May 9, 2007
Morning Roundup: Adios, Your Majesty Edition
Good morning, Washington. It's hard to believe that Queen Elizabeth's visit is already over — to be honest, we found it a bit disappointing. Sure, it was fun to have President Bush embarrass himself in front of her. And yes, we were as fascinated as anyone to read about precisely what she ate at Monday's state dinner. Still, we can't help feeling like this royal visit was less hilarious than it could have been.
Been Caught Cheatin': The Post reports that large parts of the Fenty administration's plan for revamping D.C. schools were copied from a similar document produced by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system in North Carolina. An analysis commissioned by the Post shows that 32% of the plan was lifted without attribution. The folks from Charlotte-Mecklenburg are taking it all in good humor, but others point out that while borrowing successful techniques is understandable, the CM plan itself is relatively new and untested. Deputy Mayor Victor Reinoso has taken responsibility for the copying.
Firefighter Firing Foiled: The Washington Times reports that new fire chief Dennis Rubin has already run into bureaucratic trouble. Rubin attempted to increase the penalties levied against the firefighters who improperly treated journalist David Rosenbaum after he was attacked in January 2006. A report recommended punishment for those who botched the job, and one of Rubin's first acts was to increase it. But now a judge has ruled that the chief's action violated department rules and an agreement with the firefighters' union, and has issued a temporary order halting it.
Briefly Noted: Governor O'Malley will reportedly endorse Hillary Clinton today... P.G. County school board member accused of improper relationship with student surrenders to police... New jumbo jet too jumbo for Dulles?... Unarmed teenage suspect shot by detective during investigation of home invasion robbery...
This Day In DCist: One year ago we were chowing down on chorizo and suggesting spots for Mother's Day brunching. Two years ago saw Metro's first ad-wrapped car and a surprise show at the 9:30 Club.
Photo by bear69designs, generously contributed to the public domain
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You gotta love the firefighters' collective bargaining agreement that calls for a panel of firefighters to determine if another firefighter should be punished for his/her actions on the job. Accountability is not just a 14-letter word.
Now there's a great lesson for the kids. "We're going to save your schools by doing exactly what every teacher has always told you not to do: cheat off of someone else's work."
Mr Cranky who do you think should judge a firefighter when it comes to discipline?
The collective bargaining agreement keeps the fire chief from playing politics, and that's what this is all about politics, plain and simple. Chief Rubin testified under oath before the council that he couldn't increase the penalty. A few days later before news cameras he then perjures himself by doing just the opposite. What should be Chief Rubin's punishment?
Well, he didn't really perjure himself - he (apparently) said he couldn't increase the punishment, tried to increase the punishment, and had that increase stayed by a judge. That's certainly no slam-dunk of an increased punishment.
And "before news cameras" does not a perjury make.
Victor Reinoso.
Hmmm . . . degree from Georgetown University . . . MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management . . . .
Thesis in the library?
Just sayin' . . . .
More hypocrisy from the Mayor's team.
They believe in democracy and voting rights, but not if it means they might not get their way.
Fenty and the City Council (all but Carol Schwartz, Phil Mendelson, and Kwame Brown supported this) went over our heads to ask Congress to change our Home Rule Charter. They had a choice: let the people vote to ratify the takeover, or ask Congress to make the changes for us.
Evidently, our Councilmembers and Mayor -- and Eleanor Holmes Norton, who went along with this scheme -- want to give us voting rights only as long as it's convenient for them.