Happy Labor Day, Washington. Like most of you who are reading us this morning, DCist is taking it easy today and celebrating Labor Day by not laboring (well, not very much, at least). The usual federal holiday closings are in effect: federal offices, D.C. government offices, and all D.C. schools, courts and libraries are closed today. There is no mail delivery. In D.C., meter maids also have the day off, as there are no meter fees to collect (same deal in Virginia, Montgomery and Prince George’s County, too). Trash and recycling pickups in the city are pushed back a day this week. Really, aside from the poor souls at the Virginia DMV, nearly everyone’s taking the day off — enjoy it, D.C.
With Primary Nine Days Away, Things Start To Get Ugly: It was an unpleasant weekend for politics in the city. Aside from the vile Jim Graham robocalls that went out to Ward 1 landlines, Frozen Tropics brings us these images of what appears to be former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Kathy Henderson tearing down Kwame Brown and Harry Thomas, Jr. signs in front of the Capital City Diner and replacing them with Adrian Fenty advertisements. Sign-stealing is hardly anything new around this town, but most of the time, those doing it aren’t usually former ANCs who tear down signs from in front of a popular business in broad daylight.
Red Line Work On Schedule: One entity that isn’t taking the day off: WMATA, who says that the massive maintenance project which has shut down five Red Line stations this weekend is almost done and everything should be on schedule for tomorrow morning’s rush hour. All five stations are expected to be open at 5 a.m. tomorrow, as usual. Free shuttle buses in that section of the Red Line, which have made nearly 6,000 trips this weekend, will still be in operation today. Additionally, Metrorail will be open for an additional hour tonight to get people back from the big Boise State-Virginia Tech football game at FedEx Field. Parking at all Metro facilities is free today.
Three Shot Near Clay Terrace Housing Complex: Three people were shot last night near the Clay Terrace housing complex in Northeast, including one girl whose wounds appeared to be serious. Details are scant regarding the victims and the crime, but police did confirm that a juvenile female, an adult female and an adult male were shot. Neighbors told the Post that it might have been a drive-by. The Clay Terrace housing complex was the site of a shooting in 2009 which killed two and wounded three.
Labor Day Must Read: Roger Garfield, a D.C. Public Schools teacher, publishes his “Confessions of a DC Teacher” in Mother Jones. Despite the saccharine closing, Garfield hits on a lot of the promise and problems of DCPS: Michelle Rhee, the teacher’s struggle to connect with students who don’t care, the achievement gap and more. Read the whole thing.
Briefly Noted: A MPD officer and a motorist were transported to a hospital after a car accident at New Hampshire Avenue and Missouri Avenue NW last night…Rash of violent muggings near University of Maryland campus…An interesting look into the Moon family and the Washington Times’ teetering finances…Large house fire causes massive damage on Minnesota Avenue NE Sunday…Was this Sunday A1 story by Paul Schwartman “a waste of reportorial resources“?…Alexandria’s Sonya Thomas, ate 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes to win the national Buffalo Wing eating championship.
