Morning Roundup: Local Ties Edition
DCist Preview: Thao & Portland Cello Project
Overheard in D.C.: A Strange World
D.C. Cutting Back its H1N1 Vaccine Clinics
The Weekly Feed: Running from Pigs Edition
Good morning, Washington. As we reported yesterday, it turns out that the train control system track circuit that appears to have played a role in last week's fatal Red Line Crash was actually replaced by WMATA maintenance staff only five days before the accident. Not just that, but data also showed that the track circuit periodically lost its ability to detect trains in the period between when it was replaced, on June 17, and the crash on June 22. Well now WJLA says it has two anonymous sources who say that Metro technicians knew that the circuit was malfunctioning days before the accident, and that they allegedly reported the problem to their supervisors. What action was taken, if any, after those supposed reports were made? WMATA had no comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Tax Office Sent Mistaken Refunds: It just wouldn't be summer in D.C. if there wasn't a new problem to report coming out of the Office of Tax and Revenue. WTOP's Mark Segraves first had the story yesterday, and now the Post follows up: a bunch of income tax refunds were mistakenly sent to residents who actually owed taxes, not the other way around. And how did the mistake first get discovered? At-large D.C. Council member David Catania's partner, Brian, received one of the checks. How many such checks were mailed out? And how many were cashed? No one seems to know just yet.
Cabbie Caps in the News: The Examiner and the Post have got more stories up about how Ward 1's Jim Graham has introduced legislation that would place a cap on the number of taxicab drivers licensed in the city. Of note: Graham doesn't have a specific plan in mind on how to do this, he's more or less just opening the topic up for debate. He's suggested D.C. adopt either a medallion system, like ones used in New York City and Chicago, or a certification system.
Briefly Noted: Mom of girls found in freezer heads to court ... Man found killed in the 2300 block of Hartford Street SE ... Man fatally shot in the Langley Park area of PG County ... Los Angeles outfit might take over one low performing D.C. public high school.
This Day in DCist: Last year, the Council endorsed the notion of placing a pro-voting rights sign on Nationals Park. The year before that, we paid a visit to the local "Kwik-E-Mart."
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A medallion system would be great for cabs here. The things cost, cabbies have to follow regulations and inspections...would actually employ some sort of checks/balances as opposed to now which seems to be the equivalent of "slap a name on your broken down heap and start picking people up."
Tax Office Sent Mistaken Refunds
So did the people send refunds to the tax office by mistake, or did the tax office mistakenly send out refunds? And is this grammatical line of inquiry in fact worse than Hitler?
By limiting the number of cabs, aren't you creating an artificial shortage? I don't see how being able to choose from two instead of seven $h!tty cabs is an improvement. And why aren't there more hack inspectors? You know what DC cabs are worse than? That's right. And I ain't even gonna touch that insane-mom-with-dead-kids-in-freezer story. WTF is up with Thursdays here? Everything's coming up Hitler.
You know what, Monkey? I hope you live on my block so when something terrible happens, you can point you finger my way and say "you deserve it for being."
I fail to see what the medallion system has to offer by way of a tangible improvement. We already have a system of regs in place to handle this sort of thing, but as we know, the cabbies get around them via bribery. Seems like we need better enforcement.
Or a better class of kleptocrat. One where you need to spend at least a couple grand to pay off instead of the usual spare change, McDonalds gift certificates, and handjobs.
Because, Dread, DC cabdrivers are hurting. Their income is down 20%. This, of course, has nothing to do with the economy. The city owes it to these largely Maryland residents to prop up their income.
BTW-The driver I had yesterday was the third one I've had this year to claim that he had a PhD from Addis Ababa University.
...to claim that he had a PhD from Addis Ababa University.
Silly goose, that's terrorist code. If you respond, "I have a Masters from Oral Roberts School of Foreign Policy," they'll hand you a suitcase of plastic explosive.
Also: if you wink and respond that you have a sheepskin from Cape Town U, you've just arranged to meet the cabbie in a Union Station bathroom stall.
TMI about your social life, Cactus Jack.
What? Some people seek meaningful, emotionally invested relationships, while others will take any port in a storm. Let's just say that from where I sit, the oceans appear quite frothy. Toot toot, sailor.
I wish Ward 1's Jim Graham would introduce legislation that would place a cap on the number of times we see him in front of the bloody TV camera everytime someone gets shot, kicked in the shin or run over by an ambulance.
I'm no fan of Jim Graham, but I think that advocating someone bust a cap in him is taking it a bit too far. I'd be happy if he just learned how to park. Baby steps, y'all.
I'd be happy if Jim Graham took Metro every once in a while, since he's on the board and all. Oh - and if he'd change those stupid glasses, they are too close to his skin tone, ew!
It's not just the glasses. I swear they are related.
Sally
Jim
Sorry. my html skilz suck.
Your avatar is even worse!
Didn't it strike anyone odd, that tests on these track circuits are only run once a month? I mean something as important as safety on the rails should be checked daily, which it took 9 people to die for Metro to figure that out. Now possibly add on that they actually knew the specific circuit was failing and they failed to act? Negligent Homicide.
Molly!
Bark!
Molly!
Bark!
The “negligent worst than Hitler” owner's facebook page says she is still missing. I personally think the dog went to go “hike on the Appalachian Trail”, in Argentina.
"Argentine Tail" or "Appalachian Trail”
Applicants have inundated the system since tests resumed last year; the city had stopped giving exams when questions were leaked. There was evidence of cheating in 2005.
Is the taxi driver exam really so difficult that you need to resort to cheating? It can't be if we already have 8,000 licensed drivers and another 1,000 waiting for the chance to complain about meters.
I remember that in 2005. I loved the city's reaction "Because people are cheating on the test, we are going to stop requiring the test so there can be no more cheating. Problem solved."
Landru destroys evil, yet Landru is evil.
You're not of the Body! You're not! You're not of the Body!!! You will be absorbed!
Lawgivers! LAWGIVERS!
Looks like them Russian Trolley Cars may be just the thing.
That and a new Monorail.
Lara.....!
I can't wait for the drama to ensue over the proposed new cab regulations. All the cab drivers in this town know how to do is complain, smell bad, drive REALLY bad, and talk about how they were all rocket scientists and brain surgeons back in the old country.
Are you talking about cab drivers or just drivers in general? Because last time I checked, Wassamatta U was a highly respected institution. And just because I have the occasional speaking-in-tongues conniption while driving doesn't mean I'm a bad driver. As for my "enchanting musk," I believe the term is known as "smelling French" and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
Amen. DC cabdrivers are the worst. Every time I'm in the vicinity of one, I know some crazy sh!t's gonna happen: u-turn from the right lane, running a red light, stopping mid-traffic for no reason... Driving near one is a crap shoot. Hell, you even take your chances just sitting in a bar enjoying a beer.
I'm all for more regulation, until the DCTC stops seeing itself as a driver ed/job training program for recent immigrants, especially those from countries with little to no regard for traffic devices, motor vehicle regs and those pesky little things called "pedestrians."
I hate it when I'm walking on the sidewalk minding my own business and obviously not looking for a ride when a cab honks to let me know its services are available. Just in case I didn't already hear the squeaking & rattling of a p.o.s. 1992 Grand Marquis/Caprice that is the standard DC cab.
Last week whilst I was hailing me a cabby. A private vehicle approached me. The dude inside said,"You need a cab?" My reply was, "No." There was no sign anywhere on this car indicating that it was a licensed cab. My Darwin instincts are very strong, along with my tingling spider sense. Some where...out there that man is impersonating a licensed cab driver.
Did they offer you candy?
If you don't want a hacker, don't wave your finger up and down.