young adults that were "acting up" and drinking in
public in the neighborhood. While I am sure that the youths were doing nothing
completely illegal (other than open containers!), I was very happy to see our
officers stop and talk to the group, break it up and make their presence known.
Thank you MPD4 officers--this is exactly the type of thing I hope to see occur
more often in our neighborhood! (Posted by Todd on 14th Street)

I want to tip my hat to the officers in 4D for having a positive impact on our community. Law enforcement is not a perfect science, and we know from my post last week about the 911 debacle that bureaucracy can put strains on the system. I believe that the burdensome process of papering, over-reaching internal investigations and the sub-par use of technology all need to be fixed. However, there is no substitute for officers that truly care about the communities in which they patrol. MPD has some of the finest officers in the nation, and despite occasional missteps, we should all be proud to have them.

Why I Like Muriel Bowser

There are 19 candidates running in the Ward 4 special election. But the race has really narrowed down to two candidates, Muriel Bowser and Michael Brown. Both have deep roots in the city and the desire to do what is right. However, in my mind, the choice is clear.







Muriel Bowser understands her ward, and will work tirelessly to ensure that her constituents are properly represented and are receiving the best services possible from the city. She is committed to sound policies addressing education, public safety, city services and a host of other pressing issues. I also believe she will keep her promises. Much like Mayor Fenty has stayed true to his word and started to make the necessary changes to put DC back on the right track, Muriel will do the same; not just for her ward but for the District as a whole.



I have spent a good amount of time with Muriel over the past few weeks. I have been able to see that her passion runs deep for the residents of Ward 4 and the challenges they face. We need selfless leaders to run DC, and she has that quality. To Muriel, this is not about her. This is about doing what's right and using her passion and skills to make DC a city where parents have confidence in the public schools, where people can safely walk the streets at night, and where economic opportunity extends to all our residents.



Muriel will keep her campaign promises and is my choice on May 1st.

BREAKING NEWS - HOUSE APPROVES DC VOTE

From the AP -

WASHINGTON - The people of the District of Columbia moved a step closer
Thursday to gaining voting rights they have been denied for more than 200 years. more....

A Plea to Enforce the Law

Last night, one of my neighbors on Capitol Hill witnessed an absolutely appalling scene. Below is her excerpt from a local Hill listserv:

We were sitting by the window and saw our neighbor coming home from work as
usual. A group of kids were running along side him and they started
punching him and pushed him to the group. Our neighbor is at least 70 years
old! We saw him go after the kids so my husband went out to help and I called
911. The woman who answered the phone couldn't have cared less. When she
asked where they were, I told her that I couldn't see them anymore because
they went after the kids. She told me to call the police when they came
back. I hung up in anger and frustration.

Apparently, the kids followed this elderly man back from Eastern Market taunting him the entire way. Ultimately, he was left cut and bleeding. Despite the call to 911, the police never showed up. 911 operators must take these calls seriously. There is no excuse for this lack of enforcement. We know that MPD is burdened with bureaucratic red tape and paperwork, but citizens need help. To make this city safer, we need to let our officers do their jobs!

The Helen Hayes Awards

Last night I attended the Helen Hayes Awards at the Warner Theater. Hundreds of members of DC's robust arts community--artists, benefactors, and appreciators--were there to celebrate our city's place as one of the country's strongest and best places for professional theater. I felt an extraordinary sense of pride to be surrounded by the best that the arts have to offer.

I grew up going regularly to Arena Stage, which was where my appreciation for theater began. Since then, I have had the opportunity to branch out to experience many productions at theaters, including the Washington National Shakespeare Company and the Kennedy Center. How many other U.S. cities can claim the number of nonprofit theaters that we have here in DC? Not many.

Besides the quality of life that Washington theater offers us, the theaters have become critical to our economic success as a city. Where theaters flourish, so do neighborhoods. The Studio and Source were keystones to the now-vibrant 14th Street corridor. Restaurants, Whole Foods, and great retail establishments grew up around those theaters, with lofts and a host of mixed-use
buildings following.

Not only to the arts stimulate economic growth, but they provide another outlet for young people in our city to express themselves. The arts have done tremendous work to help the neediest residents in our city.

Washington theater is now a destination for tourism, a magnet for new businesses to establish themselves in DC, and they provide thousands of jobs. They also enrich the lives our youth. The arts are for more than our enjoyment; they make economic and social sense.

A Historic Day

Despite inclement weather, today's voting rights march was a great success. Beyond the fact that we sent a strong message to the House, Senate and President, I was so excited to see residents from all across the city, all socioeconomic backgrounds and all races, come together to fight for civil rights. I saw friends from Wards 1 through 8. People that normally do not cross paths came together for a monumental occasion. I hope that two things come from today's march:

1) We get our vote
2) We stay together as "One City."

And by the way, my appreciation for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton runs extremely deep. Her dedication to this city and to this issue has been unwavering since many of us were born. I think we all owe her a debt of gratitude for her hard work. And I'm not just saying that because she's my neighbor. She is a true DC hero.

Why I Like Yvette Alexander

I was disheartened yesterday to find out that Yvette Alexander did not get the endorsement of the Washington Post. Over the past month or so, she and I have become friends and I have witnessed the sincerity with which she approaches the special election. Perhaps the greatest factor for me--in addition to thorough understanding of issues and leadership experience--when deciding whom to support is how genuine and passionate the candidate is for the great responsibility they are about to undertake. Yvette embodies those qualities and is as committed to bettering the lives of Ward 7 residents as anyone I know.

Ward 7 is a network of neighborhoods in transition. A community east of the river, Ward 7 has often been forgotten by government officials over the years. Poverty, unemployment and crime are epidemics, and residents there deserve better than what they have. But things have been changing, as witnessed by the more than doubling in voter turnout since 2000. As citizens have become more engaged, the future is looking brighter there.

Yvette not only has deep roots in the Ward, but has a genuine understanding of the complex issues facing the residents. Mayor Fenty and Chairman Gray are showing lots of promise to lead this city, and I think they would be lucky to have Yvette Alexander joining them.

More Ways to Fix the Schools cont'd

As promised, I have added additional tactics that I think will enhance the efficiency of our schools and provide teachers and administrators with increased resources to put toward educating students. Let's try these on for size:

DCPS should work closely with the rest of the DC government to move from a human resource system relying on paper to the electronic system that is used by other city agencies. Under the current structure, records are lost and sometimes destroyed, leading to inaccurate budgeting and disgruntled employees. People may become lost in the system and sometimes never even accounted for. It was also recently discovered in a limited survey that the average teacher looses at least one day of classroom time due to personnel matters. With electronic records, this could easily be solved.

DC Government should help DCPS streamline the partnership process for both government and private grants. While the District has a long-established system to solicit, accept and process grants, DCPS currently stands without a policy. This is a cause for concern because it provides no road map for spending grant money and likely causes DCPS to lose out on millions of dollars that are donated elsewhere.

Channel 99, also known as DC Schools Television, is ineffective and lacks the funds to provide real value to students. The Office of Cable Television should serve as a program partner with Channel 99 to bring real Career Technology Education into the schools. By allowing Channel 99 to share resources with other government channels, it will give producers the ability to enhance programming across the board.

More Ways to Fix the Schools

My good friend, Kris Benjamin, and I had a converstion the other day. Kris is one of the most dedicacted and sincere local activists I know, and she had several very good ideas to fix the mess at DCPS. While everybody is focused on structure, here are some concrete changes that can be implemented immediately in her opinion. She is a former employee of DCPS and I think her ideas carry lots of merit:

Shared resources of MPD and D.C. School security will provide solutions in addressing school security concerns, and relieve teachers from the burden of being in class referees.

Coordinating programs between Parks and Recreation, the Libraries and DCPS will help move children from schools to other constructive activities and will decrease the time a student spends idle. After-school hours are the times children are likely to commit crimes or be victim to a crime.

A better management of construction authority can coordinate city services and make school management more efficient. Examples of such are Water and Sewer, Urban Forestry (in the case of a dangerous tree) and DDOT, all of which relate to school maintenance but are not coordinated under the current system.

I will continue with more solutions to the schools crisis tomorrow. Kris had so many ideas it is impossible to write them all in one post.

Arch Training Center

Today my good friend and Ward 8 activist, Charles Wilson, and I were invited speakers at the Arch Training Center in Historic Anacostia. Arch is a center funded by federal grants and donations that complements the public schools through adult education and after-school programs for youth involved in the juvenile correctional system. Charles and I spoke for over an hour about our life experiences, and did our best to relay the values of hard work and dedication as the best way to succeed in life.

There was much personal satisfaction from mentoring the students today, but it was disheartening at the same time. Most of these kids have no families, esentially live on the streets and are being electronically monitored by the Department of Corrections. Most have little hope in their lives and many wanted little to do with Charles and me. It is hard to figure out how to reach somebody that does not want to be reached. Part of me feels it is too late for many of them, but there were some that I believe we did actually reach. Discussing my military experiences really seemed to peak interest in some of them.

The experience of spending time at Arch has helped me to consider two things. First, without a strong family life or caring support system, it is very difficult to make a real impact through stop-gap solutions. Second, if many community members spent two hours per month mentoring needy and troubled youth, we could probably make a big difference. It really does "take a village."