Every real protest movement needs a decent website, and now the opposition to an almost-approved $46 million tax abatement for the Marriott's Edition hotel in our little corner of Adams Morgan has joined the anti-Walmart people in setting up an internet soapbox. It's all in preparation for a forum on the issue put on by [...]

Today is gap-closing day at the Wilson Building, where Councilmembers are grappling with the question of how to find $188 million–the difference between revenues and expenses in the FY 2011 budget. The Fenty administration came up with a few suggestions for how that should happen, but since the Council can basically throw them out the [...]

Over the last year, it's become blindingly obvious that the D.C. Taxicab Commission is in for a shakeup. There was the corruption scandal that lost Councilmember Jim Graham his oversight of the commission, which was already barely functioning. Vince Gray got elected with a wave of support from cabbies who expect an adjustment of meter [...]

Tuesday morning marked a starchy celebration on Irving Street NW in Columbia Heights: The grand opening of IHOP’s 1,500th location, complete with a dancing pancake, free short stacks of pancakes, and a Washington Monument shaped out of...you get the picture. Inside, IHOP execs visiting from California for the occasion congregated in the back room, while [...]

Councilmember Jim Graham announced on listserves yesterday that Perseus Realty will finally be able to start construction on the long-stalled 14W project be the end of the year. The development, which is to include 231 residential units and a new YMCA, has been stalled since "breaking ground" in 2008. Perseus president Bob Cohen was a [...]

So, this bit from last week's Council legislative meeting warrants highlighting: Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham is asking for $400,000 to cover the back taxes and remaining acquisition debt incurred by Central Union Mission's purchase of 3512 Georgia Avenue N.W. in 2006. The charitable organization originally wanted to build a men's homeless shelter there, but [...]

The usual suspects took up their shovels this morning to officially begin the restoration of Ledroit Park and Shaw's Howard Theater, which has been falling apart from the inside after decades of disuse. In the audience were dozens of older residents, half of whom raised their hands when Shaw Main Streets president Alex Padro asked [...]

Yesterday, a new sign showed up on the chain-link fence surrounding the full city block of rubble on 14th Street between Belmont and Chapin Streets. "COMING SOON", it reads. "Working with the Mayor, Councilmember Graham, and the Community."
The development, which looked like it was moving forward when the Nehemiah Shopping Center was demolished last year, [...]

Councilmember Jim Graham knew he was on friendly turf at last night’s Ward One councilmember debate, hosted by a group of labor unions and social services advocates.
He had arrived at the True Reformer building on U Street a half an hour late, but with good reason: Celebrating a tenant purchase at 1372 Kenyon Street NW, [...]

City Desk reported yesterday that the D.C. Chamber of Commerce's PAC put its thumb on the scale for Ward One Council candidate Jeff Smith, making a pointed statement against Councilmember Jim Graham's continued service in the Wilson Building. I share Jason's surprise–it's not often that an organization will take such a risk on someone who [...]