July 11, 2007
Morning Roundup: 100% Chance Of Rain Edition
Good morning, D.C. First, some good news: today's high temperature will be a mere 93 degrees. Bring a sweater! Next, some bad news: AccuWeather puts today's "Thunderstorm Probability" at a robust 100%. Hmm. Finally, some great news: Unbuckled is tonight! Bring your sodden, sweaty selves — it'll make the experience that much more authentically Washingtonian.
Prince William Co. Approves Anti-Illegal Immigrant Measures: WJLA reports on a new measure unanimously passed by the Prince William County Council that will deny services to illegal aliens. It's not yet clear which services will require a check of citizenship — that'll be studied and decided on over the next 90 days — but emergency medical service, at least, won't be denied to anyone. The Post points out that the passed bill is less severe than its previous versions, which drew fire for their harshness and potential illegality.
Council Considers Breast Feeding: The D.C. council's final session before summer recess was an eventful one. We've already talked about the proposed firework ban and Victor Reinoso's delayed confirmation. WTOP rounds up those two developments and adds a third: the council has preliminarily approved a law that would protect a mother's right to breast feed her baby pretty much wherever she chooses. A final vote on the measure will occur in September.
Briefly Noted: There was a drive-by near the convention center yesterday (no one was injured)... Montgomery County likely to roll back parking fee increases... Suspected Avian Flu in Virginia... More names promised from Palfrey records...
This Day In DCist: In 2006 we were frozen out of a Slurpee promotion and reviewed a Georgie James show.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user maxedaperture
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I was trying to find the text of that breastfeeding bill, so I was browsing through the DC legislation section of the Council website. It's pretty interesting what legislation is floating around there:
1. A property tax exemption for property owned by the Congressional Black Caucus: Since they're a non-profit I wonder why they need special legislation to be exempt?
2. Ethel Kennedy Bridge Designation Act of 2007: Seriously, do we really need another object named after a Kennedy in this town? Jesus, enough already.
3. CLOSING OF A PUBLIC ALLEY IN SQUARE 347, S.O. 06-5596: This is the Waffle Shop block in downtown. I suspect Evans is carrying water for Jemal there.
4. Pit Bull Public Protection Act of 2007: First of all, for the purpose of the Animal Control Act it lumps Pit Bulls in with any dog that is half wolf, coyote, or jackal(!). Second, it would ban pitbulls from DC. If you already have one, you'd have to get it registered and "fixed". Any dog found to be in violation would be killed if it isn't removed from the district permanently.
I never found the breastfeeding bill though.
Council Considers Breast Feeding
For some reason, I got a mental image of Marion Barry stroking his chin, looking thoughtfully up, and saying, "Awwwww, yea-AH Bitch, set me up!"
Can't really understand people being against public breastfeeding. Would you rather have a screaming kid in public? Sometimes that pacifier don't cut it and little Snotley wants the real deal. I mean, so long as mom isn't holding the kid's head two-feet away from her teat and squirting a stream of milk that splashes everybody like some kinda carnival squirtgun-the-clown game, what's the harm?
Can't tell whether the Waffle Shop alley closure is a temporary thing (Jemal's basically razing the whole block to build an office cube farm) or permanent. If it's the latter, thats some more square footage that Jemal can peddle at everyone else's expense. And wouldn't they need some alley access anyway for a loading dock?
Here's the text as I read it on my ANC's email list:
MEASURES FROM OTHER COMMITTEES
1. "The Child's Right to Nurse Human Rights Amendment Act of 2007", Bill 17-0133. To amend the District of Columbia Human Rights Act to include breastfeeding as part of the definition of discrimination on the basis of sex; to ensure a woman's right to breastfeed in any location where she has the right to be with her child, public or private; to require employers to provide reasonable daily unpaid break-time, and a sanitary location so that breastfeeding mothers are able to express breast milk for their children; and to require the Department of Health to monitor breastfeeding rates in the District of Columbia, and the number and nature of complaints regarding violations of this act received by the Commission on Human Rights.
what's the harm?
There is no harm. I've seen numerous women breastfeeding on the Metro, and it failed to scar me for life. But that doesn't mean that we won't hear the inevitable "but I don't poop in public" protest at some point in this thread.
Man, that was alliterative. ~ guest #4
Re: The Child's Right to Nurse Human Rights Amendment Act of 2007", Bill 17-0133.
Kudos to the staffer who came up with that title.
From the text of the bill, it would appear title of the alley would transfer permanantly. Whether or not he leaves a driveway is a different matter. It doesn't matter much to me, it's not like I use the alley personally (you know, ever since the Pit Bull Public Protection Act of 2007 shut down my dogfighting gig) I just hate seeing anything that facilitates the destruction of the Waffle Shop. I know it's basically a done deal, but I still don't like it.
My only consolation is that whatever tool-bag lawfirm moves in there will be cursed to be smack dab in the middle of the Fanny Pack Junction.
But that doesn't mean that we won't hear the inevitable "but I don't poop in public" protest at some point in this thread.
Indeed, but most people do in fact flatulate in public, some to an extent that clearly violates the Geneva Convention protocals for chemical warfare AND prisoner treatment. Now, I'm not trying to insinuate that public lactation is as bad as a drunken Irishman's pickled egg farts, but we can be a bit more modest about both. In the former, the mother can quietly mention to those around, "Excuse me while I WHIP THIS OUT!" In the latter, the pooter can light a match or even go to the extent of purchasing charcoal-activated underwear. In both cases, the onus should be on the offended party to either remove him/herself from the situation, or stare bug-eyed at the boobies and make the gas face and proclaim, "Damn, yo! Lay off the red meat!"
Fanny Pack Junction!!! -From now on, I am going to use that name to describe 10th and E Streets NW. Thanks!
Now that we have drive-bys near the convention center, will Jim Graham try to have it closed?
He'll ban cars, actually.
If you check the internet, 7-11 is supposed to be offering free slurpies (temporarily called Squishies in honor of their marketing of The Simpsons movie) today, 7/11. However, can't verify if it's every single outlet across the US, it's only for a very small 7.11 oz serving in a special cup, and it's only until they run out of the cups...
people do in fact flatulate in public
The worst is when you're on a crowded orange / red train and you're the only male in a crush of females and someone lets loose with a tear-inducing Western Front style gas attack. Every female in the crowd will immediately shoot a nasty glance at the male, because surely only a male would be capable of such an atrocity. Meanwhile the male knows that it was one really one of those pretty young white-collar girls--perhaps the one with the earbuds and the designer shoes. The one who's acting conspicuously aloof to the whole affair. And thus he suffers both the burden of his innocence and the destruction of his illusions, in that even pretty young white-collar girls are capable of hideous methane blasts.
The free Squishee deal is confirmed. Try the new Chutney Squishee. You can really taste the chutney!
Yes, but is it masala onion or chili mango?
Can we pass a referendum stating that the DC Council has tapped itself out, that the marginal utility of its legislative activity has sunk to near zero, and that all councilmembers and their staff therefore will spend 20% of their time on traditional council functions and the remainder of their time walking cop beats in their respective wards? It would be more worthwhile for the city. And I like the idea of Jim Graham packing heat.
--nee Sweet
Sweet - The Council has a busy schedule ahead. I particularly commend them on bold initiatives like the "Anthony and Lamont Peterson "Headbangers" Recognition Resolution of 2007".
Hey, don't forget this oh-so-important to DC news:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/11/AR2007071101347.html?hpid=moreheadlines