News & Politics

Gary Tischler • January 12, 2012

Just the other day, Washington Times editor, editorial writer, former child actor, Newt Gingrich aide, and literate, witty, sharp-tongued and erudite conservative panelist on the McLaughlin Group as well as husband and father Tony Blankley died of stomach cancer at the age of 63.

Around here, if you were interested in politics and liked hearing intelligent people talk even if you disagreed with them, Blankley’s passing is a loss. He had smarts and style, and passed on mean talk for its own sake, qualities rare in politics and it’s an election year at that.

Life—or rather death—goes on in the new year of 2012. People we know, have heard of, miss or not, people of achievement, and just plain old celebrities pass on and we will too in some year or another. How you view the losses depend almost entirely on who you are, what your interests are, and how old you are. Every year, artists, movie stars, athletes, heads or near-heads of government, people in power, CEOs and inventors die, alongside saints and monsters. We memorialize, remember, celebrate, and grieve for a minute or for years on end. It all depends. The passing of Mikey Welch, a bassist for the rock group Weezer, meant nothing to me, but the death of the lead singer of the Coasters, a 1950s African American rock group who churned out hits like “Yakety Yak” and “Get a Job,” did. So did the passing of Jerry Leiber who co-wrote “Hound Dog,” a signature hit for Elvis.

We all know Steve Jobs, the founder, and found again of Apple, passed on much too soon, and was mourned perhaps beyond reason, but his marketing, if not entirely invention of our daily technology of iPads and iPhones and operating systems changed the world.

I already miss Christopher Hitchens, and not just because it leaves Bill Maher all alone to claim the title of prominent, if not-so-smart, atheist.

The art world lost a lot, including right here in our own back yard—Helen Frankenthaler, for a time an honored and distinguished member of the colorist school of painters whose on genius in the drip world is a permanent contribution to a generation of artist passed away. So did the evocative, eccentric, and quite unforgettable as artist and personality Manon Cleary as well as Rockne Krebs, innovative pioneer in laser, sculptor and technology artist. Nationally, there was Lucian Freund, in-your-face portrait painter and Cy Twombly, enigmatic to the end.

Landscape architect Wolfgang Oehme died of cancer less than a month ago. With James van Sweden, the German-American founded Washington-based Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, which advanced its innovative landscaping they called “the New American Garden,” evocative of American grasslands and prairies. The team’s projects included the National World War II Memorial, Freedom Plaza and Francis Scott Key Park.

Here with a list:

Charles Percy—U.S. Senator from Illinois, Georgetown Waterfront Park booster and pioneer, and honored citizen of the village.

Sargent Shriver—Peace Corps leader and founder, one of the best of the Kennedy generation of leaders and fathers.

Elizabeth Taylor—The woman who defined what it was to be a movie star through great films and bad, numerous husbands, scandals, illness and steadfast support for helping the cause of fighting AIDS. And, oh yes, she was stunning, a Cleopatra, a cat on a hot tin roof, and making Montgomery Clift swoon in “A Place in the Sun”.

Duke Snider—The Brooklyn Dodgers’ classy heart, one of the Boys of Summer

Al Davis—Before Dan Snyder, there was Al Davis, the difference being that Davis won Super bowls and knew football.

Harry Morgan—Colonel Potter to the core and the definition of character actor.

Willie “Big Eyes” Smith —The blues

Jack Lelanne—The man that almost lived and looked good forever.

Kim Jong-il, Osama bin Laden—Still dead.

Ferlin Husky—A Country singer who still lives on those Time-Life record promotions, singing “On The Wings of a Great White Dove”.

Sidney Harman—Entrepreneur, optimist, Sidney Harman Hall and philanthropist.

Vaclav Havel—The words in his plays—were mightier than the sword and helped create the Czech Republic of which he became president, an odd turn to say the least.

Sidney Lumet—Prolific, gritty and genius-level movie director, he gave us ‘Network,’ ‘Dog Day Afternoon,’ ‘Twelve Angry Men’ and others.

Frank Kameny—Our own, enduring pioneer of gay rights.

Nick Ashford—Soulful, wonderful land charismatic writers of soulful songs with his wife .

Bill Clements—Texas governor before the ones we know.

Anette Charles—You might ask, “Who?” And I’ll tell you this: Cha Cha Di Grigorio, dancing with John Travolta in ‘Grease.’

Russ Barbour—The last of “The Four Freshmen.”

Linda Christian, Elaine Stewart, Susannah York, Mary Murphy, Diane Cilento—Memorable in their youth in the movies. Ditto for Farley Granger.

Clarence Clemons—The E Street Band’s saxophone and sound, and the boss says so, too.

James Arness—He was Marshall Dillon to Chester on ‘Gunsmoke’ and the first ‘The Thing,’ too.

Peter Falk—Colombo.

Betty Ford—First Lady as down to earth and classy.

Bill Keane—The Family Circus

Geraldine Ferraro—The first female vice presidential candidate.

Reynolds Price—“A Long and Happy Life” for an enduring Southern novelist and writer.

Joe Frazier—Foil for Ali, but one of the greatest heavyweights ever, nonetheless. Just ask Ali.

Georgetowner • January 11, 2012

In my last newsletter, I took some time to reflect on our accomplishments from the past year. This week, I want to discuss a few of my New Year?s Resolutions. As Chairman of the Council?s Committee on Finance & Revenue, my central goals for the year relate to the District?s finances.

First, it is important to me to lower the top personal income tax rate in the District to our prior rate of 8.5 percent. As a government, we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to attracting and retaining new residents and small businesses. We can raise money in the short term by perpetually increasing taxes and fees, as my colleagues prefer to do. But when we create disincentives for new businesses to locate here, we do more harm than good down the road.

Second, it is important to me to reduce the expenditures of the District government. I am the first member to champion programs that actually work, such as the Housing Production Trust Fund. Unfortunately, many of our District dollars are not spent so wisely, and we have to make strategic cuts in order to balance our budget going forward.

Third, after we make those cuts, I want to make sure that the savings we achieve are put into the District?s savings account rather than doled right back out in earmarks and other new, wasteful spending. Despite all the complaints I heard from my colleagues about all the supposed budget cuts we made last year, the simple fact is that we passed the largest budget in the District?s history. In addition to saving for a rainy day, our reserve account also supports our bond rating, which is critical for allowing the government to borrow for needed capital improvements to schools and other important projects at affordable rates.

Fourth, I want to move forward quickly with the mayor to constitute the Tax Revision Commission and the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission. The Tax Revision Commission will give a thoughtful look at the District?s tax structure. Unfortunately, the only time tax policy typically comes up in the legislative setting is when a member is looking for a way to raise money for a pet project he or she wants funded. The goal of the Tax Revision Commission will be to make more principled recommendations based on sound tax policy rather than pragmatic spending priorities.

The Real Property Tax Appeals Commission, in contrast, focuses more on the mechanics of collecting taxes. A substantial portion of the District?s revenue comes from real property tax collections, and there have been a number of complaints with regard to inconsistency in the administrative appeals process. The Real Property Tax Appeals Commission was established with the goal of professionalizing the appeals process and ensuring greater fairness and transparency.

In closing, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are making progress on your resolutions for 2012. The holidays always seem to go by a little too quickly, but I am excited about the year ahead and all we will accomplish together.

David Roffman • December 31, 2011

Let’s order the fine Christmas wine

For the Obamas while they Georgetown dine

Maybe at Citronelle, or at the 1789

The first family loves G’town, it’s a treat

We often see them at Thomas Sweet.

It’s time to pour some Christmas cheer

For Georgetowner readers, far and near.

Put spicy glogg beneath the tree

For Georgetown sage Richard McCooey.

And, garcon, Champagne brut, merci

For restaurateurs Billy Martin and Franco Nuschese.

Some festive punch on Christmas days

For John, Sharon and Samantha Hays

Sue Hamilton, Janine Schoonover, Rokas Beresniovas,

Beth Webster, Sophie Montagne and Katherine Kallinas.

And let the Yuletide trumpets play

Allegro cheers for Vincent Gray

And don’t forget to paint the town

with Jack Evans, Vincent Orange and Kwame Brown.

Deck the lamps on our throughfare

For those who really care,

Mary Meyer, Jorge Bernardo, Mary Ann Brennan,

Wendy Erlanger, Stacy Kerr and Linda Greenan.

And serve some toddy, hot and mellow,

To Ginger Laytham and her fellow.

Send Christmas cookies, and don’t be late,

To Grace Bateman, Robert vom Eigen and Ann Satterthwaite.

The Georgetown waterfront is no longer a dream,

It is now our village’s creme de la creme.

Hark the herald angels sing joyous

For GU prez John DiGioias

Thanks for all you do for our Town

Even though there are some who frown

on the Campus Plan, and all it may portend

At this time of year let’s all be of good cheer

Pour us another tall, cold, Christmas beer.

Fill a cornucopia up,

For Chichie and her pup.

Think some thoughts reflective

For bloggers Topher and Carol Joynt’s perspective.

Some holiday eggnog topped with cumin

For John Dreyfuss at the house Halcyon

And to the new owners Ryuji Ueno and Sachiko Kuno

Welcome to Georgetown, you know,

That house is Benjamin Stoddert’s old digs,

For you some Christmas dates and figs.

Sound three lusty New Year’s cheers

For BID’s Jim Bracco and Crystal Sullivan,

The time for redoing Wisc. Ave. is here

with the help of Herb Miller and John Assadoorian.

You can start by fixing the Georgetown Theatre’s neon

And bringing back a moviehouse a la Heon.

And one last Christmas wish is pending:

A hope that all Georgetowners spending

A crime-free Yule beneath their trees

Acknowledge a debt to Commander Reese,

Deputy Chief Patrick Burke and all the rest

At our Second District station, you’re the best.

And, hallelujah, say a prayer

For dedicated firemen everywhere

It’s time to end this doggerel

With Georgetowner’s wish for a fond Noel

And hopes that those whose names don’t rhyme

Will still be here next Christmastime

While all our New Year’s wishes unfold

Keep reading us for stories untold.

Merry Christmas,
David Roffman

the Georgetowner Editorial Board •

Georgetown University’s 2010-20 campus plan is now in the hands of the D.C. Zoning Commission. After all the points and counterpoints, we find ourselves not quite in agreement with anyone. We have previously stated on this page in July: “We agree that an overwhelming majority — and most definitely freshmen and sophomores — should be required to live on campus and be guaranteed on-campus housing. But 100 percent of all undergraduates? Sorry, no.”

With that said, we are in agreement with the Citizens Association of Georgetown that increased trash pick-up and improved shuttle, as cited by the university, is a less than spectacular response to the neighbors’ anger with student’s behavior after hours along their streets.

Here is but a bit from CAG of what some Georgetown residents report.

Michelle Galler: “I am writing as a resident of 36th Street, and a victim of multiple vandalism incidents involving drunk Georgetown University students. Once again, last night, at precisely 2:38 am, a band of drunken, loud students removed the plants from the planters in front of my home and maliciously threw them around the premises. They have done the same with my plantings in the past, as well as urinating on the front lawn and screaming and throwing loud street parties well into the night. . . . We are helplessly being surrounded by callous, entitled students who are not being sufficiently penalized for their bad behavior.”

Walter Parrs went further: “I have lost hope that GU will implement any enforcement plan that will address the extensive problems that Burleith and West Georgetown face. How can any university – or anyone for that matter – control literally hundreds of steaming-drunk college students spread over two neighborhoods? I understand why GU cannot propose an enforcement plan: There is none that will work.”

The university mailed brochures to Georgetown residents a month ago outlining their new efforts. The brochure displayed a headline which read: “We value you as neighbors.”

You think? Sounds kind of condescending.

We know the university is an invaluable plus to this neighborhood, Washington, D.C., and the nation. No doubt about that: one of the greatest schools in America. Its campus plan mostly gained approval from the Washington Post, which wrote in October: “Imagine a city telling its largest private employer — one that pays millions in taxes and salaries, strives to hire local residents and voluntarily does community service — that it can’t grow anymore, that it might have to cut back. That seems far-fetched in light of today’s scary economy, but it’s essentially what D.C. officials are telling Georgetown University by insisting it either house all its students or cut back enrollment. The District seems distressingly disinterested in promoting a knowledge-based economy.” Again, we find it hard to disagree with that.

Here’s the catch: students who live on campus walk back along Prospect, N and other streets from events, parties and bars. That will not change. Homeowners will hear their drunken cries at 2 a.m. It is the city, the partly youthful nature of Georgetown is a good thing. For students who live in off-campus houses and get repeatedly cited by neighbors and the likes of CAG, expulsion must be in play. (We haven’t even touched upon traffic, a new playing field or boathouse, among the many other proposals.)

University administrators must totally upgrade and update their mindset — promoting campus events, offering courses, crafting programs to its closest neighbors (not just those across the city or the globe), who are their “trustees” to the world just as the students are the university’s “representatives” to the neighborhood. We are here; we are not leaving, either. Ten-year plan? We think the university should be in close, continual conversation with local leaders and neighbors. No more closed doors: politics is local, after all. Time for the administrators to open their schools and minds to the neighborhood with an active wooing of — and union with — groups and citizens to the point that Georgetowners say, “We value you as a neighbor.”