DC Property Taxes Lowest in Area?

DC Councilmembers will be taking a bow over this new study of homeowners tax bills


Here's the release from the DC Fiscal Policy Institute;



DC homeowners’ property assessments may have risen steeply in recent years, but their property tax bills have not, according to an analysis of the city’s property tax database by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute.

In fact, DC homeowners had the lowest property tax bills in the region in 2007, and most have seen their taxes go down – or increase only modestly – in recent years.


“Many homeowners see rising assessments and assume their property taxes have also increased,” said Katie Kerstetter, a research associate at DCFPI and author of the analysis. “Yet property tax bills actually have decreased for many DC homeowners over the past three years.”



Several steps have been taken in recent years to lower homeowner property taxes, including an increase in the Homestead Deduction, a cut in the property tax rate, and the establishment of a 10 percent cap on annual increases in taxable assessments.



· In 2007, DC homeowners had the lowest property taxes in the region. Among homes selling for $500,000, for example, DC homeowners paid an average tax of $2,170, compared to $3,110 in Montgomery County, $3,690 in Prince George’s County, and over $4,200 in Arlington and Fairfax counties.



· Half of all DC homeowners are paying less in property taxes in 2008 than in 2005. Another 36 percent have seen tax bills grow less than five percent per year since 2005.



Yet, DC’s homeowner property tax rate likely will continue to decrease in the future due to a “calculated rate” provision, which automatically triggers a cut when property tax collections grow more than seven percent per year. The calculated rate was triggered in both 2007 and 2008, although it is not expected to be triggered in 2009.



The DCFPI report recommends elimination or at least suspension of the calculated rate – particularly given an expected economic slowdown – since it has already succeeding in lowering DC’s property taxes to the lowest in the region. Instead, the report argues that any property tax relief should target low-income renters – who have not benefited from recent property tax reductions – and low-income homeowners, who are the most likely to be burdened by property taxes.



“If further property tax relief is considered this year, it should go to those most likely to be affected by an economic downturn: low-income homeowners and renters,” Kerstetter said.



# #



The DC Fiscal Policy Institute conducts research and public education on budget and tax issues in the District of Columbia, with a particular emphasis on issues that affect low- and moderate-income residents.

Will Fired Social Workers Report for Work?

A Union official, George Johnson, the President of AFSCME, says he expects three social workers fired by Mayor Fenty to be back on the job next week.

The three were immediately dismissed after the bodies of four girls were found in their home and their mother, Banita Jacks, 33, was arrested and charged with murder. She has pleaded not guilty.

A coroner at first ruled the cause of death, homicide, but has since ruled he can't determine how the girls were killed because the bodies had been decaying for too long.

An administrative judge, in a separate but related matter,ruled the Social workers were denied due process.

Fenty says they didn't do their jobs in following up on signs of trouble with the family that had been in the child family services system for years.

The Fenty administration has indicated it will appeal the administrative judges ruling.There has been no word on whether the workers will be allowed to return to their jobs on Monday.

Meanwhile, relatives of the Jacks family have obtained attorneys, and seem posed to file suit against the City.

Assessments Coming. Property Tax Bllls to Follow.

Here's What the CFO released on the continuing climbing assessments in DC..More to come on this and a projected near 100 million dollar projected deficit.


DISTRICT'S REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS CONTINUE TO REFLECT
A NORMAL REAL ESTATE MARKET


(Washington, D.C.) The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) will mail Tax Year 2009 assessment notices tomorrow to all real property owners in the District of Columbia. A total of 190,000 taxable and exempt real properties have been reassessed to reflect market values as of January 1, 2008. Property owners receiving new assessment notices will not be taxed on the new assessed value until March 2009.



"The District's real estate market has slowed compared to the growth of recent years," said Stephen M. Cordi, deputy chief financial officer for the Office of Tax and Revenue. "The Tax Year 2009 base for residential and commercial properties increased by 7.54 percent compared to 14.31 percent in Tax Year 2008."



The Tax Year 2009 real property assessment notice contains the proposed assessed value, as well as the estimated taxable assessment and important information related to property tax relief programs such as the homestead benefit and the owner-occupied residential tax credit. In addition, included on the notice is the assigned OTR appraiser's contact information for the taxpayer who wishes to discuss his or her property's assessment.



District property owners who believe their proposed Tax Year 2009 assessments do not reflect the market values of their properties must file an appeal on or before April 1, 2008.



Information about the appeal process and the assessment appeal application is available on our Web site at www.taxpayerservicecenter.com under "Real Property Service Center." Appeal applications are also available at libraries and fire stations throughout the District.



###

Obama Picture Sparks Charges and Counter Charges

The International Harold tribune is carrying the following story with this picture on it's web page...

As Senator Barack Obama has risen in the polls and extended his string of primary victories, he has taken rhetorical mortar shots from all sides in the political war. They continued unabated on Monday.

A flap erupted when some Internet sites on Monday posted a photo of Obama in Somalian garb, including a white turban. When the Obama campaign charged that Clinton aides had leaked the photo - taken during a 2006 trip to Africa - the Clinton campaign manager, Maggie Williams, tried to turn the matter back at the Obama team, even though her camp has not denied any role in distributing the photo.

"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed," Williams said in a statement. "Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely."

Did Tavis Smiley Miss the Point in Taking on Obama?

It was just a matter of time for the kind of controversy that erupted in New Orleans where the State of Black America gathering was held this past weekend!

The host was the well respected author and NPR talk show host Tavis Smiley who felt slighted and thus made sure everyone knew he was upset with Presidential Candidate Barack Obama for turning down an invitation to appear.

Hillary Clinton was there; but as one participant noted, she needed the trip a lot more than Obama.

To some observers of the Obama campaign it seems that Tavis Smily and some other African American leaders have over estimated their pull with the Presidential candidate; or they have misunderstood what the Barack Obama campaign is all about.

He isn't running as "the black candidate'. If he was he wouldn't be in the position of being one or two primaries away from locking up the Democratic Party's nomination.

Sure, it would be historic. The first African American within reach of the White House; If it happens it won't be because he's black. According to a lot of people who know about these things it will be despite the fact that he is black.

Let's admit, Race is an issue. Something to be weighed no doubt; but it certainly isn't the top or even middle concern of most Barack Obama supporters and the candidate wants to keep it that way.

Obama is the "Change" candidate who first had to demonstrate- even to a majority of black voters- that he could win white voters, beginning in Iowa (Where few blacks live) before his candidacy could be considered serious and mainstream-even for African Americans.

Black people were not willing to waste their support again on symbolism's and slogans. Been there and done that with the Jessie Jackson campaign.

Besides African Americans already had a candidate. She wasn't Bill; but she was considered the next best thing to her husband.

Obama had to pry those black voters away from Hillary and Bill Clinton. Much like he had to convert older white voters, females, union leaders, Mayors and Governors, young voters, independents. and in some open primaries, Republicans.

In the process Barack Obama had to become nearly colorless, except on MLK day and in South Carolina. He became the candidate of a movement that has attracted a hecka of a lot of different people and not just Democrats!

John F Kennedy knew his Catholic religion could have been his undoing as a candidate.

Many observers say if Obama becomes perceived as "the black candidate" he instantly becomes the losing candidate and his handlers who haven't lost a step in this campaign know this!

Passing up Tavis Smiley's invitation to speak in New Orleans about the State of Black America won't hurt Barack Obama's chances of becoming president. It may in fact help his chances said another participant, there will be plenty of time later to address these issues which certainly will still be around.

Noted political scientist Ron Walters went further in breaking down the Obama phenomenon for me during a conversation in the Nine News Now newsroom during the DC Maryland and Virginia primaries.

Walters predicted there would be a sense of pride; a "feel good" measure among African Americans should Obama win the nomination and the general election; but Walters predicted it won't mean much more than that. The issues confronting black people won't be changed merely by Barack Obama's election, he said.

Anita Bonds, Chairman of the DC Democratic party echoed the same sentiments later as I was covering the Obama victory party at the Madison hotel. She said Obama isn't the black people's candidate anymore than Hillary was their candidate! She pointed out that most blacks are not supporting Obama just because he's black just like whites are not excluding him strictly because of his race.

She says it's his message of change, along with his incredible oratorical skills-his ability to inspire.

That's what separates him from the other candidates says Bonds. His policies and programs won't be much different from Hillary Clinton's.

In a letter to Tavis Smiley, Obama reportedly explained there was no time to come to New Orleans-that he needed to spend every day in Texas and Ohio campaigning for those primaries as he tries to wrap up the nomination by putting more pressure on the super delegates who will ultimately decide should it go all the way to the convention in Denver. A politician's first priority has to be getting elected.

Obama expressed his support of what was going to happen in New Orleans that weekend. Reports say he offered to send his accomplished wife Michelle to the State of Black America Conference in his place. CNN said Smiley declined the offer.

"I think it's a missed opportunity on Mr. Obama's part," Smiley told the cable network. "Now, I am not interested in demonizing him for his choice, but I do disagree with it."

Apparently Smiley never got the message that this African American candidate doesn't have to stop at every church, backyard barbecue, or large gathering of black leaders like the ones in New Orleans...not when the change candidate is making appearances in arenas packed with tens of thousands of voters of all ages and colors.

A Call to Stop the Illegal Street Racing

They packed a church on Georgia Avenue in the District near the Maryland line. The crowd of drag racers, their wives, girlfriends and children had come to pay their final respects to Otis "DJ Grove" Williams, one of the eight people killed last Saturday while standing in the roadway for an illegal street race on route 210 in Accokeek.

Williams, of Greene County North Carolina had turned 36 on January 1st. Friends said he could repair any car and drive a race car "that put him with the best of the best". They also said he left this world doing what he loved to do, "watching a race".

Most of the drivers at Thursday night's service said they have been driving and watching races for years; both on the tracks where it's legal and in the streets where it's twice as dangerous and very much illegal as everyone knows.

One of the speakers called on the men to heed the warning. As I sat in the audience I took that to mean ...giving up the illegal street racing.

A lot of the men broke down crying during the service and had to leave the church.

Not one speaker mentioned the 20 year old driver who plowed into the racing spectators Saturday.

A lot of these drivers, like Otis Williams, had been there, and seemed to be mourning the loss of their good reliable friend, but also knowing they could just as well been among the casualties.

More than one said those illegal races must stop!

The Memorial Services for Drag Racing Victims Begin

Otis Williams will be remembered Thursday night in DC by the underground street racing community of which he was a reliable member, either as a driver or spectator.

The 35 year old Williams of Morningside, Maryland was struck twice Saturday morning while watching an illegal drag race in Accokeek that ended when a third un-invited vehicle mowed down the crowd that had gathered in the street.

Williams, a tractor trailor driver who leaves a fiance and a14 year old daughter was hit a second time by a tractor trailor truck that happened on the scene afterwards and could not avoid the victms and their body parts that covered Route 210 at Pine road.

Meanwhile Prince Georges County Police and State's Attorney Glen Ivey continue their investigations--this after police on Saturday all but cleared the driver-Darren Bullock of any wrongdoing.

They concluded that Bullock, 20 of Waldorf, Maryland was not driving wrecklessly and not responsible for the deaths. The people had gathered in the roadway says Bullock's Uncle who says his nephew claims he was only driving 55 to 60 miles per hour.

Police later admitted that Bullock was driving on a suspended license Saturday--and had gotten numerous speedng tickets prior to the accident. Police, now say it's too early to say if charges will be filed in this case.

Authorities continue to pursue the drivers in the race that proceeded the carnage; Their vehicles were not involved in the killings; but legal minds say there may be a way for prosecutors to bring charges against them, not just for the illegal racing; but for the deaths and that could mean prison tme.

Spectators from the illegal race are not co-operating say sources with names of the drivers.

'These are older men with jobs, families and mortgages" said one spectator who insists that his name not be used. They believe Bullock is to blame for "crashing" their race and they insist he didn't have his lights on and was traveling at a high rate of speed.

Investigators are also looking for a green Crown Vic or something similar that some witnesses say was racing Bullock when his vehicle slammed into the crowd.


Otis Williams will be buried in his hometown of Wilson, North Carolina on Saturday.Another victim from Saturday's accident, "Sport Gardner", will also be buried Saturday in North Carolina.

Clock on the Link below to see my latest Video report on the accident Investgation

http://wm.wusa.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/022008_brjstreet_wusa.wmv

Exclusive! Did Mystery Drag Racer Flee the Scene?

New sources have come forward who were at the illegal street race last Saturday that ended with the deaths of eight spectators.

Like all the others who were willing to talk with this reporter and not police, the latest witnesses insist their names and faces be concealed for fear of facing fines and possibly jail time for participating in the drag racing on Route 210.

The new witnesses insist that Darren Bullock isn't telling all that happened that early morning. Bullock of Waldorf was at the wheel of the white Crown Vic that mowed down the crowd that had gathered in the roadway after the two of the scheduled racing cars went by.

The latest witnesses claim Bullock had been part of the crowd that gathered in a parking lot before the first of two races took place. They say Bullock and another car, a green Crown Victoria, disappeared, only to reappear, speeding, with no lights on, at the tail end of the second scheduled race.

They claim Bullock's car was leading in an apparent impromptu race on the very same road--in the same direction as original races(which may be why some people earlier identified the second car as a police vehicle giving chase to Bullock).

His white Crown Vic plowed into the crowd with their backs turned (witnesses say they never saw him coming or headlights from the two oncoming cars). Other witnesses say if the two speeding vehicles had their lights on--they would have been spotted in the dark by the many spectators who were not in the road; but were standing atop Vans and SUV's further back and could have easily and quickly warned the others.

Bullock's Uncle, James Wade told me on camera today he stands by his nephew's account that he was not speeding, wasn't racing and did have his lights on. Police confirm Darren Bullock was driving on a suspended license;but they say they have no evidence that he was driving wrecklessly last Saturday.

The New Witnesses say the green Crown Vic stopped before it got to the crowd. The driver made a U-Turn and left the scene after Bullock's vehicle crashed into the crowd, say witnesses.

Meanwhile State's Attorney Glenn Ivey told me on Tuesday that it's too early to consider immunity for spectators who claim to have information but fear charges or fines for taking part in the illegal races. Ivey says he wants people to come forward and he's willing to talk to people anonymously.

http://wm.wusa.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/021908_brjrace7p_wusa.wmv

Exclusive Video and Interviews From Drag Racing

One of the young spectators at Saturday's drag racing carnage on Route 210 in Accokeek, Maryland provided me with a video of the first race that night;


It shows how the two cars take off in a cloud of smoke toward the finish line a quarter mile away. The point, according to those who were there is that it would be next to impossible for a speeding car-with lights on--to sneak up on a large crowd in the roadway with even more people off to the sides and able to give warning should a speeding car--or even police--arrive to breakup the illegal street racing.


It was the second race at the same location on the same early morning that ended with the white Crown Victoria slamming into the crowd that gathered in the roadway...killing eight people.


A significant group of men--race car drivers and spectators who were there Saturday--met with me Monday at a secret location to say what they refuse to tell police. They fear they'll face charges for taking part in the illegal races. http://... http://wm.wusa.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/021808_BRJdragrx_wusa.wmv

What Really Happened on Route 210?

We may never know exactly what happened early Saturday morning in Accokeek, Maryland on Route 210 when eight people watching an illegal street race were mowed down by a driver coming up behind them.

The 20 year old driver, who's name police are with holding has talked with his uncle and legal guardian who talked with me by telephone Sunday.

The Uncle says his nephew- the driver- says he was returning from Accokeek where he picked up his younger brother from band practice.

It was about 3:30am Saturday. He denies eyewitness claims that his car lights were not on, that he was driving at a high rate of speed, or that he was being pursued by a police vehicle.

An eyewitness told me by phone Saturday night that the driver plowed into the crowd without stopping. The driver told his uncle there was no blinding smoke as police had suspected, but he says he didn't see the crowd of people in the roadway until it was too late. He says he slammed on his brakes and doesn't remember anything after that;

I checked back with one of the eyewitnesses who had talked with Nine News Now by phone Saturday night. He says dozens of people who were watching the street race from atop their vans--thus were never in danger near the roadway--can confirm the driver was traveling very fast-had no lights on-and was being "chased" by police.

Prince George's and Charles County Police both deny there was a chase underway or that a Police vehicle was near the crash scene before the accident.

Investigators have said they want to talk with everyone who was at the scene Saturday morning--that would be about 300 people--including the operators of the two vehicles that were racing.

Click below to view the Saturday night report from one of the eyewitnesses.who wanted to remain anonymous. He's a well known racing enthusiast in the area..two of his friends were among the eight people killed in the accident. Two other associates were badly injured.


Click here to watch Street Race Eyewitness Report.

Illegal Drag Racing is Huge

It might come as a surprise; but a few heartless people who called our newsroom Saturday night expressed little sympathy for the eight people who were killed in that drag racing tragedy.

Yes, It was an illegal event, stagged on an open section of highway 210 in the whee hours of the morning.

Men, women and even children were there, standing on the side of the roadway, and further back on top of their vans for a good view; This pastime which didn't seem to harm anyone, until now has been going on "ever since I was a kid", according to one participant who was there Saturday morning.

It's a poor man's Indy five hundred or Nascar. "Police have tried to shut it down ", says my source; but they just keep moving it around.

It's worldwide, apparently. check out the youtube video of a drag race and notice how close the spectators are to the action with no barriers...



http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2ccBGh3Vo4

Campaigning for Superdelegates!

I'm going to guess that the Hillary Clinton Campaign is doing the very same thing; but I obtained an email that the Barack Obama campaign is sending out; The Democratic Presidential frontrunner has now come to the conclusion that most of us covering his campaign have felt for some time--that Clinton and Obama will go to the convention in Denver with neither having enough delegates to lay claim outright to their party's nomination.

Therefore, Obama's people are now campaigning for the votes of Superdelegates-the several hundred elected officials throughout the country who will be going to the convention--and according to party rules--can vote for either Obama or Clinton.

Here's what the Obama campaign is saying in their email to supporters;

"We firmly believe that the candidate who has won the most pledged delegates -- the result of having more voters in more places supporting your campaign -- will be the Democratic nominee.
But to be safe, we are working to attract the support of "superdelegates" -- party officials and Democratic officeholders from across the country -- who also have a vote at the Democratic National Convention.
You may already know some superdelegates -- they include senators, governors, and even former presidents and vice presidents. But many others are ordinary people who hold positions in the state and local party operations.
These nearly 800 superdelegates will vote alongside the more than 3,000 pledged delegates who are chosen in the various state primaries and caucuses. The candidate that gets a majority of all delegates (superdelegates and pledged delegates combined) will be the Democratic nominee for president.
Right now, Barack is ahead in the contest for pledged delegates. We've won 23 contests out of the 35 that have been held so far -- including the last 8 in a row. And with our decisive victories in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC on Tuesday, we now lead by more than 135 pledged delegates in the race for the Democratic nomination.
While we intend to continue winning states and expanding our lead among the pledged delegates, and believe that will likely ensure that Barack is the Democratic nominee, we're also doing the work of reaching out to superdelegates and making sure as many as possible support Barack Obama.
Here's where you can play a key role.
Our work so far has taught us one important lesson: that your personal story about why you support Barack Obama is often the most powerful persuasion tool for someone who's undecided. That's true whether that undecided voter is your neighbor or a superdelegate.
The story of where you're from, what brought you into the political process, the issues that matter to you, and why you became part of this movement has the potential to inspire someone who could cast a deciding vote in this contest.
Our staff will compile stories from supporters like you and make them a key part of the conversation with superdelegates as Barack asks for their support.
Share your story to help persuade superdelegates now:
https://webmail.east.gannett.com/OWA/redir.aspx?URL=http%3a%2f%2fmy.barackobama.com%2fpage%2fm%2ff7769705fc178e2c%2fN3e6ws%2fVEsE%2f
I've received a lot of email from folks asking how best to help with the superdelegate effort, and this is it.
Your note, combined with those of other Obama supporters, will tell the story of an extraordinary movement of ordinary people -- a story with a common thread of hope that becomes all the more powerful when it brings together the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our supporters.
Together we're building something historic, and your story can help make someone else a part of it.
I look forward to hearing from you."
Thank you,
David

Mayor and Chancellor to Outsource School Cafeteria Food

DC School Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Mayor Adrian Fenty are turning to the private sector to prepare school cafeteria meals. They point to the hugh losses now sustained by the DC schools in house operation. They also cite the lack of quality-nutritious meals and absence of student participation in the free lunch program.

Here's part of the official release;

In Fiscal Year 2006, DCPS' Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) provided more than 8.8 million breakfasts, lunches and snacks to DCPS students at a net loss of $9.5 million. In fact, OFNS is projected to lose $10.8 in Fiscal Year 2007 and $11.6 in Fiscal Year 2008. Less than 40 percent of DCPS high school students eat school provided lunch. Most urban schools districts maintain participation rates above 70 percent.

Currently, OFNS serves pre-plated meals to elementary students while high schools prepare food onsite. However, many DCPS students say they don't take part because they simply aren't satisfied with the taste and quality of the meals and are seeking other options.

"The Mayor and I want to introduce students to a variety of foods to help train their palates to choose healthier foods for the rest of their lives," said Chancellor Rhee. "It is part of what a well-rounded education should offer. Good nutrition can certainly help enhance academic achievement."

They'll take bids and consider proposals which must include keeping 222 Cafeteria employees...is that the entire number?

DC Council Looks at Polling Problems.

D.C. Councilmember Carol Schwartz, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Workforce Development and Government Operations is holding a hearing Friday, February 15, on the Board of Elections and Ethics’ handling of Tuesday's presidential primary election. The roundtable will last from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

In a release, The Councilmember's office says, Schwartz, as well as other Councilmembers, have been concerned about the slow pace of the election returns, as well reports of shortages of paper ballots at some polling places.

Problems Caused by Record DC Turnout!

Horace Mann School had problems!

DC Elections Officials conceeded by phone this afternoon that some people, (they have no numbers), may have left the Polls on Tuesday without castng ballots.

At Draper Elementary in Southeast and Mann elementary in Northwest they ran out of paper ballots. Bill O'field spokesman for the Board of Electons and Ethics says there were enough ballots downtown, they printed 130,000 ballots; but the Precinct Captains at the schools didn't call for extras in time.

People were told they could vote on the Touch Screen machines, rather than the familiar paper machines; but the line was long (they have one of each machine at each polling place), so some people apparently left out of frustration without voting.

A record 120,372 people turned out to vote in DC on Tuesday. That's 38.53% compared to only 12.97% four years ago.

It's a closed Primary in DC, meaning Independent voters could not participate; but an undetermined high number of Independents did show up at the polls, according to election officials and had to be given special ballots which further depleted the ballot supply.

O'Field told me 8,000 special ballots were handed out--that compares to only 911 special ballots that were counted four years ago!

One Democratic Party source last night said the Barack Obama campaign was encouraging Independents to go to the polls, thinking they could and would vote for the Illinois Senator who won the City's primary with 75% of the vote compared to Hillary Clinton's 24%.

An Obama supporter said the DC Election Officials should have been better prepared.

John McCain easily won the Republican primary in the overwhelmingly Democratic District.

One more glitch, by midday Wednesday- three precincts had still not reported their numbers. It turns out that cartridges from voting machines in those schools had not been picked up by election workers and the schools were closed and locked Tuesday evening before the mistakes were discovered.

139 or 142 precincts were included in the totals. Election Officials hoped to have total numbers later on Tuesday.

Big Voter Turnout in DC....

DC Election spokesman Bill O'field assured me they do have enough paper ballots to complete the primary process tonight.

The turnout has been at least twice that of past Presidential primaries say Precinct Captains at Shepherd Elementary and Mann Elementary in Northwest where officials ran out of paper ballots by midday. More ballots were delivered as they braced for the biggest number of voters this evening after working hours.

Draper elementary in Southeast also ran out of paper forcing voters to go to the Touch Screen computer. Every precinct has one touch screen. Seniors especially don't like the computer card and screen.

I'll be live on 9 News Now at Eleven from the Madison Hotel Tuesday night where Obama supporters are set to celebrate. Their candidate should win by a big margin, judging by what I saw at the polls today and talking with people after they cast ballots.

Political analyst Ron Walters told me in the newsroom this evenng that he expects Obama to run the table from here on out--winning DC, Maryland..... and Virginia would be a big win he says...and then take Texas, Ohio and Wisconsin. He doesn't think the Democrats will arrive at the convention in Denver undecided on a candidate. Others disagree.

In some parts of the District today at polling places I couldn't find Hillary Clinton Volunteers. News reports have her all but giving up on the local primaries and preparing to make a stand in Texas and Ohio.

McCain is the heavy favorite in the Republican primaries, here.

There are 37 democratic delegates and 19 Republicans. It's not winner take all--the delegates are awarded proportionately.

Finally, Got a Chance To See Barack Obama Up Close

The Sunday night newscast began a half hour late cause of the Grammys which meant four hours sleep and an early Monday morning cab ride to the University of Maryland campus at College Park to cover Barack Obama.

Hillary Clinton his opponent in Tuesday's DC, Maryland and Virginia primaries has stopped trying to compete with the size of the Obama crowds which have reached rock status!

My estimate put the Comcast Center gathering at 17 thousand; that's a Maryland-Duke ACC matchup; but I can't swear by the numbers.

Many of the students had been standing in line for more than four hours to see the Illinois Senator.

When he did walk out on stage... tall, thin, blue suit and white shirt Barack Obama did not disappoint.

For nearly an hour he talked about why he was running for President and how he differed from his primary opponent Hillary Clinton (their differences are not all that much). Obama said he might be skinny (his words) but he's still tough enough to take on John McCain, the expected Republican nominee (There are a lot of differences between Dems and the GOP) .

The crowd was maybe 65 percent young, very diversed. They liked Obama's opposition to the war from the beginning.

They really like his young age and orator's skills;

The economy, affordable health care, cleaning up the Chesapeake and giving 4 thousand dollars in tuition credits in exchange for community service after graduation were also big hits with this crowd.

During interviews they told me the prospect of "change" appealed to them; along with being a part of something big, something historical, a movement!

It was a good assignment. Seeing Barack Obama up close was well worth the loss of sleep last night.

Click here to watch part of Obama's speech at the University of Maryland.

Dan the Man Pulls Another Surprise!

Jim Zorn-Courtesy, Washington Post

Somebody slap me! Did everybody turn Dan Snyder down for the Redskins head coach job or did Dan wake up in the middle of the night and conclude that the best person for the job was already in the fold?

No, not Greg Williams. He was hired as defensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach for the Jacksonville Jags, a team that nearly got to the Superbowl this season.

It was revealed a short time before this writing, Saturday night, that Jim Zorn is Dan's pick to replace Joe Gibbs.

Didn't Dan hire Zorn, a former quarterback coach in Seattle, a couple of weeks ago to be offensive co-ordinator for the Skins? Before Zorn can even meet the press, break a practice sweat, diagram a play or win a game for the new team, he's promoted to top dog. Go figure.

I'm guessing Zorn and his assistant coaches, some of them hired before Zorn, by Dan and newly promoted Vice President Vinny Cerato will be under a lot of pressure to win quickly and win a lot.

Here's what the new 54 year old coach of the home team had to say in a release Saturday, "I've always dreamed of being a head coach with a franchise rich in tradition like the Redskins," Zorn said. "As a player who had to fight Redskins teams at RFK as well as at our home field, I know about the history of this franchise as well as the passion of its fans. I won't let you down."

I'm going to wish Coach Zorn a lot of luck. He'll need it.

But allow me one prediction--Jason Campbell will be the primary focus of this new administration and he'll be turned loose to make plays next season under Zorn, a former quarterback himself. Zorn won't shackle Campbell like Coach Gibbs did this past season.

No Small Piece of Change!

Hats off to McKinley Tech! Here's the release from DC Schools.

AARP awarded McKinley Technology High School in Edgewood the Ethel Percy Andrus Legacy Award today which includes a $100,000 prize to support an existing project that connects generations or fosters civic engagement.

McKinley was selected through a competitive application process for its innovative Project SWEEP Jr. volunteer program, through which 250 of its students engage in city clean up projects with the Department of Public Works, learning about the environment, gaining leadership skills and engaging with all segments of the community.

The $100,000 prize awarded by AARP is part of the organization’s 50th Anniversary celebration this year.

The District is one of only seven cities across the country selected to receive the Ethel Percy Andrus Legacy Award. AARP will donate more than $1 million to public high schools across the country this year.

Fifth Stadium Worker Fired in Another Racial Incident

There has been another racial incident and firing at the Nat's new baseball stadium. A white worker for the minority owned Mohagany Interior Company was fired Wednesday morning. I'm told his first day on the job was Monday. He allegedly said to a couple of black electricians as he pointed to a spool of wire, that he could use some of that to string any one of them up.

The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission and Clark construction, issued a joint statement that said in part, "This type of behavior will not be tolerated and we will continue to take swift action when necessary".

This brings to five the number of employees at the new stadium fired in racial incidents. Last month four workers were dismissed after a noose was made and tossed into a break room at the stadium.

More Hate at New Nationals Ballpark?

It appears as though they've got some real problems at the New National's baseball stadium site.

While we were inside DC Council Chambers Tuesday to cover the debate over mandatory paid sick leave, text messages starting going around, telling us that someone had spray painted the KKK sign inside a second floor restroom at the new ballpark.

Not long ago they found a hanging noose at the construction location which lead to some firings and apologies.

A construction worker claims to have seen the KKK sign. A second worker told me by cell phone from the site that (if there was a sign) it had already been cleaned up --before he could get a picture with his cell phone and email it to me.

I'm told staff members from the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission went through the stadium and checked the restrooms; but found nothing. We have not yet heard from Clark construction, managers of the 600 plus million dollar publically financed project.

DC Councilman Kwame Brown who held a hearing on the noose incident wasn't able to leave the legislative session today; his staff says they're investigating this latest alleged hate incident.

They're Both in--Art Monk and Darrel Green

Congrats to Art and Darrell! It's been a bitter sweet season for the Washington Redskins family and it now seems as though we'll end it on a high note, regardless of who Dan Snyder chooses as the new head coach.

I'm not going to waste a lot of space explaining why Darrel Green and Art Monk have earned their elections to the Hall of Fame.

Their exploits on the field are well documented; Their lives out here in the real world are even more impressive.

Good family men, good role models who walk the walk and seem intent on leaving the world a better place than when they found it. Both have chairity organizations aimed at helping local youth.

Darrell's Youth Foundation in Northeast, DC is currently strapped for funds and recently sent out notice that staff would be let go and programs suspended. This should not be allowed to happen. Hopefully the Hall of Fame news will be enough to cause some wallets to open and his youth efforts to resume.

Both Darrell and Art have given far more to the community than they have taken and that can't be said of all rich sports figures.