March 10, 2011 | 8:31 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes – Grad School in SW, From Georgetown to Homeless, More Metro Violence

Good morning DCentric readers! Grab your umbrella, it’s going to be a puddle-filled Thursday.

The Graduate School to expand with new campus on D.C.’s Southwest waterfront Former USDA-affiliate’s move may help locals: “The school also plans to open the doors of its new educational center to other colleges, universities and nonprofit groups offering programs that would help D.C. residents acquire skills needed to compete for local jobs.” (The Washington Post)

From Well-Paid Principal To Homeless VIDEO: Former principal of Georgetown charter school lost everything after an accident. She isn’t needy enough to qualify for help, so she has been homeless since August. “Of the roughly 6,500 homeless people who live in the District, few have a more unsettling story than Carol Dostert.” (NBC Washington)

Man and Teen Fight at Glenmont Metro A day after the stabbing at Gallery Place: “Authorities notified the teenager’s parents of the fight, Gates said. The man was seen leaving the scene on foot, and police were trying to find him, officials said.” (voices.washingtonpost.com)

D.C. cops gobbled up stolen goods, authorities say Cops asked thieves for iPads and iPods instead of turning them in: “Instead of reporting the discovery of a criminal operation that sold stolen electronics, District police officers in uniform greedily ordered iPads, gold jewelry and flat-screen televisions for themselves…” (Washington Examiner )

Gray’s pick for D.C. schools chancellor upsets teachers union “The Washington Teachers Union, whose members backed Mr. Gray’s mayoral campaign, is not happy with the choice for several reasons. Chief among them is the fact that no national search was conducted — a possible breach of the D.C. law that established the chancellor post.” (Washington Times)

Fired DC Employee Sulaimon Brown Talks To Feds Brown alleges that Gray offered jobs for political favors: “Meanwhile, as this investigation continues, Mayor Gray has lawyered up with a legal heavy height, attorney Robert S. Bennett. The same attorney represented President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.” (WUSA Washington, DC)

March 9, 2011 | 11:01 AM | By

Kate Masur’s “An Example for All the Land”

Kate Masur's "An Example for All the Land: Emancipation and the Struggle Over Equality in Washington, D.C."

The author of the first major study of Washington, D.C. during reconstruction in over fifty years spoke to DCentric recently.

Kate Masur, a history professor at Northwestern and author of “An Example for All the Land,” opined on racism, the Republican party and how D.C. developed a thriving African American middle class through good schools.

Why did you write this book?

I’ve been interested in D.C.’s history in part because it represented the juncture between the North and the South. I wanted to look at the period of emancipation and quintessential Northern/Southern issues, including the end of slavery, the meaning of emancipation and urban politics. In D.C., I could look at local and federal government in an interesting place that mixed both regions. That and there hadn’t been a good study of these issues in a really long time.

What were D.C. audiences most interested in?

D.C. was hungry for this sort of work. People have an episodic idea of history, so filling in the blanks and offering a narrative for this period is useful. Lots of people asked about African American politics and participation in a progressive coalition. This was a period of upheaval. You could really see what a difference it made that Congress had exclusive jurisdiction in Washington…the city was batted back and forth. It didn’t have control over its own destiny, this period really highlights that.

That sounds familiar. At the Portrait Gallery, when you read from the Reconstruction-era diary of a racist Washingtonian, I couldn’t get over how similar it sounded to certain anonymous comments I read on recent news articles.

Now, no one wants to own racism. You sort of wonder where all those comments come from if everyone is not racist…not to mention structural racism. In my book, white power brokers deliberately and repeatedly said that it wasn’t about race or problems with African Americans, it was just about good government. In fact, the policies they were seeking dramatically reduced the power of a newly biracial electorate. They made life more difficult for poor African Americans who had just become voters and found a certain amount of political power in D.C., so despite saying those policies weren’t racist, they had everything to do with reducing the power of black people.

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: History, Books, Race and Class, Racial Divide
March 9, 2011 | 8:35 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes – Race and Class at UDC, Gray’s Brown Issues and Using Malia Obama

Good morning, DCentric readers! Welcome to Wednesday’s links.

UDC students stage protest, call for school president’s resignation Previously, Sessoms resigned from Delaware State and Queens College: “At both…he was praised as an intelligent reformer but questioned on his spending. He also was accused of seeking to elevate the academic pedigree of both institutions at the expense, some said, of low-income and minority students, an allegation that is now fueling antipathy at UDC.” (The Washington Post)

Md. Man Pleads Guilty To Prostituting Girl 12-year old Child had been reported missing, called family member from a Maryland Motel: “She also told officers Smith had picked her up on the street in Washington, DC, paid for sexual services performed in the backseat of his car and recruited her to work for him as a prostitute.” (WUSA Washington, DC)

Sulaimon Brown’s charges must be taken seriously Editorial about the Mayor’s press conference: “What Mr. Gray didn’t explain – and why these disquieting charges must be taken seriously – is why his administration gave a $110,000-a-year job to a man with a spotty background, questionable credentials and a pattern of peculiar behavior…” (The Washington Post)

Aware of felony, Gray gave D.C. job to campaign worker Facebook friend! “Gray appointed a campaign supporter and Facebook friend, Cherita Whiting, as a $65,000-a-year “special assistant” in the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) in January after being warned months earlier that she had not disclosed a prior felony conviction when she applied for previous city council employment…” (Washington Times)

Rookie ANC official Pugh’s efforts part of rising civic energy in Southeast D.C. Who’s moving to SE again? “These new homes are being snatched up by people such as Pugh: 30-something, white-collar and African American. She has lived in Henson Ridge, a 300-townhouse development, with her fiance since 2008. ” (The Washington Post)

Buca di Beppo Promotes Malia Obama’s Visit Ha. That beloved local slang term is applied to all races, creeds, castes… “We should point out here that Buca di Beppo’s Dupont Circle location was where, as our own Rend Smith reported last year, a white server, Chris Costa, was fired for calling someone a “‘Bama,” because managers thought it was a racial slur.” (Washington City Paper)

March 8, 2011 | 11:44 AM | By

Gray Ethics and Transparency

Flickr: Jason Pier in DC

Vince Gray campaign sticker in Logan Circle.

WaPo’s Petula Clark calls out the Mayor’s hypocrisy:

Surreptitious. Clandestine. Circuitous. Sweetheart deals. Cronyism.

Those are all words that D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) used to attack the incumbent mayor on the campaign trail last year. And that’s why he is a disaster right now, not even 100 days in office.

The very platform of his campaign – sound ethics, fairness, transparency and dignity – are now crumbling in the face of some ugly allegations.

In case you forgot them, here are some of Fenty’s greatest hits:
Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Government, Politics, Vince Gray
March 8, 2011 | 8:28 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes – AIDS in D.C., Teen Metro Thieves and More Government Car Drama

Good morning, DCentric readers! Ready for some links?

D.C. backsliding in efforts to fight AIDS, study finds Three percent of Washington residents are infected; that’s the highest rate for any U.S. city. “In its sixth “report card” on the city’s response to the virus, the group noted that this is the first time there has been such backsliding since the group started tracking the District’s HIV/AIDS rate in 2005.” (The Washington Post)

Rev. Fauntroy Speaks About Martin Luther King, Jr. He was Rev. of NW church for five decades, launched Free South Africa movement: “While, he was a student at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Walter Fauntroy met 22-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. Their all night discussion about theology led to a lasting friendship.” (WUSA Washington, DC)

Students Demand Resignation of UDC President “Sessoms met with student government representatives Monday. ‘I asked for his resignation,’ Student Center President Michael Watson said. “He looked at me and said no. So the next step is that we’ll be filing a civil action lawsuit against the president by the end of the week.” (NBC Washington)

PHOTO: “No Kissing” Sign in D.C. Cab Interesting. Sign says “No cursing”, too. How about a sign for drivers that says, “No Extra Loud Radio”, “No Dangerously Erratic Driving”, “No Ordering Me to Get Change for a $20″ and “No Shouted Phone Conversations” or better yet– “No Cell Phone Use, Since it’s ILLEGAL” (dupontcircle.wusa9.com)

Teens admit to multiple robberies at Rhode Island Ave. Metro station Multiple = six. “Harrison and Francis were charged as adults and face up to 30 years apiece, though it’s highly unlikely they’ll face that much time. Sentencing is scheduled for May 6.” (tbd.com)

City agency chiefs get rides on taxpayers’ dime They have unpaid parking tickets, too. Some vehicles were bought this year, despite $320 million budget gap. “With the exception of the mayor, no one in District government, or working for the District government, should have a car,” Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans said after hearing of the various vehicles agency directors have.” (Washington Examiner )

March 7, 2011 | 4:59 PM | By

Salvadoran Women in D.C. via Metro Connection

Metro Connection: Kate Sheehy

In case you missed it– last Friday’s Metro Connection had a “Visitors” theme and examined everything from D.C.’s Most-Missed Monuments to Temporiums or “pop-up shops”. One story got my attention and might be of interest to DCentric readers: “A New Life: Salvadoran Women in D.C.“.

The D.C. region has the second-largest Salvadoran population in the United States. For the past 30 years, primarily men have been coming over, and sending money to family members back home. That money has helped pay for the education of a number of young women. But these women often have difficulty finding a job in their home country, so many head north, with plans of sticking around long enough to save up and go home. But Kate Sheehy introduces us to women who have come here and stayed, in hopes of improving their lives.

Second-largest! I thought we’d have the largest population in the country. It turns out that distinction belongs to Southern California.

FILED UNDER: Media, Immigrants, Race and Ethnicity, WAMU
March 7, 2011 | 2:32 PM | By

When to Buy Organic Food (Updated)

DCentric

Organic fruit.

Remember the organic food post I wrote, “The Privilege of Prioritizing Organic Food“? It was about a jarring experience I had at a local New Year’s retreat, after another attendee asked for advice about eating nutritiously on a budget, only to be rebuffed.

That post generated a lot of discussion; many of you were hungry (heh) for more information, especially practical tips like the ones we didn’t get at the retreat that inspired my essay. Well, get out your grocery lists–I just found a handy chart at LearnVest that may help you choose how and when to go organic. Additionally, there are these two useful suggestions:

* Think Skin: When in doubt, organic is the safer bet for produce with edible skins (like apples and grapes). Most exceptions in the chart above are for produce that has fewer natural pests and therefore tends to be farmed with fewer pesticides.

* Meat: If you have to prioritize your organic budget anywhere, animal and animal products are the best investment, because of the higher risk of contamination in cooking. Antibiotic-free is the most important designation to look for in meats, though ideally you want it all–free range and pasture fed. A huge percentage of the contaminants are found in the fat, so if you must go non-organic, keep it lean (i.e. chicken breasts rather than thighs).

If you know of similar charts, links or resources, please share them!

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: The People, Food, Money
March 7, 2011 | 8:32 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes – Summer Jobs, Scandalous City and Disappointing DMV Awards

Good morning, DCentric readers! Thank goodness Everyday isn’t like Sunday…we’re still soaked!

A better D.C. summer jobs program Participants didn’t learn skills or gain experience: “Well-run programs are smart investments in the future. Paying children to keep them off the streets or make their parents happy may have been politically popular, but it was a real disservice to the children who were supposed to be helped.” (The Washington Post)

Scandals take toll on D.C.’s credibility “The scandals involving the mayor, the council chairman and the president of the University of the District of Columbia have collectively damaged the District’s ability to move forward on all issues on Capitol Hill and have created a negative view of our decisions on Wall Street…In the last two weeks, we have really hurt our ability to make progress.” (Washington Examiner )

Kaya Henderson reportedly getting some job security Panel met once, only considered Henderson: “Gray (D) has, by most accounts, never seriously considered any other potential leader of D.C. Public Schools. He recently appointed a chancellor selection advisory panel, as required by D.C. law, to evaluate any candidates he might recommend.” (The Washington Post)

Fired Former DC Mayoral Candidate, Sulaimon Brown, Alleges Job Deal Slammng Fenty was job one: “Sulaimon Brown, who was recently fired from his city job, also told The Washington Post that two Gray campaign aides gave him a series of cash payments to help finance his mayoral campaign.” (myfoxdc.com)

President of UDC feels heat for travel spending Well, when Kwame Brown wants straight answers… “Students are calling for his ouster, news reports say he spends exorbitant sums on his travels and D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown is demanding straight answers on spending questions.” (Washington Times)

At DMV Awards, violence mars a hopeful moment for the Washington hip-hop scene “For local hip-hop and go-go fans, the story is sadly familiar. Washington’s go-go scene has struggled with nightclub violence for years – so much so that District Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier established a weekly “go-go report” targeting venues where conflict was expected to break out.” (The Washington Post)

March 4, 2011 | 5:59 PM | By

Spent: Choose Your Own Misadventure

"Spent" is a decision-based game that simulates what it's like to live with very little.

I just spent a few minutes “playing” Spent, a website which simulates what it’s like to be low-income and face difficult choices regarding housing, family, transportation and work:

Work hard. Do the right thing. Homelessness is something that will never happen to me. Sometimes, all it takes is one life-changing experience to land you on the streets: a job loss, death of a loved one, divorce, natural disaster, or serious illness.

That message is everywhere, but it’s easy to ignore– and that’s the point of this simulation. The site is programmed to serve up realistic challenges that force players to make extremely difficult decisions– like paying for cafeteria food you can’t afford because your hypothetical child complains about the stigma of free lunches or putting a pet to sleep because you can’t afford the treatment that would save its life.

In the case of the former, after a choice is made between coming up with $3 per day for lunch money, or taking the risk of your child starving to avoid the shame of accepting free food, a screen like this pops up:
Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Media, Poverty, Race and Class
March 4, 2011 | 4:36 PM | By

Wal-Mart and Communities of Color

Flickr: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

While the Washington Times probes whether it’s a conflict of interest for Council member Yvette Alexander’s advisers to work as paid consultants for Wal-Mart, over at Colorlines, Juell Stewart examines Michelle Obama’s endorsement of the company.

In January, the first lady joined Wal-Mart executives in southeast D.C.—a traditionally black neighborhood in which the controversial chain recently announced plans to open stores—to announce the company’s effort to make its pre-packaged foods healthier and more affordable than less healthy options by 2015. Obama called it a “huge victory” that left her feeling “more hopeful than ever before.”…

Other critics say that by teaming up with corporate giants like Wal-Mart, the first lady risks undermining activism on other issues, like fair labor practices in communities of color that are increasingly dependent upon service sector jobs.

Cheap food isn’t always nutritious. Could Walmart make healthy food more affordable?

The “huge victory” Obama championed in the Wal-Mart announcement is creating viable choices for informed consumers. She and others have argued that communities can only win if there is cost parity between healthy food and the high-calorie snacks that contribute to obesity. “If you have a dollar menu item and a healthier salad that costs three times as much, it’s not a choice for people living on a limited income,” says Antronette K. Yancey, co-director of the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity.

FILED UNDER: Around the City, Food, Race and Class, Walmart