Posts by Elissa Silverman — Guest Contributor

Elissa Silverman is an independent at-large member of the DC Council. From 2002 to 2004, Silverman wrote the “Loose Lips” column on local politics and government for the Washington City Paper. She later worked as a Metro reporter for the Washington Post, then for the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. She lives on Capitol Hill near H Street.

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  The Wizards practice facility deal should be more transparent

  By Elissa Silverman (Guest Contributor) March 21, 2016 36

  Publicly-funded stadiums are a controversial issue in the District. There were public debates and long, contentious hearings about Nationals Park and the DC United stadium, and public speculation is now turning toward RFK and the future home of the Washington football team. But our latest sports project, a $50 million-plus practice facility for the Wizards, has largely flown…  Keep reading…

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  Kwame did some good, and voters enabled his wrongdoing

  By Elissa Silverman (Guest Contributor) June 8, 2012 32

  Now that Kwame Brown has resigned as DC Council Chairman in disgrace, he is being called “dim,” a “tyrant,” and all kinds of other unflattering things. Brown is a flawed man, but we cannot pin this all on him alone.  DC voters bear responsibility for ignoring the red flags about Brown early on. At the same time, Brown did some things right that we should…  Keep reading…

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  Help clean up DC politics this weekend and this month

  By Elissa Silverman (Guest Contributor) May 31, 2012 21

  DC residents can continue to shake our heads in embarrassment and wait for the US Attorney to expose the corrosive influence of money in local DC politics, reinforcing the image of a federal territory unable to govern itself. Or, we can send a message to DC leaders that if they are not willing to lead on these important matters of ethics and integrity, the people will. Join me and other…  Keep reading…

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  Combined reporting levels the tax playing field for local businesses

  By Elissa Silverman (Guest Contributor) October 28, 2009 25

  Should a local, DC-based business pay higher tax rates than a branch of a national retailer? Of course, the answer is no.  But that is precisely what has been happening. National corporations can employ complicated tax-avoidance strategies to artificially shift profits they earn in DC to places with lower taxes or no taxes at all. That gives them a distinct and unfair advantage…  Keep reading…

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  Mutual benefit: DC needs to reform unemployment insurance now

  By Elissa Silverman (Guest Contributor) June 29, 2009 2

  The District’s unemployment rate topped 10 percent in May, the highest it has been in 25 years.  Sadly, only about a third of jobless workers in DC end up receiving unemployment benefits.   Keep reading…