Disappointing by Any Name

When it comes to historic estates in Prince George's County, the name Oxon Hill doesn't exactly have that aristocratic ring. Shortened from "Oxford on the Hill" by plantation owners in the colonial era, the name is more likely to conjure up images of an ox on a hill than the countryside around Oxford, England, that the land was said to resemble.

So it is understandable that developers of National Harbor, which is in the Oxon Hill area, would want the project to become a town unto itself -- with a different Zip code to boot. As staff writer Ovetta Wiggins reported yesterday, the project's marketers are seeking a name and a Zip code that are more appropriate for a $2 billion waterfront complex of luxury hotels, shops and homes. They like National Harbor, Md. And they'd probably love to have 90210.

But why stop there? A new town also needs new street names that reflect an appropriate sense of local history.

Let us not forget the $3.5 million National Harbor Community Outreach Program, which was created by Prince George's officials and financed by Milton V. Peterson, the developer of National Harbor. As reported in The Washington Post, tens of thousands of dollars have gone to organizations and individuals connected with County Executive Jack B. Johnson or members of the committee created to distribute the grants. The committee, for instance, dispensed about $30,000 to a private school attended by the children of chairman Michael Arrington and to a Brownie troop to which they belonged.

Meanwhile, the grant committee's claims that it gave $7,500 to three other Girl Scout troops have been disputed by those troops. And a grant of $20,000 somehow never made it to Christmas in April, a charity that fixes homes for low-income elderly residents.

There's got to be a street named for such practices, which are being investigated by the Maryland state prosecutor's office.

Call it Sleazy Way.

Another road could be named for the National Harbor minority-participation program, which originally required that local and minority-owned businesses get 30 percent of all construction contracts. The deal was scaled back to 15 percent, or at least a "good faith" effort at achieving 15 percent. Wayne K. Curry, Johnson's predecessor, had negotiated the 30 percent minority participation with Peterson. Johnson agreed to cut it in half.

Peter Shapiro, a former Prince George's County Council member, said of the compromise: "I would probably be in the camp of those who say we could have gotten a better deal."

Call that street Bamboozled Boulevard.

Of course, you probably haven't heard much about the minority-participation program from many local politicians lately. Then again, who has time to talk about the potential for creating jobs -- and wealth -- on a $2 billion construction project when there are so many nickel-and-dime grants and contracts up for grabs?

Take Ronald V. Russell, a Johnson supporter whom Johnson recently appointed county "coordinator" on the National Harbor project. Before that, Russell had received four contracts from Johnson totaling $176,500 to "advise the county on legislation and attend committee and task force meetings." Russell told The Post that he also worked closely on an awards program. "There was something to do every day," he said.

Wilbert R. Wilson, a former sixth-grade teacher and Johnson supporter, was given two county contracts totaling $331,250 -- one of which was to "evaluate trends in regional, national and global economics." He turned in a four-page report that was thin as gruel. Not long after, David M. Valderrama, another supporter and a cable show producer, was given two contracts -- one of which was also to "evaluate trends in regional, national and global economics," the same as Wilson. He was paid $141,666.

Perhaps some of this could be written off as greasy palm politics as usual. But there are people and organizations in Prince George's that really need the money.

Christmas in April helps elderly and disabled people keep a roof over their heads. Mentors and volunteers in public schools are constantly in need of money for books, clothes, field trips. The working poor and those on fixed incomes could use help paying for gasoline and the increased cost of public transportation.

Here's a street name: Circle of Shame.

E-mail:milloyc@washpost.com