Happy Thursday, Washington. Thursdays, as we all well know, are the day of the week when the working weary of D.C. first begin to cast their wistful eyes on the coming weekend, perchance even to plan an evening of alcohol consumption on lo this very night — because waiting for tomorrow seems so far away, and even if we stumble into work on Friday a little hung over, eh, it’s only one day before we can sleep in. But where to go? Well if you happen to be African American or Hispanic, we learn from the Washington Post this morning you might want to think twice before heading to popular nightlife areas in Georgetown and Adams Morgan. Yes, a new study reveals evidence that racial profiling is alive and well among the Metropolitan Police detail who patrol those two neighborhoods. D.C.’s overall report card on racial profiling is described as “limited, yet significant.”
Write Down This Phone Number: (202) 637-7000. It’s the new Metro customer service hotline, which WMATA activated earlier than the planned late Feb. launch yesterday, in response to the significant delays faced by commuters after another fire in Farragut North and the “suspicious packages” at Braddock Road caused backups in Metro service. When you call the number, you’re first asked to press one for English or two for Spanish, and then any emergency information is relayed before the prompts for general Metro information. Sounds really helpful if you’re down in the tunnel wondering what the delay is all about, if you have Verizon. Whatever happened to that proposal to allow other mobile phone providers to have access to the technology that gives you service in the Metro? Cause we’re not all still not getting service down there.
Should the Lottery Go Private?: The District is considering a new proposal that would privatize the D.C. Lottery. Under the new plan, a private firm would take over the District’s lottery for the next 20 years or more, in exchange for a huge lump sum payment of $1 billion up front. Opponents of the plan are worried the D.C. Council would squander such a large amount of money given all at once by spending it immediately instead of saving it.
Briefly Noted: District government sued over wheelchair access to Wilson Building … Va. House of Delegates approves strict immigration bill … New Md. Governor delivers first State of the State Address … Smithsonian receives Joe Louis’ boxing gloves.
This Day in DCist: In 2006 we welcomed the new Voice of Metro, and invited you to purchase a lovely DCist T-shirt.
Photo by The Skipping Hippy
