Martin Austermuhle
Forgetful drivers be warned — this is not the week to not wear your seatbelt. The Metropolitan Police Department has announced that through June 4 they will be stepping up enforcement of the city’s seatbelt laws, violations of which can result in a $50 fine and two points on your license. The District Department of Transportation has reported that seatbelt usage in the District stands at 89 percent — leaving 11 percent of drivers at a much higher risk of death in crashes. And for those of you hoping to skip out on a ticket, remember this — in the District, not wearing a seat-belt is justification enough to be pulled over.
New Nats Owners Want Above-Ground Parking: It seems that the honeymoon between the District and new Nats owner Ted Lerner is over. The Post is reporting that Lerner is pushing for 1,200 spaces of above-ground parking around the new stadium in Southeast, angering city officials who believe the parking structures would cut into what they see as a future entertainment district. The underground parking options are favored by most city officials, though there have been no discussions as to who would pick up the estimated $50 million price-tag. Lerner, a developer, has expressed concern that underground parking would take longer to build.
Canada Geese Not Welcome in District: It seems that the City Paper really was on to something when they recently reported that Canadian Canada Geese are threatening the Anacostia River waterfront. NBC 4 writes that groundskeepers at the Langston Legacy Golf Course in Southeast are a little peeved with the geese, who seem to have no problem doing their business on the fairway. The quote of the day may come from head groundskeeper Dowell Davis, who frustratingly remarked, “They’re very prolific eaters and they’re also prolific dumpers of feces.”
Group Releases List of Endangered Memorials: The D.C. Preservation League has listed a little-known World War I memorial as one of the District’s most endangered, notes NBC 4. The group claims that the memorial is in serious need of repairs, though the U.S. Park Service has no funds for them. Other endangered memorials and property includes St. Elizabeths Hospital, the Soldiers Home, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, MLK Jr. Memorial Library and a number of schools.
This Day in DCist: One year ago today we found neighborhood listservs, analyzed an important U.S. Supreme Court case in D.C. development history, and cooked up some roast organic chicken.
Briefly Noted: District so over Wal-Mart … Police in Maryland use MySpace to track down suspects … Some GMU applicants won’t need SAT scores for admission … High gas prices not dissuading holiday travelers.
Picture snapped by Terecico
