We've already shown you some pictures from Tuesday's Flags in the Flesh rally in Dupont Circle, where D.C. residents met to show off their D.C. flag tattoos and speak out for voting rights. We also chatted with a few of the organizers and attendees, including former D.C. Council candidate and community activist Bryan Weaver and D.C. Shadow Rep. Mike Panetta. Here's what they had to say.

Video by Matt Bevilacqua

One of the temporaries (Matt Bevilacqua)

Many a District resident is willing, on petitions and in online comment boxes, to voice support for D.C. voting rights. But does your passion run deep enough to ink it on your skin?

Several score of people gathered in Dupont Circle earlier this evening to prove they would go so far in demonstrating pride for their city. Flag Day in the Flesh saw dozens of die-hards showing off different variations on the D.C. flag permanently gracing their bodies (many more made due with temporary tattoos handed out at the event).

A few local politicos showed up, including Shadow Rep. Mike Panetta and former At-Large D.C. Council candidate Bryan Weaver, both of whom unveiled tattoos of their own last Saturday. Speeches were made, a DJ spun The Smiths and Slayer, and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton herself slapped on a temporary, proclaiming “Where else is there to be tonight?” (This story originally referred to Norton as a shadow senator.)

We’ve already told you about some of the less flattering ways to wear the stars and bars. But here are some photos of statehood activists and other concerned citizens who know how to rock it:

All photos by Matt Bevilacqua

#four26dc: Happy voting to those who head out to the polls and cast a ballot for the At-Large D.C. Council election today. Bryan Weaver, who snagged the City Paper endorsement, also has the favor of at least one local blog. New Columbia Heights is "leaning Weaver," describing him as "an energetic, involved [former] ANC commissioner who gave Jim Graham a good run in the last election." Commenters on the blog are presently split between Weaver and lone Republican Patrick Mara, whom one prefers because "Weaver doesn't have the people skills for the job...I ran into Mara on the street and he asked questions gallore."

The Man, the Myth, the Legend: People's District profiles Kent Boese, whose meticulous and extensive Park View D.C. blog is a excellent community resource. On why he's insistent that Park View be acknowledged as the distinct neighborhood that it is, Boese has this to say: “Park View is a smaller neighborhood that, unfortunately, tends to get misrepresented or lost  a lot. I have a tendency to go off on this, but we are not Petworth or Columbia Heights or Pleasant Plains. We are our own neighborhood with our own history. I recognize that it is a little thing that may not matter to most people, but we are all defined by where we live. We live in Park View. The good and bad that happens here, occurs in Park View and not Petworth or Columbia Heights or Pleasant Plains. Because of this identity issue, our community has two choices. We can fight for our identity and make sure that others are aware of who we are. Or, we can give up and let this place get carved up by the surrounding neighborhoods. I think that it is important to fight to preserve our history and identity."

How Does Your Garden Grow?: "We have 6-7 plastic grocery bags with large clumps of Shasta Daisies ready to be planted — they have been "over-thriving" in our southern exposure yard. Ready to be placed in the ground," offers a member of the Burleith email list. Fortunately, Burleith is far enough removed from Cleveland Park that the lilac thief probably won't make a sojourn to snatch those Shastas.

Dog Problems: For those seeking gourmet cat food, a Tenleytown email list member has the hookup: "my incredibly picky cat's loss is your cat's gain... variety of brands from basic – MeowMix, Giant to high end – Newman's Own, Blue Buffalo, Iams... all purchased within the last couple months." But if one is of the canine persuasian, the Brookland email list has something for you, too: "We have a 42 inch round dog bed from Costco that has never been used, free for the taking. Tan color, cedar filled."

Pandas Stay Put: People think of the District as a transient place, but the dirty little secret of most people who move here for work is that once they arrive, they find they kind of like it. And they stick around (just ask former Sen. Byron Dorgan, who recently signed up with a D.C. law firm instead of moving back to North Dakota). That rule goes for pandas, too. Chinese officials, in town for President Hu Jintao's state visit, announced that the pair of pandas at the National Zoo will extend their stint in D.C. for another five years, in exchange for $2.5 million. Remember, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian—you're required to get a D.C. driver's license once you've been here 30 days or more. +4

WTOP Gets Owned: In the famed "glass-enclosed nerve center" from which all-news radio WTOP monitors the region, there's only one big story today–the station's been sold. Deseret Management, a for-profit arm of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, sold 'TOP and other Bonneville International stations in Chicago, St. Louis, and Cincinnati to Hubbard Broadcasting Inc., which operates out of Minnesota, for $505 million. No word yet on rumors that weather and traffic will now move from the eights to the sixes. +1

Park Underneath, Please: The days of vast, and often empty, parking lots standing between the sidewalk and D.C. retail could be coming to an end. New rules proposed by the Office of Planning and Zoning would require stores to put parking lots under or behind their main building, instead of in front. Prediction: If that makes it into law, AAA will declare this yet another piece of D.C.'s war on cars. Oh, and also, streetscapes around town will look a lot better. +2

D.C. Council Bonanza: Say one thing for whichever D.C. voters actually bother to turn out for the April 26 special election for an at-large D.C. Council seat—they won't lack for choices. Two candidates officially declared their interest in the race today, Republican Patrick Mara and Ward 1 activist Bryan Weaver, and Vincent Orange (who is rapidly becoming the Harold Stassen of District politics) tells the Post he'll probably run, too. By the time Election Day arrives, is there anyone who's registered to vote in D.C. who won't be on the ballot? +2

Yesterday's Needle rating: 52 Today's score: +9 Today's Needle rating: 61

D.C. cops looked pretty intimidating at the funeral of Jamal Coates this afternoon. Out in force, they glared  as crowds of mourners hung out around the King Emmanuel Baptist Church in Adams Morgan, and the nearby Ontario Coin Laundromat. Just last week, the gang violence that left Coates shot dead erupted after a funeral on U Street.

At one point, two cops in flak jackets followed one group of mourners down Ontario Street NW.

As for the funeral that went  on inside, reporters were asked not to attend. ANC Commissioner Bryan Weaver, who did attend, says everything went well: "Considering, I thought it was pretty upbeat." He says the funeral focused on the life of the 21-year-old Coates, and how to help young men like him. Coates was at times affiliated with a gang.

According to a police source, Coates was shot in connection to a longstanding beef between the 1-7 crew (based near 17th and Euclid NW) and the G-Rod crew (from 14th and Girard NW).  And the murder allegedly took place after a member of G-Rod was insulted. (Police have arrested Brandon Miller in connection with the shooting.)

At times, Coates tried to turn his life around, but didn't manage to get far enough away from neighborhood influences to make the change stick. Weaver says the Rev. Daryl F. Bell, who spoke at Coates' funeral, put it best: "If you hang out at the hot dog stand, you're most likely going to eat a hot dog."

"The point being made in article after article is that last week's murder happened in the rapidly gentrifying part of the city. But we can't coffee-shop and bike-lane our way out of this tragedy. There are still numerous people in DC who have degenerated to the point of expressing dissent through murder and haven't learned to disagree without becoming violently disagreeable, no matter where they live. But my hope is that the people who use those coffee shops and bike lanes can and will be the change — if they care enough to do so...

We must demand accountability from our elected leaders, not just sound bites for the 6pm news. The last thing we need is another blue-ribbon panel/commission/taskforce/coffee klatch on how to the fix the problems plaguing our young people and ultimately our city. We need real action.

We need people who are really willing to look at our system and fix it, from how we educate our children to how we adjudicate them. The solutions to our public safety problems need to be enforceable and long-term. Blanket ideas like civil injunctions and curfews, that are not well thought-out, can't be the only solution."

With budget cuts and hiring freezes coming, there will surely be more Jamal Coates stories. The question is what does the city do with the resources it does have.

Coates' funeral is tomorrow at King Emmanuel at 11 a.m.

According to an e-mail sent to an Adams Morgan online message board, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham said police believe that the victim was "affiliated with the 1-7 gang/crew." Graham warned that this shooting could spark a reprisal:

In consideration of possible retaliation, police patrols have been bolstered in the area and on the 1400 block of Girard.

DCist's/We Love DC's Dave Stroup reported last night that one of Graham's challengers in the September Democratic primary, Bryan Weaver, was on the scene and "and expressed worry that this might have something to do with recent murder arrests."

Weaver still probably has a long way to go. Yes, the D.C. Chamber of Commerce decided not to back Graham, either—but they went with Jeff Smith, another challenger. Still, the video's worth watching again, no matter who winds up winning the election:

Graham campaign poo-bah Chuck Thies had this reaction via e-mail:

"Not surprising at all. What has the Chamber of Commerce ever done for Ward One?  They represent downtown business interests. Maybe Jeff Smith should move downtown.  He really doesn't seem to like living in Ward One."

You'd think Graham's close ties to the taxicab industry would have put him over the top. Zing! OK, that was a cheap shot. Apologies.

The beats are tight; I don't even want to imagine what Jim Graham's dance floor moves to this would be. But Weaver, cash strapped and down in the polls against the mighty Graham, actually makes a lot of great points in this video. I hope this goes viral.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Young ANC Candidate: Eliminate Curfew," "Coming Soon: New Loose Lips," "Man Who Helped Save Metro Passenger Speaks Out," "Lawsuit Filed As WTU Election Fiasco Gets Personal," "Candidates Swarm Stinky Palisades Parade," "Photo: Fireworks Over Park View"

Good afternoon. Hope you are enjoying your lunch and avoiding this heat. Michelle Rhee's suggestion last week that she may not stick around if Vincent Gray beats her boss has provoked a lot of debate. The WaPo editorial board thinks much of this election should focus on Rhee: "EVEN AS D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee suggested she might not be able to continue her work if Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) is voted out of office, she insisted the race is not about her. The key, she said, is 'the two gentlemen who are running and what their kind of stances are about education reform.' She is both right and wrong. Clearly, voters must decide whether, on the all-important issue of education, Mr. Fenty or D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) is the better choice. That decision, though, is inextricably linked to a judgment about Ms. Rhee....Mr. Gray rightly argues that reform doesn't depend upon one person. But the past three years have shown two men with a very different sense of urgency about reform. Voters who believe the D.C. schools have turned an irreversible corner may opt for Mr. Gray's slower, consensus-building style. Those who believe Ms. Rhee has made epic progress in positioning the schools for change but think there is still work to be done, will have reason to give Mr. Fenty their vote."

Meanwhile, WaPo's Jay Mathews thinks Rhee made a mistake in stepping into the political arena; and that Gray needs to realize how important Rhee actually is to school reform: "Suggesting she might leave if D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray beats Fenty, as she has in recent days, is turning her back, at least in part, on those children. Rhee has vowed to focus on the problems of students, not adults. Until now she had been true to her word. That has led many adults whose advice she has ignored and prerogatives she has overridden to wish she would go find some other school district to save. Saying she would leave if Gray is elected is good news to those people. It is bad for the principals she has appointed, the teachers who share her commitment to raising achievement and the parents who are beginning to see the teamwork, creativity and persistence in regular city public schools that they have found in many charter schools. In Gray's plan 'for ensuring a quality education for all children,' released last week, he has not committed himself to keeping Rhee. That is smart politically. He does not want to alienate her supporters or detractors. I like his plan. It is full of good intentions and reminders of how he supported mayoral control of the schools and the hiring of Rhee, although she is to my mind the most unconventional and stress-inducing administrator ever put in charge of an important American school district. But there is something lacking in Gray's plan that indicates either he doesn't care, or doesn't understand, how important his decision about Rhee will be. He gives no hint of what a disaster for public education it would be to lose this chancellor."

This substitute LL thinks all this Rhee talk is good for Fenty. But would like to hear Fenty talk about the difficult decisions he made to reform the schools–like closing 20-some schools, the teacher firings, etc.  Still, plenty of room for debate in the comments.

AFTER THE JUMP—Metro mess, Riddick Bowe's sad life in Fort Washington, Wal-Mart might be coming to D.C., Jim Graham leads in Ward One Council race, and much, much more!

BIGGEST BOX: WaPo's Jonathan O'Connell reports that Wal-Mart is inching closer to dominating our lives: "Fresh off a deal with the City of Chicago that will allow Wal-Mart Stores to open more than a dozen locations there, the mega-retailer is closing in on an agreement to open its first store in D.C. Wal-Mart is negotiating to open a store on New York Avenue NE near the intersection of Bladensburg Road, on a parcel owned by a family in the taxicab business, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The chain, which has expressed interest in opening a store in the city for years as part of its expansion into major urban markets, has not yet signed a lease but is expected to by this fall, the sources said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized by the companies to discuss the details. Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., agreed to a deal with the Chicago City Council on June 30 that gives it the green light to open its second store there by 2012 and two dozen or more stores in the city in coming years. Spokesman Steven Restivo said the agreement exhibits the company's interest in building outlets in urban areas. 'Wal-Mart does not have any new projects to announce in the [the District], but we continue to evaluate opportunities that would allow us to create jobs and provide affordable groceries to D.C. residents,' he said."

METRO MESS: 100 Metro cars have pulled over door problems. WaPo's Ann Scott Tyson and Martin Weil report: "Metro officials averted a potential nightmare before July Fourth crowds arrived in Washington when they discovered that the doors on dozens of rail cars could — under the right circumstances — open while in movement, according to the agency's operations chief. Simulations determined that an electrical short on the 4000 series cars could cause the door motor to energize and run "until it opens the door all the way" and then force the train to brake, operations chief Dave Kubicek said. The agency announced just before midnight Saturday that it was removing all 100 of the 4000 series rail cars from service as a safety precaution to check and repair the doors. Kubicek said 60 or 70 of the cars have been deployed each day, so Metro will have to run fewer eight-car trains and more six-car trains while attempting to maintain its current rail schedule. We could be short some cars,' he said. 'On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we might not see all the equipment we should see.'"

Meanwhile, a man was killed after being struck by an Orange line train over the weekend.

ECONOMY DOWN, RENTS UP: The Examiner's David Sherfinski reports rents are up in the D.C. area: "The cost of renting an apartment in the Washington area climbed 3.6 percent in the last year — greater than the rate of inflation — according to a report from a real estate consulting firm. Homes lingering on the market and renters with well-paying jobs contributed to people moving into high-end apartments at one of the strongest rates in the nation, the report said. And as demand rises, so, too, do prices. The area's average rent was about $1,600. From a development perspective, the 3.6 percent increase is 'definitely a good thing,' said Grant Montgomery, vice president of Delta Associates, which released the report. Older, less pricey apartments are also filling up, an early indicator that job growth has resumed but that renters are adjusting to a "new normal" in the down economy, the report said. With the local economy still in a nascent recovery, people are more value-conscious, Montgomery said.... The rent increase outpaced the inflation rate of 2.2 percent in the 12-month period ending in April. And renting in the area is certainly no bargain; rent in the District averaged more than $2,137." Then again...this story has like one source—the VP behind the study. Would have liked to have heard from others in the social services community, DHS, etc. on the impact of higher rents.

WARD ONE RACE: According to a Jim Graham campaign press release, the Ward One councilmember has a more than healthy lead over his opponents Bryan Weaver and Jeff Smith, and Adrian Fenty is besting Vincent Gray in the ward:

"D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham’s reelection is supported by 68 percent of likely Democratic voters, according to a recent poll. Graham’s two opponents, both in single-digits, split 15 percent of the vote. 17 percent are undecided.

In addition to his very strong reelection position, 77 percent view Graham favorably and 71 percent rate his job performance as excellent/good.

"More than anything, these poll numbers tell me that our accomplishments over the past 12 years are making a big difference," Graham said. “We all know there’s more to be done, but we are on the right path and have the support of people from across the ward.”

Graham’s strong reelection, favorability and job approval numbers extend across the cultural diversity and neighborhoods of Ward One.

In the race for Mayor the leading candidates are running neck-and-neck. 43 percent of likely Democratic voters support Adrian Fenty and 37 percent support Vince Gray. 18 percent are undecided. Leo Alexander received 2 percent.

The poll of 300 likely Democratic Primary voters residing in Ward One was conducted June 28 through July 1, 2010 by the well-regarded Lake Research Partners, a national public opinion and political strategy research firm founded by Celinda Lake in 1995. http://www.lakeresearch.com/."

JULY 4 TRAGEDY: Man killed during July 4 holiday prep. NC8 reports: "A man helping neighbors set up for a community party in the 3000 block of Nelson Place in Southeast D.C. was gunned down. Now, police are searching for the shooting suspects while neighbors are mourning the murder of a friend. On Nelson Place in Southeast, 66-year-old retired D.C. Protective Services officer John Pernell was the "mayor" of the block. He would fix a kid's bike, take you to the grocery store, and advise and mentor both young and old. The father of three and grandfather of two never said no when someone was in need. 'They just don't know what they did when they killed him. They took our angel away,' said Wanda McMillion."

D.C. WATER: The Examiner's Freeman Klopott reports that D.C. Water is dealing with some folks posing as D.C. Water employees: "D.C. Water is warning its customers to be on the lookout for scammers who pose as utility workers to gain access to customers' homes and then burglarize them. The scammers give an excuse to get inside the home and then take items while the resident is distracted or case the house and come back later, officials said." More coverage via NC8.

SOBERRIDE: WTOP via The AP reports that nearly 400 people used the SoberRide service on July 4: "The SoberRide program operated by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program provided 389 rides between 10 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday. That's a 17 percent increase over the last July Fourth."

ROOF FIRE: Displaces 18 residents in NW (NC8).

HEAT-RELATED: Pepco is dealing with power outages today. WUSA9 reports: "Some Pepco customers may have a hard time finding relief from the sweltering heat thanks to power outages in the area Tuesday morning. Bob Hainey, spokesperson for Pepco, says workers have located approximately 300 feet of bad secondary cable located underground in the 700 block of 12th Street in Northeast. Hainey says Pepco crews are pulling out the cable now and plan to install new cable in order to restore power to residential customers by noon. According to Hainey, approximately 3 dozen customers affected."

KEEP COOL: Here's info on local cooling centers.

RIDDICK BOWE: Now teaches at LA Boxing Gyms.

MAYOR'S SCHEDULE: No public events.

D.C. COUNCIL'S SCHEDULE: Parks and Rec roundtable, Housing Finance Board confirmation hearing, DDOE Christophe Tulou confirmation, and health hearing this afternoon.

"Last night at its endorsement meeting, the D.C. Latino Caucus overwhelmingly voted to endorse the candidacy of Bryan Weaver for Ward One Councilmember.

'I am deeply honored to receive this important endorsement from a community that is not only becoming one of the most important and influential voting blocs in the District of Columbia and nationally, but is also near and dear to my heart.  Being married to a Colombian-born wife and raising two Latino children in a Spanish-speaking household, the issues I have fought for as a community advocate and an 8-year Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and will continue to fight for on the DC Council on behalf of the Latino community, are deeply personal to me and my family.

"From economic empowerment, good-paying jobs, quality education, affordable housing, small business development, smart crime prevention, and importantly, comprehensive immigration reform and fighting against a disturbing but growing nationwide trend of anti-immigrant local laws and ordinances, I will be a tireless advocate for Latinos in Ward One and the District of Columbia. In fact I was the first elected official in the District to strongly speak out, publicly condemning the Secure Communities initiative and urging Chief of Police Lanier to refuse the District of Columbia's participation in this deeply flawed initiative.

I also vow to bring much needed accountability, transparency and oversight to the Council of the District of Columbia.  There has been a disturbing lack of all three with the current leadership and that hurts Latinos and indeed all residents of Ward One.  I will be the voice for those who have none and will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, and I will be beholden to all residents of Ward One, and not the special interests.'"

Weaver is going to need a lot more endorsements to overcome Graham's name recognition, hefty war chest, and deep ties in the ward. But this win may mean that at least some community leaders are dissatisfied with Graham's tenure—particularly in the wake of the Ted Loza mess.

It's a story the young and nervy Weaver likes to tell as proof that the incumbent is a "dinosaur" who still plays old-style politics. Weaver most recently told a version of the story at the D.C. Democratic State Convention: In 2006, Graham investigated the questionable dealings of a particular developer, Perseus Realty, only to accept campaign donations from the very same developer years later. Graham also acquired a 20-year tax abatement for the company, Weaver says.

That particular narrative could frustrate Graham, who's still seeking to get out from beneath the shadow cast over his office by the arrest of his former chief of staff, Ted Loza, on bribery charges. But the incumbent councilmember isn't shrinking from the insinuation.

"There ain't no corruption in me," Graham tells City Desk. "I'm very sorry about what happened to one of my staff members, but I don't do that stuff."

Graham says Weaver's version of what happened between him and Perseus Realty is all mixed up. He's the hero of the story, not the bad guy: "I'm not the villain, nor was I associating with the villains," Graham claims.

In a February article, the Washington Business Journal attributed Graham's success at campaign fund-raising to two things: His cozy relationship with powerful developers and the ability of corporations to side-step the District's $500 political contribution cap:

"The good news for Graham and other city politicos, is that LLCs – limited liability corporations – each have their own contribution limits. So what do some developers do? Contribute the max for each one of their companies."

Though donating at $500 a pop won't amount to millions, it doesn't take a lot of green to have an impact on cash-strapped local races.

2010 fund-raising records appears to show Perseus Realty, responsible for various projects around the District, as one of the companies willing to ante up. City Desk came across contributions to Graham from Perseus Realty Investments, LLC; Perseus Stillman, LLC; Perseus Realty, LLC; 1110 Vermont Renaissance Assoc,VII/SCH-Perseus M Street; LLC and 14W Member, LLC. All have names that appear to be related to either Perseus Realty or a Perseus Realty project. Each LLC gave the maximum contribution of 500 bucks, save VII/SCH-Perseus M Street, LLC, which contributed only $250.

Perhaps Perseus has good feelings toward Graham because of the 14th and W project, a $97 million mixed-use Perseus development that Graham backed and which he readily acknowledges began a "new acquaintanceship" between the politician and the company.

Some five years ago, the acquaintanceship between Graham and Perseus was close to that of the hunter and the hunted. Back then, Graham was handing out subpoenas to Perseus leadership and employees. "Nobody hit them harder than I did," Graham says of that time. Graham was then chair of the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which oversees the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). DCRA, in turn, regulates District housing.

Graham was after the company because he suspected them of strong-arming renters and misusing a district law, one the City Paper wrote a cover story about in 2006. The law –501(f)–allows landlords who need to make major repairs to an occupied building to vacate the building of tenants while the repairs are made. Though such evacuations are supposed to be temporary, most tenants opt to move on rather than wait the length of time it would take for the landlord to invite them back. After that, the owners are free to develop or sell the property sans pesky tenant rights.

“It’s a sham process,” Jim McGrath of the DC Tenants Advocacy Coalition then told City Paper. “There’s nothing more permanent than temporary removal.”

That's perhaps how it might have gone for Perseus at 1846 Vernon Street NW in 2005: But the tenants of the building wanted to stay and fought the so-called temporary removal. That's when Perseus, a co-owner of the building, allegedly got rough.

According to a final report issued as a result of Graham's investigative hearing on the matter, bad stuff started happening to the tenants in fall of 2006:

In October and November 2006, the tenants of 1846 Vernon Street, NW stated to the Committee that since September 2006, they had observed an increasing number of incidents of violence seemingly directed against tenants and/or the building.  On October 16, 2006, vandals smashed glass panels on the doors of several apartments, and, the Committee was told, selectively cut electrical cables so that only occupied units were affected.

The report reveals that in that same year, tenant Latif Sarkar, who lived Apartment 23, "reported having received threats within the building from strangers, who told him to move out within 48 hours or else." The report also offers an account of the most dramatic moment in the battle, a late night arson:

Even more seriously, on November 5, 2006 between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m., a fire broke out at 1846 Vernon Street, NW.  Chairperson Graham and Committee staffers inspected the premises the next morning and discussed the incident with tenants, who reported the following. Three tenants of unit #28, Mahmuduel Hoque, Nasimuel Hoque and Rabia Begum, stated they were watching television with relatives when they heard two loud bangs in rapid succession, the second of which was far louder and shook their apartment "like an earthquake," according to Ms. Begum.

The bangs turned out to have a source, a blaze outside their apartment.

No one was severely injured in the fire. But tenants nevertheless slowly gave up and left.  Probably because they felt their lives were in danger. According to the report:

A fire investigator from the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department stated that the remnants of an exploded gas can was found in front of #28, and indicated his belief that the cause of the fire was arson. Tenants generally were of the opinion that whoever set the fire did so at the direction of the owner and/or the management company.

Though the arson prompted no criminal case against Perseus, Graham says he went after them "hammer and tong" and would have kept going except for having switched committees. He says Councilmember Marion Barry then took over the Committee for Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. When that happened, the investigation screeched to a halt. Graham says he asked Barry to continue pursuing Perseus, but got no response from the Ward 8 councilmember.

In any event, when the YMCA selected Perseus for the 14th and W Project, Graham put all that business behind him. Graham says that when the YMCA told him about its decision, it brought up the bad blood: "We know you've had some bad experiences with Perseus," Graham recalls YMCA officials saying. The organization explained that there was little chance for the kind of trouble that emerged on Vernon Street as there were no tenants to evict as far as their project went, Graham says.

Asking Graham about the Perseus campaign contributions seems to elicit an answer that's tantamount to "Hey, that's politics."

"Am I happy with this? No," Graham tells City Desk. "Am I a pragmatist? I have to be." Graham says he would prefer it if corporations weren't allowed to donate. Still, City Desk notices from recent records that Graham  hasn't sent back any of the money.

Weaver, meanwhile, considers Perseus too tainted to deal with.  He says an associate recently offered to introduce him to someone from the development firm. Weaver says he didn't mind the intro as long as it was understood that he would never take money from the company. Weaver says Graham losing the committee that was investigating Perseus was no excuse for no longer fighting the company. "He didn't lose the Ward," says Weaver. Weaver asserts that Graham lost interest in pursuing Perseus when the media stopped paying attention. "While the Washington Post and everyone was focused on it, he was great," says Weaver.

What happened on Vernon, Weaver says, was extremely upsetting. "It was almost old-school gangster," he says.

Graham shoots back that Weaver is just electioneering: "For Bryan, this is just simply trying to get some votes."

Photo by dbking/Creative Commons Attribution License

Graham denied the allegation. "If you have a video of any of my staff taking down signs, bring it forward," Graham told Smith last night.

Smith further accused Graham of employing city contractors to hang up his own signs around town. Graham said there's no impropriety. He's paying the contractors to do campaign work outside of their public duties.

Fellow Ward 1 candidate Bryan Weaver, meanwhile, emphasized the "power of we." At least until the subject of the playground at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School came up.

"If you can bounce up and down on that rubber, think of me, " said Graham, apparently referring to a piece of playground equipment at the school. Weaver's voice went up as he stated that the new playground was great, but that the neighborhood boundaries of the well-performing public school need to be redrawn: "It's a Woodley Park school, it's not an Adams Morgan school," said Weaver.

Graham opened by rattling off some of his Ward 1 accomplishments, including getting rid of the scores of undesirables who once hung out at 17th and Euclid NW. "Now there's a police camera there," he said.

"I'm running for re-election on that record," said Graham.

Smith concedes that Graham has accomplished some good things during his long tenure as council member, but it's time for him to go. "Eight years would have been plenty, 16 years is too much," Smith said.

When candidates were asked about funding for the arts by debate moderator Davis Kennedy of the Current newspapers, Smith took the opportunity, as he would many times that night, to point out some of Graham's many shortcomings. Smith said that Graham's version of funding the arts involved giving out earmarks to his favorite non-profits. Smith also charged that the incumbent has given out more earmarks than anyone else on the council, excluding Marion Barry.

Graham countered that he stood by his earmarks: "They spend the money responsibly," he said of the organizations he's funded.

Weaver didn't join in the scuffle but stated that non-competitive earmarks were a problem.

However, he later took a swing at Graham for his relationship with developers, pointing out that after Graham had helped get $8.5 million in tax abatement for Donatelli Development Inc., the company contributed $5,000 to his reelection fund.

Graham challenged the accuracy of that remark, and then brought up how he'd championed development in Ward 1 without getting rid of its low income residents:"We have not torn up the fabric of our diversity," he said.

As the night wore on, Smith and Weaver continued to bring up various Graham controversies. But it was the moderator who brought up the biggest one of all: Ted Loza. Asked whether the incumbent would ever rehire his former chief of staff, now up on bribery charges, Graham simply stated: "Let Ted Loza have his day in court.".

In his closing remarks, Graham attempted to portray himself as a unifier. "Where we have worked together is where we have worked our best," he said. In their closing remarks, both Smith and Weaver took parting shots at the incumbent. Weaver  pulled a line from the movie Wedding Crashers: "I'm not saying marry me. I'm saying just don't marry him."

The Issue: First picnic tables, now a spray-painted mural of a giant dog and children blowin’ bubbles is causin' a ruckus in Walter Pierce Park. Not so much the mural, per se, but the process it took to get there. Ward 1 residents were given a 10-day notice, posted on a neighborhood Listserv, that a mural would be painted along both sides of a wall in Walter Pierce Park last October. Don’t know what a Listserv is? Too bad.

As discussions took place between Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham's office, which commissioned the artwork through his MuralsDC initiative, and  the D.C. Department of Public Works (DPW), residents and the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) were seemingly left out of the decision process. “It was only after the site was selected and announced that the ANC met with members of MuralsDC,”  says local ANC commissioner Bryan Weaver (who, perhaps not incidentally, is opposing Graham in the upcoming council election). Only after that process were residents informed, says Weaver.

The Clock Was Tickin’: “Weather was an issue,” says DPW spokesperson Nancee Lyons. Instead of starting in the summer, the program didn’t get rollin’ until last fall, so certain aspects were rushed in order for the art to be completed by winter, Lyons says. “Should there have been some signage posted at the park? Probably,” says Mindy Moretti, the local ANC commissioner and president on the board of Friends of Walter Pierce Park. But MuralsDC was heading the project, so that would’ve been their responsibility, Moretti says. “The process was obviously flawed…but this project was dealing with a short budget and timeline, and a push was made to make the project happen,” Weaver says. In the month between the Listserv announcement, and the start of the artwork, residents were mum with their opinions, he adds.

Sketches of the mural were presented at a local ANC meeting, counters Dominic Painter, executive director of the Midnight Forum, a managing agent for MuralsDC. “No one had concerns, so we went with the positive feedback. It’s a ridiculous notion to think we’re going to reach every single person that lives in the neighborhood,” he says.

Adds Graham, writing on the Listserv, “I have every reason to believe that the process was followed in this case."

What’s in a Listserv?: A single message on an email discussion group is appalling, says resident Gretchen Cook. “It assumes everyone worth consulting has a computer, knows about the Listserv and has the time to check it regularly,” she says.  There should have been a sign at the park and an open forum, she adds. Says neighbor Glenn Hennessey, “I consider the park a place to escape the city, not a place to be reminded of it….any type of artwork is wrong.” Hennessy adds that the Listserv failed to mention exactly which wall the mural would be painted upon.

What’s Next: There are no plans to do away with the mural. Instead, local artist and mural creator Aniekan Udofia is currently working on renewing one of the other three murals in the park that is deteriorating.

Photo by Glenn Hennessey.