Farms, Rivers, History and More, Through No. VA Park Authority

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has released its event schedule for July 2009, which includes farm tours, paddle tours, concerts, car shows, history events, nature events, golf tournaments, and volunteer clean up days.

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MAN ABOUT TOWN: James Thurber Is Still Following Me

Poking around at the University Women’s book sale at the Community Center, I came across a copy of The Thurber Carnival. Of course I had to buy it — James Thurber has been following me all my life.

I met James Thurber in the 7^th or 8^th grade — he was dead by then but his humor was alive in the English literature anthology I was told to read, which included “The Night the Ghost Got In,” a story of his eccentric family while growing up in Columbus, Ohio. During the last 15 minutes of class we were supposed to ”read silently” from the literature book. Thurber tells of hearing footsteps downstairs about quarter past one in the morning. Fearing burglars, his mother threw a shoe at the neighbors’ bedroom window, breaking it and successfully waking them. Police arrived quickly, smashing through “our big heavy front door with its thick beveled glass . . . A half-dozen policemen . . . pulled beds away from walls, tore clothes off hooks in the closets, pulled suitcases and boxes off shelves.”

Eventually they heard sounds from the attic, where Thurber’s grandfather slept. Grandfather, Thurber wrote, “was going through a phase in which he believed that General Meade’s men, under steady hammering by Stonewall Jackson, were beginning to retreat and even desert.” As the police bounded up the attic stairs, Grandfather “evidently jumped to the conclusion that the police were deserters from Meade’s army.”

“Back, ye cowardly dogs! roared grandfather,” as he knocked down an officer, grabbed his gun from its holster “and let fly,” wounding the officer in the shoulder. “He fired once or twice more in the darkness and then went back to bed.” Read more

FC Planning Chair Shares Lebanon Election Experience

By John Lawrence

Editors Note: Many Falls Church residents know John Lawrence as Chair of the City Planning Commission and member of the library’s Board of Trustees.  His day job, however, is  running Congressional Affairs for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES),  a 23 year-old non-profit organization that helps other countries with the technical aspects of elections, such as writing election laws, training election commissioners and training poll workers.

The Falls Church Times asked Lawrence to share information about his recent election observer trip to Lebanon, and he has provided us with the journal entries that follow.   The information below is based on Lawrence’s personal observations and views, not IFES opinion or policy.

Election Day — June 7: Here’s a quick description of the two main actors in this election drama:  March 14 is the group of parties/individuals who rallied around Saad Hariri, son of the assassinated former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.  This coalition was seen as the friendliest to the United States.  The March 8^th group had Hezbollah as its largest single component, I believe.  Hezbollah is a group that is on the U.S. terrorist list and is a very heavily-armed Shia militia, located throughout the country, but predominantly in the south.  It was Hezbollah that kidnapped the Israeli soldiers in 2006, which was the proximate cause of the August 2006 war.  Going into this election, no one knew who would win, everyone expected any win to be just by a seat or two.  The result was quite a surprise.

We started out at mid-morning in a city that was very quiet, with almost no cars on the main roads. I was with Nikolai, an IFES elections expert from Sofia, Bulgaria, and Aya, one of our IFES Beirut office staff.  First stop?  Aya’s polling station at a school in Beirut 3.

Normally traffic is heavy in Beirut, but it was extremely light this morning.  Once we got off the main road we could tell why the traffic had been light — all the the cars had gone to this polling station. For quite a while, we moved about 15 feet every minute or two.  Finally, Aya got “creative” in parking and positioned the car at the steps leading down to a store. She said good morning to the storekeeper, who returned her greeting, and we walked away. (In the Middle East there’s no predatory towing, just predatory parking.)  We headed to the school, passing her uncle who had been sitting in his car for an hour waiting to get closer.

There was a mob scene both inside and outside the polling station.  Most of the polling stations are set up for either men or women, and the women at this station  basically formed a mob inside the gate.  As in all stations, the women ignored the instructions from the Internal Security Forces.

Our “Special Visitor” badges got us immediate access, which meant that we had to push our way up the stairs to the polling station. Each station was a small classroom with generally two official poll workers at a desk processing people and another 6-8 party observers.

One note about security.  Every polling station had a man – usually police, but sometimes Army – standing at the door,  armed with a loaded rifle.  I’ve been around the Middle East a lot and am used to seeing weapons everywhere, but having an armed man inside the room was still a shock.  I can’t imagine that at the American Legion over on Oak Street where I vote.  Ironically, although the security forces make it possible for people to vote in safety, by law, no one in the security forces can vote.

The Voting Process – Ballot Papers and Purple Ink

Each voter presented his or her card and then their name was called out. After that, they were given an envelope and directed to the voting booth. Outside the polling center at a distance of 75 meters were the party activists who gave out “ballot papers.” These consisted of pieces of paper with the pre-printed names of their  candidates. The ballot papers were very small — some were quite a bit smaller than a business card — so that the names could not be changed because there was no room to make any additions. You could, of course, write out your own ballot in the booth from the list of names posted inside, but given the time it took most people to vote, almost no one wrote in the names.  They ALL used ballot papers.  This is a huge concern to people because in certain circumstances it easily compromises the secrecy of the vote.

After voters came out, they put their ballot envelopes in the transparent ballot box, signed their names and had their left thumbs (only the left) inked up to the first knuckle with indelible purple ink.

The differences between the polling centers we visited were minimal except when you compared the men’s vs. women’s centers.  The women’s centers were disasters in terms of organization.  Huge, largely uncontrolled crowds forced their way into old schools, flowed up stairwells filled with people, including many small children, and came to a dead stop in each hallway.  In one school, after fighting our way up the stairs we looked down a hall that was perhaps 100 yards long and 3 yards wide.  It was completely packed — side-to-side and end-to-end — with women waiting to vote.  No one was moving and there was no space for anyone to move.

He Looked Like He Was Holding On For His Life

The first classroom was about 4 feet inside the hall and I held my Special Visitor badge over my head and the guard in the room yelled for people to make room for us to get in, which we finally did.  I felt sorry for him.  He had one hand on the door jam and his other hand on the door, and he looked like he was holding on for his life.  As we stood inside and watched the process, I also watched him, and it was clear that this was going to be the longest day of his life.  I’m not being sexist, just reporting what I saw repeatedly.  Heavily armed security forces would tell women what to do,  and the women would ignore them.

At the men’s polling centers, you saw the same crowds, but you did not have the extreme level of disorganization, nor did you have the ear-splitting noise level.  The security forces tried their best, and succeeded in keeping the centers safe, but keeping them organized was another matter.  More than few observers said that they felt the women’s polling centers would have been better if there were female security personnel there because the women voters would have listened to them more than men.

As we went from center to center, we saw largely the same thing — massive crowds, good security, lack of control, and people who became increasingly frustrated as the day progressed.  At one school we were repeatedly confronted by women who claimed to have been waiting since 8:00 a.m. and who were still unable to vote.  It was well past noon at this time.  I have no way of verifying it, but given the crowds and the number of times we heard the same complaint, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this were true.

One polling station stood out because we heard very loud yelling, and one man came running down the hall telling us that two candidates were fighting and we needed to see what was going on.  So we went.

Heated Argument

In a small classroom (maybe 20′x15′) there were likely 30 people with a third of them armed security forces.  One man was stationed in front of the ballot box almost like he was claiming ownership of it.  This was a March 8^th candidate who had been fighting someone from March 14.  At one point the argument got so heated that the security forces took the extraordinary step of closing the door to the station to try to bring about calm.

We could never get a straight answer as to what happened, but it appeared that one of the candidates had been in the room for quite some time and another was objecting to that because although candidates are allowed to visit polling stations they are not supposed to stay except for a few minutes.  After several minutes of yelling we decided to leave since we’d seen, heard and photographed enough.  On the way out, another March 14 candidate was on his way in with a camera in tow to lend support to his colleague.  After a long, hard morning, we were told in the afternoon that the polling stations were largely empty,  so I was very glad we went to observe when we did.

Counting the Votes

In the evening, we wanted to see the counting and chose to go to the polling center where Saad Hariri, head of the March 14^th coalition, voted.  The counting process started with verifying that the ballot box was still sealed, then cutting it open in full view of everyone.  The ballots were then taken out and counted while still sealed.  At each step the party representatives had to agree that the process was being done right, and that they agreed with the count.  Each ballot was then opened and placed under a camera that projected the ballot onto a television screen so all in the room could see it, an interesting technique that is not new to Lebanon.  Each name on the ballot was read out and then recorded by the polling station official as well as the party representatives.  If there were any questions or disagreements, they had to be resolved before continuing.  After that was all done, the results would be transported to a central location for more counting, but I can’t say that I know that process.

What we saw in just three separate rooms on that floor, however, could not have been more different.  In one room, there was almost a frat house atmosphere with joking and laughing with one party representative talking on his cell phone, which was against the rules.  They were doing their job, but they clearly did not feel the need to move quickly.  In the next room, it was very subdued and professional, with one irregularity that we reported to the main domestic observer group so that they could correct it for the future.  In the third room, it was a bit less organized with people who were clearly new to the process (in terms of party reps) who kept having the polling officials go back and recount the ballots because their numbers did not match.  We only stayed about 20 minutes in each room, but it was clear that they would all go at least until midnight to finish their work.

As we went back to the IFES office, which is near Hariri’s house/headquarters, an optimistic March 14 coalition was soon setting off fireworks.   The next day, I think, even they were surprised to have won such a definitive majority.   Of the Lebanese parliament’s 128 seats, March 14 won 68 and March 8, 57.  Three independent members may also align with the March 14 coalition, which would give them a total of 71, a pick up of one seat over the previous distribution.

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Post Script: Lebanon’s elections were an anomaly not only in the fact that they occurred in a Middle East country or that they were regarded as well done and representing the will of the people.  They also had a fairly sexy campaign at times.  For those who have visited Lebanon this will not be a surprise, but compared to most of the Middle East, it was a bit risqué.

Variations on the 1958 French movie Sois Belle et Tais-Toi – “Be Beautiful and Shut Up” – were a recurring theme.

For more information, see http://mideast.blogs.time.com/2009/06/03/lebanons-sexy-election-campaigns/

WATER WAR: Fairfax’s Experts Rip Falls Church

Last week the Fairfax County Water Authority (FCWA) released two lengthy reports in support of its ongoing litigation against the City of Falls Church.  Prepared by experts in their respective fields, the reports are highly critical of the City’s position.

This is not surprising.  Had the reports reached conclusions critical of FCWA they never would have been submitted to the Circuit Court or appeared on the Authority’s website.

While the City’s counsel will no doubt dispute the findings, the documents demonstrate the depth of the Authority’s resources and its will to win, both at trial and in the court of public opinion.

Such research and analysis does not come cheap.  The author of one of the reports openly states that he is compensated at a rate of $700 an hour.  Presumably the City would incur similar costs if it decides to retain its own experts.

The case, which is scheduled for trial in September, may still be settled out of court.  If it is not, the reports provide an interesting preview of the arguments FCWA’s counsel will present to the judge or jury (among other things, the parties are disputing how the case should be heard).

The Mayo Report  –  Critiquing the City’s Monopoly

Dr. John W. Mayo, a professor in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University,  also has been an economic advisor for, and consultant to, both public agencies and private companies, including the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.

Fairfax Water requested he provide “an independent economic analysis of whether the City has significant monopoly power in the relevant market and whether  .  .  .   the City’s actions are consistent with those of a monopolist attempting to maintain its monopoly  position.”  He also was asked to estimate how much net revenue FCWA would lose if the City prevented a developer from connecting to Fairfax’s system.

The Mayo Report cites six examples of Falls Church attempting to maintain its monopoly:

1. Attempting to block entry of competition [into areas previously served exclusively by the City].
2. Representing an exclusive right to serve customers located in the interface area when none existed [as found in federal court and upheld in appellate court].
3. Unnecessarily inflicting costs on parties seeking to switch [water service] providers.
4. Imposing the threat of costly litigation on parties that may switch providers.
5. Seeking to delay Fairfax Water’s infrastructure development that would enable competition.
6. Using an aggressive and visible defense of its monopoly position with Halstead [a developer] to discourage other potential parties from switching.

Dr. Mayo concluded that “from an economic standpoint, [the City's] actions are consistent with those of a utility attempting and succeeding in willfully maintaining and abusing its position as a monopolist. [Emphases added.]  In addition, as a consequence of Falls Church’s actions, a reasonable estimate of Fairfax Water’s lost net revenues is in the range of $1.9 million to $6.0 million.”

As FCWA is seeking triple damages in the amount of $21 million, this estimate of its losses may seem rather conservative.  However, the estimate is limited only to losses associated with the Halstead project.  The complete text of the Mayo Report is available here.

The Woodcock Report  –  Questionable Rates and Transfers to the General Fund

Christopher P. N. Woodcock, who has worked on over 200 cost of service and water rate determination studies, is the past chairman and longest serving member of the Rates & Charges Committee of the American Water Works Association.

The Woodcock Report focuses on the City’s water rates and its practice of transfering monies from the water fund to the general fund.  In tracing the long history of the rates and transfers the author reviewed over 200 documents, the earliest dating to the 1950s.

Mr. Woodcock concluded that:

1. Falls Church has been billing and collecting excessive amounts for water service to customers in Fairfax County.
2. The generation of excessive revenues has resulted in enormous fund balances that serve no
   purpose, other than to provide a source of revenue to the City’s general fund.
3. The transfer of water funds to Falls Church’s general fund is not in conformance with generally
   accepted rate making standards.
4. The assessing of rates, fees, and charges that consistently generate revenues in excess of
   legitimate costs turns the City’s water fees into what rate making professionals recognize as a tax.
5. Falls Church should adjust its rates immediately to reflect the legitimate costs of providing water service.

The full text of the Woodcock Report is available here.

Should Readers Follow the Links?

Neither report qualifies as an easy read, but both are well worth reading as they present a wealth of  information that was previously unavailable or difficult to obtain.

For example, the Woodcock Report briefly notes that the City and the County engaged in a previous litigation over water rates — in 1961!  To some that may qualify as mere trivia, but the fact illustrates that the current controversy actually has been simmering for decades.

While they reflect Fairfax’s perspective, the reports shed considerable light on the past and present policies of the City.  Anyone interested in the current litigation or the future of Falls Church should find them worth their time.

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Previous reporting and commentary on the ”Water War” between Falls Church and Fairfax County

Reports

[June 2] UPDATE: City Council Rejects Fairfax Offer

[May 21] Having Lost One Lawsuit, City Files Another

[April 16] Part 1: A Tale of Two Lawsuits

[April 17] Part 2: How City Lost Suit Against Fairfax County

[April 21] Part 3: An Appeal Denied

[April 23] Part 4: The Authority Strikes Back

Commentary

[June 1] OPINION: Town Hall Meeting Needed on Water War

[May 4] OPINION: Settle the Water Litigation Now

[May 4] COMMUNITY COMMENT: Reasons to Resolve Water Dispute

Lebanese Butcher Restaurant Has Great Food, So-So Service

Lebanese food is not for the faint of heart.  Liberal use of onions, raw garlic, lemon juice, and tangy yogurt can translate into some pretty potent dishes.  But sometimes you’ve just got to have it.  The craving hits and the next thing you know you’re inhaling a shawarma sandwich and thinking of how you’ll cover up the inevitable garlic breath when you get back to the office.

Luckily, the options in Falls Church and the surrounding area are plentiful and pretty decent across the board.  The Lebanese Butcher and Restaurant, though, seems to have separated itself a bit from the pack.

Located in the heart of the City, this mom and pop joint won’t win any beauty contests.  There are nine or ten small tables and a few pictures of Lebanon on the peeling walls, but beyond that don’t expect much else in the way of décor.  And if you’re looking to be pampered by servers, just turn around and walk out the door (or do takeout).  It’s usually a one or two person operation, with the woman behind the register often being the one who brings out the food.   

So what?  When the cooking is as homey and unpretentious as it is, it’s hard to complain about aesthetics and service that leaves a little to be desired. 

The standout appetizer in my few visits is undoubtedly the fried kibbeh, one of the crown jewels of Lebanese cooking.  Though there are infinite variations across the Middle East, the classic fried kibbeh involves a thin bulgur and lamb shell encasing a moist filling of ground lamb, spices, and pine nuts.  Some area restaurants cook theirs ahead of time, rendering it soft and soggy after an hour or so.  Here it comes out fresh, with a crisp, almost crackly exterior and a subtly spiced filling.

The lemony baba ghanoush isn’t a bad way to start either.  It’s velvety yet light, and a far cry from the acrid tasting tubs of the popular eggplant and tahini puree that you find in supermarkets.  It would be nice if it and the rest of the starters were accompanied by some hot, house-made bread.  Alas, the only thing available here is dry and store bought, which simply can’t stand up to the lively food it comes with.

The rest of menu is filled mostly with lamb and chicken delicacies, the chicken shawarma sandwich being particularly addictive.  It comes wrapped in flatbread (still from a package, but better than the pita and well crisped from time spent on a flat top) with cucumber pickles, lettuce, sumac-dusted onions, and a dreamy garlic sauce that packs a punch.  You’ll want a stick of gum at the ready when you walk out the door.  Unfortunately, the sandwich doesn’t come with fries or any sides, so unless you’ve got a small appetite, I’d order an appetizer to go along with it.

If that’s all the Lebanese Butcher and Restaurant had to offer, it would be a pleasant place to have a meal.  But what makes it unique and truly worth a trip is that the restaurant shares a wall with a butcher shop owned by the same man, Kheder Rababeh. He gets certified halal chicken, lamb, and goat from his slaughterhouse in Warrenton, and then uses the same meat available at the butcher’s counter to make most of the stuff on the menu at the restaurant. 

The butcher shop, which is actually older than the restaurant, is also well stocked with Middle Eastern dried and canned goods, pickles, dairy products, and olives.  It’s the perfect place to walk around while you’re awaiting a takeout order.  The challenge is to try and get out of there with just the food from the restaurant.  Good luck.

             

With Concerts in the Park, Summer’s Really Here

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OPINION: Who Runs Falls Church?

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Falls Church Times Web Site Just Got Faster (A Lot!)

You should notice our web site loading a lot faster now.  We just “migrated” to a new, fancier, more expensive web host.  Over the past couple of months as our readership grew we got slower and slower until, like a snake shedding its skin, or a crab molting, or a family with more children than space, we had to find a new home. Now it’s done! Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors that we’re back in action, faster than ever.

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