May 22, 2007
Morning Roundup: Hot and Hotter Edition
Good day, Washington. Are you getting tired of this gorgeous weather yet? Yeah, us neither. As you work out the kinks in your upcoming Memorial Day Weekend plans, we wish you good luck and delight in describing the rest of this week and weekend ahead as forecast to be sunny and hot enough to give you that sunburn you've been hoping for. We're also putting together a few ideas for last-minute day trips for those of you who have yet to make any sunburn-getting plans, so stay tuned.
Demoted Officer Sues Lanier: Former 6th District police commander Robin Hoey has filed a federal lawsuit against Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, saying she humiliated him and acted with "evil motive" in demoting him two ranks and moving him to be in charge of the city's central cellblock. Some 6th District residents would like to see Hoey, who was a frequent attendee of neighborhood meetings, back in his old job. The suit, filed last week, asks that Hoey be reinstated to commander with back pay and benefits, as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Lanier has said her decision to demote Hoey was in "the best interest of the department and the community."
Fairfax Limits Big Box Stores: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors decided Monday to restrict where and how big box stores such as Target and Wal-Mart may develop in the county. Fairfax will now require developers to get permission before they build stores of 80,000 square feet or more, which would allow the county to slow down the approval process and prevent new big box stores from opening in certain kinds of areas. The first big box store ever of its kind in the District, the Target in Columbia Heights, is set to open in early 2008.
Va. Tech Killer Had Lots More Ammo: Virginia police officials revealed that Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Cho was armed with at least 377 rounds of ammunition when he began his deadly rampage. Officials now believe he intended to kill many more people than he was able to.
Briefly Noted: NAACP's move to Washington from Baltimore on hold ... Robbery suspects outrun U.S. Capitol Police ... Guilty pleas in British activist's murder ... Alexandria school superintendant voted out.
This Day in DCist: In 2006 we pointed out some Ward 2 Democrats who didn't know what the D.C. flag looked like, and interviewed the Walkmen.
Photo by {ryan}
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"The first big box store ever in the District, the Target in Columbia Heights, is set to open in early 2008."
Ok maybe the Tenlytown Best Buy isn't built like a normal big box store, but the Home Depot surely is, isn't it?
You're totally right, Reid. Obviously what I was thinking was "the first big box store of the Target/Wal-mart/K-mart variety." I mean I think even Bed Bath and Beyond is considered a big box. Thanks for pointing that out, sometimes writing before coffee is a dangerous thing.
-Lanier called Hoey's office, and his admin officer answered the phone
-Person answering the phone thought the phone was placed on hold, but it wasn't
-Hoey was told that Lanier was on the line for him
-Hoey replied something to the affect of "Tell that white trailer trash bitch that I'll call her when I damn well please"
-Lanier overhears this comment, hangs up, and calls Hoey's cell phone
-Lanier tells Hoey that that she has never lived in a trailer, and that he has 5 minutes to get his tail to the chief's office
Y'see, during Lanier's career, she's seen and heard many negative, sexist, and/or harassing comments from superiors and coworkers. Despite the fact that some of these comments had come from members of Ramsey's command staff (one previously referred to her as a bitch), she told everyone that they had a clean slate after she took over and could keep their jobs unless they gave her a reason to demote them. Sounds like Hoey gave her a good reason to demote him.