I have always wanted to live in Washington, D.C. (“New York Fetish,” 8/1). Since my initial visits here in the early 1980s and upon graduating from college in 1985, my main goal was to come here and live. So I worked in places like Newport News, Va., my hometown, and York, Pa., just to get some experience under my belt to come to my favorite city in the world. I love everything about this city, despite its shortcomings. I love the Redskins, the political bullshit, the five wings and mumbo sauce from the Asian carryouts after midnight, the convenience of not needing a car, the neighborhoods, and most of all, the people. Even more important to me is that D.C. is centrally located between all of the places I could go to get away: Baltimore, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Atlantic City, Rehoboth, and yes, New York. All of them are within a five- to six-hour drive or a one-hour flight.

I am not sure why Washington City Paper’s editors even chose this as a main story. (Running out of ideas, I guess.) The Big Apple has millions more people and would obviously have more choices of things to do. And rolling out contrasting numbers would be like comparing apples and oranges. Of course New York would win that argument with most other cities, especially when comparing the number of jobs lost. Mr. Cloud sounds like exactly the type of person Amanda Ripley described, always complaining about something. Mr. Cloud, if Washington, D.C., is so wretched, take Ms. Ripley’s advice: Pack your shit, shut the hell up, and get out of town. This city would be a much better place with one less whiner.

Capitol Hill

via the Internet