Man Stops Traffic at 17th and K to Demand $200 Million
Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
Judge Throws Out WTU Suit Over Teacher Layoffs
Vegetate to Close at the End of the Month
Morning Roundup: Rain Won't Go Away Edition
Good morning, D.C. A typical Friday night news dump from the Fenty administration unfurled a memo from AG Peter Nickles which revealed the cost of Mayor Fenty's "private vacations" to Dubai and China. The tab? $25,000 and $11,300, paid by the United Arab Emirates and China, respectively. The China trip was covered by a collection of local governmental groups, and the Dubai trips' bill was covered by ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba. Nickles' memo noted that Fenty used no taxpayer money and that both trips were "in compliance with applicable law."
In the Post, David Nakamura details that the acceptance of foreign government money for such trips is rare -- Fenty's predecessor Anthony Williams usually used funding from local businesses or foreign universities to pay for his extensive globetrotting. (Nakamura's report also reminds us that while he was campaigning for the office, Mayor Fenty criticized Williams' frequent travel. Ahem.) The City Paper's Loose Lips hits slightly harder, wondering if "is it a good idea from a[n] ethical and public relations and general decency standpoint to not immediately disclose foreign donations?"
Of course, Fenty was already under some heat after he attended a tennis tournament in Dubai in which an Israeli player was unable to participate after the U.A.E. denied her a visa.
In other news:
>> WJLA reports that the advisory neighborhood commission which covers 17th Street between P and S Streets Northwest has put a kibosh on issuing any new liquor licenses for restaurants and bars in the corridor. The ANC is afraid of the area being "overwhelmed" with boozers like the nearby 18th Street section of Adams Morgan -- of course, business owners think it's a death knell for potential investment in local commerce during these trying times.
>> A hearty congrats to American's men's hoops team, who took advantage of their chance to make the NCAA Tournament with a convincing victory over Holy Cross yesterday.
>> Courtesy of VDOT, here's some video of bridge demolition set to opera. Classy.
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Fenty is what we call a superstar mayor. Flashy,young, and full of upcoming mistakes.
These old laws in the District are old fears. No beer or wine sold in stores after 10p.m. No single beer sales.
No more half pints. What happened to fun. I don't think that opening up one or two new places will destroy a neighborhood. Drunks will wander in from other places looking for outside bathrooms and vomitoriums.
If Congress really wanted to do something useful by meddling in District affairs, it would abolish the ANCs.
So Fenty pooped all over Williams for taking all those trips abroad. Williams pooped all over Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly Whatthef**keverhernameis for taking all those trips abroad. She pooped all over Barry for taking all those trips abroad. How much you wanna bet that whoever runs against Fenty will poop all over him for making a lot of trips abroad? And people wonder why I drink until I pass out. No son, thisahere moonshine's got nothin' to do with shuttin' folks out. I'm usin' it to build somethin'. I'm buildin' a levee. Gulp by gulp, brick by brick. Raisin' up a levee to keep that ragin' river of manure from lappin' at m'door.
Cue in Johnny Cash singing "I've Been Everywhere".
You can drink in Adams Morgan?
Yeth! Yukon drink! Drink to your hearths delite.
The 17th street decision pisses me off. Probably not so much because I want it to become 18th street, but because I want to get rid of the terrible restaurants there now and make room for better. If you maintain the status quo forever anbd don't allow for new competition, you will have a stagnant neighborhood, which is what 17th street already is, in my opinion.
There's nothing that stops a new establishment from purchasing an existing establishments license and location. You'd be amazed at how many places are actually for sale.
For what it's worth, should be noted that a visa was eventually granted to the Israeli tennis player. And she was allowed in the tournament (lost in the first round of doubles, I believe).
Still, politically, I wouldn't touch the UAE with a ten foot pole these days.
Sorry, Kev, fact-check twice, post once. The woman, Shahar Peer, was denied a visa to play in the UAE, and did not appear in the tournament. After his initial refusal, Andy Ram, a different Israeli tennis player, was eventually granted a visa to participate in a separate mens tournament taking place the next week. Ram and his partner lost in the first round.