September 8, 2005
Morning Roundup: Cornel's Jumbo Slice Edition
Well, DCist has gone and done it now. In an arbitrary post last week discussing the American Political Science Association's annual meeting in the District, former DCist food connoisseur Kanishka offered $100 to any reader who could catch Cornel West scarfing down a jumbo slice. Safe bet, right? I mean, who would have thought that Cornel West would actually scarf down, of all things, a jumbo slice? Well, one reader managed just that. Above, Cathy Setzer, Cornel West, and a jumbo slice. We're speechless. Cathy, we salute you. Since Kanishka offered up the $100, we'll let him cover what he owes you...
Cropp Announces Mayoral Bid, Surprises Few: In news that was long in coming, Council Chair Linda Cropp formally announced her candidacy in the 2006 mayoral race, reports WTOP. The announcement, made amidst a group of 100 supporters, ensures Cropp will square off against popular Council-member Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 4), who has been pounding the pavement since June and has planned a kick-off rally this Saturday at the African-American Civil War Memorial on U Street, NW.
D.C. Gas Prices Highest in Nation: We've got some of the lowest SAT scores, some of the highest murder rates, some of the worst traffic, and now, the most expensive gas in the nation, writes the AP via WTOP. Area consumers are paying an average price of $3.38 a gallon, a good deal higher than the national average of $3.04. Can anyone say "price gouging"? In related news, the National Treasury Employees Union has asked the federal government to increase its maximum mileage reimbursement, which currently stands at 40.5 cents a mile, while a Maryland State Senate Committee is planning to hold hearings on how best to protect consumers from rising gas prices.
Metro Bused to be Upgraded: As it currently stands, Metro's buses are, on average, 11 years old. But if WMATA Chief Executive Richard White has his way, that number will drop to six, reports WTOP. White announced yesterday that he will present WMATA's Board a $830 million capital improvement plan for buses, $600 million of which will go to replace the aging fleet's buses. Money would also go toward a real-time information network which would allow riders to see exactly when a bus is set to arrive.
Briefly Noted: Virginia Governor Mark Warner criticizes Katrina response ... Manager appointed for Orange/Blue Lines ... Marijuana plants found at National Park in Maryland ... Redskins owner fined for cutting down trees in protected forest.
Picture of Cornel West and the jumbo slice snapped by dcdan.
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Man, that is a priceless pic. Worth way more than $100!!
Just like the SAT scores, the fact that DC has the highest gas prices compared to other states is completely uninteresting. Gas prices are higher in urban areas. DC is 100% urban. Other states are not. You cannot make a valid comparison between average gas prices (or SAT scores, murder rates, traffic, etc.) in DC and averages in Maryland and Virginia. Stop doing that. You can compare DC to to other cities. That's it.
Em,
Notice that the news is that D.C. has the highest gas prices IN THE NATION -- which includes many other urban areas, some of which are much larger and more densely populated than is the District. I don't think there is any logical reason why we should suddenly have the highest gas prices, do you?
Martin
PS: A little irate this morning, are we?
Okay, em.
For San Francisco (the City and County of) which is smaller in land area but has roughly the same population as DC (just squeezed in tighter, like most of the West Coast cities), the average fuel price is $3.158 according to the AAA.
California fuel costs, because of stricter refinery requirements are typically higher than the rest of the mainland U.S. (Milk is too, but that's because of the gestapo like nature of the California Milk Processing Board, a topic for later.)
Is it me or do I sense a Fenty bias in this DCist. While small briefs about his umpteenth announcement of his candidacy are picked up the Post story on his ethics woes goes unmentioned.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090200017.html
Does the DCist endorse?
DCist as a whole has no preference or bias in the mayoral race (spare the time we make fun of candidates for any of their many flubs). I, personally, have an opinion, as does any free-thinking resident, but I try not to let that get in the way of reporting on events and trends in local politics.
As for that article, I read it and chose not to comment on it because the issue discussed is more than five years old and doesn't, in my estimation, reflect upon Fenty's abilities as a public servant. He also admitted guilt, making it as much a non-story as you can get. If anyone has legitimate dirt on Fenty during his time on the Council, now that's fair game.
If we seem overtly bias on any one issue or person in the mayoral race, please let us know.
The point about comparing DC to other states is extremely valid, even if the case for gas prices is weak. The point is that all urban areas have similar issues and concerns, and because DC doesn't have the "buffer" of surrounding suburbs with less crime, more tax money, and better schools to be counted along with it, the numbers are always worst for us.
Fenty's failure as a public servant don't reflect upon Fenty's abilities as a public servant???
I suppose Linda Cropp's school board record is also irrelevant then?
After re-reading the article, I have re-evaluated what I said earlier -- it does involve his work as a public servant, and as such, is fair game in his campaign. But -- and there always is a but in this regard -- Fenty owned up to his mistakes and cooperated with the investigation against him. Furthermore, he was elected to serve on the Council, indicating that this episode didn't affect the people's opinion of his abilities.
I think his entire record is worth investigating, no doubt, but I am more interested in how he has served the people of Ward 4 and the city since he was elected to the City Council.
Cornel West + Jumbo Slice = Tragicomic, baby.
DanInABox and Randy are both absolutely, completely correct. That article was worthy. As one who leans toward Fenty, I wasn't happy about it. But I care -- consistently -- more about people being well-informed than I do about a story raising some questions in people's minds regarding a candidate who seems to me to clearly be the best in the class, hands down. The morning the story ran, I asked DCist off-line if they'd seen it because even tho I wasn't happy about it, I thought it was clearly relevant for readers.
sweet, linda cropp. someone with no fiscal understanding whatsoever to run dc. awesome. it's odd when i think barry might be a better choice.
I paid 3.65/9 for regular Gas on Long Island yesterday. I would love to see 3.25
So "DCist is offering a $100 reward," actually doesn't mean "DCist"? Come on. If you're going to keep up this each-writer-is-DCist style, you could at least keep it up and say something snarky like "But we said _scarfing down_, Cathy, not holding up to his ridiculous face--so A for effort, but no soup for you." Instead, you resort to breaking the fourth wall, as it were. Come on, consistency, people!
No, we did mean DCist. We were just joking with Kanishka, who didn't run the idea by the rest of us!
Also, she wouldn't get the money for two reasons:
1) She works for APSA. You know the small print -- "Anyone BUT employees of APSA are eligible..."
2) I see no scarfing.
Martin... Huh ?
"Well, DCist has gone and done it now. In an arbitrary post last week discussing the American Political Science Association's annual meeting in the District, former DCist food connoisseur Kanishka offered $100 to any reader who could catch Cornel West scarfing down a jumbo slice. Safe bet, right? I mean, who would have thought that Cornel West would actually scarf down, of all things, a jumbo slice? Well, one reader managed just that."
Posted by Martin Austermuhle in News
This jumbo slice thing seems awful staged. The background of the picture looks more like the Omni lobby than 18th St., making me think she brought him the slice and had him pose for the photo op. But many props anyway.