This is one of the more unusual ones I’ve seen.
Politics
Photo by PoPville flickr user Columbia Heights Climber
Some folks have been asking about where to watch the debates so here’s a few options I’ve got via email. If you know of other good spots please let us know.
Duffy’s Irish Pub will be showing them in the back room at 2106 Vermont Avenue, NW by the 9:30 Club.
Cashion’s Eat Place (1819 Columbia Road, NW): “We’ll be airing each of the first three debates (Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct. 16) with sound at the bar so guests can cheer on their candidate of choice while enjoying our new fall cocktails, Chef’s new bar menu, and our full dinner menu.”
The Lobby Bar at The Madison (1177 15th Street, NW): “The Republicans and Democrats may be battling it out on the road, but there’s no debate about it, the best place in D.C. to catch the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates is at the Lobby Bar at PostScript in the historic Madison hotel.
Catch all of the debates at the Madison while sipping on the Great Debate (Small Batch Bourbon, Blended Vermouth, Green Chartreuse, Orange Peel), created by Chief Mixologist Rob Yealu for $14.00.
Presidential and Vice Presidential Debate Schedule:
Presidential Debate, October 3, 2012, 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Vice Presidential Debate, October 11, 2012, 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Presidential Debate, October 16, 2012, 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Presidential Debate, October 22, 2012, 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm”
Welcome from MultoMedia on Vimeo.
@marionbarryjr has been quite active tweeting from the DNC today. CM Barry tweets:
“During slavery, some chose to stay on the plantation.Some chose freedom.What do you choose? Plantation days in DC are numbered. It is time.”
and
“Some accept the crumbs from the table of democracy from which all other Americans dine.NOTHING less than full democracy is acceptableNOTHING”
Photo by PoPville flickr user thisisbossi
From the office of Eleanor Holmes Norton:
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the following statement on the defeat in the House of H.R. 3803, a bill sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) that would have banned abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks of pregnancy:
“Seldom does the District win a vote on the floor of the House this big. Republicans failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary on a bill that would have denied District of Columbia residents of their constitutional rights for the first time in American history. Women’s groups, among them Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America, helped us blow the whistle on a bill that used D.C. residents to target the reproductive rights of women across the nation. Every member of the House, except the one representing the only district affected by the bill, had a vote on the bill. During floor debate, Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) asked Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), the sponsor of the bill, why his bills was not introduced as a national bill, Franks never answered. Women understood the answer, however. The D.C. label fooled no one. And, in the end, I am grateful that an overwhelming majority of Democrats stuck with the District and refused to cross over to be a party to this abuse of congressional power. The bill has had the effect House Republicans most dreaded. It has reinvigorated the pro-choice movement in our country, raising the consciousness of American women again to understand that their right to reproductive choice is always on the line.”
A reader took the photo above yesterday afternoon and writes:
“There was a Chik fil a food truck at metro center (I think 12th street, wherever they all usually line up) and there was a huge crowd protesting, chanting, and so on. Still seemed like plenty of people on line for the truck …”
NBC Washington reported:
The group included members from the Human Rights Campaign protesting recent statements by Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A, who recently told Baptist Press, “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.”
His statements, which many believe oppose same-sex marriage, have fired up gay rights advocates across the country. Mayors in both Boston and Chicago have urged the company to reconsider locating restaurants in their cities, and the Jim Henson company recently pulled toys from kid’s meals.
|
Mayor Gray with former Council Chairman Kwame Brown during happier times. Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99
The Washington Post has reported:
“A secret $653,000 effort funded by one of the District government’s most prominent contractors corrupted the 2010 mayoral race and helped Vincent C. Gray get elected, the city’s top federal prosecutor said Tuesday.”
Many have already called for his resignation, most notably Council Members Mary Cheh, David Catania and Muriel Bowser. One of the few dissents I’ve seen was from an opinion piece in NBC Washington by political analyst Chuck Thies:
There are skilled investigators probing the campaign and related matters. They have already claimed three scalps. Others are sure to follow. No one knows if Gray will be one of them.
In the meantime, the city is doing fine. Gray has been a solid mayor.
So what do you think – should Gray resign immediately or let the investigation run its course?
|
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC
Last week we learned that DDOT had selected a team to complete H Street/Benning Road streetcar line. Thanks to all who sent in links to the Washington Post article:
D.C. Council member Marion Barry has launched a last ditch effort to slow or derail the city’s planned street car line on H Street, arguing it’s not been well-thought out and is too expensive for the number of riders it will serve.
Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), chairwoman of the Committee on the Environment, Public Works and Transportation, said Barry’s resolution could delay council approval by at least 45 days. Cheh warns that could increase the price of the contract.
“Dear PoPville,
I took this this morning on my way to work, about 9am at the corner of 16th and H St NW. There were several more police around looking rather unhappy.”
I received the following press release sharing a bit more info:
David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, America’s top-selling natural brand of soap and an importer of more than 20 tons of hemp oil per year from Canadian farmers is staging an action at the White House today to protest Federal policy that prevents U.S. farmers from growing industrial hemp. Mr. Bronner has explained that he is waging a “beer bet” with President Obama that the 12 industrial hemp plants growing in soil he is harvesting today inside a large secure steel cage on H St. at 16th St. NW Washington, DC are not marijuana and have no drug value. Grown from Canadian industrial hemp seed, the plants per Canadian regulations contain less than 0.3% THC and have no potential use as a medicinal or recreational drug.
From a press release:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the written testimony she will submit for the record of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution’s hearing on a bill (H.R. 3803) that would ban abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks of pregnancy, having been denied the congressional courtesy of testifying at today’s hearing at 4:00 p.m. in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building. Norton will also speak at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building on the bill, where she will be joined by Professor Christy Zink, a District of Columbia resident who had an abortion at 21 weeks, after doctors found severe brain abnormalities in the fetus, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, and National Abortion Federation President Vicki Saporta.
Norton’s office has received an unprecedented outpouring of support, especially on Twitter and Facebook from senators, Members of the House, and women across the country, who have spoken out not only against the bill itself, but also on the failure of House Republicans to observe congressional courtesy to allow the Congresswoman to testify at a hearing on a bill that targets only her district.”
Full statement after the jump. (more…)
From a press release:
Today, a coalition of DC Asian American advocacy groups launched the Say Sorry Barry Campaign urging DC Councilmember Marion Barry to apologize for his insensitive remarks toward the Asian American community, most recently about Filipino nurses, and to uphold his commitment to meet with local Asian American leaders. On Monday evening this week, Councilmember Barry said of the University of the District of Columbia’s Nursing Program:
“In fact, it is so bad, that if you go to the hospital now, you’ll find a number of immigrants who are nurses, particularly from the Philippines, and no offense, but let’s grow our own teachers, let’s grow our own nurses, and so that we don’t have to go scrounging in our community clinics and other kinds of places, having to hire people from somewhere else.”
In response to his comments the Say Sorry Barry Campaign issued a letter, part of which read:
“[W]e take issue with Councilmember Barry’s claims that Filipino nurses, teachers and immigrants are not members of “our” community. In saying so, Councilmember Barry dismisses immigrants’ talents and contributions to our neighborhoods because of who they are and where they come from.”
The letter has received support from 27 local and national Asian Pacific American advocacy groups including Filipino Americans for Progress, the Japanese American Citizens League, and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Three weeks ago, Councilmember Barry faced criticism for his remarks aimed at “dirty” Asian American business owners in his ward. Following the criticism, Barry agreed to meet with the Mayor’s Office of the D.C. Commission on AAPI Affairs last week. Councilmember Barry did not attend that meeting.
The Say Sorry Barry Campaign is urging Councilmember Barry to stop using divisive rhetoric and to understand that his Asian American constituents deserve the same respect as other District residents. As stated in the sign-on letter, the campaign hopes to support Councilmember Barry’s work in improving our communities, but that work must happen on a foundation of trust and respect.