Bruce Johnson's Notebook

This and That

Brucejohnson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:18:00 GMT

Here are a few items just to catch up--

DC Mayor Fenty told me on Tuesday that he will continue to ride his bike with a team of riders using a police security detail; but the Mayor says he won't take Clara Barton parkway anymore--this after WTOP reporter Mark Seagraves pointed of that the National Park Service says bikes are not allowed on the Clara Barton--Fenty never addressed whether his police escort ran red lights or slowed traffic for the riders. The Mayor was clearly peeved by Seagraves suggestions that it was improper for law enforcement to haul the Mayor's gear.

Also the Mayor says the DC Housing Authority will now submit all contracts for a million dollars or more to the DC Council for approval--which comes a little late--
The administration--like administrations before this one--figured out it could get around the "million dollar rule" by re-directing funds--in this case 82 million dollars mostly in Recreation department construction dollars to the independent Housing Authority which then awarded the contracts to developers-some of them Fenty friends.

Lets not whine about the latter fact--every Mayor gives contracts to his friends--its just a matter if there is transparancy or under the table deals being made.

Another matter--as we first reported here Former Washington Teachers Union President Barbara Bullock is out from under the Bureau of Prisons. She now reports to a federal probation officer--five years spent in prison for masterminding the theft of roughly five million from DC teacher union funds. her co-conspirators Gwen Hemphill and James Baxter will be in prison for about another five years each--cause they chose to go to go to trial while Bullock took a plea and testified against those two.

Finally..who will take the leap and run against Adrian Fenty from the three DC Council members now thinking about it.

Vincent Gray, Kwame Brown and Michael Brown--in that order seem to be the likely candidates; but only one will make the leap--but its not certain that anyone will take the challenge. Gray loses his Council Chair spot if he runs for Mayor.

Fenty-during our interview refused to get personal with the criticism that is being hurled his way--in fact he complimented the DC Council calling it one of the best legislative bodies ever--and looked like he really meant it--but nobody believes that.

The Mayor says he isn't aloof or ducking reporters hard questions---he says he makes time during every public appearance for Q and A

and he mixes it up with reporters who ask questions that he doesn't like--
x

Where is Barbara Bullock?

Brucejohnson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:57:00 GMT

Barbara Bullock, the former President of the Washington Teacher's Union--the well connected political operative-- is said to be out of prison and somewhere back in the DC area-probably in a halfway house.

You will recall that Barbara Bullock was convicted of masterminding the embezzlement of $4.6 million dollars from the City's teachers.

She used union funds to purchase among other things--13 furs, 37 designer handbags, and a 288 piece antique Tiffany silver set.

Bullock obtained the money by having extra money deducted from teachers' paychecks under the guise of union dues, and by using a union American express card.

In 2003, Bullock pled guilty to her crimes and was eventually sentenced to nine years in prison. In 2007, her sentence was reduced by two and a half years for helping prosecutors to convict two of her co-conspirators. Gwen Hemphill and James Baxter.

Bullock, who was 65 years old at the time of her sentencing, blamed her crimes on her bipolar-disorder. Her formal sentence would have ended sometime early next year--but she is said to be out of prison in Alderson, West Virginia because of good behavior; but still in less restrictive custody in this area.

Did the Skins-Chiefs Game Announcer call him a Suckup?

Brucejohnson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:18:00 GMT

I'm not going to spend time talking about how bad the home team performed on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs or what it means that Jim Zorn has been relieved of his play calling duties on the sidelines during the games.

The game was horrible for a thousand reasons--

But the most entertaining thing about the contest (to me) was that the Kansas City kicker's name is Succup and pronounced like "suck-up",

I've pasted some of the comments from my Facebook Friends.

Tonya Cave

Well he sucked up a couple field goals that we couldn't do...so right now Ima liking suck-up...lol

3 hours ago · Delete

Winifred Jackson

funny!!

3 hours ago · Delete

Karen Harper

That's funny!!

3 hours ago · Delete

Billy Reilly

Big B, if you found that to be the most interesting thing, you confuse me, the most interesting thing is who goes first Cerrato or Zorn, maybe we can get a twofer, now that would be interesting

3 hours ago · Delete

Alecia Jones

LMBO!

3 hours ago · Delete

Steve Houk

The radio team was giggling at his name...it was classic.

3 hours ago · Delete

Brian Smith

The most interesting thing is, how we have one of the best payrolls in the NFL and still have a losing record.

3 hours ago · Delete

Jeanineantoinette Okpala

LOL...Ahhh! that's not right to pick on his name but it is funny.

3 hours ago · Delete

Leslie Wright

yeah suck-up was the last player picked in the draft...he keep making FG he may end up with POTY....sike. ZORN MUST GO!

3 hours ago · Delete

James G. Sexton

That kicker's name kinda rhymes with the condition of our Team, not to mention the owner :p

3 hours ago · Delete

Julie Britt

That's what Zorn will be doing tomorrow.

3 hours ago · Delete

Andrea D. Harrell

I'm with you on this Brian, but look at the Cowgirls, they have what, a billion dollar stadium and their season is not looking any better..................

3 hours ago · Delete

Robin Simmons

that is too funny

3 hours ago · Delete

Rick Perry

Well we were the ones that did the deed..suck up.

3 hours ago · Delete

Melody Higgins

It is not Zorn, it is that lame Q-Back. By the time they sat him down the damage was done.

3 hours ago · Delete

April A Payne

Funny!

3 hours ago · Delete

Roslyn Mickens

LOL!!! My brother & I said the same thing... I would have said 'Sue-cope' or something like that... but you're right.

3 hours ago · Delete

Carla Evans

I kept hearing that namein the game... imagine his life during school!!

3 hours ago · Delete

Jay M. Atkinson

I thought "Cerrato" was spelled "SUCKUP"

3 hours ago · Delete

Daryl Brooks

LMAO!

3 hours ago · Delete

Nicole Cutts

I think the Redskins are cursed b/c we need to let go of our racist team name. I am attached to it too, but it might be time to let it go.

3 hours ago · Delete

Jay M. Atkinson

I don't know how much of a curse it is. They've won 5 world championships with that name. Just because it suddenly offends some people now it's a curse?

3 hours ago · Delete

Dink Magruder

LOL!! Now that is funny!

2 hours ago · Delete

Colette Colclough

you are funny!

2 hours ago · Delete

Kelly Nugent

What do thing Dan Snyder is going to do?

2 hours ago · Delete

John M. Donnelly

I thought so too.

2 hours ago · Delete

Sally Bonham Mohle

It used to be Sycophant but they shortened it to Succup

2 hours ago · Delete

Michael Swann

Sadly, it was the most interesting thing.

2 hours ago · Delete

Patricia Bennett

Very interesting observation Bruce! ROTFL!!

2 hours ago · Delete

Juanita White

It could be worse Skins fans, the Titans lost 59-0 against the Pats!

2 hours ago · Delete

Alicia Iworkforthem Jackson

LMBO!!! That was the conversation in my house.

about an hour ago · Delete

Patricia Bennett

@Nicole...You have a good point!

about an hour ago · Delete

Founder of Ben's Chil Bowl Dies

Brucejohnson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:26:00 GMT

Let's face it, most of the people who visited Ben's Chili Bowl, never knew the founder Ben Ali. He and his wife, Virginia were away on a cruise when President Barack Obama stopped by. They were absent from mega movie star Russel Crow's last movie which was filmed inside Ben's Chili Bowl with "Big Mo and several other fixtures behind the counter used as extras.

Ben Ali ran the most popular restaurant in a town filled with three,four and five star establishments. Yet Ben and Virginia hardly changed the place, and never tampered with the menu now known around the world.

Chili dogs, Chili dogs with cheese, chili dogs with veggie Chili, fries, fruit punch, sweet potatoe cake..eat here more than once in a while at your own heart healthy risk

But it wasn't just the food--Ben's was a destination, a mood, a culture. Better Leave the attitude, the bad language at the door.

We didn't see Ben much cause of his illness. but we felt Ben's presence every time we entered his place and grabbed a stool or a booth.

Thanks Ben and you too Virginia, Love Bruce Johnson

Michael Vick Comes to Town

Brucejohnson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:42:00 GMT

Michael Vick the NFL star quarterback and convicted felon came to far Southwest DC on Tuesday and talked about both his football career and the dog fighting conviction that ended it all. We sat in the Covenant Baptist church on MLK avenue when Vick arrived with his daughter and fiance. He was convincing from the pulpit, telling the small and excited crowd of mostly young males to "use me as an example of what not to do". Vick later told me in an interview that he can't own a dog. the judge won't allow it; but he looks forward to having one someday. "I know my daughter wants one", he said.