Good morning, Washington. We know how it is, the week before a major holiday when you’ve probably got travel plans — Friday can’t come soon enough. There’s only two full work days left to go before you get to walk out that office door and do a little dance of joy, but in the meantime, we’ll do our best to distract you from that increasingly nagging feeling that you might soon completely lose your mind if you have to sit through one more meeting. So sit back, relax, maybe even try to get your leg to stop jittering under your desk, and enjoy today’s headlines. We’ll get through this trying to time together.
So Many Broken Hydrants: D.C. Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin is now estimating the number of busted hyrdrants in the District is more like 25 percent (before it was only 10 percent, and WASA quickly denied that was the case). Rubin testified before the D.C. Council that the problem is much more widespread than he originally thought. WASA General Manager Jerry N. Johnson reiterated his position that only a fraction of hydrants are out of service. The issue became news in late April when firefighters were unable to use the hydrants closest to the Georgetown public library fire.
Hospital in Extremely Bad Condition: The WaPo reports on recent testimony before the D.C. health committee that gives details on the sad state of affairs at Greater Southeast Community Hospital. The hospital lacks adequate technicians and medical specialists, and needs more than $16 million in basic equipment. Council member David Catania (I-At Large) warned the hospital’s corporate owner that improvements will be required.
Briefly Noted: Alleged 4th St. Mob drug dealers arrested in FBI/MPD sting … D.C. to rehire firefighter fired in Rosenbaum case … Police shoot, kill man in motel parking lot in Alexandria.
This Day in DCist: In 2005 we reviewed Jessica Cutler’s book, The Washingtonienne, and in 2006 we first told you that a Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum was on its way to the District.
Photo by iceman882
