The Issue: Pouya Yousefi has been trying to secure a liquor license for Level Lounge at 315 H St. NW since May. He is proposing a Middle Eastern inspired lounge that accommodates 300 and includes everything from late-night dancing to a hookah bar. But the community is grappling with how the lounge will fit into this largely residential neighborhood, and is locking horns over questions of capacity and noise. Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C made a motion opposing the license this past summer—but has recently come up with a novel way to address neighbors' concerns: They’ve hired a sound expert to assess the building and make recommendations before the ANC drafts an agreement. Is this a helpful gesture from the local ANC—or an effort to stomp on a business owner’s toes? Read More "Neighborhood Watch: Neighbors Hush Proposed Lounge on H Street, NW" »

The Issue: Will a lone commuter bring down the Penn Quarter Farmers' Market? The market has called the north end of Eighth Street NW, between D and E Streets, home for the last seven years, operating a few hours every Thursday. Ken Crerar wants that to change. According to the DC Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), Crerar recently contacted the Department of Transportation to suggest the market’s permit be revoked. Crerar, who is president of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, says the route he is forced to take around the market adds 15 minutes to his commute. Is he speaking for the silent majority of disgruntled drivers—or should the market stay put?

Time Over Produce: The argument that farmers markets cause traffic problems—specifically, Crerar says the congestion on Seventh and Ninth Streets slows down his connection to E Street—is not new. In September, the White House Farmers Market underwent similar controversy for closing part of Vermont Avenue. Jamie, writing at Prince of Petworth, says, “If this guy is really having 15 minutes added to his commute once a week, it is reasonable to assume that hundreds, if not thousands of other people are similarly affected.” Crerar has proposed an alternative site: the south side of the Smithsonian galleries on F Street.

Leave the Produce Alone: But Crerar doesn’t seem to be garnering much vocal support from his fellow commuters: An online commenter on DNA says, “I follow the same route…it would be an overstatement to say that having 8^th street closed adds five minutes to my trip.” And Pat Lute, a spokesman for Freshfarm Markets, told City Desk: “The feedback the farmers market has received has been overwhelmingly positive, it’s been called a jewel of the neighborhood. ...We are very hopeful that everything is going to work out.” The DNA dismisses the Smithsonian gallery alternative, saying F street is too busy and must remain clear for access to the museums.

Next Step: According to Lute, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C passed a resolution Friday in support of the market. The transportation department's Public Space Committee will also presumably discuss the issue at its Oct. 22. meeting.

Photo by Alicia Griffin, Creative Commons Attribution License

Dee Does the District believes last week's protest will have no effect on Rhee's hold on DCPS:

"The City Council uses only rhetoric to denounce the pairs' actions; remember when Vincent Gray caved and restored the school funding he originally cut? The Washington Teachers Union has been utterly useless in the struggle between 825 and teachers' rights; George Parker continues to cancel meetings and overall, has not been proactive in addressing the layoffs. With the Mayor's reelection looming within a year, there are no candidates that pose a serious threat to him. And while the protests and sit-ins are a start, I seriously doubt Chancellor Rhee or Mayor....o until someone with a better vision and a stronger hand comes along, I think Chancellor Rhee is here to stay, despite what you think of her."

Read More "Our Morning Roundup: What’s On Your Agenda?" »

In Shaw writes on chickens in the city: "As I remember, I thought there were laws on the books that in one way or another say no to chickens. Just to make sure I checked The City Chicken, which according to it's chicken law page says, 'Washington D.C. Housing chickens here violates health laws and is not legal.'
Then I checked the online DC Code, plugging in Chicken, poultry and fowl...."

The Georgetown Metropolitan wonders: Does Jack Evans Abuse Parking Laws? There are incriminating photos of Evans' car clearly parked illegally---that is if he were just an average citizen. It is an open question whether he actually deserved a ticket.

Borderstan notes that construction has begun at the 17th-S-and-New Hampshire dog park. Post includes photos! Still, the project might be behind. The writer wonders: "I have not heard anything new on the opening date other than 'spring.' Anyone know anything more about a specific date?"

Bureaucrat310 chronicles a rough commute: "On this particular morning I was running late. Just as I descended into the columbia heights metro station I noticed that the next train would be arriving in 2 minutes. I hustle, run to the turnstile, swipe my card and get the dreaded 'go see a customer service agent' warning..."

Read More "Our Morning Roundup: Chickens Coming Home To Roost" »

DCist spotted this first. Carlos in DC does some big-time reporting at the vigil for Jose Sanchez. He finds plenty of people who witnessed the event or saw Sanchez on the ground and called 911. Some of the people he interviewed were furious at the slow response from paramedics:

"'It took 25 minutes for the firemen to arrive, they didn't care. They didn't do much to help him, one of them step on his stomach... he put his foot on his stomach... they didn't give him oxygen or anything, he was alive... they were all white...' said the witness."

We've debated the Sanchez incident late last week. I wonder if the D.C. Council will hold a hearing on the case? If what the witness is reporting is true....maybe there should be a protest instead of more vigils and angst.

Read More "Our Morning Roundup: Jose Sanchez Revisited" »