Good morning, Washington. It’s December 20th. Are you still maintaining the farce that you’re accomplishing productive work at the office? If so, we salute your spirit. Most of the DCist staff gave up days ago, opting instead to camp out in our office kitchens and wait for the arrival of gift baskets from vendors. How many Hickory Farms beefsticks is it healthy for an adult to eat per day, anyway?
Christmas Comes To D.C. Government: What, you thought Santa would overlook our hardworking public servants? Don’t be silly; not only has he made sure to stop by both City Hall and North Capitol Street, he apparently thinks that their residents have been especially good this year. To wit: WJLA informs us that the council just voted to give themselves a substantial pay raise (as we mentioned yesterday), the Examiner reports on the school system’s inexplicable car allowances, and the Post explains that the school board is expected to give Superintendant Janey a $25k bonus (Janey is already the city’s highest-paid official). God bless us, every one!
Tobacco Funds Going To Healthcare: The Post brings word that the city’s share of the national tobacco settlement will definitely be used on healthcare. Of course, it’s looked like that would happen for a while, but the details of exactly how those healthcare dollars would be spent were under intense debate. Yesterday’s vote sidesteps those controversies, instead calling for an independent study to decide how the funds will be used.
No More Classical Music For D.C.(?): The Examiner reports that Dan Snyder has a deal in place to buy WGMS, a move that should improve the signal coverage of his fledgling network of sports radio stations. WJLA picks up the story from there, discussing what sports fans’ gain will mean for the rest of D.C. radio listeners: the end of classical music broadcasting in D.C. — for a while, anyway. WETA dropped its classical format in favor of NPR news programming, but has indicated that it may switch back if WGMS changes formats.
Briefly Noted: Ramsey prepares for civilian life… Maryland begins to talk about tax increases… Fenty witnesses gang truce… Maryland death row appeals mostly denied… Chesapeake gets more trails, fewer ducks…
This Day In DCist: One year ago we discussed improved shopping options in the District and suggested some holiday wines. Two years ago we welcomed IndeBleu.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user The Skipping Hippy
