June 27, 2008
Morning Roundup: The Time at Hand Edition
Good morning, Washington. On the heels of yesterday's big news from the Supreme Court, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier sent out an email to residents expressing her disappointment in the ruling, reminding citizens they will have to legally register any handgun they intend to keep in their home, and pledging to "find additional ways to protect the District’s residents against the scourge of gun violence." It was no doubt planned in advance, but the timing of the second "All Hands on Deck" of 2008, which begins today and lasts through the weekend, seems optimal for Lanier. The Chief is quoted in the Post today as saying that while the District's handgun policies are being revised, officers who find handguns in residents' homes will "use their discretion" about whether to arrest the owners. During this weekend's "All Hands on Deck", we're betting that "discretion" will lead to more arrests than not.
District Unveils Universal ID Cards: The Post details the city's new universal ID card program, called One Card, which is being touted as the first program of its kind in a major U.S. city. The card will enable the city to streamline all city services, such as library accounts, public school attendance, recreation-center use and even SmarTrip use. Naturally, some people are questioning the card's usefulness, but the bottom line seems to be that it will save the District money.
Metro Reaches Deal with Developer: Metro announced Thursday it had reached a deal with Monument Realty over the sale of the Southeast Bus Garage. Monument had filed a federal lawsuit against the transit agency over Metro’s decision to sell 2.2 acres near the Washington Nationals ballpark to Akridge, because Monument claimed it had some development rights over part of the property. The deal struck on Thursday divides the sale of the property between the two companies.
Briefly Noted: 11-year-old left unattended on a school bus ... Montgomery County police seeking help investigating the "suspicious death" last night of a young girl ... Fenty withdraws controversial lottery proposal so he can resubmit it later ... FTA proposal would bar Metrobus rides to District school children.
This Day in DCist: Last year plans for a new central public library were shelved, and the year before that our live team coverage of Deluge '06 was underway.
Photo by spatwei
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The DC Universal ID Card Program was deemed an improvement over previous plans for a DC Universal Tattoo Program.
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Will I need a Universal ID Card to buy a gun? Forget that they are offering gun amnesty and won't enforce gun laws unless you are holding it to someone’s head…I am off to Gun World this weekend!!!!
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The DC Universal ID Card Program was deemed an improvement over previous plans for a DC Universal Tattoo Program.
That's only because the MPD scanner couldn't read the DC Universal Tattoo barcodes.
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the potential bus rules are RIDICULOUS! can we be guaranteed that a new (and hopefully democratic) administration would reverse this ruling?
infringing on the private charter bus industry?!? that can easily be reworded as "corporate welfare for bus companies". what a crock.
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I think it's really too bad if the FTA rule forces DC to start putting kids on school buses. The annoyances of buses full of teenagers aside, giving kids a bus pass is a good way to ensure comfort with public transit and encourage transit riding kids to become transit riding adults.
Back when I was in high school, we were given free monthly bus passes that were valid at all times. A bus pass gives you alot more idependence than a school bus does - I could always hang out after school and go all over the city on weekends without relying on my mother to drive. And this was in Pittsburgh, mind you, which isn't exactly known for its awesome transit system.
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I'm confused. An 11 year old was left unattended on a school bus and a system where school kids get to school on metrobuses is in danger. Do we have a mixed system where some kids ride school buses and some kids take metro?
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Not, but somehow, related: Does anyone know what was going on at 12th & Potomac Ave SE last night? Looks like they set up one of those non-controversial check points...
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Wait, guns weren't legal in DC? As someone who just finished 30 days of grand jury duty where I heard over 80 cases, 75 pertaining to murder by a gun, it sure as hell seemed like they were, how else could everyone and his brother (and his sister...and his dog)in DC could get a gun no problem?
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So...if I want to use a DC park or rec center, I will now need a new DC government ID? Isn't that what my drivers license is for?
And how soon after this plan becomes effective do you think people's personal information will be accidentally released on the Internets?
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Last year plans for a new central public library were shelved
But those plans are "long overdue!" I "checked out" the plans for the new central library and they're just "fine." Just add this "periodical" DC attempt at budget savings to their "card catalog." I guess it's back to the "filthy toilets" at MLK for some "rough sex" with "homeless men."
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@elbruce: cross the border.
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That proposed restriction on Metrobus is B-O-G-U-S. You can tell that no one behind that bill actually has a child that depends on public transportation to get them to school.
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Do we have a mixed system where some kids ride school buses and some kids take metro?
Yes, but as far as I am aware the overwhelming majority of kids who ride school buses are special needs students of one sort or another.
What's really disturbing about that story is that there were TWO adults on that bus, and only four or five total student passengers, and yet they still didn't notice that the kid didn't get off. I'm not sure how a kid falls so soundly asleep on a morning bus ride that he doesn't wake up when it arrives at the school, and it wouldn't surprise me if "hiding" were a more accurate description of the kid's activity than "sleeping." That said, this was clearly and totally the adults' fault, and something the kid's parents should rightly be upset about.
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Where exactly is the bus stop in the Examiner photo? No sidewalk or curbs..
"And this was in Pittsburgh, mind you, which isn't exactly known for its awesome transit system."
One word: funicular.
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Well, except in Pittsbugh we call them inclines. For some reason I want to giggle every time someone says 'funicular.'
I used to ride the Mon Incline every day on my way home from school.