Local corporate darlings XM Satellite Radio announced yesterday that their first quarter revenues were up over 100 percent compared to last year, but the company’s stock fell over 5 percent on Thursday, as the company revealed it was under investigation by the FTC based on, according to the Washington Business Journal, “its marketing and telemarketing activities, billing practices and customer complaints.” Any XM subscribers in the DCist audience? Have you been getting harrassed recently?
D.C. Sees Virginia’s Obstinance, Raises Them Responsible Governance: The gauntlet has been thrown down, neighboring states. Try, if you like, to paint us as reckless and shortsighted; we know we’ve done what we had to do to invest in our city’s future. Sort of. As long as you promise to, also. Mayor Williams yesterday approved the D.C. Council measure to dedicate 0.5 percent of the city sales tax to Metro, but the deal only sticks if our neighbors hold up their end of the bargain and the Feds match us. So come on, guys, let’s get this done.
Tree Advocates Taking City to Task: According to today’s Examiner, Washington’s Department of Parks and Recreation spent less than $40,000 last year maintaining its trees, and local environmental groups are calling for an improvement. The paper notes that Seattle and Philadelphia each spend about five times what D.C. spends per acre maintaining the city’s trees, removing unhealthy foliage, and planting new saplings. According to a study cited in the article, about 29 percent of the District is tree covered.
Briefly Noted: Streetcars a step closer in Arlington…Linda Cropp continues to collect endorsements…Virginia Senate passes transportation bills, obliges House…Waiting game continues for Nationals owner.
This Day in DCist: We cheered as food writer Don Rockwell began his own website, worried about the Wizards going down 2-0 in their playoff series against the Bulls (but we know how that turned out), and we noted Vincent Orange’s sad attempt to solicit ideas from his supporters.
Picture taken by Chris Casey.
