Breakfast links: Won't you be my neighbor?

by Eric Fidler • August 5, 2011 8:25 am

Photo by cliff1066™ on Flickr.

Military base tries to create its own version of DC: The Anacostia-Bolling military base in SW DC really wants to be a good neighbor, but the physical layout, perimeter wall, and bordering highway make the task difficult. (City Paper)

Social services are a delicate task: If done carefully, building social service facilities can improve a neighborhood for existing residents by showing a city's commitment to improvement and investment. (MetroTrends, Rob P) ... These successful cases are rare, but not impossible. (RPUS)

WMATA stops fighting union raises: The WMATA Board will stop appealing an arbitrator's award of 3% raises for the last 3 years after a judge ruled against them. Board members say riders can't keep absorbing these increases and challenged union members to improve customer service. (Examiner)

NPS enhacing citizen experience: On a commendable note, the NPS has created a free iPhone app guide to the Mall. The app provides details on 70 sites. (Fox 5)

Are drug laws racist?: Nationally, blacks are disproportionately arrested for drug charges. In DC, is the disparity due to racism, cavalier attitudes, or inter-generational households? (City Paper)

Government finances run on cycles: DC only has 20 days' cash on hand. This might sound alarming, but it's typical of governments to experience cash flow cycles. (DCist)

DC has another revolving door of lobbyists: Is it ethical for a politician to hire a lobbyist as a personal attorney? Though legal in DC, the common practice raises eyebrows for the appearance of malfeasance. (Post)

And...: Maryland is charging up an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council. (Times) ... See a mass grave in Prince William County during the Civil War or see child labor in Alexandria in 1911. (Shorpy) ... Congress has temporarily resolved the FAA shutdown. (NPR)

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Eric Fidler has lived in DC and suburban Maryland his entire life. He likes long walks along the Potomac and considers the L'Enfant Plan an elegant work of art. He also blogs at Left for LeDroit, LeDroit Park's (only) blog of record.

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Re: NPS, it's not so new anymore, but I still think the new wayfinding bollards on the Mall are a big improvement. It's like they finally realized that the point of the Mall is for people to visit it.

by Gavin on Aug 5, 2011 9:47 am • link • report

Is it ethical for a politician to hire a lobbyist as a personal attorney?

No. Hell no. Absolutely hell no!

Glad to see DeBonis address this one (he needs to add John Ray to that list as well). Cooke, Ray, Wilmot, and Bolden are the four horsemen of the apocalypse around these parts.

by Geoffrey Hatchard on Aug 5, 2011 10:09 am • link • report

"...charging up..."

+1 Good sir. Punny post wins the morning.

by Ronald on Aug 5, 2011 10:36 am • link • report

Exactly why are we criminalizing marijuana use?

Break it into a $50 fine. Done. Concentrate on something more interesting. If it's a larger amount, won't the feds be the ones with jurisdiction?

by charlie on Aug 5, 2011 10:40 am • link • report

The drug "laws" are a criminal racket to protect cigarettes of Virginia Bright Leaf and alcoholic beverages (the only 2 consumables exempted from retail product ingredient labeling- speaking volumes about what the 'drug war' is all about):

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2011/04/harvey-wileys-1906-us-food-drugs-act.html

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2008/03/drug-warriors-ignore-pharmacokinetics.html

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2008/03/drug-war-promotes-drug-abuse-over-drug.html

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2008/03/drug-warriors-ignore-history-of-coca.html

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2011/03/drug-war-tobacco-pharma-agricultural.html

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2011/01/drug-statutes-infinitely-worse-than.html

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2011/04/coca-as-tobacco-habit-cure.html

Douglas Willinger
Freedom of Medicine and Diet

by Douglas Willinger on Aug 5, 2011 12:53 pm • link • report

New site, Douglas?

by oboe on Aug 9, 2011 10:51 am • link • report