Comments on: Jim Graham Talks About Young Staffer Turned Alleged Columbia Heights Shooter

By: Week in Review: This-one-wrote-itself edition « District Limerick

Week in Review: This-one-wrote-itself edition « District Limerick — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:42:29 +0000

[...] Graham’s had a pretty tough year As wrongdoing draws ever near Though charges describe the Chief of Staff’s bribe The [...]

By: Cherkis

Cherkis — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:09:34 +0000

Greg,

I'm sure you do, you pickle puffer you.

By: Q

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:36:37 +0000

Give Graham some credit...he at least had the rapport with the intern to talk to him and bring him into custody. I honestly don't see Catania, Evans, or Fenty doing that, and they support the Bill. Yes, it was dangerous, but his action shows that even at risk of his own safety, he believes (at least this time) in direct interaction with the youth. Outside of Barry, Thomas, and Kwame Brown, much of the elected politicians give is LIP SERVICE. In terms of Graham's last statement about hiring "gang menbers" that kinda makes his argument about the injunctions weaker. The truth of matter is, there are many jobs in the Federal Government centering around Security (Baggage Handlers, etc.). However, not being able to pass a background check or get a clearance eliminates many opportunities. The youth don't realize that the petty-ante-quick-money things they do will ultimately affect their future. That message needs to be reinforced in the schools, SYEP, etc. Kudos to Graham for at least giving SOME kids a second chance.

By: Key Grammarian Too

Key Grammarian Too — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:22:01 +0000

It's incompetent - with an e at the end, not an "a."

We criticizers should know how to spell, too.

By: The Old Grammarian

The Old Grammarian — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:17:51 +0000

..."They padded down Black and then took him away." Looks like someone on the staff is over-reliant on Spell Checker. How about "patted down" instead of "padded down"? The politicians and police in DC are amateur incompetants. Journalist are supposed to be professionals. Professional writers should know how to spell.

By: greg

greg — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:14:55 +0000

Cherkis,

We miss you down at the Union Station bathrooms.

By: Sally

Sally — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:23:25 +0000

It would have made for quite the p.r. disaster had the summer youth participants been forced to go through metal detectors at the Convention Center. How about we just give them some money and ask them to go somewhere else for the summer?

By: Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:25:43 +0000

People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.

By: Truth Hurts

Truth Hurts — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:57:45 +0000

Bill and Angry Al: You nailed the key points on this one. Thirty minutes ago, I got off of metro, right behind 4 teenage knuckleheads. They were out of control: scared several riders just for laughs, jumped the turnstile, crept up on a pedestrian as if they intended to mug him, and frightened my wife/daughter who were waiting to pick me up. Nobody, including me, said a word. Were they armed? Who knows. But with no security/law enforcement personnel in sight from DC to Md, it's no surprise that shit happens and people get hurt.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:38:18 +0000

...true Steve O. The politicians in this town are jokes and corrupt… the city council, mayor and AG as well as their respective gang members. A serious outside federal investigation of all these guys is well overdue.

By: Steve O.

Steve O. — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:15:25 +0000

This city is beyond help. This joke of a police force really needs to be disbanded and martial law declared. And the feral tyrones that live here need to be thrown out en masse, their housing projects torn down immediately and their welfare benefits cut off.

By: Angry Al Gonzales

Angry Al Gonzales — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:57:10 +0000

Exactly, Bill - the key problem here was poor police work at the convention center. First, the kids apparently were not screened with a metal detector. Second, after the first fight broke out, & a gun & brass knuckles seized, no one was arrested. Everyone, even the lazy, ignorant cops, had to know the fight was going to resurface momentarily. Not arresting anyone only encouraged the thugs to keep the beef going.
The poor performance by MPD is central to this whole mess. & again, Bill, you're right about future jobs program meetings - has MPD learned anything from this debacle?

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:07:35 +0000

Lin, to answer your question. No, interns are not issued IDs that would allow them to bypass security screenings. Only full-time employees of the Council or the Executive Office of the Mayor are issued IDs from DC Protective Services. However, it is scary to think that his young man had a firearm in the Convention Center and on the Metro. It also raises further questions regarding the need for security plans for SYEP job sites.

By: downtown rez

downtown rez — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:04:36 +0000

Good story, Jason.

By: Lin

Lin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:22:23 +0000

Do summer interns get ID's that allow them to pass the metal detectors in the Wilson building? If so did this young man have the gun in a government building? I think so,....