Aimee Custis - Greater Greater Washington

Beautiful light in the Flickr pool

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:52:00 EDT

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

Southwest Waterfront. Photo by Caitlin H. Faw.

N Street Village Walk. Photo by caroline.angelo.

18th St and Massachusetts NW. Photo by Kian McKellar.

Columbia Heights. Photo by pablo.raw.

Dupont. Photo by elicenter.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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Around town in the Flickr pool

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:55:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

M Street, Georgetown. Photo by Kian McKellar.

Douglas Memorial United Methodist Church - 11th Street NE. Photo by NCinDC.

Mt. Vernon Triangle - 440 K Street NW. Photo by NCinDC.

Food trucks - East End. Photo by tedeytan.

L'Enfant Cafe. Photo by angela n.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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City streets in the Flickr pool

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:42:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

Adams Morgan. Photo by elicenter.

Scott Circle. Photo by FRED KING 1.

14th St. NW Photo by sylmellon.

Mt. Vernon Square. Photo by tedeytan.

Adams Morgan. Photo by nevermindtheend.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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Sidewalks, streets, tracks and boats in the Flickr pool

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:04:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

P Street near 22nd NW. Photo by sylmellon.

Bluegrass Festival. Photo by caroline.angelo.

Monroe St. Market. Photo by Ranpuba.

Emily Wiley House - Mt. Vernon Triangle. Photo by NCinDC.

Connecticut Avenue. Photo by Rich Renomeron.

Old 5th St NW trolley tracks. Photo by jacquesofalltrades.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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Finally spring in the Flickr pool

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:04:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

Nationals Park. Photo by wolfkann.

Georgetown. Photo by Jason OX4.

V St. NW. Photo by ekelly80.

Ft. Washington, MD. Photo by The Skipping Hippy.

Barracks Row. Photo by caroline.angelo.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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A sense of drama in the Flickr pool

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:43:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

Scottish Rite Temple Library - 16th St NW. Photo by Brandon Kopp.

Corcoran St NW. Photo by ekelly80.

Post Office Pavilion - Penn Quarter. Photo by Ranpuba.

Dunn Loring Metro Kiss & Ride. Photo by m01229.

Skate park - Capitol Hill. Photo by caroline.angelo.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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Shocking rhetoric from John Townsend and AAA

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:02:00 EDT

by Dan Malouff, Ken Archer, David Edmondson, Ben Ross, Aimee Custis, Dan Reed, Geoff Hatchard, Rahul Mereand-Sinha, Jaime Fearer, Topher Mathews, Matt Johnson, Michael Perkins, Martin Moulton, Steven Glazerman, Tracey Johnstone, Tim Krepp, Steven Yates, Sandra Moscoso, Nick Casey, Joe Weedon, Canaan Merchant, Bradley Heard, Jereme Altendorf, Jacques Arsenault, Brent Bolin, Abigail Zenner, John Muller, Brian McEntee, Ben Harris, Sarah Lewis, Sally Hobaugh, Ryan Sigworth, Darren Buck, Mark Jordan, Miles Grant, Jessica Christy, Laura Dallas McSorley, Nolan Treadway, and Stewart Schwartz

This week's Washington City Paper cover story quoted AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend calling Greater Greater Washington editor David Alpert "retarded" and a "ninny," and comparing Greater Greater Washington to the Ku Klux Klan.

Many other reporters, people on Twitter, and residents generally have clearly stated in response what should of course go without saying, that such personal attacks are beyond the pale.

Some may get the sense that there is personal animosity between Townsend and the team here at Greater Greater Washington. At least on our end, nothing could be further from the truth. We simply disagree with many of his policy positions and his incendiary rhetoric.

Spirited argument is important in public policy, but it should not cross into insults. When it does, that has a chilling effect on open discourse. Fostering an inclusive conversation about the shape of our region is the purpose of this site, but discourse must be civil to be truly open. That's why our comment policy here on Greater Greater Washington prohibits invective like this. In our articles, we try hard to avoid crossing this line, and are disappointed when we or others do, intentionally or inadvertently.

The "war on cars" frame unnecessarily pits drivers against cyclists and pedestrians instead of working together for positive solutions. The City Paper article, by Aaron Wiener, does a good job of debunking that, and is worth reading for much more than the insults it quotes.

When pressed, Townsend told Wiener he wants to back away from the "war on cars."

"I regret the rhetoric sometimes," he says. "Because I think that when you use that type of language, it shuts down communication with people who disagree."

We hope Townsend, his colleagues, and their superiors also regret the things he said about David and Greater Greater Washington. We look forward to the day when AAA ceases using antagonistic language and begins working toward safety, mobility, and harmony among all road users.

In the meantime, residents do have a choice when purchasing towing, insurance, and travel discounts. Better World Club is one company that offers many of the same benefits as AAA, but without the disdain.

289 comments

Beyond the blossoms in the Flickr pool

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:03:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Wow, there are some beautiful pictures of the cherry blossoms this week in the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool! They're definitely worth a look. In the meantime, here are some great shots to enjoy from beyond the Tidal Basin.

Georgetown. Photo by Caitlin H. Faw.

Galaxy Hut, Arlington. Photo by Jorge Bañales.

Hillsdale. Photo by Caitlin H. Faw.

U Street. Photo by Rich Renomeron.

Old Town. Photo by m01229.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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Hints of spring in the Flickr pool

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:28:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

Kite Festival. Photo by Joe in DC.

Georgetown University. Photo by jacquesofalltrades.

17th & Q NW. Photo by Dan Lawrence 62.

18th & Wyoming NW. Photo by nevermindtheend.

Oella, MD. Photo by The Skipping Hippy.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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Best and worst in the Flickr pool

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:14:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

Penn Quarter. Photo by brunofish.

Downtown Silver Spring. Photo by Joe in DC.

Photo by Joe in DC.

Miss Pixie's - 14th St NW. Photo by ekelly80.

Langdon. Photo by m01229.

Silver Spring Transit Center. Photo by Joe in DC.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

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