Williams’ surprise proposal to move the University of the District of Columbia from its upper Connecticut Avenue location to an undetermined site east of the Anacostia River prompted the most public outcry.

"I don’t like the way this was handed down," said Councilman Kevin P. Chavous, D-Ward 7, whose home ward stands to benefit from the proposed move. "UDC was left out of the room when decisions about its future were being made."

UDC president Julius Nimmons, council members and neighborhood leaders said they were shocked to read Williams’ proposal in the newspaper.

Williams brushed off concerns that he acted without consulting the people involved, saying the focus should be on "substance, not process."

"Sometimes you’ve just got to simply move," Williams said. "You don’t have time to consult 45 people."

He pointed to his proposed $5 million addition to the university’s small endowment as evidence of his support for the university.

But many remained suspicious.

"Just where did this idea come from?" asked Chavous, who ran against Williams in the Democratic primary election last fall and chairs the council’s education committee. "Who exactly planted this seed in his head?"

Calling for a sense of urgency in government, Williams also requested an 18-month waiver of the law requiring council approval of city contracts exceeding $1 million.

He said he needs the waiver in order to move quickly on key priorities and help the District reach "escape velocity" from the troubled status quo.

The mayor also proposed cutting the city’s payments to D.C. General Hospital and nine community health clinics by 50 percent and eliminating completely local and federal payments to area hospitals for treating large numbers of uninsured patients.

Williams said the loss would be offset by expanding medical coverage to 39,000 D.C. residents who are currently uninsured at a cost of $57 million. With more people insured, the hospital would be paid for more of its services and would be forced to compete with other institutions, he said.

But those who specialize in providing health care to the poor remain unconvinced.

"I asked the mayor to provide details of the financial analysis on the fiscal impact of this proposal on our public and private hospitals and community clinics," said Councilwoman Sandra Allen, D-Ward 8, chair of the council’s human services committee. "It has been over two weeks and I still do not have it.

"If passed, this proposal would close D.C. General and Greater Southeast Hospital," she said. "What good is it to give the poor a Medicaid card and then pay for it by closing the hospitals in their neighborhood?"

• $303 million for school modernization

• $94 million to pay private prison companies to house D.C. inmates

• $33 million for after school programs

• $25 million for school bathroom repairs

• $16 million for pay in-creases for teachers and principals

• $13 million for day care for the working poor

• $7.2 million for building repairs at D.C. Jail

• $1 million for incentives to attract new teachers

• $1 million for study on moving UDC

• $1.2 million for Summer Works youth employment program

•14 more full-time employees for the mayor’s office

•12 more full-time employees for the Office of the Secretary of the District

• Cut $1.5 million from Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration. Some drug treatment and prevention programs would be contracted out.

Copyright 1999, The Common Denominator