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Give Peace-Mobile a chance The controversy playing out in our front yard in Northwest
Washington — over a parked 1972 Volkswagen microbus painted with peace signs and rainbows and dubbed the Peace-Mobile — may strike some as frivolous or, as one commenter on an Internet site wrote, “problems rich people have.” But the debate has generated an important First Amendment
discussion of the age-old question “What is art?” and provides an opportunity to talk about the values we pass on to our children. We brought the Peace-Mobile to our Palisades yard after its run as a
The bus, the authors and their children.
set piece for a Georgetown Day School theatrical production in the spring. All summer, passers-by stopped to take photos. But last month, a neighbor complained to the D.C. Department of Public Works, which threatens to shut down our display. On Sept. 16, DPW declared the colorful, engineless VW “dangerous.” The agency threatened to remove it by the end of the month and fine us as much as $1,000. As taxpaying District residents, we believe it
COURTESY JANICE L. KAPLAN
is our right to display this iconic work in our yard. The District disagrees, speculating that the vehicle may attract animals. (Note to DPW: So does our vegetable garden, and the recycling bin outside our back door.) We understand that our neighbors do not have the sentimental
attachment to the bus that we do. Many of them love the Peace-Mobile for evoking a bygone era. Others view it as an eyesore. Because we are mindful of our neighbors’ concerns (not to mention the costs of a legal battle), we know the Peace-Mobile’s days in our yard may be numbered. But we see this as a teachable moment for our neighbors and our children. As neighbors, we can disagree without being disagreeable. As parents, we can use the Peace-Mobile to teach those in the next generation the value of asking questions, standing up for what they believe in and working with others to resolve issues. Janice L. Kaplan and Michael Allen
Local Blog Network
6voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/
Some of the region’s best bloggers share work on the All Opinions Are Local blog. Below, one of last week’s posts.
Should D.C. raise its height limit? Washington’s famous height limit has long defined our city’s
skyline, but is it time to rethink it? With office rents downtown eclipsing those of Manhattan to become the most expensive in the country, some people think so.
Raising the height limit would presumably allow downtown to accommodate more density, which would be great for the region because downtown is where our infrastructure converges. Thus, it is the most appropriate place in the region for more density. That’s a pretty good argument, and in general it makes sense. But
Washington’s height limit is also an important component of our city’s unique character, and raising it might have unintended negative consequences. For example, with land at less of a premium, some developers might build skyscrapers and then surround them with surface parking lots, which would encourage driving and discourage walking, leading to a dramatic increase in traffic congestion. Few American downtowns are as pedestrian-friendly as Washington’s, and the lack of surface parking lots due to the height limit is a big reason why.
So while I don’t think eliminating the height limit wholesale is a
good idea, I do think we have some room for improvement. One size doesn’t fit all, as everyone knows. One problem connected to the height limit is that few people live downtown, since office leases are generally more profitable than residential ones. Any developer who gave up valuable square footage for residential units would be throwing money away. A carefully crafted height bonus allowing developers to build a few extra floors in exchange for filling them with residences might change that. People living downtown don’t have to travel far to commute, so increasing the downtown population would reduce congestion. Likewise, allowing skyscrapers in underdeveloped areas such as Anacostia might encourage investment there and would do so without impacting the character of the city’s monumental core. After all, Anacostia is geographically similar to Arlington, which has used tall buildings very successfully. These are just a few examples, but ultimately my point is this: While Washington’s height limit is an important and deservedly well-loved attribute of our city, carefully crafted modifications to it could make our wonderful city even better. We ought not be afraid to discuss the possibility.
Dan Malouff,
BeyondDC.com
Local Opinions asked readers to write in support of Democrat Mar- tin O’Malley or Republican Robert Ehrlich in the Maryland gover- nor’s race. We will continue to post reader endorsements during the week on the All Opinions Are Local blog at http://voices.washington-
post.com/local-opinions/. To participate, e-mail up to 200
words to
letters@washpost.com with “My Endorsement” in the subject line. Include a day and eve- ning phone number and a note de- scribing any connection you have to the candidates, their campaigns or Maryland politics in general.
Checks and balances I endorse Robert Ehrlich for
governor of Maryland. I am a registered Democrat, and I do not support all of Mr. Ehrlich’s positions. But I back him because I am a disciple of James Madison and believe in checks and balances. Our Found- ing Fathers were right: The peo- ple are safer and more secure in their liberty when power is divid- ed.
Both houses of Maryland’s
General Assembly are firmly in Democratic hands, and with the governorship the party is in com- plete control. This single vision concerning taxes, services and social problems is unhealthy, as decisions are often made without serious debate or input from those with another point of view. We have witnessed the dangers of one-party control at the na- tional level as both Republicans (2002-06) and Democrats (2009- 10) ran roughshod over the oppo- sition and failed to seek biparti- san cooperation. This situation is clearly not good for the people of Maryland. We need bipartisanship, and a Republican governor will serve as a counterweight to the legisla- tive hegemony of the Democrats. Democrats will be forced to com- promise, which is the essence of our republican form of govern- ment.
Mike Henry, College Park
A credible stand on taxes I endorse Gov. Martin O’Mal-
ley for reelection. I cringe at the thought of any taxes being raised, but I applaud Mr. O’Mal- ley for not campaigning on a pledge to lower taxes. While vow- ing to reduce taxes sounds good, I have to question what “entitle- ment spending” or “ineffective expenditures” would be on Rob- ert Ehrlich’s chopping block if he is elected, since Mr. Ehrlich has failed to specify the intended tar- gets.
While he may publicly champi- on small businesses and families, I fear that Mr. Ehrlich’s underly- ing agenda is to keep the wealth in the hands of those who already have it at the expense of the working poor, the underem- ployed and unemployed, and the middle class. The recent Post debate con-
firmed my view that Mr. Ehrlich is not to be trusted. Mr. O’Malley will govern for the best interests of all Marylanders, not a choice few.
Paula Johnson, Clinton
Local Opinions, a place for commentary about where we live, is looking for submissions of 300 to 500 words on timely local topics. Submissions must include name, e-mail address, street address and phone number, and they will be edited for brevity and clarity. To submit your article, please go to
washingtonpost.com/localopinions.
NEXT WEEK’S TOPIC Should the D.C. attorney general be an elected position? THE MARYLAND GOVERNOR’S RACE Your endorsements
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2010
RICKY CARIOTI/THE WASHINGTON POST
Pensions and Purple Line The Post’s recent editorial
warning of the looming $33 bil- lion public-employee pension shortfall in Maryland was dead on — frighteningly so. Robert Ehrlich has offered two specific changes: craft new funding and benefit rules for new employees and transfer some obligations of local employees to the localities. Martin O’Malley just wants to wait for a belatedly appointed commission to report options. Sorry, that inaction is not good enough given what the taxpayers are facing. Mr. O’Malley is for the light-
rail Purple Line, which not only would be horribly expensive, but would also cater to developers and cause traffic snarls. For example, plans are on the draw- ing board for a major new retail- housing development on Con- necticut Avenue at the new sta- tion for the aboveground trolley. It would be moronic to have trains stopping traffic across Connecticut Avenue and more cars jostling to enter and exit the new development during morn- ing and evening rush hours. Just two big reasons these reg- istered Democrats are for Mr. Ehrlich.
Elizabeth and George Vary, Bethesda
Tech-savvy leadership I am happy that The Post en- dorsed Martin O’Malley for gov- ernor. I am a Democrat, and I support Mr. O’Malley mainly be- cause he understands the impor- tance of using up-to-date com- puter technology to run our state government. As mayor of Balti- more, he championed the use of data analysis and mapping for performance management in a program called CitiStat, modeled on one introduced by Rudy Giuli- ani to fight crime in New York. As governor, he supported similar programs: StateStat and BayStat. These innovations have undeni- ably cut costs and delivered ser- vices more efficiently, but they
have also promoted by example another O’Malley strength: edu- cational opportunities in tech- nology for both our young people and our workforce. Not surpris- ingly, Mr. O’Malley’s work has since been imitated across the United States. This year, he received an
award from the National Associa- tion of State Chief Information Officers “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to promote government perform- ance excellence through sound information technology solu- tions, policies and practice.” I think we can use four more years of that.
Mary Ellis, Sykesville
Pitching for the Orioles To this Marylander, the choice
of a governor is largely irrelevant because our state faces budget woes that no one could possibly fix in four years. We are, quite frankly, damned either way. That being said, I endorse Robert Ehr- lich for governor because of his singular understanding of a problem common to Maryland- ers of both sides of the political fence: the continued decline of the Baltimore Orioles baseball club.
Where his opponent can offer only the glib “practice, practice, practice” to suggest how to rem- edy 13 straight losing seasons, Mr. Ehrlich has a vision, and un- like Martin O’Malley, a passion for the Orioles’ success.
Based on the precedent of his
attempted takeover of the Balti- more public schools, one can hope that he will act in similarly decisive fashion to do what all O’s fans long for — a forceful seizure of control from Peter Angelos’s oligarchic regime and the resto- ration of Oriole Magic in our time for all citizens of the Free State, both “D” and “R.” Matthew D. Lewis, Germantown
Opportunities for women As a woman and small-busi-
An elected attorney general for D.C.?
The Nov. 2 D.C. ballot includes a refer- endum on whether the D.C. Home Rule Charter should be changed to make the city’s attorney general an elected position. The position is currently filled by mayor- al appointment, subject to D.C. Council confirmation. Here are arguments for and against.
An independent voice D.C. residents deserve a high-quality
lawyer who speaks for the public interest. Selecting an attorney general by popular vote will ensure that the person in the job has the freedom and independence to make decisions on the basis of the public good. This is far from a new issue. In 1998, a bill to hold a referendum on electing the city’s attorney general was introduced in the D.C. Council. In 2002, 82 percent of voters approved the change, but Congress failed to act. The issue has been studied extensively, including a 2008 report by the public interest organization DC Ap-
pleseed and a 2009 report by the D.C. Council recommending making the office an elected one. Throughout this debate, the strongest arguments have been made on the side of elections. For starters, an elected attorney general would be structurally independ- ent of the mayor and thus generally free of the mayor’s political agenda; right now, the attorney general has an obligation to the public, but it is the mayor who makes the pick. Election would remedy this dis- connect. An elected attorney general would also increase the stability of the office by serv- ing a longer term than appointees have historically. An elected attorney general would be more accountable to D.C. voters and thus the public interest, but he or she would also have greater political clout. An elected attorney general would create an additional power center in the D.C. gov- ernment and provide greater opportunity for participation in the democratic proc- ess.
The question of cost has come up: The
city’s chief financial officer has written that no additional money is needed for an elected attorney general than is currently budgeted for an appointee. One last argument: Many competent
lawyers who would ably represent the public interest are currently foreclosed from serving as attorney general because they lack political connections. Election will open the job to anyone who can mount a successful campaign. Elections promote selection by merit, not selection by the politically well connected. William P. Lightfoot, Washington
The writer is a D.C. lawyer and a former member of the D.C. Council (I-At Large). He served as chairman of both of Adrian M. Fenty’s mayoral campaigns.
A lawyer, not a politician Why do I oppose an elected attorney
general? Three primary reasons: 1. An elected attorney general will be a politician — not the city’s top
lawyer. Think of Virginia’s current Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, New York’s former governor Eliot Spitzer and New York gu- bernatorial front-runner Andrew Cuomo, all of them former attorney generals. Poli- ticians raise money and are beholden to special interests, and an elected attorney general will always be thinking about get- ting reelected or moving up in the politi- cal hierarchy. You do what’s politically correct. I am concerned that an elected attorney general would not pursue — as my office has — actions related to slum- lords, phony used-car dealers, brothel owners, massage parlors, billboards, pay- day lenders and large corporations such as Bank of America, AT&T, Verizon and others.
2. An elected attorney general will cost the city millions. The change would force the city to effectively to dou- ble up on its lawyers. The current attor- ney general’s office would stay the same, with its 700 lawyers and staff. But the mayor would have to expand very signifi-
cantly the number of his or her lawyers to fulfill the responsibilities of the office. A conservative estimate of additional costs to the city is $10 million a year — too many lawyers. 3. The right balance of policy and
law. When it comes to policy, the mayor should call the shots. This is what the vot- ers expect when they elect a mayor. An elected attorney general may have his own views as to policy and pursue those views, leading to potential clashes with the mayor. When it comes to the law and the protection of the legal rights of our cit- izens, the attorney general should call the shots, and that’s the way it is now. For over 40 years, I represented citizens of this city in litigation against the District, so I know about the difference between policy and law. In my view, the balance achieved in the Fenty administration was just right — though there are obviously folks who dis- agree.
Peter Nickles, Washington The writer is the D.C. attorney general.
RICKY CARIOTI/THE WASHINGTON POST Republican Robert Ehrlich, left, and Democrat Martin O’Malley. The election is Nov. 2.
ness owner, I applaud Gov. Mar- tin O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Antho- ny Brown for their efforts to ex- pand business opportunities for women. I operate a small educational consulting business out of my home, and I know firsthand the struggles that women face when attempting to successfully launch such ventures. Under Mr. O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland has set, and achieved, the highest goal in the nation — 25 percent — for state contracting dollars to be awarded to minority- and female-owned businesses. The Maryland Small Business Credit Recovery Program, which the O’Malley administration created, has helped banks provide much- needed capital for businesses like mine. I am now in a better posi- tion to hire more employees, and I have the peace of mind and fi- nancial stability to grow my busi- ness. I wholeheartedly endorse Mr.
O’Malley for reelection because I know that he will continue to look out for my best interests as a woman and a small-business owner.
Judith S. Bass, Olney
Standing up to the unions My vote for governor will be for Robert Ehrlich. Maryland has a significant structural deficit problem that has been difficult to control because of the influence of public-sector unions on the political process. In a never-end- ing cycle, these unions have “picked” their management through the election process. This has led to one-party rule and an unsustainable compensation system for public employees across Maryland. Electing Mr. Ehrlich governor is one step to solving this prob- lem. Electing others at all levels of government who are not be- holden to these unions is the next if we ever hope to turn Maryland around.
Michael J. Amery, Montgomery Village
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