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Reflections on Michelle Rhee's Hearing |
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Written by Michelle Chisolm
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Tuesday, 03 July 2007 |
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Hello Ward 6! I witnessed Michelle Rhee's confirmation hearing yesterday and I must say I was very impressed. I was impressed because she presented a vision. She called it "Principles that Will Drive my Work". Its subheading was named "Human Capital" which will involve: (1) "getting first-rate quality principals and educators into the system"; (2) "creating a system of professional development with career growth opportunities for staff on all levels", (3) "that accountibility will be the burden of every individual responsible for student achievement (parents, principals and teachers)". She stressed that accountability means service. She stated that DCPS is a service organization and that students and families are the customers. Amen to that! This was key because during my tenure at DCPS, I witnessed lousy service both for internal and external customers. Parents and students were misguided, underserved, and misinformed. Employees experienced lack of compensation, under compensation, withheld step increases or none at all.
Ms. Rhee made clear that human resources and procurement issues would be matters at the fore-front of her problem solving priorities. This is important because her plan will require a zealous spread of staff able to get behind her vision to improve the system. Procurement is also an important factor because it will take money and lots of it to ensure longterm, effective, and beneficial investments -- those that would prevent do-overs too soon, and establish a new method for success. All in all, I was very impressed with Ms. Rhee! She's young, she's smart, she's innovative, and she's a savvy business woman, but she'll need our support. Our school system needs a change-agent powerhouse to come in and renovate our method in which we have conducted school business. We need an extreme makeover! Michelle Chisolm | | This item includes 1 comment |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 06 July 2007 )
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Moratorium on Single Sales of Alcohol on H Street, NE Clears Another Hurdle |
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Written by Charles Allen
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Tuesday, 03 July 2007 |
Councilmember Tommy Wells today praised the action of the Committee on Public Works and the Environment for voting unanimously on July 2nd to approve a resolution to implement an H Street, NE moratorium on single sales of alcohol.
In February, citing chronic problems with peace, order and quiet, specifically with respect to litter, loitering, public drunkenness, public urination and criminal activity persistent on H Street, NE, the ABC Board proposed a 3-year moratorium on the sale of single containers of beer and liquor sold in half-pint volume from the 700 to 1400 block of H Street, NE. The proposal requires approval by the Council and the committee’s vote clears the way for the measure to be placed on the agenda for consideration by the full Council at the July 10th legislative session. If Council votes to approve the rules, the moratorium could go into effect later this summer, possibly in early August.
“A moratorium will go a long way to address some of the chaos and crime afflicting H Street, NE,” commented Mr. Wells. “On top of that, the neighborhood is tired of people using the streets, alleys and treeboxes as public urinals and trashcans. To realize the promise of H Street, this is a necessary step to bring back order and stability and make it a thriving asset for the neighborhood.”
ANC 6A first asked the ABC Board to issue a ban on singles sales in September 2006 after years of trying to work one-on-one with liquor store owners and with voluntary agreements. After a public hearing with neighborhood residents in support of the ban, in addition to hearing support from Mayor Adrian Fenty, Councilmember Tommy Wells, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the ABC Board cited concerns about peace, order and pedestrian safety, and a negative impact on economic development, as additional reasons to impose the moratorium.
The Committee on Public Works and the Environment, chaired by Councilmember Jim Graham, held a public roundtable on June 28th to get further public input. ANC Commissioners from 6A, 6C and 5B all testified in support of the moratorium, as well as many residents who live along the H Street, NE corridor.
“For too long, we’ve had individuals using our curbsides and sidewalks as open-air bars. We’ve seen the effect a singles ban can have in other neighborhoods. I’m proud to support the ANC and residents to put the moratorium in effect and begin calming the chaos on H Street, NE,” added Mr. Wells.
Quick Facts:
- According to MPD, a similar ban on singles sales in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood over the last four years has resulted in a 41 percent reduction in total calls for MPD service and a 51 percent reduction in calls complaining of disorderly conduct - allowing MPD officers to focus on more serious crimes.
- From January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, between the 800 and 1400 block of H Street, NE, there were 330 calls to MPD regarding urinating in public, drinking in public, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct and 245 arrests - requiring 787 MPD man hours to respond and process the calls and arrests.
- The proposed ban will impose a three year moratorium on the sale of single containers of beer, malt liquor, and ale, as well as liquor sold in half-pint or smaller volumes by the holders of retailer’s licenses class A and B located on both sides of the street on H Street, NE, between and including the 700 block of H Street, NE and the 1400 block of H Street, NE.
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U.S. Capitol Police Add Bus Restrictions for July 4th |
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Written by Neha Bhatt
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Tuesday, 03 July 2007 |
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The U.S. Capitol Police have just announced that they are creating a new and additional temporary restriction for tour buses for the 4th of July. They cite the recent events in the UK and growing security concerns for the Capitol and its visitors as prompting the announcement. The restriction, due to the 4th of July concert on the Capitol grounds, applies to tour buses currently entering 3rd and Maryland Avenue and 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and traveling to 1st Street to the typical drop-off points at the circles. The Capitol Police state that this restriction will be for the 3rd and 4th of July, 2007, only. Buses will still be able to still drop-off and pick-up their passengers at 3rd Street at either Pennsylvania Ave or Maryland Avenue, and passengers will have to walk to the ticket facility at 1st and Maryland Avenue, SW. | | No comments for this item |
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Written by Tawanna Shuford
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Tuesday, 03 July 2007 |
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The DC Office Of Tax and Revenue (OTR) has announced that it will hold its annual public tax sale auction of properties from July 9 - 13, 2007. At this public auction, OTR is scheduled to sell more than $11 million in real property tax liens -- both commercial and residential -- for which property taxes remain unpaid. The Tax Sale will be held daily beginning Monday, July 9, from 8:30 am until noon and from 1 pm until 4 pm, or until all properties advertised for that day are sold, at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, 4th floor. Delinquent property owners still have time to pay the tax lien to prevent the property from being included in the auction. However, the owners must act immediately and pay all delinquent taxes. Are you concerned you might be listed incorrectly? Click on the link below to be sure. Registration for the sale is mandatory and begins Thursday, July 5 and continues until the final day of the sale. To register, prospective bidders must make a deposit of at least 20 percent of their total bid. In addition, a $150 tax sale fee will be added to each property at the time of the sale. To register for the Tax Sale or to inquire about the status of a delinquent property, call the OTR Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX (4829) or visit the walk-in center at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, on the first floor. For a full listing of all the properties currently listed for sale at the public auction (and to make sure you aren't accidentally delinquent or listed incorrectly), Click Here. If you are behind on tax payments and need assistance or want to get in touch with the Office of Tax and Revenue, please check out there Real Property Service Center by Clicking Here. | | This item includes 1 comment |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 July 2007 )
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Tommy Blog 
The caller was a District resident who uses a powered wheelchair for mobility. Her wheelchair was in the shop for repairs and in desperation she had reverted to using her old brace crutches while traveling back and forth to work and shopping. On this day she attempted to catch the bus from her home and travel downtown, a trip that required her to transfer twice. Approaching the first and second bus she requested the drivers to deploy the lift so that she could board. They did and she boarded both buses without difficulty. When she attempted to transfer to the third bus the driver refused to lower the lift saying that it could only be deployed for someone using a wheelchair. She informed him that she could not negotiate the steps. The driver refused to lower the lift indicating that he could loose his job if he allowed her to stand on the lift.