Hey there, Washington. We’re sorry to say there isn’t a lot of cheery news this morning. For starters, the rain is finally back. Um, it should be over by Friday. That’s optimisitic, right? In fact, the headlines this morning were so tough for us to swallow (see below), we feel the need to at least try to brighten up your day just by linking to Cute Overload. Because nothing says we love you like small furry animals.
D.C. Police Chief Declares Crime Emergency: You heard right. Police Chief Ramsey has officially declared a Crime Emergency for the District, which in practical terms means he now has greater authority to change police officer’s schedules in order to increase manpower on the street without the 14-day notice typically required by the union. With 13 murders since the first of this month, many residents are upset and demanding action. The Post notes that the number of murders in the city so far this year, 94, is the exact same number we had this time last year — though robberies are up 14%. DCist definitely noticed a lot more patrol cars last night in N.W., which is we guess is never a bad thing — though the Post also quotes Officer Kristopher Baumann’s concerns that officers will only be further demoralized by not receiving overtime pay — so maybe it’s sometimes a bad thing. Our Crime Emergency status will continue for at least the next 30 days, when Ramsey will reevaluate.
Metro Only To Feel Safer: WTOP reports that no increased security or alerts will be in place on D.C.’s Metro after the series of deadly bombing attacks on the subway system in Bombay, India yesterday. In an effort to reassure passengers, however, Metro will be dressing transit police in brightly colored high-visibility vests, and playing safety-oriented station announcements more frequently. What color vests do we have to wear to make it feel less crowded and more reliable?
Commutes Actually To Be More Dangerous: As if drivers coming in to the District didn’t have enough to worry about with beginning of Deluge ’06 2.0 today, the Examiner has word that some large bumps on Roosevelt Bridge due to recent construction is causing some serious commute difficulties, with many drivers in some westboud lanes being forced to come to nearly a complete stop to avoid damaging their cars. D.C. Department of Transportation officials say it could take another 10 days or more to have the issue compeletely resolved.
Briefly Noted: Duke Lacrosse player convicted of Georgetown assault, receives 6 months probation; Damage to IRS Building won’t be repaired until 2007; Officer investigating Georgetown murder reassigned after making a racially insensitive remark; Window washer rescued from 10-story building; More tourists were attacked on the National Mall.
This Day in DCist: We introduced you to both BuyIndie.net and Parisist, said goodbye to WPGC radio personality David Haines, and admitted to be a passing acquaintance of the struggling Nats.
Photo snapped by David I. Leavitt and placed in the DCist photostream on Flickr.
