Do you intend to endorse in the Ward 6 Councilmember Democratic primary?

by Trulee Pist on Aug 30, 2010 3:51 pm • link • report

Aren't endorsements so last century?

No offense, but GGW's endorsement isn't going to get me to vote for or against any candidate. All it really gets you is a line on some flyer (endorsed by league of woman voters, GGW, blah blah blah). Endorsements are for lazy voters who don't want to learn for themselves.

Perhaps you can be more effective and honest by just saying these are the people we like, and then focus your energies on explaining why, and use some good examples. More work, sure.

The learning aspect of GGW is key -- despite the witty repartee, you learn a lot from the back and forth -- and more coverage of the campaigns you think are important would give everyone a better chance to learn why your choice is the better choice.

by charlie on Aug 30, 2010 4:07 pm • link • report

You should endorse Tommy Wells in Ward 6--he's one of the elected officials who really gets it on urbanism and transit.

by Dan Miller on Aug 30, 2010 4:36 pm • link • report

I agree with an endorsement of Tommy Wells. He gets urbanism and walkability, and actually campaigns on it.

I would be curious to see endorsements in the DC Council Chair and At-Large races (on the Democratic side). Your endorsement of Patrick Mara in 2008 actually convinced me to vote for him.

by Steven Yates on Aug 30, 2010 4:46 pm • link • report

I hope you will consider the unusual case of Delegate Al Carr (D-Montgomery). For his opposition to the light rail version of the Purple Line, the Post recommended that he be replaced. Considered in isolation, that is not unreasonable.

However, he appears to be the only motivated and effective advocate for cycling to represent the Maryland suburbs in Annapolis. This year he got the Maryland legislature to repeal the long-hated requirement for bikes to ride in shoulders, something that bike advocates had failed to do for many years until Carr joined the Legislature. If he remains in the Legislature he is very likely to make additional and more important contributions to cycling in Maryland.

I suggest that you forgive him the heresy on the Purple Line, where a single Legislator is unlikely to stop progress. Cycling, by contrast, is not widely opposed but has lacked an effective advocate until now.

by Jim on Aug 30, 2010 5:10 pm • link • report

Regarding Tommy Wells, Kelvin Robinson and the Ward 6 Democratic nomination for Council:

At a recent forum hosted by EMMCA, and again on Kojo Nnamdi (WAMU) the next day, Wells said he had problems with that goofy Town Square plan for rerouting Pennsylvania Avenue SE on Capitol Hill because it would impede walkability and reduce the liveability of Capitol Hill. Circles and squares are harder for pedestrians to traverse than simple intersections, and for that reason Wells said we might want to preserve what we have at that intersection of 8th and Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

In order to prepare for the forum, Wells's challenger, Kelvin Robinson, read the final report of that no-good bunch of prevaricators at the Town Square Task Force, and reported that, based on the report, the whole community was for this ridiculous Town Square. Informed by the 80+ residents in attendance that the vast majority of residents oppose rerouting Pennsylvania Avenue, Robinson changed his tune. (Better proof could not be found in support of those who denounce the final report of the Town Square Task Force as a false document that fails to accurately represent resident opposition to these dangerous-to-pedestrians Town Square plans.)

The next day on Kojo, Robinson said he'd heard loud and clear that the neighbors are against rerouting Pennsylvania Avenue, and he was, too.

Go to the 19:35 mark of this recording of the Kojo Nnamdi show to hear the discussion of walkability and liveability as it relates to the silly Town Square scheme:

http://thekojonnamdishow.org/audio-player?nid=17586

Or go here

http://www.thehillishome.com/2010/08/what-the-candidates-said/

and use the Table of Contents on p.1 of the .pdf of the transcript to read what the Ward 6 candidates had to say about liveable, walkable Ward 6.

by Trulee Pist on Aug 30, 2010 8:02 pm • link • report

Tommy Wells has made good on his slogan of "livable, walkable communities" and the bag tax is a small step for the often ignored Anacostia River to become a valued part of greater Washington, not a sewer. Also, Wells isn't a jerk.

by Howard Park on Aug 30, 2010 9:35 pm • link • report

David Alpert was on the host committee for Tommy Wells' re-election kick-off party. I think he'll be endorsing him.

by David C on Aug 30, 2010 10:09 pm • link • report

Ward 1: Weaver. He doesn't want to give subsidies to developers who sit on the deal after they've lost their financing.

At-Large: Mendelson. Over the years, he's been the best protector of the public purse keeping lavish, unnecessary subsidies out of the hands of developers who want to kick poor people out of gentrifying neighborhoods.

Remember, sustainable urbanism sits on three legs: economic, environmental, and social stability. If we gut our budgets with subsidy deals (TIF, PILOTs, property tax abatements, etc.) too friendly to the mayor's buddies while also wreaking havoc on our budget (which in turn cuts $ to schools, police, and other critical services), we will inevitably compromise what we set out to create.

by Sustainability Now on Aug 31, 2010 8:11 am • link • report

For Council Chair, I think you should endorse Kwame Brown. He's been a reliable and strong advocate for economic development across this city and represents a step forward for this city.

In Ward 1, I think you should endorse Bryan Weaver in the Democratic Primary. A major component of his platform is excellence and transparency in government. We need our Council to respect process, procedure and professionalism, rather than acting like mini-mayors and trying to short circuit city agencies and city actions. Moreover, Weaver is a strong advocate for alternative transportation and walkable communities.

by Phil Lepanto on Aug 31, 2010 10:08 am • link • report

Charlie wrote this: Perhaps you can be more effective and honest by just saying these are the people we like, and then focus your energies on explaining why, and use some good examples. More work, sure.

...and I agree. I'm not a fan of endorsements.

by Froggie on Aug 31, 2010 10:12 am • link • report

It looks like you're preparing to endorse Gray. My main concern with this is that the race is being sold as a referendum on "dog parks, bike lanes and streetcars" with Gray in the anti camp. But I support all of those things, so isn't Fenty my guy? Won't Gray's supporters be annoyed if he doesn't do less work on those?

by David C on Aug 31, 2010 10:14 am • link • report

Do you really want candidates to walk around saying they've been endorsed by GGW?

by Jasper on Aug 31, 2010 10:24 am • link • report

This is about the Ward One race and more. Jim Graham needs to answer for his years as Chairman of METRO, its failed group leadership, mismanaged saftey programs and overall operational and budgetary conditions. Secondly, during his time on the Council, HIV/AIDS rates in the city have risen to Third World levels. Despite his so-called questionable leadership at WhitmanWalker, you would think he would be contributing to solutions in lieu of his deer in the headlights shock at current rates. Ward One and our city need new voice.

by DC John on Aug 31, 2010 12:30 pm • link • report

You asked who we support?

W1: Weaver
CAL: Mendo
CC: Kwame
Mayor: Vince

by Ward 1 Guy on Aug 31, 2010 3:06 pm • link • report