From: lkk@panix.com (Larry Kolodney)
Subject: Re: D.C. Statehood
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 06:27:07 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix, NYC

In <By12J8.IME@access.digex.com> wbrown@access.digex.com (William Brown) writes:


>   For one, we don't WANT to become a part of Maryland.

Unfortunately for you, its not your choice.  Just like its not the
choice of the residents of any other city to decide which state they
belong to.  Its just historical accident.  That's why NYC is part of
NY State, and Juneau is part of Alaska.  DC is part of no state, but
IS a direct creation of the federal government.  


  By the way, we
>came from land donated by THREE states, although for the life of me I
>can't figure what West Virgina donated.

Sorry, West Virginia didn't even exist when DC was created.  

  D.C. has developed a political
>and social structure completely different from that of the burbs, as we
>call them.  A mojor part of that is the uniquely Black politcal climate in
>the city.  There is no other city in America with such a heavy
>concentration of Black elected officials.

Oh yeah.  Check out Newark NJ, Detroit, Atlanta.



  Within 5 years of being
>"incorporated" into an axisting state, D.C. politics will definately
>become White-controlled.

Why?  Why would state sovereignty place any more constraint on DC
politics than Federal sovereinty?


> Do you know of any OTHER metropolis with an
>almost exclusively Black electorate, regardless of the composition of the
>electorate?

Newark NJ

  How many cities in the South have 60, 70% Black constituents
>and little or no elected Black officials? 
>  We pay some of the highest taxes in the country here in the District. 
>And yet we have no control over the vast majority of the prime real estate
>in the city.  The current formula-based D.C. apporpriations bill in no way
>compares to the ability to collect revenues from businesses in prime real
>estate areas based on the open free market.

And if you were incorporated in Md. you'd have the same rights to do
this as any other city.


>  We realize that you can't just completely treat the federal government
>like any other customer (Mr. President, you're lease is up.  We're going
>condo.  You're evicted...) :-)  On the other hand, the federal government
>has not played fair with us, either.  They have given us NO say in how we
>receive a large share of our money.  And there is simply NO reason why the
>citizens of the District of Columbia should be the only natural born
>Americans who have no Congresspersons or Representatives.  The Congress
>of the United States has abused its relationship with D.C. for decades
>(need a federal prison, put it in D.C.  Hey - they don't even has
>Congressional voting representation - they can't even DO anything about
>it!  Want to make a political point?  Tag a death-penalty rider on the
>D.C> appropriations bill - after all, WE [Congress] determine how much to
>give them for taking up their real estate - they have no say in it.  Hey! 
>Let's outlaw abortion in the District.  After all, they have no say in it!)

All of this would be remedied by reincorporation into Md.

>WE WANT _VOTING_ VOICES IN CONGRESS!! Congresspersons give their
>electorate a voice with _muscle_ in Congress.  We can complain all we
>want, no one HAS to listen.  Were are OUR voices when treaties are voted
>on?  Were are OUR voices when confirmation hearings are held?  During
>military appropriations?  Denying D.C. Congresspersons denies us a vote in
>Congress.  How would you like it if YOUR (anyone out there) Congresspeople
>were told they could no longer vote?  That is our situation in D.C.

Reincorporation into Md. would give DC at least one representative in
Congress, just like any other city of its size.


-- 
larry kolodney:(lkk@panix.com) 
_(*#&)#*&%)@(*^%_!*&%^!)*&#+!*&$+!?&%+!*&^_)*&#%)*&^%#+&
The past is not dead, it's not even past.   - Wm. Faulkner