DC

D.C. Council says protesters should get to stay

Members of the D.C. Council say Occupy DC protesters should be free to continue camping out in public parks even as police have begun raiding protester encampments in other cities this week. ...

... "I'm glad Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg is not running the District of Columbia -- we are more sensitive to the important expressions of freedom of speech," said Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham, referring to the New York City raid. "I think as long as we have what a reasonable person would consider an orderly protest, I think it ... should be respected."

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Atrios pointed to this truly pitiful article from the Washington Post about why Capital Bikeshare was an issue in last year's Mayoral election. Clue, it does not have anything to do with bicycling.

Adrian Fenty was the only city council member who voted against the deal for the baseball stadium. He ran as a reform candidate and carried every single precinct. Read below the fold...

Homelessness in DC

There always have been poor here, living in sharp contrast to the well-to-do political world of the city. But the homeless, during DC's recent history, appeared with Reagan's inauguration in 1981. They are testament to the first wave of conservative cuts in social welfare programmes, which, among other things, resulted in Reagan's famed "welfare queens'', along with the supposed malingerers who turned out to be mentally ill, being forced onto the street.

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Last Saturday a protest expressing solidarity with the one in Madison, Wisconsin called “The Rally To Save the American Dream” occurred at DuPont Circle in Washington, DC. The protest was short, beginning at 12:00 Noon and ending at roughly 1:30 PM. It was organized by a coalition of progressive organizations including Move-on and Democracy for America. Union representation was also strong and included the DC Teachers Union, and the local Chapter of National Nurses United, a well as other local Unions. Read below the fold...

This article in the Washington City Paper makes clear why the faith based initiative is so popular and why it will be so difficult to dislodge. Read below the fold...

The Washington Teacher

In Fast Company's February magazine issue, Chancellor Rhee is quoted as saying that DC teachers were laid off because they hit children, had sex with children and missed 78 days of work. I am starting to get a 'brain cramp' from all of Rhee's variations of the truth about the real reason why DC teachers were laid off on November 2, 2009.

Obviously Rhee is just trying to distract from her own history as an accessory to child molestation. Read below the fold...

Obama went with his family to So Others Might Eat. (Washington Post account)

After Michelle Obama showed up at Miriam's Kitchen their fundraising dramatically increased. I suspect SOME will have the same experience. Just by showing up Presidents can help organizations such as this raise money and recruit volunteers. What would Habitat for Humanity be without Jimmy Carter? Read below the fold...

Jonetta Rose Barras reports on Rhee's decision to replace the popular principal at Hardy Middle School.

DCPS needs a demographic adjustment. It needs more whites. Rhee has denied race or class factored into her thinking. That denial is hard to swallow, since most of Hardy's critics are white and from upscale Palisades.

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Update: Join the Mad as Hell Doctors on Sept. 30th in Washington, DC

The Mad As Hell Doctors have been traveling across the country speaking out, educating and listening. They are appropriately angry at the current situation (which they distinguish from the destructive rage witnessed recently at Town Halls) and are doing something about it.

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the first openly-gay person to be elected to Congress--ever (Baldwin and Frank came out while already in office). The article takes stock all around the country.

“Jared Polis is the first openly gay man to be elected to Congress as a non-incumbent, and he joins Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank as the three out members,” said Denis Dison, a Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund spokesperson."

“a bittersweet election for gay people.” Read below the fold...

What does Martin Luther King Jr. Have to Do With Payday Loans? Read below the fold...

14th St, NW, Wash., DC

I snapped this on the way to work today on 14th and P NW DC. It is the window lettering of Bob Gold Mitchell Williams which is some bourgeoisie furniture store. It speaks volumes for the transition of 14th Street in this decade.

Yeah, it is about slip covers, sheets, and towels, but sheesh.

More from Hoogrrl Read below the fold...