Lunch links: It's not the communists who're trampling on freedom today

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Lunch links: It's not the communists who're trampling on freedom today

by David Alpert • December 11, 2008 1:10 pm

Senators to DC: spend your money on us, not yourselves: You've probably already read that Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Bennett (R-UT) are talking about blocking the recently passed bill to allow bars and restaurants to serve alcohol until 5 am on Inauguration Day. They said that "could seriously strain law enforcement resources that need to be focused on the large crowds and security requirements of the Inaugural." While they want DC to devote its police resources to the inauguration, the feds aren't paying for it, nor did they last time.

Organizers strike back: Feinstein and Bennett mess with the fun of a city full of political organizers at their peril, though; some have created a petition and Facebook group to ask Fenty to stand firm against Congressional meddling. Cary Silverman suggests the DC Council pass a symbolic law meddling in Utah's ridiculous alcohol rules (which they relaxed during the Olympics, without Congressional interference).

What happens when you keep building transit: In just the last year, Beijing's Metro has expanded significantly, writes The Atlantic's James Fallows. In other countries, they really do keep building transit as cities grow. Tip: Marc Laitin.

Alternate side parking freezes up some streets in winter: Victoria McKernan points out (scroll to the second story) a flaw in DC's street cleaning parking restrictions when cleaning is suspended for the winter. Some streets, like Irving in Columbia Heights, allow parking on only one side of the street. During cleaning day, that switches. But when DPW suspends cleaning in the winter months, the signs still allow people to park on the other side one day a week while still allowing parking on the usual side. That narrows Irving to one lane. My street has this problem too, as a matter of fact, and becomes too narrow for large vehicles, including emergency vehicles, every Monday in winter.

And: DDOT may have some plans in the works to improve safety at Florida and R; you can exchange your incandescent lightbulbs for flourescents, but only in Columbia Heights at an inconvenient 2 pm; let's bring back Truxton Circle.

7 comments

Tags: Beijing, Bloomingdale, Congress, environment, links, liquor licenses, pedestrian safety, street cleaning, transit, Truxton Circle

Street cleaning tickets have a real purpose (Jul 9, 2009)
DC making DC USA garage free (Feb 8, 2010)
DDOT being narrow-minded, overcautious on Park(ing) Day (Sep 14, 2009)
Oh, right, the environment (Feb 5, 2009)
I Wish This Were... in Bloomingdale/Eckington/Truxton Circle (Dec 12, 2010)

David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.

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Isn't their over-the-top coronation ceremony gonna put more strain on resources than a few bars will?

I can almost smell it. Someone is behind this and stands to benefit from the bars being closed.

by Tim on Dec 11, 2008 1:37 pm • link • report

DC Councilmembers introduce legislation that goes nowhere all the time. Let's see one of the members, or the Mayor through the Chair, draft up and introduce "The Bringing Rationality to Utah’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws Emergency Resolution of 2008." A simple sense of the council resolution (obviously no legal binding effect) suggesting that Utah reform its ABC laws in line with most other states. Members of the Council and the Mayor can then hold a press conference on the Utah State Capital steps suggesting some proposed changes to state alcoholic beverage laws. Ridiculous? Yes. Publicity stunt. Of course. But it would get the point across that Utah reps have no business meddling in DC ABC laws.

by Cary on Dec 11, 2008 2:25 pm • link • report

The senators should mind their own business... I've heard it's because Feinstein lives in a prominent section of Georgetown nearby restaurants and nightlife. It's basically a senator being a NIMBY while trying to pretend she cares about the city. Also, Bennett is just a typical meddling religious zealot who believes alcohol (and fun) is inherently evil. (That wasn't a pot-shot at religion, just at those who feel it necessary to regulate morality)

If Fenty caves, I will be royally pissed. It's a matter of principle at this point. And David is right that if they're that "concerned" then pony up a few million to help us hire more officers and/or pay for overtime.

by SG on Dec 11, 2008 2:29 pm • link • report

I actually think the Senators raise a decent point, but I don't care to listen to it while they meddle in our local decision-making process.

Tim - the flip side, of course, is that the bars stand to benefit from being open. At the expense of the public, who will pay for extra police and so on.

by Alex B. on Dec 11, 2008 2:56 pm • link • report

People are going to be celebrating somewhere. Do the Senators think it's preferrable to have people out in the street ala election night? It seems law and order would be easier to maintain with people inside pubs and restaurants rather than outside on ther streets.

by Bianchi on Dec 11, 2008 2:59 pm • link • report

What really grinds my gears is the fact that federal government is directing local law enforcement priorities and not footing the bill.You want it your way? Fine, use your own resources.

by Dave Murphy on Dec 11, 2008 8:34 pm • link • report

We should stop trying to legislate legal actions which we think could lead to illegal actions, and concentrate on taking swift actions against those illegal actions we don't want to happen in the first place. 99.9% of people who frequent bars aren't going to cause problems irrespective of what time it is or how long the bars are open, the 0.1% of people who will cause problems ... will cause problems ... irrespective of what time it is or how long the bars are open. Let's direct our resources at keeping them in check ... and stop trying to legislate morality. That's not our business.

by Lance on Dec 11, 2008 10:47 pm • link • report