KPW, good lead on changing the subjects and perspectives given.
On the local front, on Wed, Oct 3, 2012, 1:00pm, The Committee on Government Operations held a hearing on 3 bills in the Matter Of Residency Requirements for District Government Employment:
B19-141: "the Condition of Employment Act of 2011
B19-284: "the Jobs for D.C. Residents Amendment Act of 2011"
B19-424: "the District Domicile Requirement Amendment Act of 2011"
As you know, many DC residents were not/are not able to obtain employment with DC Government, but we find there are many MD and some VA residents, and others who are able to easily obtain employment in DC Government, many we know from our personal experiences don't have the necessary work or interpersonal skills, but got the jobs. Why don't they seek work with their county govts? Because DC Govt has better salaries, benefits, unemployment benefits, etc.
With the change to a new global economy, which is being supported here in the US by strong local economies supported by State residents incomes playing an important role in maintaining these local economies, DC residents continue to find themselves left out, with others benefiting, not due to having more exceptional skills, but in my opinion because those that did and currently do the hiring are primarily not DC residents, and look out for their own, in some cases were born here, lived here and moved for the "better life" at DC's expense.
WJLA Ch 7 covered the story (Sam Ford), the only media at this hearing. Though Sam states there was outrage over this bill, truth be told, there were only 4 Public Witnesses, Kris Baumann, DC Police Union; and Geo T. Johnson, AFSCME Council 20 (DC). The residents who testified; Michael Sindram and me. Surprised that DC Vote didn't feel it important to get their opinion in support of DC residents on the public record, which is disappointing.
It was a pure shame the way the Baumann and Johnson acted and presented their testimonies on the bills. Baumann opened putting on the record that he is a DC resident; however, Johnson meekly stated DC was his home much later, after responses from CM Bowser & Alexander about some of both their testimony.
I was fuming about these witnesses testimony which went on for about 30 minutes, continuously bashing DC residents, about there were no training programs for DC residents for these jobs; the cost of living was too high for non-DC residents to move back; no programs for special fields such as police, teachers, etc to live in DC, which are all lies. Since the 90s, the Council has passed legislation to help police, teachers and other middle class workers to move into DC. Many DC residents have gone through training programs and still are not hired.
It was somewhat understandable about Baumann's concern about the police officers, however, instead of bashing DC residents (seems he and Johnson got together to use this method for their testimony), he missed the opportunity to present the credentials these officers may possess that DC residents don't have to justify why the volume of non-District residents were necessary, and what training programs would be necessary to increase the employment of DC residents.
Johnson's testimony on focused on the bashing to protect the jobs of his union members, which made it clear the majority were non-residents. Both men stated that they didn't know how it happened that only 42% of DC residents have DC Govt jobs. I'm quite sure Johnson knew.
This was one of those rare occasions that I just couldn't take it. CM Bowser did let me return to the witness table to refute these false claims, but I was so angry at these men that I made it personal. Rightfully so, CM Bowser had to cut me off. I did get on the record that it was insulting that these men would insinuate that DC residents are ignorant and illiterate not able to work for DC govt. I also gave brief history of how Mayor Barry opened the doors of DC Govt to DC residents when he became mayor, and they immediately left DC for PG County (we built it through these hires, so it is rightfully called Ward 9) to vote for Senators, etc. I also stated that since these now non-residents may have then and now made/have hiring decision capacity, they chose non-residents over DC residents, including non-resident family members, friends, etc.
For the record, CM Bowser shared DC Govt employment data for the past 3 years. In summary, for an average of 5,000 people hired each of these years, only averages about 1,500 DC residents were employed. A glaring unbalance that needs to be corrected for our financial survival.
For some reason, the hearing's video is not on Ch 13's "Video on Demand" for Oct 3rd: http://octt.dc.gov/services/on_demand_video/on_demand_October_2012_week_1.shtm
The Ch 7 news video is: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/10/d-c-council-debates-commuter-tax-80585.html
I have attached the 3 bills, hearing notice and the New Jersey First Act I used for guidance.
All DC residents should be outraged at this, what these unions felt about DC residents, especially since many ANC's have provided support to members of these unions when the budgets cut would affect their workers. ANCs and residents have also supported the MPD unions in their fight for a pay increase since they haven't had one in 5 years. We deserved better and respect in their testimony. Now we know how their leadership thinks of us.
Chair Bowser said there will be another hearing on these bills.
If there are responses to this post, I have chores to do, but will respond when I can. Let our CMs know how you feel about these bills. True, one or two wouldn't make it through Congress. However, we must continue to work for recognition as citizens of the US
"If you don't stand for something, you can fall for anything" Malcolm X
Albrette "Gigi" Ransom
Commissioner, ANC 5C12
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Commissioner, ANC 5C12
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