Updated Forecast: In Excess of 8" of Snow, Plus Wind
And Now, 10-20 Inches
Federal Govt. Closed Tuesday
Snowmaggedon 1.0 in Time Lapse
The Marion Barry saga predictably continues today, with the Post reporting that D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray has ordered that an independent law firm investigate the $60,000 in public funds the Ward 8 council member gave to his then-girlfriend, Donna Watts-Brighthaupt. The Washington City Paper, which gave the latest Barry fiasco a sexually sordid twist by publishing the audio and transcripts of voicemails Barry left Watts-Brighthaupt, is facing some heat for publishing a certain colorful quote on its front-page this week; they've apparently even been reported to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi will be tackling the whole sordid affair today on "The Politics Hour" at noon; he'll be joined by Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3). Oh yeah, and we can't forget that Barry's recent arrest for stalking has caused him great pain. Him? Jeez. We've had to deal with his antics over the last years decades, so how does he think we feel?
Red Line to Get Major Overhaul: Metro's Red Line will get $177 million in renovations, repairs and improvements starting in 2010, writes the Post. The project on the transit system's busiest line was in the works before the deadly June 22 crash, but will now include a number of projects identified by federal investigators in the wake of the incident. It will include new escalators, rehabilitated platforms, upgrades to automatic train systems and modernized A/C units. A first phase will include work on the tracks between Dupont Circle and Silver Spring, a process that will take four years to complete. Yes, that means Red Line riders may face delays for a long, long time to come.
Fenty Fires Youth Center Workers: After two escapes from the recently inaugurated New Beginnings Youth Center left District officials more than a little embarrassed, Mayor Adrian Fenty has fired five workers, put two others on leave and demoted a superintendent for what he said were mistakes on their part that led to the escapes, writes WTOP. The $46 million facility was built as an improved alternative to the Oak Hill Correction Center, where District youth were sent after being convicted of committing crimes.
D.C. Kids are Coming For You, Federer: The Washington Times reports that the District will start offering free 45-minute tennis lessons to thousands of District children this coming Monday. The program, an initiative of Mayor Adrian Fenty that's being implemented with the help of the U.S. Tennis Association, will offer the lessons to 4,000 kids aged 6 through 13.
Briefly Noted: Maryland shortfall could reach $700 million ... Manassas man tries to abduct blonde teenage girls ... Expansion of D.C. Circulator around National Mall shot down.
This Day in DCist: On this day in 2008, the Takoma Park City Council voted to oppose foie gras and a Nats official said a Teddy victory in the Presidents Race is "inevitable." In 2007, the D.C. Council introduced a ban on fireworks (my, didn't that work wonders recently!) and voted to support a Car-Free Day.
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it's not clear RE: the A/C. is there actually central air in any of the stations? since they're technically all open to the outdoors (via the escalators, etc.), i didn't think that the stations were climate-controlled in any way. anyone have any insight?
It's a couple of years old, but this looks helpful: Twenty-two Metrorail Stations to Get New Air Conditioning Chillers.
thanks, cactus jack, but the link doesn't work. where'd you find this?
Odd. It worked correctly in the preview box. Must've screwed it up somehow. Anyways:
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=1904
WTF do DC kids need with free tennis lessons?
Imagine if the next Venus or Serena came out of Anacostia and not Watts
You'd get a better return on your investment if they'd give the kids free marksmanship lessons.
Agreed. I'm thinking "Martin's Shootin' Skillz for Kidz Day Camp and Jamboree".
Yeah, f**king social programs directed toward inner city children that cost the tax payer nothing. Grrrrrrr! They make me so angry. These kids should be honing their skills at rock throwing wars and mugging people, not being pampered by the United States Tennis Association.
Yeah, don't they know that tennis is only for rich people from the 'burbs!? It's not like the recent Wimbledon champion was a person of color who grew up in an urban environment, or anything . . .
these American Apparel ads are almost NSFW
Well, it could be worse. At least it isn't Dolce & Gabbana.
Or it could be this Burger King ad:
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/06/26/singapore-infamous-burger-king-ad/
** WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE REMOVE THAT AMERICAN APPAREL AD?? **
I'm really starting to lean to the dark side. Really. Those girls are really, really hot.
Hey girls! Wanna play Laverne and Shirley? Help. Me. Please.
I wish I was Dov Charney
I was thinking more along the lines of http://www.jonathancrocker.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/gladiator1.jpg
or Jones Good Ass BBQ and Foot Massage
Almost NSFW? I think they cross the line.
ok, I fail at commenting. this was supposed to be about the damn american apparel ads.
You don't fail at commenting, actually, it's the -ist interface that fails at displaying comments on the page that shows up immediately after a comment is entered. Never take the placement of your comment on that display page seriously ... navigate away, come back and reload, and pretty much every time you'll find that your response has moved to the correct thread.
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Morning Edition: Being Barry Edition
"Being Marion Barry" would make an excellent Spike Jonz movie. You climb into a janitor's closet in the the 4 1/2th floor of the Wilson Building that lets you into the head of Marion Barry for 10 minutes before it spits you out onto the side of the SE Freeway. I'm seeing this as a Forest Whittaker vehicle. If he can play everyone's favorite insane cannibal Idi Amin, it's not that much of a stretch.
Which "independent" law firm is looking at this? If it's one of the big boys, the bill for this "review" is going to cost more than the $60k contract itself. That, of course, would be stupid.
Indeed. Sixty grand'll buy you a partner and two associates full time for about a week. Maybe they can get the work done that fast, but I'd wager they'll spend that at least that much time just writing up their report, let alone conducting the investigation.
Twenty bucks says Gray hires his concubine's law firm.
Mina Murray was a teacher, not a lawyer.
Par for DC gov course would be a $75k bill for the independent investigation of alleged misuse of $60k. An investigation that will lead to no real action being taken even if illegality is proven beyond all doubt.
So wait...how are the announced Metro delays because of "infrastructure improvements" any different from regular service on the red line again?
Poor Teddy though. Maybe the nationals are waiting to get above .300 for that to happen.
May as well just count Teddy out for the next few years.
Trade him to Cleveland for Chief Wahoo
After publishing a colorful quote on its front-page, Washington City Paper has been reported to DCRA, where some other politican's ex-girlfriend will review the case.
I think my work computer is blocking the American Apparel ads. I feel deprived.
Mine too...I've seen them all week at a client's site, but here at my office, it appears to have been blocked. I miss her :(
I don't know about a government investigation, and I definitely don't think racism played a role, but I do think Wemple deserves a full round of junkpunches for running that tacky, tacky headline on the front page of the City Paper. And "colorful" is a far too gentle way of putting it ... I'd go with something more like "obnoxious and completely inappropriate."
City Paper is in financial dire straights, they need to pull out all the stops to get some notoriety these days...although I gotta hand it to them, their reporting sometimes puts WaPo to shame
Yeah, but I was actually considering adding some comment about the bankruptcy of their parent company and their own immediate woes, and how this cheezy attempt at gaining "notoriety" was probably more likely to hurt them than help them. No one's going to run to start advertising in the City Paper because of vulgar, sensationalist headlines that offend a wide variety of constituencies.
My office building has last week's City Paper left in it, which leads me to believe that either the staff got offended and covered this week's issue up or everyone grabbed all of this week's edition the minute it came out.
And it could be more offensive: they could be wearing American Apparel in the cover pic.
"Barry awarded a $60,000 contract to Watts-Brighthaupt because she was experiencing financial difficulties."
Give me a fucking break!
I found this which may be of interest. Apparently, one DC Councilmember tried to reign Barry in after his problems with the IRS
Sources tell me that DC Councilman Marion Barry is being advised by a close political ally to voluntarily step down as a member of the powerful Finance and Revenue Committee.
At Large Councilman Kwame Brown in a letter to Barry says he should step down because of his current situation with the IRS and federal prosecutors. Barry owes nearly three hundred thousand dollars in back taxes and penalties to the IRS. Its unclear how much he also owes to the DC government.
Prosecutors are asking a federal judge to send the former four term mayor to jail for violating his parole for a 2006 tax conviction. Barry didn't file his 2007 returns and told me in an interview its because he was distracted by his pending kidney transplant. A hearing on his probation status is scheduled for April.
Councilman Brown says Barry's health concerns are another reason he should step down from the powerful committee that has oversight responsibility for the Chief Financial Officer's Office which collects taxes and dispenses revenues.
http://www.wusa9.com/life/community/persona.aspx?U=105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a105ef335b25a4bc19f4c8306982173a3Post%3a288e4a79-ef9c-482e-8c03-ae038ea20737&plckCommentSortOrder=TimeStampAscending&sid=sitelife.wusa9.com
"Manassas man tries to abduct blonde teenage girls"
Interesting hobby.
Wow. You posted bail quickly.