Go Home Already: Shouts and Murmurs
Man Stops Traffic at 17th and K to Demand $200 Million
Compromise Uncertain on Same-Sex Marriage Law
Judge Throws Out WTU Suit Over Teacher Layoffs
Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
News today has it that the U.S. Capitol Police seemed to have forgotten about the First Amendment on Tuesday night, when they arrested anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and Beverly Young, the wife of a Republican representative, at the State of the Union address for wearing "expressive t-shirts." Ironically, Young's shirt was pro-military: "Support the Troops -- Defending Our Freedom." Capitol Police Terrance Gainer issued an apology and dropped the charges against the two.
District Claims Surplus...and Spends It: The District ended 2005 with a $370 million budget surplus, all of which was promptly spent along with $236 million in reserves, writes the Post. District CFO Natwar Gandhi yesterday spoke of a ninth consecutive year of a balanced budget for the city, with more than $1 billion remaining in reserves and residential and commercial property markets remaining strong.
Maryland Looks to Prohibit 'Upskirting': If you have a thing for slyly angling your camera under a women's skirt or above her blouse and taking a picture, beware -- Maryland is cracking down on the phenomenon known as "upskirting," reports NBC 4. Two dozen states have so far passed legislation banning the practice, as has the federal government on its property. Should the legislation take effect in Maryland, offenders could face up to $2,500 in fines and one year in prison.
Alexandria Woman Makes Region Proud: A 100-pound Alexandria woman showed competition in New York what was what, eating 26 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes, notes WTOP. Sonya Thomas won $8,000 for the distinction, claimed she gained 10 pounds doing so, and promptly jumped on a train so she could get back to her job managing a Burger King on Andrews Air Force Base. Thomas adds this win to a fast-growing belt of awards -- 46 dozen oysters in 10 minutes, 11 pounds of cheesecake in 9 minutes, 48 chicken tacos in 11 minutes, 37 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes and 56 hamburgers in 8 minutes.
Briefly Noted: District schools to cut space by 2007 ... Private financing for stadium cut in new lease ... Cherry Blossoms won't be blooming early ... Condo glut develops in Washington area ... West End seeks Business Improvement District.
Picture snapped by michaelstarghill.
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Hey, here's an idea: instead of blowing that money on "capital improvements" (i.e., substandard construction from corrupt underbid contractors) they refund the overblown property assments and the subsequent taxes from 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Oh, that's right. We're ALREADY suing the government to get our money back. Nevermind. It's a shame the lawyers have to get a big chunk of that money, but at least we're proving you can't do a "sampled" property assessment on properties nobody's every even looked at. Idiots.
Why is it ironic that Young's shirt was pro-military?
That implies that those cops were themselves one way or the other, rather than overzealous in forgetting about the first amendment rights of both sides of the issue at hand, which I assume was the war and the right to express opinions on it.
I fail to see the irony... the first right protects ALL views.
The irony occurs when someone supporting "our freedom", including the rights to speech and peaceable assembly, is detained without regard for those rights.
IRONY
1. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.
2. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity.
Forget about the Capitol Police, they should have called the Fashion Police. No matter how much you hate or tolerate the Man, oversized cotton t-shirts (with or without silkscreening) have no place at an event like the State of the Union address.
So not shocked that Rep. Young told the Post he wasn't as concerned about Sheehan being escorted out, because he didn't like her message.
"'I totally disagree with everything she stands for,' he said. But by removing his wife, Gainer's officers clearly 'acted precipitously,' Young said."
I agree with ALS, the surplus should be returned to the taxpayers from where it came. Property tax increases in this city are out of control.
Every time I hear the council and mayor talk about how they have returned the city to financial strength I roll my eyes. Marion Barry could have racked up huge surpluses if he doubled property tax collections in 5 years.
DC has the highest per capita debt of any city/state combination. How about getting our debt paid off with ALL future surpluses, given the council will never provide anything other than symbolic tax relief?
Young's wife wasn't arrested, was she? She was just "removed." Sheehan was arrested. And I'm glad Mikeb pointed out Young's hypocritical statement.
No, Young's wife wasn't arrested, merely removed from the gallery. Still ridiculous, but not quite as appalling as being arrested and taken to jail (as was Sheehan). Not surprisingly, the charges against Sheehan were dropped within 24 hours.
Is it any surprise that Gainer has brought his gift for high-profile incompetence and near-total disgard
for civil liberties to his new gig?
Actually "keeper", the post said "Ironically, Young's shirt was pro-military" and then went on to say what the shirt said. If the irony was that the shirt expoused a celebration of freedom, then the post should have read "Ironically Young's shirt, which was pro-military, celebrated the defense of our liberties."
As the post was written, it states that the irony resulted from the fact that the shirt was pro-military, which insinuates that the Capitol Police were only interested in squelching anti-war demonstrations.
First of all I have to say that being in the House chamber during the State of the Union is a privilege not a right. And therefore the argument that their first ammendment rights were violated is just wrong. Wrongful arrest maybe, but not a violation of the first ammendment.
Did anybody else catch this quote from the West End BID article?
"We need to establish a character and identity and the amenities for a maturing neighborhood. We don't even have a Starbucks," said Abbey, who runs The Velocity Group, an aviation market research and forecasters company.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a venti now and again, but I wouldn't say Starbucks is what gives my neighborhood it's character and identity...
Gordon: I did catch that, and find it funny. They can gladly take one of the three I can walk to from my place (one is just a kiosk, but still). Besides, while they may be right when it comes to the precise boundaries of the West End, is it really that much to ask for them to walk to the one on Washington Circle or near Dupont?
Sheesh. Maybe they should have a Starbucks on every corner, so they can be like much of the rest of DC and the surrounding area.
I noticed that Starbucks line too. I agree that he should set his sights a little higher, and I don't mean Caribou Coffee. How about a small market, or at least a unique coffee shop. I think chains can have their place, but if you're looking to add character, they don't really do that. The West End's main handicap is the overabundance of hotels and office buildings. I don't know how they'd overcome that.
Plus, isn't there a Starbucks on Washington Circle? Wouldn't that qualify as the West End? Or are Foggy Bottom and the West End mutually exclusive?
Also, the expression "maturing neighborhood" makes me giggle. As if the neighborhood is starting to notice changes to its body and has started looking at girl neighborhoods in a new and disorienting way.
Maybe Georgetown can take its little brother out for some one-on-one hoops and explain the facts of life.
Doesn't describing Young's shirt as pro-military imply that Sheehan's was anti-military, at least if you're presenting it as a contrast? I'm sure Sheehan would say her shirt was supporting the troops too.
Let's ask the shirt what it was supporting.
This is why DCist should avoid national politics.