But there’s much more to what Catania is proposing than the cost of a pill, patch, ring, or shot (which is largely set by health insurers, regardless of how it’s procured). The most important element might be the fact that though the stuff’s been referred to as “over the counter"—as in, for purchase off the shelf, like Advil—it isn’t.

Catania’s chief of staff, Ben Young, says, “I want to be careful. It keeps getting confused with over the counter. It wouldn’t be over the counter. You’d go to the pharmacist...they’d ask you some questions.”

Typically, obtaining birth control means an OB-GYN appointment, which involves a Pap smear and a urine test to screen for sexually-transmitted infections and cervical, ovarian, and breast cancers. While yearly OB-GYN appointments are critical to good reproductive health, birth control’s side effects are linked to heart conditions and migraines, not cancer or STIs. A June 2010 Newsweek piece quotes an anonymous researcher as saying, “At the moment, gynecologists are gatekeepers, insisting on regular vaginal exams that are really unnecessary.”

Logically, most pharmacists—who possess skills far beyond putting pills in bottles—should be more than capable of asking a patient questions and assessing whether hypertension, a history of heart disease, and other factors should prevent that patient from going on birth control. Under Catania’s bill, they would do just that, and write—or not write—a birth control prescription.

The procedures would likely require blood pressure tests and a series of questions familiar to any woman who’s filled out paperwork for birth control at a doctor’s office: Do you have migraines? Do you have a family history of heart disease? Do you smoke?

University of Washington clinical professor Don Downing conducted a study from 2003 to 2005 to determine whether or not pharmacist-prescribed birth control, which is legal in Washington state, was effective. (Short conclusion: It was indeed effective.) “If things settle down in D.C., they will likely do what we did in our study,” says Downing. “We decided we would only take care of women in the least-risk category: Women who didn’t smoke, with good blood pressure. Women around 40 years old with hypertension who smoke are in danger if they’re pregnant, too, and they need to see a doctor. We treat those with the lowest chance side-effects. Those with risk factors, we send them to doctors to get risk factors managed. That’s another service that this program developed. We screened people with high blood pressure, and sent them to doctors.”

Catania’s bill has the potential to do more than just ease access to birth control: It could encourage a woman who needs to see a doctor, but could not or would not previously, to do so.

Says Downing, “When pharmacists start becoming more involved in reproductive health, women who don’t have a doctor or are afraid to go to one or are scared of the police come into their pharmacy for help...there are just so many benefits beyond getting a packet of pills into somebody’s hands.”

Photo by Flickr user Urban Sea Star using an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license

Photo by Flickr user clevercupcakes using an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Fenty, Transparency, Scrutiny: The Political Fallout of FOIA Reform," "Council Ices Statehood Committee," "Mount Pleasant NIMBYs Battle Over Haydee's," "Photos: Strasburg's Debut @ Nationals Park," "Triple Shooting Near Howard University"

Howdy. D.C. Auditor Deborah Nichols finds that the District rarely enforces laws providing that city contractors hire local workers and pay living wages. Along with the city's high unemployment rate, and staggering homeless problem, LL wonders where is the mayor on this issue? Michael Neibauer reports: "District laws requiring that developers of taxpayer-funded projects hire D.C. residents and pay their employees a living wage are poorly monitored and rarely enforced, a new audit finds.The failure of multiple District agencies, primarily the Department of Employment Services, to manage or even implement the 'first source' and living wage programs has cost hundreds of D.C. residents potential jobs and the city government millions in potential tax revenue, D.C. Auditor Deborah Nichols concluded in the May 18 report. District residents, Nichols reported, 'may not be receiving an equitable hourly wage rate.'"

Neibauer goes on to report: "Meanwhile, of the 700,000 jobs in D.C., 72 percent are held by non-District residents, said Councilman Michael Brown, D-At large, who has oversight of DOES as chairman of the Housing and Workforce Development Committee. 'When you’re looking at these high unemployment numbers,' he said, 'I don’t know what is a higher priority.' Only four of 16 development projects that Nichols reviewed met the 51 percent hiring requirement. The 12 that did not, including DC USA, Kenyon Square and the Mandarin Oriental hotel, amounted to 361 jobs and $14.3 million in earnings lost. While that is an estimated figure, Nichols wrote, 'it shows the type of economic fortune that could have occurred for the District and its residents had District agency officials and developers been more committed to FSA laws and processes.'"

More coverage via the Examiner's Alan Suderman: "Nichols found that Mayor Adrian Fenty's office had essentially ignored the city's Living Wage Act of 2006, which requires city contractors to pay workers at least $12.10 an hour. Nichols also noted that Fenty's administration, including Attorney General Peter Nickles, refused to allow her access to all the documents she requested for the audit. The mayor's spokeswoman and Nickles could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday."

And Nickles wants to toughen the city's FOIA laws making it that much harder for reporters and citizens to access government documents. If he won't turn over materials to the city's auditor, do you think he'll turn over materials to you? This LL bets our AG has spent more man hours stonewalling Pershing Park plaintiffs attorneys or suing lawyers in special education cases than going after contractors who fail to live up to their obligations to city workers. Council Chair Vincent Gray won't need a focus group to realize he needs to make this a campaign issue.

AFTER THE JUMP—Politics and Prose owners say store is for sale, more Tax Office Troubles, Trey Joyner's family speaks out, Fenty addresses Hadar resignation, and much, much more!

POLITICS AND PROSE: WaPo's Michael Rosenwald reports that the beloved bookstore is up for sale: "The store's owners, Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade, both 74 and so in synch they often wear the same colors without planning to, said they are simply too tired to keep steering Washington's most prominent non-chain bookstore — a premier stop on top-shelf author tours and a frequent setting for book talks on C-SPAN — through the uncertainty of an industry threatened by e-books. Cohen is also seriously ill. 'It's time for us to stop and let somebody else take over for the future,' Meade said in the 26-year-old store's cramped office. Cohen, eyes reddening, said, 'I just don't have the energy like I used to.' Meade and Cohen said that their 60 employees are nervous but that the sale should not be perceived as the store's final chapter. Despite doom and gloom in the industry, Meade said, 'there are no financial problems here. We make a good profit.'" More coverage via WBJ, DCist. On their blog, the bookstore's owners promise: "Although we are contemplating retirement, we anticipate maintaining a regular presence during the transition, and hopefully afterward. Our goal is to find new leadership to operate the business in the spirit which has been our hallmark. As always, we'll see you at the store!"

TAX OFFICE TROUBLES (AGAIN): The Examiner's Scott McCabe reports that a D.C. tax office investigator and a Bethesda businessman have been indicted on bribery charges: "Shelly-Ann N. Wicker, an investigator for the Office of Tax and Revenue, and John F. Craul, owner of a corporate tax consulting firm, were indicted on 28 counts of bribery and forgery charges. The alleged scheme lasted between 2005 and 2007, ending mere months before the FBI uncovered a different $50 million scandal in the same office. Reached by phone Wednesday, Craul called the charges ridiculous. 'I have never bribed anybody, and they don't have proof,' Craul said. 'If Shelly did it, she did it on her own.' Craul said he and Wicker were good friends, and he loaned her money and she paid him back. 'I wish I could afford to bribe somebody,' Craul said, 'but I don't have any money.'" The scheme cost the District roughly $106,000.

D.C. STATEHOOD: WaPo's Mike DeBonis assesses the District's failed efforts to win voting rights in Congress and where to go from here. Vincent Gray offers a simple solution: fight for statehood. DeBonis writes: "Gray and others explain their frustration as rooted in political reality: The Democratic Party has majority control of Congress, plus a Democratic president in Obama. But still the voting-rights compromise has failed. 'If we can't get it now, then when?' asked Gray, who is running for mayor. 'Why don't we just go for the whole enchilada?' 'There's a greater understanding that it's not any more difficult to get statehood than it is to get a single House vote,' said Michael D. Brown (D), one of two shadow senators elected by District voters to advocate for statehood. And that new understanding has been accompanied by second-guessing. 'Statehood is the big fish, and I think we should have put more effort in that originally,' said member Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7), who heads up the council's voting-rights advocacy efforts. 'We would have made much more headway if we have just focused on that.' The failure of the one-vote compromise has also emboldened longtime statehood activists who have been overshadowed by the voting-rights establishment. 'It's an I-told-you-so moment,' activist Anise Jenkins said. 'A lot of people put a lot of energy and money into this effort, and it was a total misdirected waste of time.'"

METRO MESS: Unsuck Metro reports that Transit Union boss Jackie Jeter invoked slavery in an e-mail defending a Metro bus driver who punched McGruff the Crime Dog.

TRIPLE SHOOTING: Last night, three people were shot near Howard University, NC8 reports: "It happened shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday at 8th and V St NW, a block from the 930 Club. DC Councilmember Jim Graham says two vehicles met up at the spot and fire was exchanged. One witness said he heard two gunshots while leaving a building, then saw people disperse and one man squirming on the ground after being shot. Other people say they saw a victim running toward Howard University, then fall to the ground near the McDonald's." More coverage via WaPo, NBC4, WTOP.

Meanwhile most of those troublesome traffic lights have been fixed.

FENTY ON NEWSTALK: The mayor stopped by NewsTalk for an interview. WaPo's Mike DeBonis took notes: "Fenty also addressed why his well-regarded HIV/AIDS czar, Shannon Hader, abruptly left the city health department. He noted that Hader spent more than three years on the job, 'easily the longest-serving HIV/AIDS administrator by at least double,' he said. But would not address why she left—including rumors of a clash with health director Pierre Vigilance— saying only that 'for professional reasons, she's moved on.' DePuyt noted that Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), chair of the health committee and usually an ardent Fenty supporter, called Hader's departure 'catastrophic' in a Post story today. But Fenty wouldn't directly address the claim: "We have momentum. We're on a upward trajectory," Fenty said, noting that Hader's replacement, Nnemdi Kamanu Elias, has a resume 'every bit as exciting and robust as Dr. Hader's was when we hired her.'"

TREY JOYNER: WaPo reports that Trey Joyner's family held a news conference demanding answers into his death, and for the park police officers to be held accountable: "Almost a year to the day of the June 8, 2009, incident, the family and supporters held a news conference Wednesday outside the John A. Wilson Building to say that the investigation is taking too long and they are looking for justice. 'It does take time to take care of business,' said Brenda Joyner, Trey Joyner's mother. 'But it shouldn't take this long.'"

INTRODUCING THE STRASBURGER: Perhaps nothing got more coverage than BGR's tribute to the Nats pitching phenom. Certainly more reporters covered this burger than the Nichols' audit on jobs. Here's just one story on the now-famous burger.

MAYOR'S SCHEDULE:

7:10 a.m. Guest
Fenty on Fox
Location: Fox 5

9:30 a.m. Remarks
Frank Kameny Way Naming
Location: 17th and R Streets NW

3:00 p.m. Remarks
Ribbon Cutting for Tewkesbury Condominiums
Location: 6425 14th St. NW

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Will DC's Silly Scalping Rules Be Enforced For StrasburgStock?," "Photos: Demonstration at BP Headquarters," "D.C. Teachers 'Livid' About Union Election Debacle," "What About Ward? Robert Wone Case Continues to Perplex," "D.C. General's Family Shelter Back At Capacity"

Howdy. Shocking news out of the Fenty Administration. Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that HIV/AIDS Administration Director Shannon L. Hader—one of the city's best-and-brightest officials—suddenly resigned. WaPo's Darryl Fears has the story:  "After working to turn around a District agency that one city official described as 'dysfunctional bordering on comical' before her arrival, Shannon L. Hader abruptly resigned as director of the HIV/AIDS administration, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced Tuesday....Hader's three-year stint made her the longest-serving director in almost a decade, as other leaders came and went amid criticism for poor management and incompetence. Although Hader is departing to praise, the announcement of her resignation struck some as strange....In his remarks, Pierre Vigilance, director of the city's Department of Health, barely acknowledged the woman who had addressed the District's top health priority, fueling speculation that there had been tension between them. Hader's most ardent supporter in city government, D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), did not attend the news conference. Catania said he had a prior engagement and he would not address speculation that he was deeply upset at Fenty and Vigilance for allowing Hader to resign and accept a position as vice president of a health organization, the Futures Group. 'Her loss is catastrophic,' Catania said." [emphasis added].

METRO MEMORIAL CONTROVERSY: WaPo's Ann Scott Tyson reports that families of the Metro crash victims are upset over their lack of input in the upcoming memorial. Tyson reports: "'All of us are angry and disappointed,' said Kenneth Hawkins, whose brother, Dennis, died in the crash that left nine dead and 80 injured. 'I would have thought the interim general manager would have stepped up to the plate and embraced the families.' Hawkins and other family members only learned of a Metro remembrance service planned for June 22 at the Fort Totten Station when told about it by a reporter. Metro officials said that the families would be invited but that planning is still underway. 'We definitely will be extending an invitation,' said Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. 'We are still firming that up.' Farbstein said a 'logistics meeting' on the event was planned for later Tuesday. 'When the plans are in place, the very first people we will invite will be family,' she said. 'At that time, we will share with them details of what we are planning and how we would like them to participate in the service.' Family members questioned why Metro did not ask well in advance for their input for the ceremony."

AFTER THE JUMP—Michelle Rhee becomes focus of campaigns, Nickles wants to relax FOIA law, Fenty uses focus groups to develop campaign message, and much, much more!

MICHELLE RHEE IS TOPIC A ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL: The Examiner's Alan Suderman notes that Michelle Rhee—and what her future would be under a Gray administration—is becoming a main issue in the mayoral race: "Rhee, who was hand-picked by Mayor Adrian Fenty, has become a shining star of the school reform movement and a major selling point in Fenty's re-election campaign. Under Rhee, test scores have trended higher and teachers recently approved a contract that sets the foundation for the nation's most robust teacher-incentive pay program. But Gray supporters are trying to deemphasize Rhee's role in the future success of the city's schools, saying the school reform laws Gray shepherded through the D.C. Council that gave the mayor control of schools are more permanent and transformative than Rhee's tenure as chancellor. 'He believes strongly that school reform cannot be wrapped around one person,' said Gray strategist Mo Elleithee."

FOIA REQUESTS: AG Peter Nickles fights government transparency with a whiny letter to D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray asking for major leniency in handling Freedom of Information Act requests. The D.C. Wire reports: "Nickles sent a letter to Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) last week seeking immediate legislation to extend the amount of time the city has to respond to FOIA requests. Under current law, the city has 15 days to respond to a request with an additional 10 days allowed for 'unusual circumstances.' But Nickles, whose office often processes requests sent to the administration, said he's increasingly unable to meet that deadline. He wants the city to adopt the provision of the federal FOIA law that allows for agencies to request 'unspecified additional time for a response in unusual circumstances,' Nickles wrote." In other words, if Nickles has his way, you can forget about your FOIA request being fulfilled anytime soon.

Meanwhile, the District's convention center hotel lawsuit is back on.

FENTY FOCUS GROUPS: The mayor, WaPo's Mike DeBonis reports, has turned to focus groups to help him develop his campaign message: "The groups, where a dozen or so voters discuss a topic with the help of a moderator, are common to modern, well-financed campaigns. But Fenty has prided himself on embracing the shoe-leather approach above all else, and the new tactics reflect the challenges he faces in moving from an insurgent, outsider campaign to defending his three years as mayor. The utility of the groups, campaign sources say, is seeing how voters react at length to what Fenty is saying and what he's doing."

CAPITAL BIKESHARE: DCist's Sommer Mathis doesn't seem to approve of the name for Arlington and D.C.'s bike sharing program. WaPo's Martin Weil reports that the name selection wasn't so democratic: "After taking a survey, officials in Arlington County and the District have decided on the name for a program that will make it possible to borrow a bicycle in one jurisdiction and leave it in the other: Capital Bikeshare. In what might be viewed as an affront to democracy, Capital Bikeshare did not garner the most first-place votes among the 1,164 people who took part in the online survey. Officials said Tuesday in a statement that 'George' was the favorite of 279 participants, with Capital Bikeshare the top choice of 199. But the survey also asked for second and third choices, and Capital Bikeshare received 512 total votes to 453 for George."

JOYNER SHOOTING: The Examiner's Bill Myers gets D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton to comment after Philly prosecutors have been brought in to investigate the Park Police shooting death of Trey Joyner: "Frankly, what I wanted from the beginning is an independent investigation," Norton said. "The history of police brutality [in D.C.] makes it hard for many communities to believe even in independent investigations....There is a very long and torrid history [of brutality] that has to be taken into account." LL wonders where Norton has been on the issue of police shootings before the Joyner case. It would have been nice to see Norton stand up for David Kerstetter.

Meanwhile, NC8 reports on one Northeast neighborhood plagued by burglaries.

MOCO SCHOOLS: May become a global brand, according to WaPo's Michael Birnbaum: "The school system will be paid $2.25 million to develop an elementary school curriculum that an education company will augment and sell around the world. The school system will also receive a small percentage of sales revenue once the curriculum is completed. The deal, rare in size and scope in the United States, was approved by the school board 6 to 2 Tuesday. Under the terms, Pearson, the world's largest education publisher, will acquire the expertise of one of the nation's top school systems and the right to use its name and its top employees as sales tools. 'I tend to look at it from the standpoint that we are broke,' Montgomery Superintendent Jerry D. Weast said. 'You have to have new ways of doing things when you don't have money.' School officials say that the money from the deal will allow them to double the dozen people who have been working on the curriculum, speeding its completion and saving money on implementation. The curriculum gives more attention to subjects that have been played down in the past."

HOLLOWAY SPONSORS CRIME FIGHTING TOOL: AP reports: "Beth Holloway opened the Natalee Holloway Resource Center at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment in Washington. Holloway said it will provide services that she initially lacked when her 18-year-old daughter vanished, such as access to government and media contacts and missing persons posters. 'I feel confident that it will serve as a point of light for all missing,' she said while standing in front of two photos of her daughter."

JONETTA ROSE BARRAS: Narrates one particularly painful mayoral candidates forum in which she is compelled to mention a certain bugle-playing candidate. LL feels Jonetta's pain.

WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOG PARKS: Andrew Lightman, the managing editor for the Capital Community News (Hill Rag, East of the River, etc.) sent out an e-mail yesterday to us media types venting that he's plenty sick of reporters believing/implying that streetcars and dog parks=stuff white people like. We thought his point was worth sharing. Lightman writes:

"I hate the recent use of the words 'streetcar,' 'dog park' and 'rec center' as race/class code words. So, I am going to rant to all you, since they have made a recent appearance in each of your respective publications....

Why is that folks can't just say WHITE PEOPLE? I guess it must be because there are no African-American dog lovers. I find that a bit strange being as a frequenter of DC parks and a dog walker at the Congressional Cemetery, both of which are filled with folks of all ages and races. I even work for a black man, who owns a canine. Recently, when I checked the Greenleaf Recreation Center, it was filled with residents from nearby public housing. Turkey Thicket's and Hillcrest's patrons are overwhelmingly African-American. I guess black folk like rec centers too.

Lastly, if you listen to the mostly white elders at the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, there is a perfectly lucid preservationist position against streetcars that focuses on overhead wires. I would suggest you talk to Monte Edwards, but I suspect that none of you has that much time to burn."

This LL is still confused about how dog park can cost $400,000.

MAYOR'S SCHEDULE:  No public events planned.

D.C. COUNCIL SCHEDULE:

10 a.m.
Committee on Finance and Revenue (meeting)
Location: John A. Wilson Building, Room 120

1 p.m.
Committee of the Whole (Hearing)
Bill 18-801, "Closing of Public Streets and a Public Alley and Dedication and Designation of Land and For Street Purposes in Squares 3765, 3767, 3768, and 3769 Act of 2010"
Location: John A. Wilson Building, Room 412

2 p.m.
Committee on Housing and Workforce Development (Round Table)
PR18-0860 the "Whitelaw Disposition Approval Resolution of 2010"
Location: John A. Wilson Building, Room 500

3 p.m.
Committee on Housing and Workforce Development (Round Table)
District Funded Affordable Homeownership Programs: Long-Term Housing Affordability Restrictions
Location: John A. Wilson Building, Room 500

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Neighborhood Watch: No Voluntary Do-Overs In Georgetown," "Cops Found No Match To Prints In Robert Wone Case," "Plan Now For Even Pricier Metro Rides This Summer," "Rowdy Youths Cause Ruckus At Union Station," "Vincent Gray: Here's How You Defend Sharon Pratt Connection"

Howdy. I'm not sure why this troubles me. Maybe it's because this ended up on a listserv. Maybe it's because the way the resident wrote up the incident just felt creepy. A woman posted this compliant about a Fenty campaign worker on the Shepherd Park listserv:

"We just had a sweep of Fenty campaign workers in the neighborhood.  One of the workers, a male with a heavy stutter, approached me  and my kids in my yard.   When my response to his question of support for Fenty was not what he wanted to hear, he became a little aggressive, following behind us as we walked to the car yelling that test scores were up and crime was down all because of Mayor Fenty.   As we were driving away, he yelled, "Don't believe everything you read in the paper!".   My kids were a little jittery behind this."

This doesn't feel aggressive to me. This feels like a very tenacious campaign worker. Now on to the real news.

FENTY SPREADS THE WEALTH: WaPo's Nikita Stewart reported on Sunday data which shows that Mayor Adrian Fenty does not favor certain wards for development projects:  "In a city where the geographic lines of Rock Creek Park and the Anacostia River have historically defined racial and class divisions, some critics of Fenty (D) have long branded the mayor as favoring white neighborhoods at the expense of black communities. But a Washington Post analysis of city data on school construction, parks and recreation projects, and funding for new libraries and schools over the past three years shows that the reality is more complex. And as the city's population becomes whiter and younger, the old geographic fault lines aren't as telling as they once were. In addition, some of the complaints about the mayor's spending point to the lack of private development — like grocery stores and office-supply chains — that the city can influence but not control. Records show, for example, that predominantly black Ward 5 received more school construction funds — $152 million — than any other ward in fiscal 2008 and 2009. According to the city's most recent data available, Wards 8 and 2 followed with $117 million and $103 million, respectively, crushing the idea that when it comes to school construction, wards were favored by class and race. Ward 2 is mostly white, and it includes Georgetown as well as condo-soaked downtown, while Ward 8 is nearly all African American and has the city's highest unemployment and poverty rates."

It's still about spending priorities i.e. that $400,000 dog park. Key graphs for Gray Campaign Workers: "Ronald Walters, an expert in urban politics and professor emeritus at the University of Maryland at College Park, said that as the city's population has changed, the mayor has pursued policies that place a premium on certain projects — dog parks and recreation centers — that reflect what more-recent residents want but may not be as important to residents of wards with high unemployment or lack of easy access to city services. 'In D.C., you have gentrification, the return of the white population . . . to the point that it has become the effective electorate,' said Walters, who points to the city's plan to invest in a $1.5 billion streetcar system as part of a massive gentrification effort. 'Look at that kind of investment and the fact that Washington, D.C., has one of the highest poverty rates.'"

AFTER THE JUMP—Some advocates praise budget, Barry vs. Catania, Colby has questions, another bicyclist is struck and killed on city street, and much, much more.

PRAISE FOR THE BUDGET: The Examiner's Leah Fabel reports that at least one constituency is pleased with the District's budget: Children's advocates. Fabel writes that the D.C. Council ended up restoring much of the funding for children's services. Still, the funding is far from adequate: "Judith Sandalow, executive director of the Children's Law Center, commended some 'terrific last-minute restorations' to the budget — including $1 million to provide rapid housing for homeless families. In mid-May, Sandalow said, the city's Department of Human Services counted 11 families on the streets, unable to find room in shelters. But she worried the big picture remains bleak and was disappointed the council didn't pass a higher income tax on the city's highest wage earners. 'We clawed back most, but not all, of the cuts the mayor made. But that's in the context of having lost dramatically over the past several years,' she said, citing ongoing issues like a several-years-long decline in dollars available for child-care subsidies. 'We went in with the safety net frayed, and we didn't succeed in mending it,' Sandalow said."

BARRY VS. CATANIA: The Examiner's Alan Suderman says that Councilmember Marion Barry has developed a new role for himself: Fenty Watchdog. Suderman writes: "Barry routinely invokes procedural maneuvers to delay the approval of city contracts for up to 45 days. Barry said he's submitting the disapproval resolutions because Mayor Adrian Fenty's administration isn't being transparent about where the city's money is being spent. 'We all know ... this procurement process is just really not working very, very well,' Barry said at a recent D.C. Council hearing. 'They think they can just send anything over here to us.' But critics said Barry, who was stripped of a committee chairmanship in March when a city investigation found that the former mayor had benefited financially from contracts improperly awarded to his girlfriend, is holding up contracts for no other reason than that he wants attention. At-Large Councilman David Catania said Barry's automatic across-the-board disapprovals are burdensome for city staff, harmful for businesses working with the city, and are 'wearing' against the rest of the council. 'We all have to cater to him and try and kiss his robe when he adds no value, and the process adds no value,' said Catania, who has butted heads with Barry over a number of issues recently. "Since he doesn't have a chairmanship that's pretty much all he does.'"

Meanwhile, WaPo's Mike DeBonis wonders if Barry will get a committee chairmanship after the election of a new Council Chairman. "Question is: Will his banishment from his committee chairmanship stand? Or will he be allowed to once again oversee a portion of the city budget, conduct agency oversight, and get a big boost to his office budget? The decision will lie in the hands of the new chairman. Has Barry permanently forfeited his right to oversee city funds? Or — as his attorney, Fred Cooke, has put it — has he "served enough time in the penalty box"? [Kwame] Brown said Friday afternoon that he'll give Barry a committee. Not because the ex-four-term-mayor might have redeemed himself, but because under a Brown chairmanship, everyone gets a committee. That has been the practice under Vincent C. Gray (save, of course, for Barry, post-censure). 'You shouldn't sit on the council, make that much money part-time and not be accountable for trying to move this city forward,' Brown said. 'It's the responsible thing to do.'"

COLBY KING: The WaPo columnist has questions for the mayoral and councilmember candidates. Some of his questions: "Mr. Fenty: What steps have you taken to reduce costs and what steps will you take to reduce costs? The last time you ran, you pledged not to raise taxes, but you have increased many fees that are also a hardship for many. Are you making the same promise for the next four years? Do you believe that you can continue to cut to meet expenses? Mr. Gray: If more cuts can be made, why didn't you make them when the council reviewed the mayor's budget?"

JONETTA: The Examiner columnist defends Michelle Rhee's contracting with nonprofits.

COLD CASES: The Examiner's Bill Meyers and Emily Babay report that the percentage of unsolved area homicides is growing: "It's getting easier to get away with murder in the Washington area. Nearly half of the homicides in the region since 1980 remain unsolved, an analysis by The Washington Examiner found. The number of reported homicides has declined over the past three decades, but police are solving fewer of them. That means some families never get explanations about why they had to bury a loved one. Daniel Harrington's daughter, Morgan, a Virginia Tech student, was killed after a Metallica concert in Charlottesville last year. Her killer is still at large, and Harrington said his grief is magnified by the continuing mystery. 'It's been pretty ugly, actually,' Harrington said. 'When cases go cold and die, people lose interest and move on to something else. It's not popular to keep bringing that up.'"

GREEK FINANCIAL CRISIS HITS MLK JR. MEMORIAL: WaPo's Michael Ruane reports: "The Greeks' offer was a gracious one: The giant pieces of sculpture for Washington's new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial needed to be transported from China. Perhaps Greece, with its large shipping industry and admiration for the civil rights leader, could arrange for vessels to move the monument for free. Officials planning the $120 million King memorial on the Tidal Basin were delighted. The cost savings would be substantial. And the connection to Greece and its ancient culture would be rich. But now, with the 159 huge stone blocks that make up the sculpture waiting at a Chinese seaport and major work underway on the memorial site in Washington, Greek officials have told officials of the King project that they can't deliver....A spokesman at the Embassy of Greece in Washington confirmed that, saying no Greek shippers could be found to do the job. The 'economic crisis bites everywhere,' he said."

CYCLIST DEATH: NC8 reports that a bicyclist was struck by two cars on Southern Avenue Friday night. The man died from his injuries. "DC Police said David Haywood Williams, 42, was on his bicycle traveling southwest on Southern Ave. at approximately 10:43 p.m., when he was struck first by a 2004 Chevy Suburban and then by a dark blue compact sedan, possibly a Toyota or Nissan. The driver of the Suburban left the scene but came back later. He told police he was unaware he had hit anyone. Police said that when DC Emergency Management Service personnel arrived on the scene, the occupants of the second vehicle fled the scene without having been identified. Williams, a resident of the 3400 block of 22nd St., SE, was transported to Prince George's County Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:38 p.m. The driver of the Suburban was not injured. He was taken to a police station as part of the investigation, police said." More coverage via WUSA9, NBC4.

A retired D.C. Police Lieutenant was carjacked over the weekend. WUSA9 reports: "A DC Police official told 9NEWS NOW that at about 11:40 a.m. at a CITGO station at 1300 Kenilworth Ave., three men carjacked a dark Lexus belonging to the victim. Shots were exchanged and the retired lieutenant was transported to an area hospital. The suspects had been in a black BMW that was reported stolen in Prince George's County. Witnesses tell 9NEWS NOW that the victim was waiting to pump his gasoline at the station when three men jumped into his car and took off. Witnesses say he ran after the suspects and during the chase they fired at him three times." More coverage via NBC4.

VA BURBS: It's a lot easier to speed in Fairfax and not get a ticket. There's a reason for this: Cops hate the new computerized ticketing system.

CATHOLICS RENEW VOWS LIKE MOONIES: Nearly 600 couples renewed their wedding vows at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Must be a slow news day. Even WaPo got into this with a warm-and-fuzzy feature on several of the couples: "For John and Corazon (yes, that's Spanish for "heart") Landicho of the Calverton neighborhood in Beltsville, not holding grudges has been key. In 51 years of marriage, they have had their disputes. John, Corazon said, was a high-ranking government accountant who traveled across the country and around the world, often leaving her to tend to their five children. 'It was hard,' said Corazon, 76. But not hard enough to shake the marriage. 'We have a fight. I cry. I get out of the house. I drive around the block. And that's the end of that,' Corazon said. 'You know, fighting doesn't really solve anything. Go ahead, get it out of your system, but don't stay mad for a long time.'"

HELEN THOMAS: The veteran reporter has canceled her high school commencement speech: "Thomas had been scheduled to speak at the June 14 graduation of Walt Whitman High School, which is located in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Md. The school's principal, Alan Goodwin, wrote in an e-mail Sunday to students and parents that Thomas was being replaced as speaker. Goodwin wrote: 'Graduation celebrations are not the venue for divisiveness.' Thomas, a columnist for Hearst Newspapers, issued an apology on her Web site on Friday comments that were captured on video by an interviewer for the website rabbilive.com. On the video dated May 27, Thomas says Israelis should 'get the hell out of Palestine,' suggesting they go to Germany, Poland or the U.S." More coverage via NBC4.

Say, Denver, for instance, where medical pot shops have proliferated in recent months, as The Daily Show's Jason Jones so colorfully illustrates below.

The District may be limited to just five legal weed shops citywide, under the new law, whereas Denver may have five on a single block! But imagine the possibilities: a 20,000-square-foot weed superstore, selling 24-karat gold "medical accessories." It even has its own spa!

Many dispensary operators themselves are disgusted by their own industry's excesses. "Some of these people who are coming into this industry don't care about the plant, and they're really after, you know, the buck," one proprietor complains to Jones.  Another takes issue with the sorts of brand names the supposed medicine providers are marketing. Consider: AK-47, Trainwreck, Greencrack. "Nobody wants crack," one legal weed seller says. "We call it Green Fuzzy Bunnies."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—'Robert Wone's 'Meticulous' Habits Contrary to Cluttered Crime Scene," "Voice of Maureen Bunyan Pivotal To Robert Wone Case," "EMS Worker Was Suspicious of Robert Wone Pal Price"

Howdy. Good afternoon. Lots good stuff so let's get to it. First big news on budget transparency. Nonprofits and social service providers won a big victory yesterday. They had been grumbling behind the seems—and to LL—about how the haggling over the budget would be taking place mostly behind closed doors. Well, D.C. Council Chair—and mayoral candidate—Vince Gray responded to those grumblings and has agreed to broadcast the horsetrading on Channel 13 today. Gray wrote to D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute's Executive Director Ed Lazere with the news. The letter was then forwarded to the press by Gray staff. Gray writes:

"I am alerting your organization and others who wrote me on May 13th that I have arranged for the Office of Cable Television to air live on Council Channel 13 (Comcast) the informal Councilmember budget discussion at 10 AM on Wednesday, May 19th. In addition, I have opened Room 123 of the John A. Wilson Building for the public to view the budget talks via the television monitor in the hearing room at the same time they air live. As is standard, the public also can view the live proceedings on the Council web site at www.dccouncil.us. I am pleased to offer this new access to the public, which is in line with my continuing efforts to promote transparency in government.

As you may be aware, all Councilmembers and select staff attend these informal meetings in the Chairman’s Conference Room on the 5th floor of the Wilson Building. Last year, I opened the sessions to the press as very limited space allowed. I have made these sessions more open than ever by allowing press access. The news coverage has generated enormous feedback from the public through emails directly to members and to staff, phone calls and face-to-face conversations. In addition, pages and pages of public witnesses have testified at marathon budget oversight hearings and mark-ups in recent weeks, and have used these opportunities to comment on agency budgets, and on possible cuts and revenue raising ideas they learned about from numerous news reports, neighborhood list servs and other social media.

I hope that by witnessing these budget talks on television or online, District of Columbia residents will be motivated to offer even more feedback to Councilmembers as we face difficult decisions and the first vote on the budget on May 26th. We sincerely appreciate and consider this feedback to be important to the process of formulating a budget plan that meets the needs of our city in very challenging economic times.

Thank you for your steadfast interest in the fiscal affairs of the District of Columbia."

LL loves transparency. You should too.

AFTER THE JUMP: A congressional foe goes down, more from the Wone trial, a mysterious death on the Metro, the D.C. Council fails to address Fenty's fee increases, and much, much, more!

SEE YA, SOUDER: D.C. Wire's Mike DeBonis reports that Rep. Mark Souder's sudden resignation is a boon to the District as the congressman had been one of the most notorious meddlers in city affairs taking particular aim at our gun laws and our needle-exchange program. DeBonis gets great quotes from Councilmember David Catania on the good news. He writes: "Local self-determination advocates will remember Souder 'as one of the more outspoken people who was willing to impose his own views over the objections of the elected representatives and people of the District,' says Walter Smith, executive director of D.C. Appleseed, a think tank that advocates for D.C. voting rights. At least one city official made no attempt to disguise his glee at Souder's demise. 'Ding-dong, the witch is dead,' said At-Large Council member David A. Catania (I) this afternoon. 'You could almost hyperventilate explaining the hypocrisy of this man's career....I'm sorry for his wife, but I'm glad it happened to him. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy.'"

BROWN AND GRAY WIN ENDORSEMENTS: D.C. Wire reports that Gray and Brown have won pivotal endorsements from labor: "Council Chairman Vincent Gray picked up the backing Wednesday of the American Federation of Government Employees, a federal and D.C. government employee union that represents 600,000 workers. In announcing support for Gray in his mayoral bid, the group took aim in a statement at Mayor Adrian Fenty, who has had tense relations with city government workers throughout his tenure. 'We understand that this election is a fight for the soul of the District of Columbia. Will this be a city that supports working people or will it be a city that only supports the wealthy and well-connected? That is what we're fighting for and that is why we're supporting Vincent Gray.' Separately, the Service Employees International Maryland/DC State Council announced support Wednesday for Council member Kwame Brown (D-At Large) in his campaign to succeed Gray as chairman.The union, which represents 15,000 workers in the Washington region, pledged to help Brown with mailings and door-to-door campaigning as he faces former council member Vincent Orange in the Democratic primary. The group praised Brown for his support of legislation guaranteeing paid sick time for workers and for a measure that boosted wages for private security officers." D.C. Wire also reports that Brown is getting financial backing from the District's bigwigs.

FEE FIGHT: Yesterday, the D.C. Council decided it wanted to play no part in enacting Mayor Fenty's proposed fee increases as a way of increasing much needed revenue. The Examiner's Alan Suderman reports: "The D.C. Council on Tuesday came close to passing Mayor Adrian Fenty's proposed increases for more than 600 fees and fines — including a tenfold increase for some driving tickets — before having second thoughts and telling the mayor to do it himself. 'If you want to nickel-and-dime residents ... then take full responsibility for it,' said Councilman Phil Mendelson, D-at large. Fenty proposed more than $7.5 million worth of fee and fine increases effective June 1 to close a budget gap in the fiscal year that ends in September. The increases are wide-ranging and include higher fees for businesses and nonprofits as well as raising the fines for 71 vehicle citations." More coverage via D.C. Wire, WTOP, WBJ.

METRO DEATH: WaPo's Martin Veil reports on a man who was found dead riding the Red Line: "As recounted Tuesday by Metro, based on a preliminary investigation, the man apparently boarded the train at the Twinbrook Station about 10:15 a.m. He remained onboard as the train headed south into the District and then on to Silver Spring. After the train turned around there, the man apparently was still onboard as it headed back into the District, and then on to the Red Line terminal at Shady Grove. At Shady Grove, it was taken out of service about 11:55 a.m. and went into the rail yard there. The body, which apparently had remained on the train, in the yard, for three hours, was found at 2:55 p.m. as the train was prepared for afternoon service. According to Metro, emergency personnel were summoned, and the man was pronounced dead. The agency said he was in the last car of eight." More coverage via The Examiner, NBC4.

ROBERT WONE TRIAL DAY TWO: Again, the bloggers at Who Murdered Robert Wone provide a super detailed account of the conspiracy trial's second day of testimony. Robert's widow Kathy Wone testified about the demeanor of the three roommates in the aftermath of the murder—they seemed shell shocked. Neighbors testified about hearing a scream the night of the murder. The big news: D.C. Police detectives waited three weeks to interview them. Then came an EMT worker. The bloggers write:

"EMT Jeff Baker, first to arrive at 1509, took the stand. He relayed his 14 years of experience answering calls in DC, minor and traumatic. He’s seen several hundred violent crime scenes including many stabbings. He described the typical atmosphere he sees as 'chaotic.' He arrived at 1509, saw Zaborsky on a phone at the stoop and proceeded upstairs with a Reeves stretcher. He says he saw the unresponsive Ward even before getting to the top of the stairs. In the guestroom he observed Price sitting on the bed with his back to him, a leg tucked up underneath.

Baker volunteered, '…hair stood up on the back of my neck.' A moment later, the entire defense table seemed to erupt with an objection, as if they’ve been waiting years for that moment. Sustained.... [AUSA] Kirschner asked Baker about life saving measures and was told that in the ambulance on the way to GW, a firefighter was compressing Robert’s chest while his EMT colleague was hooking up an IV. It went into the bend of the elbow while Baker worked Robert’s airway. It was en route to GW that Baker noticed the striations on Robert’s abdomen. 'It looked like it was wiped down,' and that the imprint of a towel’s texture was visible. 'It looked like a light film,'… moist with linear marks.

Kirschner showed Baker a large blow up of an autopsy photo, government exhibit #381, and it was briefly visible to the audience. Members of the Wone family were crying even before that. Baker was asked about other needle puncture marks and said he was not authorized to insert needles into a patient’s chest. He also said there would’ve been no reason for any resuscitative needles in Robert’s feet or ankles. While hooked up to monitors in the ambulance, Baker said Robert was ‘P.E.A’, meaning Pulseless Electrical Activity. Flat line."

More coverage via WTOP, WaPo, NC8, the Examiner.

MAYOR'S SCHEDULE:
10:45 a.m.
Remarks re: Washington Kastles Season Kick-Off
Location: Old Convention Center Site
11th and H St. NW

Today, the D.C. Council unanimously approved a bill legalizing medical marijuana. Wayne Turner, a former leader with the D.C. Chapter of ACT UP, made sure to be on hand. For him, the legislative victory had been a deeply personal one. It was Turner, along with his partner Steve Michael, who first began the effort to legalize medical marijuana more than a decade ago. The two had led a petition drive to get a medical-marijuana initiative on the ballot in 1998. Michael died of complications from AIDS only weeks before the signatures were turned in.

The initiative, led by Turner and Michael, did gain enough signatures to get on the ballot. Then Congress intervened and attached a rider to a D.C. appropriations bill that effectively barred the District from counting the votes for the initiative. With the help of the ACLU of the National Capital Area, a federal court challenge was mounted. It took 11 months before a federal judge ruled in favor of D.C. voters. The delayed count showed that District residents overwhelmingly supported legalizing medical marijuana; 69 percent approved the measure. This did not stop Congress—particularly Rep. Bob Barr—from continuing to freeze the measure through amendments.

"It just brought up all of that very, very horrible time in my life when Steve was getting sicker and sicker," Turner tells City Desk today. "He was hospitalized, and we were still trying to get the signatures. And then he died. And then people got together and... people pulled together to make that happen and I'm really proud of that. It brought back those raw emotions. We made a commitment. Yeah, we did that. I haven't really felt until now that we accomplished that goal. Here it is on the council. Now I feel like mission accomplished."

Michael had gone into the hospital 12 years ago this month. He died on May 25, 1998. The deadline for the signature gathering was the first week in July. After Micheal's death, Turner and others worked tirelessly to reach their goal of 30,000 signatures. They did not hire a signature-gathering company. They went out and did it themselves. Even at his sickest, Michael had encouraged Turner to leave his bedside and keep working on the initiative. "Until the end, he wanted the campaign to go on," Turner recalls.

Towards the end, Michael was transferred to the ICU and put on a ventilator. He could no longer communicate without a struggle. He could only nod. Turner, in some ways, says he resented having to work on the initiative. "I was out gathering signatures when my partner was in the hospital. The day before he died, he wanted me to go out. And the next day Steve took a huge plunge downward and we had him disconnected. This initiative stole those hours that I could have spent with him. But Steve wouldn't have had it any other way. His life was about the work."

The work took another 12 years. The court battle inspired Turner to go to UDC's public interest law school and to work with other leaders to wipe out all of the notorious Congressional riders. He summed up the strategy in a WaPo op-ed in Feb.: "Congress's medical marijuana prohibition was nothing new. The District's domestic partnership law took nearly a decade to implement because of a similar "social rider." Local funding for needle exchange programs and abortion services for low-income women were also blocked by congressional fiat. It would take a concerted, multiyear effort by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) and local democracy activists to finally secure passage of a clean budget bill — a rare victory for D.C. voting rights advocates."

With the help and support of the Fenty administration, and two key leaders on the D.C. Council, David Catania and Phil Mendelson, a medical-marijuana bill finally gained approval today. Twelve years ago, Catania visited Michael and Turner in the hospital, and gave one of the eulogies at Michael's funeral. Mendelson was campaigning for his at-large council seat and had endorsed the initiative. "Some of us are still around," Turner says, "and we have a history."

Jack Evans: Back in September, the Ward 2 councilmember told LL he'd "be interested" in running for chair if Gray ran for mayor. But Evans, in his past, has pledged mayoral runs only to think the better of it. But Evans wouldn't have to give up his seat, and he can raise cash like no one's business.

Kwame Brown: Brown has kept absolutely mum about a chairman's run. Like Evans, he doesn't have to risk his seat to run and is a prodigious fundraiser. Plus, he's only two years removed from an impressive citywide landslide victory. LL has gotten indications today that Brown is gathering support for a run.

Phil Mendelson: Mendelson's already hit the ground running for his at-large re-election campaign. Question is: Would he take the risk of running for the chairmanship? Not known for bringing in huge amounts of cash, but has an impeccable record of fending off better-financed challengers.

Kathy Patterson: The former Ward 3 councilmember lost to Gray by a decent margin in 2006, but she retains widespread respect in the city and might see a path to victory depending on who decides to run.

Vincent Orange: The former Ward 5 councilmember risked his seat to run for mayor in 2006 and lost, but he may see a path back to electoral office in the now-vacated chairmanship. But would Orange have to give up his lucrative Pepco lobbying job to run?

David Catania: The at-large independent has an impressive record to run on and a formidable fundraising machine. But his chief of staff, Ben Young, tells LL that his boss has no plans "at this time" to seek the chair.

At a press conference yesterday, At-Large Councilmember David A. Catania repeatedly referred to recent "unconscionable" hikes by city insurers—indeed his legislation is styled 'The Unconscionable Health Insurance Premium Increase Emergency Act.' He cited only one insurer—CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the District's largest—as participating in these hikes, citing raises of up to 55 percent.

"We can see no justification for 55 percent increases this year over next year," he said, adding: "We need some aggressive consumer protection."

Catania compared the situation in D.C. to California, where another Blues affiliate, Anthem, has come under intense scrutiny for rate hikes there. Under Catania's bill, insurers could raise rates no more than 10 percent in a year. In extraordinary circumstances, the city insurance commissioner could approve greater hikes, up to 15 percent.

The proposal has set off a flurry of last-minute lobbying in the council chamber. LL spied CareFirst's Tonya Vidal Kinlow making last-minute appeals to members before the legislative meeting started this morning. LL overheard her telling At-Large Councilmember Kwame Brown that her employer would like a "public-policy debate" about the bill rather than rush it into effect via emergency legislation

It's the latest in many conflicts between Catania and CareFirst—most notably, his targeting of the company's reserves as excessive.

Kevin Kane, a spokesperson for CareFirst, says his company is "reviewing the legislation and its impacts."

UPDATE, 2:15 P.M.: The emergency measure passed by a voice vote, though Ward 7's Yvette Alexander and at-larger Michael A. Brown raised objections on a preliminary vote. Catania and co-sponsor Muriel Bowser of Ward 4 pledged to hold a hearing on a permanent health insurance reform measure within three weeks.

UPDATE, 3:55 P.M.: CareFirst has issued a statement:

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) understands and shares the DC Council’s concerns about the rising cost of health care coverage. As a not-for-profit insurer, CareFirst operates on the thinnest of margins – essentially providing services at cost. Premiums rise because the associated health care costs rise. CareFirst is striving to restrain the rise of health care costs and regrets that premium increases are necessary.

CareFirst is currently subject to regulatory oversight and only charges premiums that have been reviewed and approved by regulators in each of the jurisdictions in which we do business. In the end, there are two tests of the reasonableness of CareFirst’s premium rates. They cannot be so low as to cause unsustainable losses, nor so high that they cause excessive “profits.” In the case of CareFirst, the profit margin is negligible. If there is any margin left over after paying medical and administrative costs associated with member coverage, it is placed in reserve for the protection of policy holders.

The entire situation is a difficult one. Artificially limiting premiums so that they do not reflect the actual costs can be done only in the short term. In the long-term, premiums must realistically reflect the costs they are intended to cover. The company is dedicated to trying to control costs and seeks to avoid increases in premium to the maximum extent possible

"Beginning at 8:30 a.m., the first 200 couples will receive a box including Hello Cupcake’s signature chocolate and vanilla flavors, offering congratulations and best wishes.  Catania will personally greet couples and hand out cupcakes between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m."

What will Catholic Charities being handing out?

Much of this scandal broke after his July 4th stalking arrest. Soon after, Barry and/or his staff held multiple press conferences outside the Wilson Building. Instead of coming clean, his spokesperson read statements that simply bashed the character of Barry's former-girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt. [And in secret, Barry continued to pursue her]. Barry's own response centered on threatening to sue the U.S. Park Police for properly arresting him in the first place. He also firmly believed that there was nothing wrong in hiring girlfriends.

As Bennett's investigation went into high gear, Barry used that time to keep tabs on witnesses, and pressure Watts-Brighthaupt to not hand over critical evidence. Barry also sat for his own deposition. If there was a time he could have presented his rebuttal to Bennett's charges, that would be the time. Instead, he refused to answer certain questions, played dumb in other instances, and referred to those kickbacks as "loans." Bennett's people found his answers to not be so credible.

As Catania told WaPo:

"These are very serious allegations. The conclusions — they are not allegations, they are conclusions — by our special counsel amount to the fact that Marion took kickbacks" from a former girlfriend, Catania said. "The council does not have the authority to remove Mr. Barry from office. That responsibility rests with the voters of Ward 8. But we do have the authority to determine which committee he sits on and whether or not he chairs a committee."

No one on the D.C. Council expects Barry to suddenly come up with evidence that will save him. So why wait to start deliberating on what to do?

David A. Catania

Position: at-large councilmember

Address: 2122 Newport Place NW (Dupont Circle)

Observations: Of all the VIPs surveyed, Catania has the most modest responsibilities when it comes to sidewalk frontage—his midblock rowhouse on cozy Newport Place only stretches a few yards wide. Indeed snow had been cleared from the stoop and walk, but not completely, leaving a not-thin layer of snow. With nighttime temps dipping into the single digits, that's a recipe for hazardous late-night re-icing!

Grade: B-

Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat
Contributions This Period: $171,391 ($171,391 total)
Expenditures This Period: $8,611 ($8,611 total)
Cash on Hand: $162,780
The Skinny: Say what you will about Graham, the man is simply a powerhouse fundraiser—from the lawyers to the restaurants/bars to the developers to the just plain ol' folks, the bespectacled one knows how to rake it in. Especially from the developers—his take from PN Hoffman alone is gobsmacking. Question now is: Will it be enough to scare off potential challengers Jeff Smith and Bryan Weaver?

Mary Cheh, Ward 3 Democrat
Contributions This Period: $38,998 ($101,573 total)
Expenditures This Period: $2,208 ($7,894 total)
Cash on Hand: $93,679
The Skinny: Cheh, without a declared opponent, has amassed a nice war chest thanks to parking interests, construction and development types, and her colleagues at George Washington University, including President Steven Knapp ($250). Other notable contributors: Allen Lew ($250), Terry Golden ($500), Peggy Cooper Cafritz ($500).

Delano Hunter, Ward 5 Democrat
Contributions This Period: $11,974 ($11,974 total)
Expenditures This Period: $11,751 ($11,751 total)
Cash on Hand: $223.13
The Skinny: Hunter, a 26-year-old community organizer from Brookland Manor/Brentwood, did pretty well for an unknown—pulling in more than $10,000 on the friends-and-family plan. He seems to have a particular following in Delaware, where he went to college before moving to Oregon to work for Nike. The bad news is that he's already in debt, thanks to hefty early spending and a $3,900 personal loan.

Harry Thomas Jr., Ward 5 Democrat
Contributions This Period: $50,140 ($50,140 total)
Expenditures This Period: $8,619 ($8,619 total)
Cash on Hand: $41,521
The Skinny: Thomas is the laggard among the four ward councilmembers up for re-election this year, with less than half the bankroll so far of his colleagues. He's got a mix of retirees, unions, and folks with interests in his ward—developers Fort Lincoln New Town and Bruce Baschuk of J Street Development, to name a couple. The Manning family, of lottery contract fame, donated nearly $2,000. And mom, Romaine Thomas, chipped in $350.

Tommy Wells, Ward 6 Democrat
Contributions This Period: $40,395 ($117,450 total)
Expenditures This Period: $15,574 ($18,000 total)
Cash on Hand: $99,449
The Skinny: Wells, also sans challenger, is in good shape, with a larger-than-average number of small neighborhood donations mixed in with the heavy-hitter developers (Forest City Washington, Wm. C. Smith & Co.). Expenditure LL wishes he could have been a part of: a $1,329 bill from Smith & Wollensky.

David Catania, at-large independent
Contributions This Period: $33,750 ($33,750 total)
Expenditures This Period: $0 ($0 total)
Cash on Hand: $33,750
The Skinny: Catania started his campaign with little more than a whisper, quietly filing his papers late last month. But he's was able to raise a nice chunk of funds in a week's time by gathering big checks from a stalwart group of local fundraisers: The Cherie Doggett/Rusty Lindner/David Julyan orbit of parking operators, plus the M.C. Dean/Miller & Long money machine.

Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat
Contributions This Period: $60,250 ($130,970 total)
Expenditures This Period: $815 ($929 total)
Cash on Hand: $130,040
The Skinny: Mendo's gotten a quicker start than usual this year, well exceeding the $70,000 $56,000 he'd raised at this point for his landslide run against Scott Bolden. Mendelson's list reads like a who's-who of ex-D.C. gov types—ex-councilmembers H.R. Crawford and Jim Nathanson, ex-CTO Suzanne Peck, ex-police chief Ike Fulwood, soon-to-be-ex-lottery operator Lottery Technology Enterprises. Gal pal Carol Mitten, a ex-zoning commission chair, chipped in $1,000 over the weekend.

Clark Ray, at-large Democrat
Contributions This Period: $80,382 ($80,382 total)
Expenditures This Period: $38,314 ($38,314 total)
Cash on Hand: $42,068
The Skinny: As LL already noted, Ray has stayed squarely in the conversation with his $80K showing (which includes a $15,000 personal loan from Ray). That, campaign chair Peter Rosenstein is quick to point out, is more than Mendelson raised this reporting period. Whatever, Mendo's still got three times as much in the bank.

The bill introduced by At-Large Councilmember David A. Catania, long a stalwart ally of the District's only east-of-the-river hospital, would direct the money to the former Greater Southeast Community Hospital from a dedicated city health care fund.

That fund was set up by Catania and the council in 2008 as part of an effort to fund a universal health care proposal. Because of the recession, the proposal has thus far come to naught, but the funding mechanism has kicked in, generating about $20 million per year from tobacco and insurance taxes. The bill would authorize up to $6 million this fiscal year to help United staunch its cash bleeding; an additional $3.5 million from the fund was already scheduled to go to the hospital to set up a pediatric emergency facility. In the following fiscal year, starting Oct. 1, Catania said today he will recommend spending as much as another $6 million.

This morning, Catania sold the bill to reporters as a local version of the federal "disproportionate share" funding given to hospitals that treat largely needy and uninsured patients, although UMC would be the only hospital that would have access to the funds. In the first year, according to a Catania staffer, $2.9 million would be immediately injected into the hospital to solve cash flow problems, with the remainder of the $6 million available through reimbursements.

In any case, the legislation represents an ongoing public fiscal commitment to the Ward 8 hospital that was not foreseen when the council injected nearly $80 million in the hospital in 2008.

Catania today praised UMC's "very solid management" and described how the 2008 money helped improve the hospital's facilities and care. He also pointed out that Chicago's Michael Reese Hospital—another facility serving a low-income populace that once shared ownership with UMC—is now under the wrecking ball.

"Has it turned out exactly as we hoped? No. But are we on the right track? Yes," Catania said. "It is a work in progress, but it is worthy work."