Reporting from Washington, D.C.


Again, the D.C. Independant Media Center's
website is expeeriencing techincal
difficulties.


Moving on. late last month, D.C. City
Councilwoman Sharon Ambrose, Ward 6,
(D) announced that she will not be
seeking re-election. She has cited
committment to family and health
related issues. But residents of
Baltimore as well as those throughout
the United States can take pride in
knowing that your hard earned tax
money was used in an ethical manner.
One episode worth mentioning,
in 1999, D.C. City Councilmembers
elected to the council in 1998,
voted themselves a payraise of
$92,520 per year, with Chairwoman
Cropp getting a raise of $102,520.
At that time, all D.C.
Councilmembers, except the
chairperson, worked part time and
could hold outside employment. This
explains why last year three
members were booted from the
legislative body: Chavous, Allen
and Brazill. All of them were
Democrats, but what got them
was being too caught up in another
job and not the job of Councilman.
Back to the issue. Councilwoman
Ambrose, at the time the raise
was being presented, turned it down.
Reason, in a story that I wrote
to the Washington City Paper in
2000:

"She could not explain to her
constituents why she took
it".

Two other Councilmembers also
rejected the raise: Mendolsen
and Patterson. In a personal
interview during the City Paper
story, Councilman Mendolsen
even suggested that there was
something underhanded about the
whole payrasie deal, saying,
"it didn't get top billing".

While Councilwoman leaves on a
good note, a second thing can
be remembered about her. She beat
a well known minister of a claimed
break away Catholic Church,
George A. Stallings, Jr. Not only
did she do it it once in 1996 for a
special election, but twice in
1998.

When I was employed with the
Imani Temple On Capital Hill, in the
office there was this sign detailing
the event of Stallings buying the
now Cathedral that houses the
main church of the African American
Catholic Congregation. It read a
statement by the clergyman saying,
"It was ordained by God". George,
I don't think so.