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

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:10:00 EDT

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

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)

Beijing - Greater Greater Washington

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