Although the news today has been dominated by the tragic events in London, we have been planning to announce some changes here at DCist. Today we are sad to announce something you may have already heard: DCist co-editor Mike Grass will be leaving DCist. He’ll be editing and developing the local pages of the Post’s Express. Mike will also be leaving his job at Roll Call, where he’s been since January 2003. Although we here at DCist are sad to see him go, the new job is an incredible opportunity and we look forward to reading his work on our commute to work.

We think it’s safe to say DCist might not exist without Mike: this crazy enterprise got started with a one line e-mail to this DCist from him on July 6, 2004, pointing out this Gothamist post. Since then his indefatigable blogging, sharp copy editor’s eye, and vision for the site have helped DCist grow into what it is today. Since DCist launched just less than a year ago, Mike has written 840 posts — nearly 2.5 a day. Regular readers will remember his passion for public transit, anecdotes about his 86-year-old great aunt, and observations of the city. What was your favorite post of his? Feel free to leave a link to your favorite post or anecdote about Mike in the comments.

What will change around here? Hopefully, not too much, as we’ve been preparing for the transition and our roster of bloggers has never been stronger. Although Mike won’t be involved in the daily operations of the site, you can expect occasional posts and cameos at DCist events. Good luck, buddy!