Posted at 09:38 PM ET, 05/24/2012

DeEvening Links: Polish notation


Cameras and controversy: Barry’s elixir of life. (Ricky Carioti - WASHINGTON POST)
As predicted, Marion Barry apologized today for his recent Asian-related comments. But he managed to restart his Cycle of Redemption even sooner than anticipated when, in the course of tendering his public apology, he said the following: “The Irish caught hell, the Jews caught hell, the Polacks caught hell.” Poles, of course, do not care to be called Polacks. And, yes, via Buzzfeed, a Polish-American group is already demanding an apology.

In other news:

From Sarah Godfrey, as good an appreciation of Chuck Brown as you’ll read (City Paper)

Why Vincent Gray isn’t doomed (WRC-TV)

New 11th Street Bridge local span is now open (DCist)

Where the new speed cameras will be (MPD)

Mitt Romney again speaks well of D.C. school vouchers (WaTimes)

By  |  09:38 PM ET, 05/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:40 PM ET, 05/24/2012

Can green development cut your D.C. Water bill?


Less sewage, please. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)
Quite a bit of ink and pixels have been spilled in the past day about the new Brookings Institution report casting doubt on the viability of the funding streams for the Clean Rivers Project — D.C. Water’s massive, court-ordered effort to keep sewage out of local waterways by building three giant storage tunnels costing $2.6 billion.

It’s not that the tunnels won’t get built, it’s that the current funding streams to float the bonds issued to build the tunnels will (a) raise consumer water bills to wildly unpopular levels while (b) crowding out other funding needs, starting with the routine replacement of aging water and sewer pipes.

So the Brookings report suggests pressing the feds and suburban jurisdictions for additional help in paying for the project. It’s a fine suggestion, but as a practical matter, a difficult prospect.

There’s another possibility to trim the tunnel costs, discussed at some length in the report. That’s to lessen the amount of runoff that makes it into the city sewer system by making sure more of it gets absorbed into the earth or otherwise evaporates first.

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By  |  12:40 PM ET, 05/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:43 AM ET, 05/24/2012

DeMorning Links: Bikeshare bandit


These bikes have many uses. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)
Capital Bikeshare is now truly part of the urban fabric: A Bikeshare-bike-riding street criminal has reared his head. The Post’s Allison Klein reports on a Tuesday night assault and iPhone robbery on Capitol Hill: “Cellphone snatching is fairly common in the District. Using a Bikeshare bike as a getaway vehicle is not: Authorities say they believe this is the first time one of the red rented bikes was used in the commission of a violent crime.”

In other news:

Mystery man Howard Brooks, charged in Vincent Gray campaign probe, expected to show his face in federal court today (Post, AP, WaTimes, Wall Street Journal, WRC-TV)

The senselessness of the Sulaimon Brown payoffs (Loose Lips)

Spokesman for powerful House committee head says Gray campaign charges don’t “fundamentally change the facts” supporting budget autonomy (WaTimes)

“Vincent Gray is either a fool or a liar — and I’m inclined toward the latter.” (Post column)

“Surely the public is owed an explanation, and an apology, for the events that now taint the 2010 election.” (Post editorial)

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By  |  08:43 AM ET, 05/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:09 PM ET, 05/23/2012

DeEvening Links: The burn thickens


Nothing like a good old-fashioned “file burn.” (D.C. Police Union/D.C. Firefighters Association)
New questions emerge about the apparent burning of city personnel records last Friday: City Paper and the AP have an e-mail sent by a police official to various people in the department’s recruiting division — including an assistant chief — reminding them that “the file burn will be tomorrow morning at 1000 hours.” The police department announced today its internal affairs unit is investigating; the fire and police unions have asked the independent inspector general to probe the matter.

In other news:

Protesters organized by D.C. Vote tried to take their neighborhood gripes to House abortion bill’s sponsor — but his office was closed (D.C. Wire, Politico)

Three of four planned medical marijuana dispensaries get ANCs’ thumbs-up (DCist)

Save the boundary stones (GGW)

Sulaimon Brown speaks: “Mayor Gray should resign immediately if not sooner” (D.C. Wire)

Handy (dcwithoutindictment.com)

By  |  08:09 PM ET, 05/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:09 PM ET, 05/23/2012

Marion Barry prepares to complete cycle of redemption yet again


Barry in 2009, while facing questions about questionable earmarks and contracts. (Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP)
Tomorrow, D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) will appear with leaders of an ad hoc group called “Say Sorry Barry” at a church in his ward.

Say Sorry Barry” wants Barry to apologize for his recent comments targeting Asian shop owners and Filipino nurses. Among those scheduled to appear at the event is David Chung, a member of the city Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs commission, who sharply criticized Barry and his previous non-apology apology at a D.C. Council hearing last month.

Will Barry give the public apology he has thus far skirted? Probably, if history is any guide.

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By  |  06:09 PM ET, 05/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

 

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