<![CDATA[Bruce Johnson's Notebook]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:48:00 GMT <![CDATA[February Is Heart Month]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3a659fd6b4-7b7f-484f-b8f1-386da24ea1f1&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:48:00 GMT Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in this country--nothing else comes close]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3a659fd6b4-7b7f-484f-b8f1-386da24ea1f1&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com <![CDATA[Advice For Mayor Elect Vincent Gray]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3ab6c7c1fd-1155-46fe-9327-18f6332f8171&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com Sat, 06 Nov 2010 21:57:00 GMT  Vincent Gray, the DC Mayor Elect takes office on January 2nd, his transition team is already working, deciding who will likely head what department including Police, Fire, Attorney General, Employment Services and School Chancellor. Raising taxes and employee layoffs will be on the table at some point cause of looming multi million dollar deficits. Here's what some of my Facebook friends had to say about the new Mayor.

 
    • Mark Featherstone He has proven already that he has NO priorities but himself. Missing a Police Officers Funeral is tragic. Fenty being an hour late is also a joke. They care about themselves and that is that
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Melody Higgins Vincent Gray should be ashamed of himself for missing that officer's funeral so he could attend some lunch. I guess he is the King of his world and the rest of the people are just his subjects. This could prove to be a long four years.
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Sandra Butler-Truesdale Or is it that you can't be everywhere at the same time?
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
    • Regenna J Hairston
      Dear Mr Gray, Please allow the old heads that retired from MPD to stay retired if they were in a Command Position while here! If you are reading this you know who you are and the irreversible damage you did while in Command,
      Thank you, Offi...cer RJ Hairston-Grier!!!See More
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • LaKia Lockett-Johnson ‎@ Sandr Butler-Truesdale..... EXACTLY !!!! He is only one person.
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Sandra Butler-Truesdale Just looking at the first couple of comments it sure looks like we need a healing in the city. As a matter of fact through out the country.
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • LaKia Lockett-Johnson I would agree. Some just can't be and will probably never be on the same accord.
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • LaKia Lockett-Johnson Healing and Prayer !!!
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Lawrence Tucker Take care of Old D.C. (native Washingtonians) before you take care of New D.C. (the gentrification set).
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
    • Michael Bindner Establishing a higher income tax rate for wealthy taxpayers. He could also junk both income and sales taxes and put in a VAT, but he'd have to negotiate with VA, MD and Congress about how to distribute the required federal payment for federal workers who work in DC but live in the burbs.
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Michael Bindner by the way, using a VAT/Business Income Tax conversion to defuse the commuter tax issue is the surest path to statehood - which should be on his priority list as well.
      6 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Brian Mulholland He needs to keep the Police Chief. She has done a great deal to decrease crime, lower the murder rate, and improving street policing. She needs to stay.
      5 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 2 peopleLoading...
    • Veronica Stowe ‎@ Brian Holland I concurs.
      5 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Roscoe Dellums He needs to be more definitive about the plight of fired teachers and principals who can prove their competence via old fashion due process principles.
      5 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading...
    • Deborah Avens I think he should build on what's been working to continue to move the city forward. This is what I believe Fenty did with the momentum of his predecessor.
      4 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Veronica McDonald
      Lay-off are not necessary. here's an idea...ask DC employees to take a furlough day(s). There isn't one DC government employeee that would not take a furlough day(s) than be out of a job and lose benefits(insurance or retirement). Someone ...tell me why Mayor Fenty didn't try furloughs versus putting people completely out of work? Damn, even Arnold did that in California? Arnold Schwartzenager said he would ask the people that work for the state government to sacrifice unpaid work days before he would abolish their jobs? At least give your people the option. Don't be so quick to abolish jobs,
      THINKing is an option for Mayors too.      See More
      4 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 2 peopleLoading...
    • Steve Mukherjee Stay clean from the day one, so there is no investigation. Work for the people to raise their standard of education, promote education and health awareness. Eradicate crime as much as possible, and help the poor. Do no think of yourself that you are untouchable. Reach out and touch people's heart.
      4 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Angela Pope In agreement with Veronica. Talk to any state worker in California and they will tell you it may not be the best option, but it works for the short term and it keeps them employed.
      3 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • Guy Durant Pay Freezes and Hiring Freezes are the first step to Deficit Reduction. Also, while we can't force DC Govt. Employees to live in DC, we should offer DC Income Tax Rebates to DC Workers that File Taxes in DC so they are less affected by the Pay Freeze or Pay Reductions.
      2 hours ago · LikeUnlike
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]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3ab6c7c1fd-1155-46fe-9327-18f6332f8171&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com <![CDATA[Juan Williams Comments Should be the Beginning of the Discussion]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3a34d89ee0-de36-4651-9cf0-8a0323cfb78d&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:31:00 GMT
If that were the extent of his conversation on the Bill O'Reilly program my take on this would be different. Juan's biased admission about Muslims on planes reminds me of the bias comments made often in private about Blacks in restaurants, lunch counters, restrooms, dressing rooms, corporate board rooms, classrooms, etc...or the comments often made about Women,Gays,Illegal Immigrants, Jews, you get my point! 

But lets talk honestly about our ignorance.

Juan is no Bill O'Reilly! He went on to say after his admitted bias on the Fox program,  that to blame all Muslims for 911, as O'Reilly, wants to do, is like blaming all Christians for the Oklahoma City bombing. There are fanatics in every camp. lets admit that. And it seems every bigot wants to claim God is on his side.

Muslims should seize this opportunity not just to complain about the bias commentaries, but to educate the rest of us about what true Muslims believe; and they should denounce terrorismat every chance at every level, just as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela denounced violence. It might not be fair but its fact. People are afraid. 

The rest of us should start talking, not just to those of like mind, but to others. Confess our fears, as Juan did, and lets begin a dialogue.

I'm not convinced NPR should have fired him. And I don't think what he said earned him a fat new contract from Fox which is clearly seizing on the opportunity to blow its own horn. ]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3a34d89ee0-de36-4651-9cf0-8a0323cfb78d&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com <![CDATA[Skins Win, Cowboys Lose. I'm Good!]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3a6fe27025-d3f0-4078-8c6c-a97aeb799d86&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:15:00 GMT blog post photo

Here I go playing sports commentator again; but really, I just want to say the Washington Redskins have won three games as of this writing and sit atop of the NFC east division followed by the Giants, Eagles and those lowly Cowboys.

Who would have thought at the beginning of the year that the Redskins, with yet another new coach and quarterback and offensive line would be having this kind of season.

It hasn't been pretty. In fact all but one game have been decided on the very last play of the game. The Skins could just as easily be 1 and 4 or 0 and 5; but as former Skins great Brian Mitchell reminds me, injuries, fluke plays, missed field goals and tackles and turnovers are all part of the game. The Skins are where they belong at 3 and 2 and the Cowboys are where they belong.  ]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3a6fe27025-d3f0-4078-8c6c-a97aeb799d86&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com <![CDATA[Fenty Is Gone. Rhee Is Next. Then What?]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3af1c6b438-f3fb-4627-a3d4-86b95d0688c5&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com Sat, 18 Sep 2010 21:53:00 GMT blog post photo
Gotta say this one more time; I think "Race" is being overstated in the explanations for Fenty losing and Gray winning the Democratic Mayoral primary. 

I think the economy is a bigger factor. All those African Americans who supported Fenty four years ago, then abandoned him this time had hoped for more emphasis on jobs and job training. Those who have great jobs in government and the private sector are still salaried employees--no old money here and few own their own businesses independent of government contracts-- 

And blacks with secure jobs are not free to just vote their own self interests. Most have family, friends and neighbors who are losing jobs--even teachers.

Fenty had no significant jobs program--no great plan for using stimulus dollars to get and keep people working--on the contrary--his perceived message and that of school Chancellor Michelle Rhee was people who have been here are the problem. They're being shown the door and when possible we're hiring people who have never been here. That's pitting long time residents against the new ones--

When ten thousand new people moved to the District-Fenty celebrated and declared he wanted even more affluent people capable of boosting tax revenues. To the old timers the message was "your days in DC may be numbered." "Can't say where you'll live and work."

Michelle Rhee should have been part of the answer--not the "Answer." School reforms should include every city agency.

Sources both in and outside DC government believe when formal instruction ends and teachers go home, the recreation department, Human Services, the Health department and others should move in- Instructional tutors, languages, arts, music, choir, dance and theatre, book clubs. chemistry clubs, debate team, every athletic activity and not just football and basketball, social clubs and conflict resolution sessions should be moved onto the school campuses.

The public schools should look like the private and parochial school grounds after hours--still busy and thriving with staff and volunteers offering something extra for every student to reach his or her potential.

Parents should be invited, no make that required to
show more than once to participate in their child's socialization. 

Also feed the children. For many it would be their first nutritional meal after school hours. Schools should be the neighborhood Hub--never closing  even on weekends. Our children should never be sent home early to empty homes or to wander their streets and neighborhoods at all hours of the day and night. 

Every family should be required to submit to an in house family assessment.  A student living in a violent home in a dangerous neighborhood is hardly ever ready for the start of class, much less to take a standardized test.

And vocational education should be put  back in schools. Remove the stigma. Not every child wants to go to college. 

Speaking of College, Mayor Fenty was never a supporter of UDC, The new President couldn't get a meeting and the Community College was finally started, a student Union finally on  the books to be built,  at the DC Council's insistence.

Let's not get into the hostility the City's Public Charter schools have felt from the Fenty administration,whether it be in less funding or refusal to turn over surplus buildings. 
 

Mayor Fenty still didn't get it at the end. He thought if only he were nicer. That would help but its not a requirement for the job. 

In a city where citizens have only been electing their own Mayor for just over 35 years Adrian should have been taught that DC residents don't like being "dissed." They've lived with it longer than another other US citizens of any color.

By ignoring some really bright and experienced African Americans when first selecting his cabinet he dissed all those black people who gave him a shot over the more established and proven Linda Cropp. They didn't want all the cabinet positions. That would have been foolish; but they did want their share. Its called diversity.

Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and even former Mayor Tony Williams grew to understand this. This city was on a roll four years ago--when Adrian Fenty was given the keys,  the first elected Mayor to win both Black and White majorities--We're now a divided city and that makes me sick--Here's wishing the next Mayor, Vincent Gray all the luck in finding a cure. He'll need to find it quickly. This is no time to slow down.

blog post photo]]> http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3af1c6b438-f3fb-4627-a3d4-86b95d0688c5&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com