T-minus 364 Days: Inauguration

Yes, I know it's way too early to be thinking about Inauguration. But, yesterday marked one year until we celebrate another peaceful transfer of power from one President to the next. A year form now, the 45th President will be embarking on their second day of work, and we'd be in the middle of what would probably be a three day weekend with Inauguration falling on a Friday in 2017 (January 20). Other dates to look forward to before then:

• February 1: The first presidential primary: Iowa Caucuses.
• March 1: Super Tuesday: Fifteen states have presidential primaries/caucuses on this day.
• March 12: District of Columbia Republican Caucus. FYI - This is on a Saturday. 
• June 14: District of Columbia Democratic primary. Yes, literally the last primary in the U.S.
• July 18-21: Republican Convention in Cleveland.
• July 25-28: Democratic Convention in Philadelphia.
• September 26: First presidential debate.
• October 4: Vice presidential debate.
• October 9: Second presidential debate. 
• October 19: Third presidential debate. 
• November 8: Election Day.
• December 19: Electoral College meets in each state to cast official votes for President & VP.
• January 6, 2017: Joint Congressional session to tally electoral votes.
• January 20, 2017: Inauguration of new President.

Keeping Tabs: DC vs Washington

DC's Big Flea Market and DC Tattoo Expo... held in Northern Virginia?
Yeah, I love regionalism, but there is a limit. The DC Big Flea! Over 1,000 booths! Two huge buildings! In Chantilly? That's like, another world. A good 25 miles from downtown DC. And the DC Tattoo Arts Expo (which I will probably be attending!) is being held in Crystal City. Virginia. At least it is on the Metro. And the land it sits on used to be a part of the District. So, they get a pass this time.

Many events held in VA or MD have regional or national appeal and should be treated as such when they are marketed. I'd rather have organizers of these "capital area" events use the word "Washington" instead of DC. DC denotes like a specific area --the 68 sq miles we call the District. The word "Washington" should be used to denote other places into metro area. Except Chantilly.

Lucky Brand Jeans Closing in Dupont

Dupont has seen more businesses open than close in the last two years on the main part of it's Connecticut Ave strip (in between Metro entrances) the last two years --Panera, AT&T, BGR, Sweetgreen, Hello. But a long time tenant is poised to leave soon. Lucky Brand Jeans at 1739 Connecticut Ave NW will close by month's end. The specialty jeans seller has other DC area stores, but will be missed in this part of town that I consider more of a food lovers mecca than destination for fashionistas. Georgetown still holds that label in my eyes. No word on what business will replace Lucky. 

No Pants Ride? No.

An oddly related event, the No Pants Metro ride, happened yesterday. I was out of town, so I missed it. But there's no way I would have done it if I were here! 30 degrees and in my skivvies? Uh, no. You are brave souls who dared to walk around and ride Metro pantless yesterday: tip o' the hat to you. I won't be joining you anytime soon.

On a More Serious Note,

When Paul Krugman asked "When you heard the terrible news from Arizona, were you completely surprised? Or were you, at some level, expecting something like this atrocity to happen?" I have to answer yes, I was expecting something like this, as he did. 

As a former civics teacher, current political junkie and student of history, I know how hard it is for most folks to sideline their own beliefs for the sake of debate, legislative compromise or any other reason. There's such a wide spectrum of opinion and vision about how our American government should operate. Even if only 10% of the 300,000,000 of us participate in political discourse, that still means 30,000,000 voices out there to reconcile and work together.

We can run as far to the left or right as our hearts desire. That's part of the system. But not to the point that we fall off the map. There are boundaries. And the more we abandon common sense, intellectualism, and due diligence in examining the past, the harder we make in on ourselves. America is an experiment. Who knows if we are succeeding or failing. It's hard to say. I tend the think we are a complicated, messy work in progress. But, generally better off than we've ever been.

Sure, every generation feels at some point that it's times are the best/worst/darkest/promising/whatever. But it's easy to look around today and see a lot of common sense being overlooked, overrun and just plain disregarded as we debate our views and each try to have an impact. Let's be smart and conscientious about our actions and words. Democracy is not "anything goes," it's "anything possible." The trick is constantly having to revise the methods we use to get there, including how we communicate with one another as fellow citizens. Let's resolve to do that as peacefully and safely as we can from now on.

Gray Town Hall Meeting Next Tuesday

UPDATED:  The location has changed: The location of this town hall is Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, 1100 Harvard Street, NW. The time is still 6:30-8:30pm.

Presumptive Washington DC mayor Vincent Gray is on a mission to win over District residents weeks before the general election.

He has scheduled town hall meeting in each  DC political ward and ours is coming up next Tuesday. The two hour meetings are really geared towards the residents; not so much a presentation, but a chance for residents to let Mr. Gray know what concerns they have heading into the new year. He would take office, if elected, on January 2, 2011.

The Ward One meeting --for residents of Mount Pleasant, Columbia Heights, most of U Street, Adams Morgan and more-- will take place Tuesday October 19. Ward One councilperson Jim Graham and ANC members from across the ward should be in attendance. The location is the Columbia Heights Youth Center, 1480 Girard Street NW. The town hall starts promptly at 6:30 pm!

Vote Today for DC's Mayor, Council

With all due respect to the Republicans and Statehood Greens, the election for Mayor of Washington DC happens today and will be determined by Democrats. Although today's vote is technically a party primary, DC's overwhelming registered Democratic majority virtually ensures that that party's primary winner will prevail in the general election.

If you live in Mount Pleasant, you are likely voting in one of two schools:  Bancroft Elementary at 1755 Newton Street NW or Bell Multicultural High at 3101 16th Street NW.  Some of you way down on Harvard St NW closer to Adams Morgan will vote at H.D. Cooke School.  Check your registration card or DC Board of Elections and Ethics website. Where ever you vote, the polls are open from 7:00AM until 8:00PM.

You have to be registered as a member of one of the three major political parties to vote today (that's Dem, Rep or Green).  Those registered as Independent will vote during the general election on November 2, 2010.

Ward One residents who are registered to one of the three major parties will cast votes for:

*Mayor

*Council Chair

*At-large Council Member

*Ward One Council Member

*Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives

*United States Representative

Here's a PDF from DCBOEE with all candidates for all three parties across all DC Wards.

Only the Democrats are fielding candidates in each office for Ward One.  Republican and Statehood Green Parties are fielding partial slates, although all voters are entitled to write in a candidate for any office or not vote at all.  Good luck and see you at the polls.

Restoring Sanity: New Creperie, Circulator News, Rallies

Back to Monday, back to sanity?  Ha, not in this town.  There's always something new!  A bunch of news broke over the weekend and as you can see, I could hardly wait to share it all at once.

***A new creperie quietly opened in Adams Morgan.  Snap already operates a fairly out-of-the-way shop in Georgetown (on Thomas Jefferson St).  I guess they wanted to open a more visible location.  The Adams Morgan space at 2475 18th Street NW used to be CD/Game Exchange.  This is the space between CaliYogurt and Saki.  I stopped by for a coffee, but I remember the Georgetown location as focused on crepes and bubble tea.  Looks to be the same here.  The space is neat looking with orange walls and seating along the sides of the long store.  Crepe making, coffee and the register are in the rear of the store and seating goes all the way to the front windows.  Not sure of they are vegan friendly.  I'll try back when they are in full swing to ask about that stuff.  Cool hang out spot though.

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***Everyone's favorite transit option, the Circulator, just added a new route Sunday.  The DDOT-Metro collabo replaced the long running Georgetown Blue Bus.  The new Circulator route will link Dupont Circle and Rosslyn in Arlington, VA with just 8 stops in each direction.  The Dupont pick up is located at 19th and N Streets NW.  Pretty awesome news.  The buses will (allegedly ) run every ten minutes like the rest of the routes.  

This route will run on M Street through Georgetown in each direction.  Stating yesterday, the Georgetown-Union Station Circulator will now take Georgetown bound buses onto K Street NW for the last portion of the trip.  The buses will then offload and begin a new trip towards Union Station by turning north onto Wisconsin Ave and then right onto M Street on the way to Union Station.  this is, if you remember, the original route.

And a change for another existing route as well.  The southbound Woodley Park-McPherson Sq Circulator will depart from 14th St NW at Thomas Circle and continue on 13th Street until reaching McPherson Square.  Seems there is less traffic on 13th and the buses will reach the final destination quicker.  Good move.

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***Get ready for a slooooooowwwwwww weekend on the Red Line.  If you don't know, listen up.  Metro will be closing five Red Line Stations the entire Labor Day weekend.  Yes, completely closing five Red Line stations for the entire Labor Day weekend.  The closing begins at 10:00pm on this Friday night (Sept 3) and will continue until the stations reopen on Tuesday morning (Sept 7) at 5:00am. The stations closed are Glenmont, Wheaton, Forrest Glen. Silver Spring and Takoma; all on the eastern branch of the U-shaped line. 

Metro is replacing literally thousands of track components and laying fiber optic wire for enhanced mobile phone service in underground stations.  There's a fairly complicated bus bridging system, so check the WMATA website for that.  And good luck to those trying to get to and from MD and DC this weekend!  Add a bunch of time to your travel plans.  Heaps.

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***Lastly, turns out the large rally/gathering on the Mall wasn't really that exciting.  No one's head exploded at the main event and the counter rallies happened simultaneously resulting in little confrontation or other fireworks.  I did see a few "Culture Warrior," "No spin," and tea party affiliated t-shirts.  But besides observing slightly heavier than average Metro ridership, I personally was not affected by the rally.  

However, as former civics and American history educator, it pains me to see so much misinformation insinuated or just stated as fact and then passed along by a charismatic, but misguided and often factually wrong man.  And bringing that to DC under some guise of reformation was just sad.  Sad for the organizers and sad for the country.  This event won't bring us closer together.

I have to say that in my view, the rally had nothing to do with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  The ersatz leader of this weekend's rally couldn't hold a candle to King's brilliance.  He does a great job of entertaining people, and selling books and ad space for his TV-radio shows.  But making his constant target --our town, DC-- or any of the other parts of America better; no, that's not the way.  So, I say yes to free speech and yes to free assembly.  But no to negativity and misinformation in the name of "taking back" America.  It's reprehensible and in the end, won't win over the hearts of the majority.  If we have to restore anything, it should be sanity.

Friday Fun Post: Politricks

You Tube and social media have changed political campaigning more than we probably recognize in the present moment.  While traditional TV ads can be expensive and restricted to the candidate's geographical area, the internet throws all those rules out the window.  Production costs have come down with cheaper HD cameras and video editing programs.  Posting on sites like You Tube is practically free.  Now, anyone with an internet connection can see your ads for free, watch over and over again and easily share them with friends and others trough Facebook, blogs and email links.  So, why not get creative?

Obviously I'm not endorsing any of these candidates, but I think these ads are memorable and primarily geared towards the internet with the intent on viral distribution.  Two are local, and Dale Peterson --how could I not.  It's probably the most interesting of the three.  I mean, he's practically threatening you if you consider voting for the other guy.

Bryan Weaver is running for DC's Ward One Council spot.  Pretty neat fast paced ad with lots of neighborhood sites.

Adrian Fenty is running to Mayor of DC.  He did not produce this ad.  And he's not even in it.  But it might be the first political ad to successfully make use of Auto-Tune.

This is Dale Peterson.  He eventually failed in his quest to become Alabama's Agriculture and Industries Commissioner.  However, he definitely won the Most Angst Ridden Alabama Ag Commission Campaign Video Award.  I made that award up and he won it.  He won it. 

Streetcar Funding Abruptly Pulled, Then Reinstated

Wow. This was a shocker. The DC City Council voted yesterday to strip the nearly $50 million slated to fund the first phase build-out and operation of the DC streetcar lines.

Almost immediately after the decision hit the airwaves and websites, a reversal. The funding was restored by 3:00pm after calls to members' offices, a mini-revolt on the web and even intervention of a member of Congress (surprise).

This is the same project that was highly touted this month as the future of DC transportation. The city trotted out its experts, other DDOT employees, an actual street car, a few Circulator buses, Smartbikes and heaps of pamphlets and display boards. All in an effort to educate residents about the extensive and exciting transit changes just around the corner. Except it was (almost) all a sham.

The initial vote yesterday was odd for several reasons. First, the city had, for years, planned a citywide network of streetcars, running east-west, north-north, touching every ward. Tracks have been laid and cars purchased and delivered. We are 80% there. So much time and money have invested in start up and the future looks bright.

Second, so many businesses have been affected by the streetcar saga, especially along H Street NE, where track-laying has disrupted vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the street for months on end. And the potential payoff of customers delivered by streetcar is a key reason they would have looked forward to completion.

Third, the streetcars were part of the plan to help alleviate crowding on Metro bus and rail. The Circulaotor was partly a success because it wasn't a Metro bus or train. The routes were unconventional, the city didn't have to consider the needs of VA or MD, and changes could be made to meet customer demand (adding a stop, rerouting, etc) quickly. Streetcars were a significant piece to the puzzle of solving Metro overcrowding. Not the only piece, but a significant piece. The only way we'll get around the Metrorail "full-capacity" issue is to add more transit options, i.e. streetcars.

Legislating is a tricky thing. You have to please multiple constituencies and at the same time make financially responsible decisions for the District. Not an easy task. But to temporarily kill a project that was so far along and with so much infrastructure and moving parts already in place was, well, ill advised. I'm personally happy that the funding was restored. And the Council seems to think that they've found the funds to cover the other essentials that apparently took precedent the day before. Here's to riding the rails.

Keeping Tabs: Presidents and Pitches

**For the third time since baseball's return to Washington, a sitting President will throw out the first pitch. Last year, President Obama declined the open invitation and instead threw out the first pitch for the All Star Game wearing the colors of his hometown Chicago White Sox. Former President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch for the Nationals in 2005 at RFK stadium. And I was there on the chilly Sunday night in 2008 when President Bush again threw out the first pitch at the just finished Nationals Park, opening the MLB season. If you are going to Monday's opening day game get there early. Gates open at 10:00am, game starts at 1:05. The game is sold out except for game-day $5 grandstand tickets. They go on sale Monday at the ticket booth beginning at 10:00am.

**Another type of pitch will be made this Thursday at a public forum near Mount Pleasant. All Souls Unitarian Church at 1500 Harvard St NW will host one of several Metro open house forums. They're trying to figure out what we think should be done to close the nearly $200 million budget gap for next fiscal year. Reduce services? Eliminate bus routes? Increase fares? I covered some of the worse case scenarios a few weeks ago. Hopefully, none of those will come to pass. But expect changes though. Uncomfortable ones. The hearing will begin at 7:00pm after a half hour open house. Can't make it? At the very least, complete Metro's online survey.

**Usually don't talk politics on the blog, but it looks like there may be serious contenders for two formerly comfortable incumbents. Yes, they are Mayor Adrian Fenty and our Ward One Council member, Jim Graham. Fenty may face the toughest challenge from Council Chair Vincent Gray who has opposed Fenty on some key issues in both substance and style. And Jim Graham may have to face off against Jeff Smith, recently of the DC School Board. They say "all politics is local." And in DC, that's all we really have! Since we're taxed without proper Congressional representation. All the more reason to look at the candidates and make a choice come this fall. Stay off the sidelines people! Democracy is a contact sport.

No Promises, But Voting Rights Bill Off to a Good Start

We're nowhere near attaining statehood. That's another issue entirely. But it's related to the subject matter. Yes, the biennial (happens with each new Congress) push for D.C. Congressional voting privileges has begun anew and we're off to a good start. The Senate committee which oversees the District's goings-on voted to advance a bill which would give the District a voting member in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill would permanently add two voting members to the House, bringing the total to 437. The additional seat would go to the state next in line according to recent population increases; Utah. However, Congressional voting districts will be redrawn and reapportioned after the 2010 Census, so Utah may not hold on to the extra seat for long. D.C. would keep its seat no mater what the outcome of the Census. There are plenty of pros and cons to this bill, but moving it along this early in the Congressional session is a good thing.

Overheard

A New Day

A New President

Finally, Voters Take Center Stage

A new President will be moving onto the 42 bus line in January. Help choose him.

Just to review:

+++DC polls are open from 7:00AM until 8:00PM
+++Those in line by 8:00PM will get to cast a vote
+++Voters can take notes or sample ballots into the booth
+++Voters can take a friend or other helper into the booth
+++A paper ballot is always available, in every polling place
+++IDs not always required, but bring one anyway
+++No campaign paraphernalia can be displayed in the polling place
+++Precinct 39 voting (formerly Mt Pleasant Library) now located at Bell Multicultural High School

Friday Fun Post: A Week Old, Still Kills Me

Also, mildly NSFW, definitely partisan, and very funny. A certain VP candidate as president.

Eat the Rich

I want a piece of the bailout/rescue plan/giveaway. I want the government to buy a stake in my to-be-named business. I want to secure a loan off $85bill. I want a piece of the action.

What if our government decided that just 1% (one per cent) of that $700,000,000,000 was dispersed among, say, 2,000 small business owners, or better, entrepreneurs. That one per cent would equal $700,000,000; seven hundred million dollars. Divided among 2,000 small business owners/entrepreneurs would equal $350,000 per person. If spread out evenly that's about 40 business owners per state and the District. If 40 entrepreneurs in DC received $350,000 each, I bet at least one would be from Mount Pleasant. Let's suspend reality for a second:

How would you use $350,000 to better the neighborhood? I would reopen one, or if possible, two of the storefronts on Mount Pleasant Street. There are a few to choose from: former Mt Pleasant Supermarket, former Express Business Center, former Super Save, former Speed Wash to name a few. But if retail/restaurant is the answer, then what? Restaurants are pretty much covered: we've got Korean, Chinese, American, Salvadorean, Guatemalan, pizza, pupuserias and more. We already have businesses for dry cleaning, apparel sales, jewelry sales, shoe repair, hair cuts, banks, beer and liquor sales and groceries. Check, check and check.

No in all seriousness, what would you provide as an entrepreneur with $350,000 burning a whole in your pocket? A bike store on Mt Pleasant Street? A vegan eatery? A vegan cart? (see post below) A free bus to take Mt P residents across the ravine to Cleveland Park? Larger farmer's market? Street improvements? Another bodega? Art gallery? Arcade? Community center? There are a ton of options. I will stick with my idea of opening up one of the vacant storefronts. To what, well I'll leave that to your suggestions.

Meet Local ANC Candidates and Watch the National Debate

Thanks to a reader for this information.

Meet Your ANC Candidates and Watch the VP Debates With Your Neighbors!

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Haydee's Restaurant (3102 Mt. Pleasant St)

7:30-9pm Meet and Greet with ANC Candidates

9-10:30pm Vice Presidential Debate (on Haydees' big screen!)

Join us Thursday night to meet our ANC 1D candidates, chat up our neighbors and then watch the vice presidential debate together on the big screen!

So come on out and enjoy this combination of neighborhood and national democracy!

This event is sponsored by Hear Mt Pleasant, Mt Pleasant Main Street and the Mt Pleasant Business Association

Friday Fun Post: Goodbye Sweet Princes

DC Voting Deadlines, Primaries Loom

UPDATED FOR NOV 4, 2008 ELECTION: CLICK HERE

If you are a registered voter in the District of Columbia, get ready. Key dates are approaching regarding the Race to Live in Relative Comfort For at Least Four Years, Maybe Eight, at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Or, in the parlance of our times, the Race for the White House '08. The DC primaries are only weeks away, Tuesday February 12, 2008. If you'd like to vote in the primaries, you must be a registered voter by January 14th, 2008. That's next week! Remember, we have closed primaries in DC. That means you must register under a particular party to take part. Those registered as independents are not allowed to vote in DC's primaries. However, independents are allowed to vote in the general election. For the 2008 presidential primary elections, three parties are on the ballot, Democrat, Republican and Statehood Green.

The polling locations for the primary elections mirror those for the general election. There are 142 all over the city. Check you voter registration card, or use this web link to determine to which polling place you are assigned. There are a couple in Mt Pleasant alone including Bancroft School and the Mt Pleasant Branch Library.

If you are just turning 18 soon, or just haven't registered, you still have time to before the general elections in November. The deadline to register in DC for the general (including presidential) elections is October 6. The election will then be held a month later on November 4, 2008.

There are 7 Democrat, 6 Statehood Green and 5 Republican candidates vying for their own party's presidential nomination. Interesting notes: Two candidates have already dropped out of the presidential race although their names will still appear on the DC ballot (Joseph Biden and Christopher Dodd, both Democrats), one candidate is a DC resident (Jared Ball of the Green Party), and one candidate was a star of sorts in an opposing party (Cynthia McKinney, formerly of Democratic Party fame, now a Green Party candidate). A couple of years ago, DC officials tried to jump the primary nomination gun and schedule an primary in January. The purposes were to make a splash nationally by being the first in the nation primary and to focus attention on our lack of full representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The primaries were held early, but the plan backfired when national Democratic Party leaders stripped the elections of any cache' by declaring them non-binding, essentially making the exercise a meaningless exhibition. Not so this year, as we get back in line with everyone else. The big day outside of Iowa and New Hampshire, is Super Tuesday February 5, 2008. Twenty states will hold primary elections, virtually assuring that one candidate form each of the major parties will have locked up the nomination for president by Wednesday February 6.

Where does that leave DC then, with a primary on February 12? Well, whether our primary is on January 1 or June 1, the purpose is the same. Vote to send your candidate to lead your party and run for President. If you don't have a party (or don't want one), just wait out the primaries and use that time to decide who you'll vote for in the general election. Its true, "all politics is local," and we get a chance at least once every four years to prove that statement in the national presidential primaries. Vote.