Weekly Columnist Roundup: New Orleans & D.C.
Jonetta Rose Barras: In a powerfully introspective column, Rose Barras details a recent trip to her destroyed family home in New Orleans. In recounting her visit to the site, Rose Barras writes of the struggles endured by her mother and sister in trying to return and rebuild, drawing comparisons to the District's own troubles. "Truth told, New Orleans looks and feels like Ward 8 circa 1985: few quality retail outlets, high crime, high unemployment, poor schools, and no real economic development. It took 20 years for the District’s revival," she writes. "There are lessons for New Orleans in the District."
Courtland Milloy: Just as Milloy wants to get rid of gangsta rap...
Tom Knott: ... Knott wants to get rid of illegal immigrants.
Harry Jaffe: Turning the focus onto the District's second most important elected official, this week Jaffe talks up D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray. Dispelling rumors that Gray is thinking of running for mayor, Jaffe argues that his relationship with Mayor Adrian Fenty has been cordial and cooperative. The question is how long that will last. "What should worry Fenty is not whether Gray wants his job but how his government will measure up under the oversight of a committed and competent council," writes Jaffe.
Harry Jaffe, Pt. 2: In a second column this week, Jaffe takes on an issue that's been big news this week -- the shooting of 14-year-old DeOnte Rawlings by on off-duty police officer. While most media accounts have seemed to pin blame on the officer and his partner, Jaffe argues that like any normal citizen, off-duty police officers have the right to search for stolen property. Additionally, Jaffe writes, the fact that the case has been turned over to the feds isn't a shock -- in fact, "the MPD refers every single shooting incident to the federal prosecutor’s office." All told, "There is not much good that can come of this mess," he notes. "A boy is dead. Two good cops, facing discipline or worse, are suffering the consequences of poor judgment."
Loose Lips: This week, LL finds out that Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) is looking to shutter the Washington Canoe Club, which sits on some prime federally owned riverfront property along the Potomac. Why? According to Dingell, it's because they're getting too good a deal for the location. According to LL, it might be because Dingell bleeds Hoya Blue. You decide.
Marc Fisher: The more and more we hear about the bizarre pants lawsuit filed by Roy Pearson against the Chung family and their dry cleaning business, the more we wish the presiding judge had forced Pearson to eat his pants as a form of apology. But as Fisher finds out, the Chungs are both bummed to be closing down the store that provoked the whole ordeal and happy that they can start fresh elsewhere.
Colbert King: Don't like Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.)? Neither does King, and he lists some of the reasons why.