COMMUNIT-E
March 12, 2004



MORE ON CAR THEFTS AND THE WAVE UNIT
From: Erik S. Gaull <esg25@columbia.edu>

Regarding the WAVE unit: I have worked very closely with these guys
over the years. They are my favorite MPD unit. They are extremely
effective and very hard working. There may be a way for some residents
to help them out. They cruise the streets in unmarked cars looking for
stolen autos. They do this day in and day out in the same cars. After
a while, the bad guys know what the cars look like, so the WAVE team is
constantly trying to find other vehicles to use.

Instead of people donating their cars to some charity, they should
consider donating functioning vehicles to the WAVE team.

By the way, people need to be very careful about donating cars to
charities. Very often these cars are auctioned off and they are not
retitled properly. The cars are then used in the commission of crimes
or are stripped and abandoned. Because the cars have not been retitled,
when the police run a VIN check on the vehicle, it comes back to the
person who made the donation! Moreover, the charities often receive
only a small fraction of the auction price of the car. A lot of these
donation places are simply using the "charitable" aspect as a way to get
you to bring them your car.

Anyone donating a vehicle to a charity must:
1) check out the relationship between the entity accepting the vehicle
and the charity, and
2) ensure that their name gets removed from the vehicle title.






STOLEN CAR INCIDENT
From: GmarieW@aol.com

In June TWO cars were stolen from in front of my home .. one had been
purchased that day. We were dismayed at many aspects of the "search" for our cars.
One car was recovered (by me) about 4 days later about 3/4 of a mile from our
home. We found it because someone called because they had found some papers
on their tree-line with my name on it. I went to retrieve the papers and my
car was parked there and had apparently been for several days. The terrible
part of this was that another neighbor on that street (whose house my car was
parked in front of) had called the police that same day about "a strange car
parked on their street for days (my car)". The police came but did not recognize
my car as having been stolen (it should obviously have been in the police
computers but was not). That was my first shock.. to find that most police
officers do not get information about stolen cars. This nice policeman had come to
check out MY CAR and had not been able to learn that it had been reported
stolen.

A few weeks later, we received a notice for unpaid parking tickets on the
second car that was stolen .. the car had apparently been parked for days on a
street near where one car was recovered and received parking tickets. We
received a number of notices about unpaid parking tickets. There is NO coordination
or communication between D.C. Parking Enforcement and the Police Department.
Had there been, the parking enforcement officer might have known the car was
stolen and it could have been recovered. Seems like this should be a
"no-brainer" ... that Parking Enforcement and the Police Department should communicate
and share information about stolen cars.

In mid-December, our second stolen car was found -- with two men driving it
-- when they were stopped by a Capitol Police Officer because the license tags
did not match the car they were driving. The D.C. Police were notified by the
Captiol Police Officer and I also called the D.C. Police. A month later the
Capitol Police Officer called me because the car still showed up on the
"stolen car list" of the D.C. Police. The Capitol Police Officer told me that the
U.S. Attorney would be prosecuting the case but months later, I have yet to
hear from anyone in authority about any of this!

This was a traumatic and difficult experience and I apologize for the length
of this message. I understand that there are more serious crimes than auto
theft but the amount of money this costs all of us through increased insurance
premiums and otherwise is huge. I also wonder if people who steal cars
graduate to other, more serious crimes? It would seem to me that with some thought,
coordination and planning, more could be done to recover and prevent car theft.



[From KS: Car theft is a “gateway” crime, meaning that frequently criminals
steal cars in order to commit other crimes and decrease the chance of being
caught. If someone sees the car or tags during the crime, the car has often been
ditched by the time the police find it.]





SPEAK UP FOR DC PUBLIC LIBRARIES
From: Marthans@aol.com

The DC Library Renaissance Project, in partnership with the DC Public
Library, is sponsoring an Advocacy Training Day for DC residents interested in making
their voice heard on improving the DC Library System. Participants will
have the opportunity to meet with Council Members to stress the need for
investing in our library system. The free event will take place Saturday, March 20,
from 9:30am -- 12 noon, at Martin Luther King Library (9th & G Street, NW).
MLK is directly across from the Gallery Place Metro Stop on the Red Line.
There is also free parking available underground at MLK (entrance is on 10th
Street, NW). If you are interested in attending, please contact Martha
Saccocio, at MarthaNS@aol.com. Or call (202) 387-7772.





RE: MAJOR TREE WORK NEEDED
From: wheels-dc@att.net

Lowell Weiss asked for help in dealing with a tree on Asbury Place that has been
threatening to fall for nearly 2 years. It should be reported to the city at 727-1000.
He will receive a tracking number which will help if the situation is not resolved. People
should memorize that number, "727-1000" for dealing with the city. Give Mayor Williams
credit for that! No longer do you have to look in the phone book and try and guess who to
call, and when you do you only get a recording, even at 2 in the afternoon. By the way, that's
the same number to call if you want to have a tree planted near your house.
John Wheeler






TO FIX POT HOLES IN THE ‘HOOD
From: Patrick G. Talmon <patrick.talmon@verizon.net>
With our neighborhood streets full of potholes please call 645-7055, the DC pothole report
line to get prompt repair. Even if the pothole is not on your street, just report the street name
and nearest house number. I called a few days ago and the next day it was done!





RABIES & DISTEMPER IN NEIGHBORHOOD
From: Bill Rogers <rogersbill@att.net>
While walking dogs in Rock Creek Park on March 5, I read new trail
signs posted by the U.S. Park Service which said, more or less,
"Raccoons with rabies and distemper have been reported in this area.
Pets can become infected through either contact with these animals or
their feces. Please keep all pets on a leash at all times."

Unfortunately, just around the NEXT corner, I saw my dogs sniffing a
raccoon corpse which was lying IN THE PEDESTRIAN TRAIL! Long-leashed &
obedient dogs remaining on the trail could be exposed just as easily in
THIS case, so I called the Park Police to report the corpse. They
responded that the park service was already aware of the corpse lying
on the pedestrian trail immediately behind Picnic Area # 18 on Glover
Rd. (near where Shandra Levy's body was found; just up the hill from
Broad Branch Rd., near roughly Fessenden).

Other dog walkers then reported that the rotting corpse has been on the
trail for OVER THREE WEEKS! While I cannot confirm this, it implied
that an act of Congress would be necessary to get the corpse removed,
so I wrote Eleanor Holmes Norton (and cced Kathy Patterson). Surely,
Congress provides adequate funding to purchase a single shovel and a
single trash bag! This disregard for the health of our neighborhood
angers me. If anyone has an idea to encourage the Park Service to do
its job, or to move its limited funding to someone else who will,
please implement it. Meanwhile, keep your dogs away from this area
if possible.





ANC3F MEETING MARCH 15, 2004
From: meeting@anc3f.org
MARCH 15, 2004
MONDAY at 7:30 pm
Capital Memorial Church
3150 Chesapeake Street, NW.
TENTATIVE AGENDA
– Discussion with and report from Jeffrey Moore, Commander,
Second District, Metropolitan Police Department

– Consideration of a letter supporting PSA boundaries in ANC 3F
– Consideration of a parking lot plan, landscaping plan, and
traffic management plan for the Washington Home,
3720 Upton Street, NW.
– Consideration of a request for a public pay phone and pedestal
on public space at 4300 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
– Consideration of Public Service Commission rulemaking
on public pay phones
– Report on upgrading, reconstruction and resurfacing
of streets in ANC 3F





COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

**** From: Wood, Amanda (Graham) <Amanda_Wood@Graham.senate.gov>
FREE TREE
We're re-lanscaping our backyard and unfortunately have to get rid of a beautiful, healthy
10 foot tall Alberta Spruce. It's gorgeous and we decorate it every year for Christmas,
but it's in a horrible location and needs to go! We can't bear the idea of cutting it down.
Can anyone suggest a company or individual that might come and remove it. We'd like to
give it to someone who would resell or replant it, not destroy it. We're not looking for any
compansation for the tree -- we just want to see it continue to live.

**** From: Joan Stallard <joanadmin@fourfeettotheyard.com>
MISSING CAT
I hope the elist can help us locate our young gray and white cat. She ran out the back door
of our house in the 4400 block of Garrison Street NW early on Wednesday March 3. She
may answer to her name, Phoebe. If she comes, she may sniff you then hiss. Phoebe is not
yet full grown, probably is about 8 months old. She has a white muzzle, chest, belly and paws.
The gray fur has black stripes and spots. Her fur is very silky. We can be reached at home at
202-348-2093 or at work at 301-589-0899 or by email at joanadmin@fourfeettotheyard.com.
Thank you for being on the lookout for her. Joan and Wayland Stallard

**** From: Jillaine Smith <jillainedc@yahoo.com>
I now have a cat thanks to a call you put out on the list last year.
This was the abandoned kitty, Mr. Flannel (although we call him Mr. Gray.)
He's adjusting quite well and happy to have a safe, friendly, dry and warm
home.

**** From: Lrol@aol.com
PET CARE
We are moving from Chesapeake St to Asbury Place and will have a huge fenced
yard for dogs. Our family is available for dog walking, in home dog/cat care,
or care in your home. We are one adult, and two boys ages 16 and 20. We have 2
cats so if your dogs come to our house they must be able to get along with
cats. Email Lrol@aol.com if interested.

**** From: Lee, Danielle (BearingPoint) <daniellelee@bearingpoint.net>
Part time nanny needed:
We are located in Friendship Heights, NW DC, walking distance to a metro and
looking for a part time nanny for our 4 month old daughter. The nanny needs
to be available on Mondays and Fridays from 8:15am-6:30pm. The nanny should
have had some experience with an infant and most of all be loving and
responsible. The nanny should also like dogs as we have two large dogs (she
will not be responsible for care taking of these dogs) We are willing to
pay $12.50/hr or more depending on the experience. Contact Rob and Danielle
at 202-966-6022 (home after 6:30pm) or work at
703-747-5452(Danielle)/703-747-4213(Rob) to set up an interview. Please be
able to provide references.

**** From: Mmalhotra1@worldbank.org
Our nanny is free on fridays to clean houses in the AU park area.
She is wonderful, honest, reliable, and while she works with us four days a week
as a nanny, she cleans homes for several neighbours in the AU park area on
fridays and saturdays so has additional references from the AU park
neighbourhood area who can testify to the high quality of her work. She has one
slot open for fridays, so please contact me if you arr interested at
MMalhotra1@worldbank.org, or at 473-3788.
Mohini Malhotra

**** From: Donnelly, Carolyn <Carolyn.Donnelly@mail.house.gov>
PASTA FOR PETS
Spaghetti Dinner provided by Buca di Beppo
and Bingo Night to benefit the
Washington Animal Rescue League.
Celebrity Bingo Caller: Chilli Amar from MIX 107.3FM
Tickets: $15 each or $50 for Family 4-pack
Saturday, March 27, 6–9 pm
Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church
3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW (across from American University)
Tickets available at the door. For more information call 202.726.2556 ext.
223. We welcome donations of blankets, towels and pet toys.
~S P O N S O R E D BY ~
Altria Group, Inc. • Alexandria Animal Hospital
Au Bon Pain • Buca di Beppo • Firehook Bakery
Marshfield Associates • The Big Idea Inc. • Starbucks
Fetch more information about the League @ www.warl.org
~Pasta for Pets ~

**** From: Richard Sachs <RSACHS@crs.loc.gov>
Our terrific housekeeper — more than ten years with us — has time
available and loves working in the AU Park neighborhood and its
environs. She provides a wide range of cleaning services and her fees
are reasonable. She provides custom estimates for all jobs. She is
legal, speaks very good English, and is extremely dependable. Call
Olivia at 703.597.2329 or email at isascleaning@yahoo.com. I am happy
to provide a reference.

**** From: anc3b@aol.com
St. Luke’s Spring Concert Series begins Sunday, March 28th at 2 pm with Deke and Joyce
Polifka playing 4-Hand Piano by Faure and Debussy. Free and open to all. St. Luke's
United Methodist Church, 3655 Calvert Street, NW, Washington DC 20007,
202-333-4949, www.saintlukesmethodist.org
Thanks,
Shalom A. Mulkey
Church Administrator
St. Luke's United Methodist Church
(202)333-4949

**** From: e b <cocinelle04@hotmail.com>
HORSE FOR LEASE IN ROCK CREEK PARK
If you are an advanced rider who is interested in riding on the trails of
Rock Creek Park, I'm looking for someone for long-term lease to ride 2-3
weekdays with the possibility of occasional weekend days. My wonderful
gelding is a lot of fun to ride (if you are experienced) and also does
dressage, though he mainly goes on trail. This would be a great arrangement
for a teenager who wants their own horse, but without the full cost and
responsibility. You must be a confident, relaxed rider with kind hands
and a good (light) seat. We share expenses and horse care. Email me with
questions – cocinelle04@hotmail.com.

**** From: LBerger728@aol.com
I'm looking for someone to reface my kitchen cabinets. Does
anyone have any good, or bad, experiences, recommendations? Please send me an
email (LBerger728@aol.com). Thanks//Lisa Berger

**** From: Richard Abbott <abbott1229@erols.com>
SHORT-TERM RENTAL IN TENLEYTOWN
Our house in Tenleytown (3-bedroom) is available for rental from May 12 - June 11,
or any time between those dates. Please call 244-5267 if interested.






JANNEY SCHOOL PTA MEETING ON MARCH 16
From: Anne Sullivan
Jack Koczela, a founding member of the PROP 100% campaign, will be the guest
speaker at Janney Elementary School's March 16th PTA meeting at 7:15 PM.
(4130 Albemarle St., NW) The desired outcome of PROP 100 (Pledge to Rebuild
Our Public Schools 100%) is the adoption by the Federal Government of the financial
responsibility for their fair share of the cost for the rebuilding and modernization of the
DC Public Schools and Public Charter Schools. Please join in this discussion to learn
how you can help in this important effort!






REMINDER ABOUT COMMUNITY LEAD WEB SITE
From: Joshua Levinson <jplevinson@yahoo.com>
Thru: tenleytown@yahoogroups.com

Paul McKay (Ward 1) and I (Ward 6) started a website
called www.purewaterdc.com as an informational
resource on the lead contamination issue. We update
it daily so you can check back frequently to keep
up-to-date on the latest developments in this growing
crisis. We are also running an online petition express
to DC officials the deep level of distress and concern
among DC residents over the problem. We have
collected over 750 signatures on the petition -- well
on our way toward our goal of 1000 -- but we need your
help to get there. Please take a moment to sign the
petition at www.purewaterdc.com and let your family,
friends and neighbors know about the website.

We've also been approached by several people who would
like to organize parents to take more direct action on
this issue both to urge the City to take immediate
action to address the problem and to hold WASA
management accountable for not sufficiently notifying
the public when they first learned of the problem.
There are a number of efforts underway and a number of
organizations, coalitions, and groups are forming
around this issue.

We'd like to be sure that all of you know about these
efforts and to help facilitate communication among
them. Jeremy Ben-Ami has volunteered to serve as a
clearinghouse for information about these efforts and
to help ensure that the groups are all aware of each
other's efforts. If you are taking part in any
organizing on this issue or are aware of any ongoing
efforts, please email Jeremy at jbami@aol.com. Also,
if you are interested in taking a more active role in
organizing parents and other residents in your
community on this issue, please let Jeremy know.
Josh Levinson



DROP-OFF SITES FOR WATER SAMPLES
From: Pagano, Penny (COUNCIL) <ppagano@dccouncil.us>
From Councilmember Kathy Patterson: WASA has six sites for residents to drop
off water samples. The closest one for Ward 3 residents is the Dalecarlia
Treatment Plant, 5900 MacArthur Boulevard on Monday through Friday from 7:00
am to 7:00 pm. You can also call the WASA hotline 787-2732 to schedule a
pickup. The Emergency Management Agency is distributing free water pitcher
filtration systems to families with children under the age of six; women who
are pregnant and mothers who are breast-feeding whose residences have lead
service lines at the following locations: Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, 75
Rhode Island Ave., NW, on Tuesday, March 9 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and at
St. Mary's Center, 2333 Ontario Road, NW, on Tuesday, March 9 from 5:00 pm
to 9:00 pm.
Penny Pagano

---------------------------------

**** From: anavaro@verizon.net.
Has anyone had their water tested for lead by a private laboratory? If so, can anyone
recommend a lab? I would like to double check WASA's results, but am having trouble
tracking down a lab. Thanks.





MORE ON PROPERTY TAX

**** From: Pagano, Penny (COUNCIL) <ppagano@dccouncil.us>
Web site: <http://www.kathypatterson.org/> www.kathypatterson.org
Email: <mailto:kpatterson@dccouncil.us> kpatterson@dccouncil.us
Penny Pagano (202) 724-8062

UPDATE ON PROPERTY TAXES
If you believe that your assessment is too high, you should consider filing
an appeal. Residents have also received a 2004 property tax bill, which is
based on the 2004 assessment that homeowners received last year. In January,
the Council passed a 12% cap on the amount that your property tax bill (not
your assessment) can increase. The Council also increased the homestead
exemption.

The Office of Tax and Revenue is sending out corrected bills to some people
whose bills are incorrect. Many people have complained that they are still
waiting for a Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals (BRPAA) hearing
on their 2004 assessment. Of the 2400 appeals that were filed last year,
hearings have been held on only 200 of them and as of March 1, only 140
cases had been resolved. There have been vacancies on the board.

There are 4 instances in which the 12% cap will not apply to the 2004
property tax bill:
1) the property was sold during the previous year;
2) a zoning classification change that increased the property value;
3) previous assessment was clearly an error; and
4) significant new construction or additions/improvements to an old
structure.

CALCULATING YOUR PROPERTY TAX
**From the Office of Tax and Revenue**

1. Multiply your prior year's Assessment Cap value by 1.12. This
yields the new capped assessment for this year.

2. Next, subtract your homestead deduction amount from your current
assessed value yielding the net assessment for this year.

3. Next, subtract the new capped assessment calculated in step one from
the net assessment calculated in step two. It the result is a positive
number, this yields the amount of assessed value from which the actual
credit is calculated on you bill.

4. To calculate the dollar amount of the credit, first divide the
result in step three by 100, and then multiply the result by the tax rate of
$0.96. This amount is your credit.

Let's assume that your last year's capped assessment was $888,340 and the
new assessment is $1,364,680.
-------------
1.) Determine Prior Capped Assessment $888,340 Multiplied by 12% Cap
1.12 Equals Current Capped Assessment $994,941

2.) Current Full Value Assessment $1,364,680 Less Homestead Deduction $38,000
Equals Assessment Net of Homestead Deduction $1,326,680

3.) Assessment Net of Homestead Deduction $1,326,680 Less Current Capped Assessment
$994,941 Equals Assessed Value of Cap Credit $331,739

4.) Assessed Value of Cap Credit $331,739 Multiplied by Effective Tax Rate
($0.96/100-$0.0096) Result Gross Taxes on Assessment of $1,364,680 $13,100.92
Less $38,000 Homestead Deduction $364.80 Less Cap Credit $3,184.69

Total Net Taxes for Year $9,551.43

-----------------


**** From: Jack <benoit@atlantech.net>
The reason the tax increase is greater than the 12 percent cap is that
the Homestead reduction is taken on the TOTAL (before cap reduction)
assessment which (for many of us) yields an assessment greater than the
cap. The cap then is used as the tax base. In effect we no longer
have the benefit of the Homestead reduction. The correct and fair
calculation would be to impose the cap and THEN apply the Homestead
reduction, which should result in about a 12 percent TAX increase.
Jack Benoit


**** From: davehensch <davehensch@yahoo.com>
Thru: tenleytown@yahoogroups.com
We are also new to the neighborhood and were shocked by our
assessment. So, I looked at the legislation, and found that the
reduction of the cap may not apply to residents who acquired their
home in the previous tax year.

Specifically, the language says: "The credit shall not apply if,
during the prior tax year, the real property was transferred for
consideration to a new owner", among other possible reasons.

The full text of the act can be found at:
http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20040128101511.pdf

Can anyone tell me if I interpreting this correctly? If the new 12%
cap does not apply, I assume the old 25% one does. And are new
homeowners still eligible for the increased homestead deduction? Are
there any other exceptional property tax issues pertaining to new
homeowners?
David Henschel






MORE ON LIVING WITH DOGS IN THE ‘HOOD
(Please keep my name/e-address anonymous; my home and
yard have been repeatedly vandalized by dog owners.)

Dog urine and feces destroy all vegetation it comes in
contact with, lowering the life span of lawns, trees,
and homeowner's gardens not walled off by protective
fencing. Not to mention lessening the quality of life
for humans who want to enjoy those green spaces. What
many, many District dog owners fail to consider with
their beloved Fido - or simply believe is someone
else's problem - is that canines are territorial pack
animals. Where one urinates and defecates, all others
will be magnetically drawn to, guaranteeing a cycle of
increasing destruction, harm to grass and tree boxes,
noise, poop left for kids to step in, and all of the
other social ills that non-dog owners should not have
to put up with. In this area, the ratio of dog owners
who actually obey the law by picking up their dog's
poop is obviously low, which speaks volumes about what
these people truly think of their neighbors and
neighborhood. Given their unceasing inability to
respect others yet abundant time to fume and cogitate
endlessly on their dog's rights, why not instead
protect the rights of all homeowners and taxpayers
first? Destruction of city and private property is not
on the list of their dog's "rights."







STORY FOR PUBLIC RADIO
From: Richard L. Paul <rlpaulproductions@starpower.net>

I am producing a piece for public radio about how people make ends meet
these days. I am interested in interviewing a family of four or more who
would be willing to talk about how they make the decisions that they make
with regard to money.

Ideally, this family would be facing some of the run-of-the-mill money
problems that we all face these days -- kids are going to be in college soon
so tuition is breathing down your neck, maintenance on the cars is more than
you'd like it to be, maybe your recent assessment has jacked up your
property taxes again, and it just doesn't seem like "all" that money you're
earning is still around after the bills are paid.

If you would be willing to take part in this piece, I would appreciate very
much hearing from you.

Thanks in advance,

Richard Paul
rlpaulproductions, LLC
http://www.rlpaulproductions.com
(202) 364-0860 - main
(202) 352-7259 - cell
Documentary productions/Fundraiser production





LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
From: Michelle.McIver@usdoj.gov <Michelle.McIver@usdoj.gov>

I am writing to request support from the Second District Community to benefit the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Society is dedicated to finding a cure for
leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other types of blood related cancers. These forms
of cancer are considered the #1 lethal disease of children age 1 to 14, affect 107,000
people, and claim thousands of victims every year. By contributing to the cause, we will
help sponsor the research that will effectively find a way to fight these diseases and may
prove to be valuable for fighting other forms of cancer.

I am currently participating in the Society's Team in Training Program - the number one
endurance training program in the world. Volunteers and coaches from the Society will
help me train for an endurance event of my choice and in exchange, I commit my time and
effort to raise a minimum of $2,500.00 for the worthwhile cause. Since February of this year,
I have been running, swimming and biking to prepare for the Spud Triathlon, which will take
place in Indian Head, MD on June 13, 2004. In this event, I will swim 1 mile, bike 25 miles
and run 6 miles - not only for my own personal goals, but for the love of those with Cancer.
I found out about this program while working in the Second District, and it has been a life
changing experience already! I have met many people who are as dedicated as I am to fighting
cancer. I have also had the pleasure of meeting cancer patients and survivors who are the real
heroes of the program.

I am asking the community support me as I swim, bike and run to fight cancer! My first and
most important donation deadline is April 1, 2004.
I will accept donations after that point, but am working towards a time sensitive goal.

You can donate in two ways:
Online at http://www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?key=MMcIver
or via mail to (please make checks payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society):
Michelle McIver
PO Box 1308
Landover, MD 20785
Thanks for your support!


– END –