District Line Daily: Muriel Bowser’s 'Valerie Jarrett'

A morning roundup of news, opinion, and links from City Paper and around the District. Send tips and ideas to citydesk@washingtoncitypaper.com.

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Just who is Beverly Perry, Muriel Bowser’s right-hand woman? She’s a well-connected former lobbyist and Pepco executive, now serving as a senior adviser to the mayor, raising questions from local advocates and politicians alike.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

District residents overwhelmingly support a generous paid-leave proposal being considered by the D.C. Council—that is, when employers, not employees (through a new tax), would have to pay for it. [Post]
“There are a lot of issues with the paid leave act,” says Chairman Phil Mendelson. [NBC4]
Fewer than 30 percent of D.C. students grades 3 through 8 were deemed “proficient and on track” for college and career readiness, according to new standardized test scores released yesterday. [City Desk]
Monday was Paul Wiedefeld’s first day as the new general manager of Metro. He arrives as riders express growing dissatisfaction with Metrorail, and he has a busy schedule in the next days. [City Desk, City Desk]
A bill being introduced to the Council today would allow local products to get a “Made in DC” logo. [City Desk]
Feds concerned about overcrowding on Metro platforms. [WAMU]
Bowser says her administration will look into the D.C. Housing Authority after an AP investigation on house flipping. [AP]
Recreational pier may open much sooner as part of The Wharf. [BizJournal]

RECENT CITY PAPER STORIES TO HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF YOUR DAY:

Isabella & Kim: Two big-name area chefs are debuting Yona, a Japanese-Korean noodle bar and small-plates restaurant, in Arlington this week.
A Pleasant Surprise: President Barack Obama popped into Pleasant Pops café in Adams Morgan this Saturday with daughters Sasha and Malia. One of the store’s owners says of the visit, “It was awesome.”
The Sleigher: Yes, our annual take on this year’s holiday hits is back. No, it’s not named after the metal band.

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Will Sommer (tips? wsommer@washingtoncitypaper.com)

Get a load of these grim test scores. [City Desk, Post, Post, WAMU]
Paid family leave plan popular, funding it less so. [Post]
Muriel Bowser advisor could get a big pay-out from Pepco-Exelon merger. [Post]
Pepco-Exelon merger fight looms for later this week. [WAMU]
Union Station expansion on meeting agenda. [GGW]
Mark Lee: let Georgetown party. [Blade]
Cops catch suspect in 150th homicide of the year. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Matt Cohen (tips? mcohen@washingtoncitypaper.com)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, THE SLEIGHER HAS RETURNED. [Arts Desk]
Watch a short film on how go-go is staying alive as D.C. gentrifies. [The Atlantic]
C. ex-pats BETTY celebrates 30 years at The Hamilton. [DCist]
Christmas in Washington has been canceled after 33 years. [Post]
Kali Uchis collaborates with on new single “Wave.” [Bandwidth]
Listen to Big Hush‘s new EP, Who’s Smoking Your Spirit? [Arts Desk]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Jessica Sidman (tips? jsidman@washingtoncitypaper.com)

MGM National Harbor casino will feature restaurants by the Voltaggio brothers, José Andrés, and Marcus Samuelsson. [Post]
Robert Wiedmaier‘s Reservoiris now open at Reagan National Airport. [Eater]
Crisp Kitchen + Barbrings Nashville hot chicken to Bloomingdale. [Washingtonian]
16 must-do activities in December [Thrillist]
Chipotle opens its first Columbia Pike location in Arlington. [ARLnow]
When tipping was considered deeply un-American [NPR]

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