STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Beyond the monuments and museums, one of the best characteristics of our city-state is the mix of culture and ethnicities. There is a distinct and modest pride that we all share in the contributions that each of us make to our hometown, the District of Columbia. Nevertheless, we must be very mindful of the reality that there are important socioeconomic and structural responsibilities we must maintain and safeguard.
Illegal immigration into the Nation's Capital, our city-state, has been nationally proven to bring expanded and increased burdens on local schools, available housing, healthcare systems, employment opportunities, fragile government budgets and critical public services. There is a clear and comprehensive difference between our legal immigrant citizen neighbors, who contribute greatly to the vitality of the District, and those who have chosen to reside, work and drain publicly financed services under various illegal activities. There can be no gray area, doubt or distortion when it comes to the laws that apply to us all.
Illegal still means breaking the law. Breaking laws, or providing inequitable exceptions to the law, distorts and weakens the integrity of our legal system. Losing trust in the integrity of our legal system has long-term socioeconomic consequences for us all. As mayor, I cannot and will not, sacrifice or set aside the standards of law that binds and strengthens our diverse communities. Moreover, I will be responsibly vigilant and proactive by insuring that our schools, housing, hospitals, jobs, and other vital socioeconomic assets are not burdened or decreased by the activities of diverse illegal immigrants.
More frankly, I will not engage in any pretentious rhetoric, phony policy pronouncements or campaign pandering just to get elected, or stay elected. This, I strongly believe, insults the true value of your vote, and corrupts the integrity of my service and accountability to you as mayor. Pressures on limited taxpayer revenue, plus the loss of living wage jobs, basic employment opportunities, family housing, efficient school systems, easier healthcare access, and effective public safety is not my vision for the District of Columbia -- or the future state of New Washington.
Simultaneously, I will take extraordinary measures to insure that our many valued new citizen-residents and visitors to our city-state are not discriminated against, exploited or diminished in any way by the illegal activities of others. As Mayor Moore, I will strongly maintain a zero-tolerance policy against any and all forms of bias and exploitation against any of the District of Columbia's new citizens. It is my lifelong belief that our strength as a capital  community, including native born and legal immigrant residents, resides in our diversity as rooted in the laws that guide, protect and define us as a nation.

STRAIGHT TALK PLAN FOR
LEGAL IMMIGRATION IN DC

DC officials and candidates running for election won’t openly discuss the reality of illegal immigration in the District. I will. Many are silent or disguise and double-talk what they will ACTUALLY do regarding illegal immigration. I won’t. As a mayoral candidate and potential elected official, my integrity to govern and serve is as valuable as the vote you invested in my election. It is also about basic accountability, and genuine respect.
Unfortunately, playing the politics and politricks of getting elected disable most DC officials and candidates from making efforts to fully address illegal immigration, and its socioeconomic impact on every District citizen. I don't and won't have that disability.
Here is my action plan and proposal to best secure the Nation's Capital when we honestly recognize the present and expanding socioeconomic burdens, and security risks, of illegal immigration on all legal citizens of the Nation’s Capital:
RESIDENCY CARD: Authorize only legal DC citizen-residents and legal immigrant DC residents to carry a fully secure and verifiable residency card. The encoded holographic photo identity card will have an embedded electronic chip additionally encoded with tamperproof identity data. Violations in the use or counterfeiting of District of Columbia residency cards will result in 10 years of imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Authorized owners of the residency cards are eligible for a one-time 1% tax credit on their annual DC income tax (i.e. $20,000 x .01 = $200). Through a decrease in fraud and abuse, the District of Columbia government will annually save over $2,000 per legal DC citizen resident from a reduction in the need to fund government operations to prevent and prosecute identity fraud, abuse of public services by unauthorized residents, as well as savings in better budgeting and targeting of taxpayer money for diverse government services. Additionally, it is mandatory that a fully accountable system be in place to ensure a higher level of safety for the Nation's Capital in the interest of national security and general local public safety. The residency card system will be managed by the newly created District of Columbia Residency Service (DCRS), and will have full investigative, arrest and prosecution powers.
PUBLIC SERVICES: Authorize only legal US citizen DC residents, US citizens and legal immigrants to have access to public services, and must prove their status through the District of Columbia's secure and verifiable DCRS residency card. Illegal recipient violators of public services will receive 1 year of imprisonment followed by immediate deportation.
EMPLOYMENT: Authorize only legal US citizen DC residents and legal immigrants to have access to private and public employment, and must prove their status through a secure and verifiable DCRS residency card. Insure swift and severe financial penalties and imprisonment against employers ($20,000 per illegal employee, plus 5 years imprisonment with a 10-year revocation of applicable business licenses and permits). Illegal employee violators will receive 1 year of imprisonment followed by immediate deportation.
HOUSING: Authorize only legal US citizen DC residents and legal immigrants to have access to private and public housing, and must prove their status through District of Columbia's secure verifiable DCRS residency card. Insure swift and severe financial penalties and imprisonment against residency owners, property managers, independent renters, and sub-leasers ($20,000 per illegal occupant, plus 5 years imprisonment with a 10-year revocation of applicable business licenses and permits). Illegal occupant violators will receive 1 year of imprisonment followed by immediate deportation.
HEALTH SERVICES: Authorize only legal US citizen DC residents and legal immigrants to have access to public health facilities and publicly financed health services, and must prove their status through District of Columbia's secure verifiable DCRS residency card. Only critical (immediate and short term life saving) emergency services will be provided. Insure swift and severe financial penalties and imprisonment against facilities and healthcare providers ($20,000 per illegal recipient, plus 5 years imprisonment with a 10-year revocation of applicable operating licenses and permits). Illegal recipient violators of health services will receive 1 year of imprisonment followed by immediate deportation.
EDUCATION: Authorize only legal US citizen DC residents and legal immigrants to have access to private and public education services supported by public funds and services, and must prove their status through District of Columbia's secure verifiable DCRS residency card. Insure swift and severe financial penalties and imprisonment against education facilities and training providers ($20,000 per illegal student, plus 5 years imprisonment with a 10-year revocation of applicable business licenses and permits). Illegal recipient violators of education services will receive 1 year of imprisonment followed by immediate deportation.
PROBATIONAL EMPLOYEE STATUS: Provide a fully accountable and secure system for non-citizen immigrants with certified US Immigration status to work and live in the District of Columbia through an employer-financed employment program. This program, Probationary Employment Status Authorization (PESA), is designed to track and transition immigrants with current and certifiable US non-citizen status into legal citizenship at employer expense. Employers are required to sponsor and pay the PESA applicant at or above the minimum DC wage (or compatible to the local salary rate for the occupation), plus finance the standard individual health benefits for the applicant. Employers must guarantee full-time employment for one year. In the 11th month of employment, PESA applicants must apply for legal citizenship. During the one year probationary employment period, and until legal US citizenship is authorized, the applicant cannot have citizenship or extend any PESA benefits to immediate family members (legally married spouse, legal guardian children, legal siblings and legal grandparents) until legal US citizenship is authorized. Extended family members (cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, 'godparents' et cetera) are excluded from any family-linked citizenship. Applicant or employer violations of PESA statues will resort in immediate prosecution, 1 year of imprisonment and a $100,000 fine against both violators. Applicant violators face deportation after serving 1 year in jail.
Facing reality in a practical and compassionate way can be a challenging balance. Nevertheless, we have a primary responsibility to respond to any and all challenges that threaten our need for real socioeconomic stability and reliable traditions of equitable justice. A truly diverse yet common heritage defines us as Washingtonians, secures the integrity of our national capital, and empowers our nation. Compromising this integrity, security and heritage binds us to the culture of chaos and despair found elsewhere.    © 10 APRIL 2006

In The Beginning . . . Born and raised in Harlem during the turbulent 1950s-1960s, to firm and nurturing self-empowered parents, required that I have a genuine sense of activism and personal responsibility. Though I have worked as a network radio news journalist, local radio news director, government and finance public affairs specialist, adult education teacher, and Internet news publisher (BOOKSandWORDS.com) for the last 25 years, I'm still an assertive citizen-activist at heart. This activism also stems from my high school and college days as a student activist for minority student and education issues. This was bolstered earlier by my parent's traditional and "DO something about it!" outlook on various social issues while growing up in New York City and Savannah, Georgia. As the older son of an Army paratrooper father from Harlem and a senior insurance clerk mother from Georgia, I learned a lot about the critical importance of empowerment and real accountability. My greatest achievement as a high school student activist was helping to successfully negotiate an expanded citywide employment program for qualified Black and Latino teachers, including high school college preparation courses, career-oriented classes, and an ethnically sensitive history and culture curriculum for Black and Latino students during 1969-71. The student, parent, teacher and community coalition, I was the student representative for, laid an equitable and solid foundation in New York City's plan for public school teacher diversity and curriculum improvements existing today. This is why educational and socioeconomic empowerment remains my priority over 30 years later -- a priority I will definitely act on as Mayor Moore.
The Inside Outsider . . . The reality behind DC government is actually worse than the public perception. I have worked in key areas inside District government for District of Columbia Public Schools Office of the Superintendent (Office of Parent Affairs), and in public affairs for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. My public affairs duties afforded me great access, insight and indisputable evidence about all that is exceptionally right and far too much that is genuinely wrong in District government. Quite frankly, from my perspective as someone engaged in helping to smooth the public image of these agencies, the dysfunction is far beyond what the public actually sees and suffers. Most specifically, I was a witness to the shell game policies that shifts money from critical public needs that ends up in blind budgets for short term special interest projects and events -- Grand Prix racing, new convention center, summer Olympics sports promotion, luxury development, Major League Baseball stadium, and the list goes on -- all of this, and more, while our school system still deteriorates, unaffordable housing increases, HIV/AIDS infections expand, random violent crimes continues, overtaxed homeowners are stressed, District government operations remain dysfunctional, and greater numbers of residents give-up and leave. As mayor, I will merge tested and practical policies, with innovative ideas and effective action. At every level and agency of my administration I will aggressively promote a climate of competent administration, long-term fiscal responsibility, effective-friendly citizen services, and genuine full accountability to every DC resident. Under the leadership of a Moore Administration, the District of Columbia will be the first choice home of diverse and empowered everyday people -- whether you work hard to earn $10,000 or $100,000 per year.
The Discontent of Many . . . District discontent continues and, in many respects, it has increased throughout diverse socioeconomic communities. Many have chosen to leave DC. By now, it should be no surprise that our discontent has less to do with our affiliation to an ethnic group, economic strata, or political party. Our discontent is deeply rooted in the serious lack of accountability and effective action on the actual needs of everyday residents. This discontent can and must be eliminated by a mayor that has the genuine will and innovative leadership to act in the best interest of District of Columbia citizens. I also know, at this particular time, a Republican mayoral candidate in a city-state dominated by Democratic public officials may seem like an impossible challenge. But, I confidently believe and know that diverse District voters are way ahead of the usual crop of unaccountable officials and candidates making the same self-serving predictable promises. No doubt, we can no longer find comfort in public officials who are comfortable with another four-plus years of unaccountable, misguided, stale and arrogant governance. Older and younger DC voters, longtime and newer residents, as well as families of diverse incomes know the true source behind the decline of truly affordable, safe and productive living for all residents. Moreover, we know it is time for real change. My mayoral candidacy represents real choice for change. I am empowered by the many DC residents, like you, who told me the time has come for leadership of change -- a change to policies and priorities for people.
The Proactivist Candidate . . . Having lived and worked in Washington-DC for nearly 20 years, I've discovered that my professional pursuits have not relieved me from a very avid and highly informed interest in activist politics. During the 2002 DC mayoral elections, I vigorously explored my potential as an Independent candidate for mayor, rooted in people-oriented policies and higher standards of governance. Unfortunately, the deep discontent among diverse voting and non-voting District residents about our local electoral process, the distraction of campaign scandals, and voter disgust from the usual cast of candidates left limited opportunities to motivate major attention. As a loyal and aware DC resident, I deeply empathize and understand the reasons for this discontent -- and what can be done to change it. Any candidate that cannot fully guarantee a continuous commitment to people-oriented priorities does not deserve your vote. I will not be that candidate or mayor. Leadership that ignores this responsibility does not deserve to lead.
Empowerment & Potential . . . During many family and professional experiences in and beyond the District, there was always this strong sense of a greater potential for DC life and living that was being suppressed. As a 53 year-old father of two and grandfather of three with a wealth of experiences, I have no doubt that our greater potential will come from leaders dedicated to immediate and long-term policies of empowerment for Washington's most challenged communities, struggling middle class, and our private sector partners. The history and warnings are totally clear on the dangers of cities and officials that grow socioeconomic divisions among its citizens. Public officials that are serious and single-minded about empowering people must build the strongest bridge between this divide. Leadership that clearly understands the shared benefits of having successful communities everywhere in the District must be elected to grow our empowerment. I have always said that 'The Nation's Capital', "our hometown," and the people that sustain it must be the most obvious examples of what's best in America. My public policy priorities will insure that our local government, public officials and capable public servants are held fully accountable for aiding and strengthening the empowerment of every District of Columbia resident. The challenges ahead, and the expectation of obstacles, will be motivation for greater innovative effort. Effective people-oriented policies will be the foundation of a Moore Administration. This is the foundation a united District of Columbia will be built on. Unlike any other DC mayor, genuine empowerment will be my standard.
Real Choice for Real Change . . . My candidacy is about the real choice and real change we have all expected for the last twelve years. We now know, more than ever, this is the time to BE about making change rather than TALK about it. Our ability to choose the best in us can overcome what we have settled for over the years. I am completely confident in my ability to effectively empower every District resident through people-oriented priorities.

Dennis Moore - Mayor For A New Washington

Our Exponential Potential

Maurice G. Fitzgerald - The Washington Informer

Nearly 20 years ago, when I first came to permanently live in the District of Columbia from Harlem, there was always a strong sense of what was best about DC, and its greater potential. The sense of family, community, upward mobility, and years of family gatherings with local DC relatives and friends from the 1960s to 80s only strengthened what I already knew. Our hometown, 'The Nation's Capital' and the global center of democracy, can be a real reflection of our true collective potential for genuine socioeconomic empowerment -- our exponential potential.

As Mayor Moore, I will provide a new and higher standard of leadership and motivation that enables diverse District government agencies, proactive public servants, vital community groups, neighborhood associations, families, youth energy, senior wisdom, neighborhood small businesses, DC-based organizations and diverse members of our valuable corporate sector to empower all District residents.

It has always been my contention that the present and future of the District of Columbia resides in the collective potential of its people. The purpose and responsibility of elected public officials is to provide effective leadership and resources that are accountable, forward thinking, and rooted in present day realities -- a paradigm shift benefiting people. Every DC resident, including the diverse businesses that serve and support us, should be treated respectfully and attentively as a strategic investment for the greater good of our city-state.

We have the potential to be a major new state that serves as an example for other sovereign states to follow. History has proven, throughout many civilizations, a society’s greatest potential resides in its people. As I clearly learned from working on Wall Street to K Street, a carefully managed investment produces exponential dividends that enriches and sustains us all. We, and the investment we make in ourselves, are the true source of exponential potential. District leadership that settles for anything less deserves no opportunity to lead.

Dennis Moore Mayor For A New Washington

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