Local Lessons From Other Elections: Loose Lips Daily
As much local politics as humanly possible. Send your tips, releases, stories, events, etc. to lips@washingtoncitypaper.com. And get LL Daily sent straight to your inbox every morning!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—”Jim Graham Attracts a Potential Challenger“; “Did Investigators Botch The Georgetown Library Case?“; “OAG Calls, Wants Its E-Mails Back“; tweets galore!
Morning all. Yesterday was Election Day in a lot of places, but not the District. Still, a couple of ramifications for local politics here. First off, Maine failed to become the first state to have its populace endorse gay marriage by referendum, with 53 percent voting to overturn the state legislature’s May legalization vote. LL is anticipating a flood of fresh rhetoric from District gay-marriage opponents calling for a similar vote here. (And he still thinks D.C. should think about being first to approve gay marriage by popular vote; and good timing, BTW, to whatever gay-marriage supporters scheduled all the public hearings for before Election Day.) Then there’s the New York mayoral race, where incumbent Michael Bloomberg spent at least $90M of his own cash to win an unanticipated squeaker. What’s the message for other big-city chief execs, particularly those facing charges of regal, out-of-touch behavior, as they face re-election? Money isn’t everything!
AFTER THE JUMP—Another interesting election tidbit; complete legislative meeting wrap-up; local DA could be on the way; DCPS parent makes case for firing teachers; WTU embezzler set to go free; whodunit murder of U Street restaurateur; Metro chaos this morning
Read More “Local Lessons From Other Elections: Loose Lips Daily” »
Our Morning Roundup: The “Thrilled, Hopeful, and Unsurprising” Edition
Happy NaBloPoMo! Or for the less tech-savvy: National Blog Posting Month. Apparently, there are bloggers who have vowed to post every day for the month of November! Don’t worry, slacker-bloggers with other responsibilities—City Desk has plenty of posts to go around. That’s what interns are for.
The New York Times is asking readers to look back at the year since President Barack Obama’s election and sum up their mood. As of Tuesday night, Democrats are “hopeful,” “proud,” and “thankful.” Republicans are “suspicious,” “depressed,” and… “unsurprising.” Please assign grammar lessons to those unsurprising Republicans. Also, Republicans can add some new words today after last night’s election returns. Bob McDonnell!
At 12:01 a.m., the National Park Service debuted its new online lottery for the National Christmas Tree ceremony tickets. There are some 10,000 tickets available, and the lottery closes Friday. On the plus side: No more fending off tourists and huddling in the cold for hours to see a tree lit. On the downside: Did anyone actually think this through? Thousands upon thousands logging into one government-run Web page? I’d start bundling up the kiddies. Read More “Our Morning Roundup: The “Thrilled, Hopeful, and Unsurprising” Edition” »
OAG Calls. It Wants Its Emails Back.
Today, I wrote up a piece about how Office of Attorney General lawyers were/are furious with fire department brass. What’s the reason for their anger? A shoddy investigation into the Georgetown Library fire that has become the subject of a massive lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court. The shoddy investigation means a lot of problems with basics like discovery and evidence requests by plaintiffs attorneys.
In my item (linked above, please read it!), I quote from two OAG lawyers’ e-mails to the fire department. The two attorneys call out the department for their potentially damaging stonewalling on the discovery, and question whether fire investigators followed basic national standards when they worked the Georgetown library case.
In my calls to the OAG prior to publishing the piece (linked above, please read it!), I got nowhere. Nothing much beyond no comment, it’s pending litigation, the usual.
A few hours after my item ran (linked above, please read it!), OAG’s Kimberly Matthews called to say she really, really wanted to see those e-mails. Could I please send them to her?
Jim Graham Attracts a Potential Challenger
Is someone finally taking a whack at scandal-softened Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham?
Bryan Weaver, the longtime Adams Morgan activist and advisory neighborhood commissioner, filed exploratory papers with the Office of Campaign Finance on Tuesday.
To explore a run against the sure-to-be-well-financed three-term incumbent, Weaver has thus far raised the princely sum of $2,500.
Exploratory bids have been rare since campaign finance laws changed some years back, but Weaver, 39, says his campaign is indeed merely speculative at the moment. “I have my opinions on what’s important to me and to the ward,” he says. “Maybe it’s a minority opinion, I don’t know.” Hence the de rigueur “listening tour.”
Snyder Breaks from Non-Speaking Role to Say Nothing?
Joseph White of the Associated Press reports on what he calls a “rare, in-season interview” with Dan Snyder.
There’s only one quote from the media-hatin’ Redskins owner in White’s dispatch: “We’ve let everyone down, including ourselves,” Snyder said, “and we know that and we’re just apologetic.”
More to come?
OAG E-Mails Show Frustration With Fire Department; Did Investigators Botch The Georgetown Library Case?
First the Pershing Park case. The Office of the Attorney General may have had serious trouble with another high profile lawsuit—the Georgetown Library fire case. In April 2007, a three-alarm fire gutted Georgetown’s public library. Two hundred firefighters along with roughly two dozen trucks battled the blaze. That huge effort may not have translated into a thorough investigation into the fire’s cause. Chief Dennis Rubin and Co.’s sloppy detective work may cost the city big time.
In a lawsuit stemming from the fire, a contractor has challenged the department’s conclusions that heat guns caused the blaze. The contractor saw enough holes in the fire department’s investigation to sue the District. Whether heat guns caused the blaze or not, the lawsuit is making one thing clear: the OAG is having difficulties furnishing evidence and discovery materials.
And OAG lawyers are furious at fire department personnel.
If there ever was a fire that called out for a serious investigation, it would be the twin fires that gutted the library and Eastern Market. The Eastern Market fire continues to be a subject of debate. Apparently, according to e-mails obtained by City Desk, the Georgetown Library fire investigation was far from competent.
At one point, an OAG attorney calls into question whether fire investigators followed national standards, and whether those investigators should be punished.
Cheap Seats Daily: Win Over Dallas Was ‘Better Than Asbestos Litigation’?
More proof that everybody but Highlights Magazine is writing about the Redskins: Now, even the military/industrial complex is going after Dan Snyder. Military.com, a website for the forces, ran a story “Redskins Owner Dan Snyder Doesn’t Want You to Support the Troops in His Stadium.”
The piece takes a photo of a poster taken by FedExField security guards before the Eagles/Skins game that says “Hi to my huband in Afghanistan,” and runs with it. The Great Dan Steinberg made that poster famous after fishing it out of the trash near the stadium entrance.
To be fair, Snyder has shown support for our National Defense. Well, he put out a Commemorative Sept. 11 Redskins hat that had a red-white-and-blue Pentagon stitched on to the side in 2005.
And he sold that hat for only $23.99. Plus shipping. And he kept the money. But still. Bottom line: When Military.com lowers the boom on you, something’s gotta give.
And everybody’s favorite magazine geared toward an audience of corporate counsel people, Corporate Counsel magazine, also jumps in this week with “Not Exactly a Banner Season for the Washington Redskins.”
The publication interviews new Redskins COO and total BS’er David Donovan about the new policies at FedExField prohibiting signs and banning interviews in the parking lot, and he was also asked about fans at the Eagles game having to remove their t-shirts if the message on the garments was anti-Snyder.
“We’re not trying to limit what anyone wants to say or chant or wear,” Donovan told Corporate Counsel.
Wow. Thus continues Donovan’s awe-inspiring streak of just saying stuff so dishonest that not even he could believe it.
(AFTER THE JUMP: Not even Corporate Counsel magazine can stomach David Donovan’s whoppers? David Donovan and Dan Snyder, adrenaline rush buddies? How does a Redskins win compare to a class action lawsuit? Skins are only the third-worst team in the NFL? Bono had a hand in Cooley’s wounding? D.C. United coach bails?)
Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Win Over Dallas Was ‘Better Than Asbestos Litigation’?” »
Photos: Monday on the Bridge
Franklin Street NE
‘Let’s Hear the Answers’: Loose Lips Daily
As much local politics as humanly possible. Send your tips, releases, stories, events, etc. to lips@washingtoncitypaper.com. And get LL Daily sent straight to your inbox every morning!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—”Couple Gets Engaged at Gay Marriage Hearing“; “Do You Miss This Man?“; tweets galore
Morning all. The WaPo editorial board harshens its language a bit in examining Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s parks contracting scheme. ‘The more you learn,’ it writes, ‘the more troubling it becomes. It’s critical that these deals be submitted to the council for thorough review and, if warranted, revocation.’ But even that admonition doesn’t come without some chastening for the legislative branch: ‘We would like to suggest to council members that if they truly want to get some answers, they should give government witnesses an opportunity to answer. The tendency of council members — as evidenced in recent public hearings — to interrupt, insult and bully those testifying does not reflect well on them; nor does it serve the public interest. The administration may have plenty to answer for here; let’s hear the answers.’
AFTER THE JUMP—Council to consider emergency measures to halt parks contracting; Thomas calls scheme ‘like Watergate’ (does that make LL Woodward or Bernstein?); Gray calls for DCPS CFO ouster; St. E’s lawsuit settled for a cool mil; council chambers see first marriage proposal (LL guesses); city tax error leads to mortgage nightmare; what is with all the hate crimeage at GU?
Our Morning Roundup Shocker: Teachers Not Pleased With Rhee’s Testimony
The New Teacher on the Block sums up Rhee’s testimony last week:
“So it boils down to this: Michelle Rhee intentionally and illegally fabricated a budget shortfall in order to fire teachers. Around the time of the RIF she blamed the City Council for the lack of funds, but all this shows that there was room and time for DCPS to make adjustments (not hiring 900 new folks?) to the system before a RIF became necessary.”
Dee Does the District has their own reaction to Rhee’s testimony:
“I don’t know whether to throw my laptop off my balcony or weep. I think instead I’ll just go to bed, speechless.”
Read More “Our Morning Roundup Shocker: Teachers Not Pleased With Rhee’s Testimony” »
Allen v. Roig-Franzia: From the Beginning
When one man hauls off and punches another in the face, the conflict often has a long-tailed provenance. Such appears to be the case with Washington Post Style section staffers Manuel Roig-Franzia and Henry Allen. Those two got into a tussle on Friday afternoon in the vicinity of Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli’s temporary office on the 4th floor of the Washington Post building at 15th and L Streets NW.
Let’s mark the start of hostilities as mid-week. That’s when, according to an informed source, Allen raised questions about a Roig-Franzia story about a woman who had undergone multiple abortions. In the back and forth, Roig-Franzia allegedly called Allen a “dick.” No punches were thrown.
Couple Gets Engaged at Gay Marriage Hearing
Of all the romantic locales in the world, or in the District of Columbia even, the John A. Wilson Building does not approach the top of LL’s personal list.
But it was good enough today for D.C. residents Andrew Hertzberg and Andy Rollman.
During this morning’s D.C. Council hearing on the same-sex marriage bill, Hertzberg, 49, proposed to Rollman while before the dais at the close of his testimony. Rollman accepted.
Why pick the council chamber? Says Hertzberg: “This is such important legislation and such an important forum.”
Rollman, 47, says the proposal didn’t come as a complete surprise. “He told me he was going to do something as a surprise at the end,” he says. “I was hoping this was it.”
Cheap Seats Daily: Dan Marino Says the Redskins Won’t Land Anybody Like Bill Cowher?
The Washington Nationals took out a full-page advertisement in Sunday’s Washington Post.
Sure, the Nats season ended a while ago. But it makes sense that the Lerners would reach out while local sports fans are planning their sports ticket budgets and deleting Dan Snyder and Redskins.
But this Nationals ad is horrible.
After an all-glowing recap of the 2009 season — two of these three made the cut: Zimmerman/Dunn had big homer totals, Stephen Stasburg signed, and the Nats had THE WORST RECORD IN ALL OF BASEBALL — the ad copy climaxes with “[W]e can all see why Washington, DC is truly becoming the home of the National Pastime in the Nation’s Capital.”
Washington, DC is the home of baseball in the Nation’s Capital? Who knew?
And who wrote that?
***
WUSA is also kicking the Redskins when they’re down. Advertisements for the local CBS affiliate that ran during the Ravens game yesterday urged Skins fans to “sound off ” about the team.
“We won’t throw away your signs!” said the voiceover.
Ouchie wouchie! Didn’t you WUSA guys used to be covert “partners” with Snyder and help him out with all his infomercials? Guess the contract’s up.
(AFTER THE JUMP: Reebok boasts of its butt-enhancement powers? Shannon Sharpe goes after the Redskins? Dan Marino goes after the Redskins? 66 percent of CBS viewers go after the Redskins? Dan Marino says Bill Cowher ain’t gonna go for the Redskins? Heath Shuler has MVP award taken away from him by Politico? Ethics panel still gunning for Shuler? Chest bumping on the sidelines can get you suspended?)
Read More “Cheap Seats Daily: Dan Marino Says the Redskins Won’t Land Anybody Like Bill Cowher?” »
Photos: Window Dressing
1000 Block of Rittenhouse Street NW
Do You Miss This Man?
*photo by Darrow Montgomery.
