Happy Mardi Gras, Washington. Great news for all those planning to expose themselves to garner beads! (We’re unsure if any local bars enforce such strict bead acquisition standards, but you can let us know in comments.) It’s already above freezing and temps are heading up to 50 today. That’s right, the big five-oh. We predict the risk of falling on your ass will be reduced by 76% by the evening commute. Of course, now we’ve got to worry about all that melting snow turning our gutters and sewers into rushing streams of death.
Speaking of a Floodpocalypse: The DCist Department of Weather Branding and Griping has learned of a new report by the National Capital Planning Commission warning of the serious threat flooding poses to the District. The report looks back at last June’s deluge, which damaged dozens of downtown buildings and paralysed the Mall for days. The commission found that heavy rain can easily overwhelm the city’s sewer system, the real capacity of which is unknown even to DC WASA officials. The study recommends expensive improvements to 23rd and 17th Streets in Northwest as well as strengthening the National Mall levee. Just goes to show you: if it’s not one thing, it’s that same thing in a different matter state.
Fenty Has 3 BlackBerrys and Other Breaking News: This morning the Post brings us a stirring profile of Mayor Fenty’s Wilson Building office which details sweeping changes in floor plan and formality. Taking his cue from BFF Micheal Bloomberg, the young Fenty has created his ideal workspace free of clutter and even walls (he’s got a cubical cubicle). The Mayor says he’s trying to stay connected to “the word on the street” and keep his staff agile. Some of the tidbits about Fenty’s open office of the future raise a few questions. How exactly did doing away with coat closets drive efficiency? Are flat-screen plasma TVs really better for governing than a boob tube that costs ten times less? If there aren’t pencils, does he do the crossword in (gasp!) pen?
Briefly Noted: Elderly woman killed in Northeast row house fire… Virginia residents not immune from prosecution when shooting home invaders… Fake cops robbing drivers in Silver Spring… Gunman dies after barricading himself in liquor store and setting it ablaze…
This Day in DCist: In 2005 we were still on Borf-watch and loving it! Last year we told Ralph Nader to shut the hell up.
Photo by Flickr user andertho.
