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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on January 28, 2009 at 5:04pm

Caryl, why shouldI as an Arlington resident pay for emergency services for DC residents? Should this not be a DC problem especially considering that DC residents voted for Mismanging Marion Barry even after he was released from jail for a felony. Also Marion hasn't been mayor for years so its hard to blame him for the current state of decrepitute of DC. I also note that I have unmet needs in Arlington that I have to deal with and so the challenges of the District government are theirs and Fabulous Fenty to solve. Now if DC wants to merge with Arlington and their tax dollars come to us and Jim Moran replaces that useless rep they have now and they become part of the Old Dominion, well we can talk.
Caryl said:

What you are talking about is emergency dispatching which everywhere I know in this regions is done by civilians. DC just happens to have incompetent unsupervised ones. As for suburban communities helping out D.C., no way, not my problem - DC wants to be an independent entity then they need to step up to the plate and act like one. No representation without responsibility.

It can't be done with everything else that is being done....Fenty is doing a Fenomenal (sorry) job, if you ask me.

There is just too much that needs to be done. With all the wasted money and time of the Barry Years, lack of technology throughout city hall...the schools, housing, the infrastructure, the health care system....all those things that need revamping and the city is expected to provide services to the masses coming in for vacation as well. Too many services are on the backs of city dwellers, there is only so many ways to cut a tax dollar. Churches and
Associations don't pay their freight, remember?

Support for the District's ailing Emergency Service CAN be done by all of us locally who care about the end-result, that should be enough. When the city can fly on its own, let them do it, but in the meantime, they need help. We CAN help, that's why we should. Why do we always say we are from Washington DC when we travel? We can do this because it needs to be done. What can the WAMU community do to assist the District's Emergency Response Units. They are understaffed, underappreciated and underpaid.....I think there is a story line there.

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Permalink Reply by Caryl on January 28, 2009 at 6:37pm

John Antonelli said:

Caryl, why shouldI as an Arlington resident pay for emergency services for DC residents? Should this not be a DC problem especially considering that DC residents voted for Mismanging Marion Barry even after he was released from jail for a felony. Also Marion hasn't been mayor for years so its hard to blame him for the current state of decrepitute of DC. I also note that I have unmet needs in Arlington that I have to deal with and so the challenges of the District government are theirs and Fabulous Fenty to solve. Now if DC wants to merge with Arlington and their tax dollars come to us and Jim Moran replaces that useless rep they have now and they become part of the Old Dominion, well we can talk.
Caryl said:

What you are talking about is emergency dispatching which everywhere I know in this regions is done by civilians. DC just happens to have incompetent unsupervised ones. As for suburban communities helping out D.C., no way, not my problem - DC wants to be an independent entity then they need to step up to the plate and act like one. No representation without responsibility.

It can't be done with everything else that is being done....Fenty is doing a Fenomenal (sorry) job, if you ask me.

There is just too much that needs to be done. With all the wasted money and time of the Barry Years, lack of technology throughout city hall...the schools, housing, the infrastructure, the health care system....all those things that need revamping and the city is expected to provide services to the masses coming in for vacation as well. Too many services are on the backs of city dwellers, there is only so many ways to cut a tax dollar. Churches and
Associations don't pay their freight, remember?

Support for the District's ailing Emergency Service CAN be done by all of us locally who care about the end-result, that should be enough. When the city can fly on its own, let them do it, but in the meantime, they need help. We CAN help, that's why we should. Why do we always say we are from Washington DC when we travel? We can do this because it needs to be done. What can the WAMU community do to assist the District's Emergency Response Units. They are understaffed, underappreciated and underpaid.....I think there is a story line there.

I posted this John, to submit for a story idea....let's not turn it into a sparring match, and let's not beg the question.
The city is tasked with providing every imaginable service that a city provides yet it has no vote in Congress. THAT we can help should be enough. WAMU should consider itself the voice of Washington. The need is for assistance for a troubled department that we ourselves may need in an emergency. Why can't the WAMU community discuss this?

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on January 28, 2009 at 11:34pm

The WAMU community is discussing this but to ask that other communities pick up DC's load when they have their own problems is just not going to happen. As an Arlington resident, I am a bit miffed that you would even think to claim dibs for my tax dollars for DC's government. I didn't elect and re-elect Marion Barry, Sharon Pratt Kelley or that bow tie guy. DC residents did and they should reap what they sow.

and yes Robert, Eleanor "It was my husband's fault I didn't pay my income tax" Holmes Norton is another example of the less than sterling people DC has elected to office. .

Perhaps Jason should move us off of Meymo's thread but I appalled that someone really thinks I, a non DC resident, should pay more tax money to support the DC government. If DC wants the vote, they should show they have the ability to run an acceptable government.
Robert B said:

John A wrote, in part "...Now if DC wants to merge with Arlington and their tax dollars come to us and Jim Moran replaces that useless rep they have now and they become part of the Old Dominion, well we can talk..." You're calling Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton useless?! Ms Norton, even with the intolerable confines that Congress places upon the citizens of the District of Columbia, is one of the most effective and productive representatives in the House. Sorry to see her good partner Tom Davis go. I really don't like to respond to troll posts, but have to this time...

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on January 29, 2009 at 8:17am

Caryl also I recommend this from the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. Its about DCFD EMS and how they have gone from worst to first with out any help from Arlington County or any place else for that matter except of course the Courts and a consent decree.

http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/articles/jems/3401/from_worst...

John Antonelli said:

The WAMU community is discussing this but to ask that other communities pick up DC's load when they have their own problems is just not going to happen. As an Arlington resident, I am a bit miffed that you would even think to claim dibs for my tax dollars for DC's government. I didn't elect and re-elect Marion Barry, Sharon Pratt Kelley or that bow tie guy. DC residents did and they should reap what they sow.

and yes Robert, Eleanor "It was my husband's fault I didn't pay my income tax" Holmes Norton is another example of the less than sterling people DC has elected to office. .

Perhaps Jason should move us off of Meymo's thread but I appalled that someone really thinks I, a non DC resident, should pay more tax money to support the DC government. If DC wants the vote, they should show they have the ability to run an acceptable government.
Robert B said:

John A wrote, in part "...Now if DC wants to merge with Arlington and their tax dollars come to us and Jim Moran replaces that useless rep they have now and they become part of the Old Dominion, well we can talk..." You're calling Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton useless?! Ms Norton, even with the intolerable confines that Congress places upon the citizens of the District of Columbia, is one of the most effective and productive representatives in the House. Sorry to see her good partner Tom Davis go. I really don't like to respond to troll posts, but have to this time...

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Permalink Reply by Chander Jayaraman on February 2, 2009 at 3:31pm

The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) will be conducting 9 community preparedness trainings in communities across the District over the next 5 months. Each community preparedness exercise will assist residents better prepare and protect their family in the event of a disaster and increase coordination among citizens and community leaders.

It has been well publicized that in the event of a major disaster, first responders may not be able to respond to all 911 calls. As such, they have stated that citizens and their communities must be ready to care for themselves for at least the first 72 hours. Citizens may need to shelter in place or evacuate independently. For either option, residents must make preparations now.

We also recognize that there are citizens within our communities who need additional assistance in making preparations. Therefore, these community preparedness exercises will work to foster relationships that can become a network of community leaders, concerned citizens, first responders and faith leaders who can work together to ensure the safety and security of their communities.

For more information, please contact me at 202-338-7158 x 202 or visit www.dccommunitypreparedness.org

Chander Jayaraman
Project Director

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Permalink Reply by Meymo Lyons on February 5, 2009 at 1:14pm

Dear Joel,

Great question. We will look into it.

Thanks !

Meymo

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Permalink Reply by Linda A Gravely on February 13, 2009 at 11:16am

My story idea seeks coverage of what happens in small Federal agencies that "fly under the radar screen," so to speak, in the management of their programs and people. I worked for the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) for 26 wonderful years until an appointee of the most recent Bush administration drove me and others out based on a so-called reorganization. For 2 years, until my job was abolished in 2006, I was told, in writing, that I didn't know what I was doing, hollared at by the agency Chairman, accused of things I did not do, barred from accessing agency case files when I was the public information officer and needed them to answer the public's questions, complained about because of my honesty (I answered a reporter's question based on an e-mail from the Chairman's hatchett man) and then barred from speaking to reporters-a key part of my public information job. I had also been the Freedom of Information Act officer, never having made an incorrect determination, never having been overturned on an appeal, but this portion of my job was given to attorneys who hadn't yet been trained. I was trained as a journalist and the agencie's files are, in the main, public documents. Never in the history of the agency (founded in 1971) had an attorney been the Freedom of Informatio Act Officer. I had to fight a proposed suspension (hired an attorney who stopped this) because I received a letter from my attorney, that I had drafted, and delivered it to the Chairman, date stamped in another office because I was barred from using any clerical help, slandered in a written document left for public viewing, and other disgusting things that I had never experienced in my professional life. The job I had done for 26 years was chopped up and given to a political appointee and several highly paid white male attorneys. While numerous people were forced out, white males were given details, that is, paid by the agency to work elsewhere. Two who were forced to retire were brought back by the current Bush appointed Chairman, so they are double dipping, still there as contractors, yet the agency output of decisions is ridiculously low. The agency was hit with 3 discrimination suits--the most in its history--and mine ended up in a settlement that I am pleased with. However, this agency is supposed to issue decisions in disputed job safety and health inspection cases and does an awful job of it. It is one of some 80 small agencies that get away with maligning federal workers, skirting regulations, and very little public attention because of their size. However, they manage billions of dollars. It would be newsworthy, I believe, to shine some light on what small federal agencies are able to do because they are relatively small and their political appointees are often some of the worst in federal service. The person who carried out the "slash and burn" tactics is still there, as a special assistant to the current Bush appointed chairman. His name is Richard Loeb--who came to the agency after the person he worked for in the Bush Executive Office was indicted. Shine a light on small federal agencies, and include the OSHRC. One of its former chairmen, Ed Foulke, had to recently resign as head of OSHA. If someone had paid attention and asked his former public information officer, me, they would have learned, long before he went to OSHA, that he slept through meetings even at OSHRC and was so lacking in intelligence that his nickname at OSHRC was "Baby Huey."

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on February 13, 2009 at 12:19pm

Do you not like White males? Are White Males inherently evil? Speaking as a white male, I feel a need to speak up for this much maligned class. Linda your issues seem very real and may best be addressed in a courtroom or by the Inspector General or your agency, but blaming white males, that will undermine your credibility.

Linda A Gravely said:

My story idea seeks coverage of what happens in small Federal agencies that "fly under the radar screen," so to speak, in the management of their programs and people. I worked for the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) for 26 wonderful years until an appointee of the most recent Bush administration drove me and others out based on a so-called reorganization. For 2 years, until my job was abolished in 2006, I was told, in writing, that I didn't know what I was doing, hollared at by the agency Chairman, accused of things I did not do, barred from accessing agency case files when I was the public information officer and needed them to answer the public's questions, complained about because of my honesty (I answered a reporter's question based on an e-mail from the Chairman's hatchett man) and then barred from speaking to reporters-a key part of my public information job. I had also been the Freedom of Information Act officer, never having made an incorrect determination, never having been overturned on an appeal, but this portion of my job was given to attorneys who hadn't yet been trained. I was trained as a journalist and the agencie's files are, in the main, public documents. Never in the history of the agency (founded in 1971) had an attorney been the Freedom of Informatio Act Officer. I had to fight a proposed suspension (hired an attorney who stopped this) because I received a letter from my attorney, that I had drafted, and delivered it to the Chairman, date stamped in another office because I was barred from using any clerical help, slandered in a written document left for public viewing, and other disgusting things that I had never experienced in my professional life. The job I had done for 26 years was chopped up and given to a political appointee and several highly paid white male attorneys. While numerous people were forced out, white males were given details, that is, paid by the agency to work elsewhere. Two who were forced to retire were brought back by the current Bush appointed Chairman, so they are double dipping, still there as contractors, yet the agency output of decisions is ridiculously low. The agency was hit with 3 discrimination suits--the most in its history--and mine ended up in a settlement that I am pleased with. However, this agency is supposed to issue decisions in disputed job safety and health inspection cases and does an awful job of it. It is one of some 80 small agencies that get away with maligning federal workers, skirting regulations, and very little public attention because of their size. However, they manage billions of dollars. It would be newsworthy, I believe, to shine some light on what small federal agencies are able to do because they are relatively small and their political appointees are often some of the worst in federal service. The person who carried out the "slash and burn" tactics is still there, as a special assistant to the current Bush appointed chairman. His name is Richard Loeb--who came to the agency after the person he worked for in the Bush Executive Office was indicted. Shine a light on small federal agencies, and include the OSHRC. One of its former chairmen, Ed Foulke, had to recently resign as head of OSHA. If someone had paid attention and asked his former public information officer, me, they would have learned, long before he went to OSHA, that he slept through meetings even at OSHRC and was so lacking in intelligence that his nickname at OSHRC was "Baby Huey."

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Permalink Reply by Amber Harding on February 13, 2009 at 5:07pm

I would love to know what happened to DC's Capstat program. The website hasn't been updated since last summer, and I am aware of multiple Capstat session that have occurred since then. Capstat is described on the DC website as “your resource as a District of Columbia resident to track how District Government is working for you.” It is also described as “a performance-based accountability program that uniquely identifies opportunities to make District government run more efficiently, while providing a higher quality of service to its residents.” Apparently our government hasn't done much for us since last summer.

I work at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and in the fall we submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the City Administrator to request any records or action items related to Capstat sessions on homeless services and the Mayor's Housing first program (sessions that we knew had occurred). Their response: "The Office of the City Administrator (OCA) has conducted a reasonable search, and we are not in possession of any videos, action items documents and/or recordings that reflect the CapStat sessions on homeless services."

Now that Mayor Fenty has raised his 2 million dollar war chest, has he decided that he no longer needs to be accountable to his constituents and given up all (albeit thinly veiled) pretense of valuing transparency?

Thanks.
Amber Harding

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Permalink Reply by Cyberkrinn on February 16, 2009 at 3:25pm

I suggest this would be a wonderful time to explain the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 so that people understand that CRA is not responsible for the current crisis in the financial industry. I have heard so many people attacking the CRA, Fannie, and Freddie while demonstrating they clearly have no real understanding of what has actually occurred here.

This topic would be perfect for either Diane Rehm or Kojo Nnamdi...or here's a thought - since it is so involved, how about both of them. OK, I ask too much, I know! But, PLEASE, educate your listeners so they, in turn, can educate others.

Thanks!

Cyberkrinn

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Permalink Reply by wonkguy on February 18, 2009 at 11:27pm

I'm sure this is in here but just in case, how about some information on the Maryland state troopers spying on people and now appearantly with the assistance of Homeland Security. What is this about????

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Permalink Reply by Lindee Lenox on February 22, 2009 at 10:57am

The local news outlets have been covering the story of Pamela Butler, a DC woman who vanished on February 12. Pam is a graduate of AU. She received her MPA in 2003. She is too smart, too structured and too well organized to simply vanish without a trace. Her house has been searched multiple times by the police and the police chief is asking the public for information. Her cars were still at home. This story needs wide distribution. Since she is an AU graduate, and therefore a member of our AU family, I encourage you to cover this in every forum available. ANYONE that knows anything needs to be in touch with the police. Just type her name into Google and you will get the story.

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