Photo by Mark_Analog.Good morning, Washington. Well, it’s been an up-and-down morning for Metro. (But mostly down.) On the positive side, the Farragut North station, which Metro officials had closed down around 8 p.m. last night after a large piece of the ceiling fell on to the platform, reopened this morning after structural engineers gave the thumbs up. On the very negative side, all of Metro’s communications were sporadically down this morning — and when I write all, I mean all: Metro’s website, Nextbus, next train arrival apps, public information displays, public address systems and on and on. Anybody still have a paper bus schedule?
Police Activity Closes Logan Circle-Area Roads This Morning: 14th Street NW at P Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW at 14th Street have been closed this morning, due to what is rumored to be suspicious package in the area. The D.C. Circulator is currently detouring while police investigate.
Well, That Was Fast: We admittedly weren’t expecting an announcement so quickly, but in case you missed it: Walmart’s plans for Washington, D.C. were released during rush hour last night. The retailer plans on opening four locations in D.C.: at the former Curtis Chevrolet along Georgia Avenue NW, the intersection of New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road NE; inside a new mixed-use development on New Jersey Avenue NW and at the intersection of East Capitol Street and 58th Street SE. The company, who has launched a website introducing their presence, says that they hope to open the stores, by 2012.
Committee of 100 Wants Klein, Tregoning Sacked: The President of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, the planning and advisory group formed to protect the values of the L’Enfant Plan and McMillan Commission, has apparently asked Mayor-to-be Vince Gray to dump Department of Transportation director Gabe Klein and Office of Planning director Harriet Tregoning. George Clark’s letter claims that Klein and Tregoning didn’t bow far enough to the Committee’s demands, while accusing the pair of pursuing an “absolutist approach” which bullied out the public. It’s also pretty clear that Clark isn’t a big fan of D.C.’s significant bike and streetcar development. You can read his whole rant letter to Gray here.
Budget Could Come Friday: Freeman Klopott reports that Mayor Adrian Fenty’s budget fixes might not arrive in the hands of the Council until Friday, which would only give the legislative body a little bit of time to work with the proposal between Thanksgiving and their annual Christmas break. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells was not thrilled with the news.
This Morning’s Must-Read: Dave McKenna has outlined all of the reasons why Dan Snyder is such a terrible owner and businessman. (We really should start using Zorn as a verb again.)
Briefly Noted: D.C. teacher severely beaten in robbery near elementary school…Park Police officer fires weapon during traffic stop…How will Vince Gray repay his debt to the unions?…Black Eagle Farm, supplier of organic food to many D.C. restaurants, loses certifications after Virginia state investigation finds “completely filthy” conditions…Second defendant to plead guilty in Brian Betts murder case.
This Day in DCist: Last year, we took a preview of The Passenger; in 2008, it snowed for eight minutes, which riled our resident meteorological curmudgeon.
