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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—-“Gray Kicks Segraves Out of Council Meeting” (and read Segraves’ account, too)
IN LL WEEKLY (INAUGURATION EDITION)—-“Town & Country: How local politicos will make the scene come Jan. 20.”
Morning all. LL will take a break for INAUGURATION MADNESS to point out that two local sports teams scored huge wins over big rivals last night. In Pittsburgh, the Caps cashiered the Penguins 6-3, thanks to three clutch goals in the last half of the third period. And at Verizon Center, Georgetown destroyed Syracuse 89-75. Huge momentum builder for Hoyas going into Cameron Indoor on Saturday!
Attorney General Peter Nickles has finished his personal investigation into conflict-of-interest allegations against Public Charter School Board Chair Tom Nida. The result, according to WaPo? Nida “did not violate the city’s conflict-of-interest law when he took official actions involving schools, landlords or developers financed by his bank.” And the parameters of this inquest? “Nickles sent Nida 18 questions about issues documented in The Post’s articles. Nida and the board staff, Nickles said, provided detailed written responses, and he found no need to conduct interviews.” An Office of Campaign Finance investigation, hopefully more thoroughgoing, is also underway.
Marion Barry tells Biz Journal’s Jonathan O’Connell that he intends to stop transfers of closed schools to developers. “Barry said the entire process of closing and managing the schools had been done without proper input by residents or the D.C. Council, which would have to both declare the properties surplus and approve any sale or long-term lease….’I am going to fight as hard as I can, and I think I can get six other votes, to stop the surplus-ing of those schools,’ he said. ‘And I know I have seven votes to stop the disposition.'”
In Examiner, Bill Myers follows up on story about hospital mistakes. At health committee hearing yesterday, DOH official said city would investigate whether hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes were fully complying with “adverse event” reporting requirements. D.C. Hospital Association prez Bob Malson says this year’s participation, of 10 out of 15 institutions, is “good compliance” for a new mandate.
Marc Fisher tells the Obamas “Welcome Home.” His advice: “Your security forces are happiest if you never leave the building. Your sanity and the health of the nation demand, however, that you get out often. Alas, you gum up traffic every time you exit the gates in daylight. Commuters grumble at the sight of your motorcade. Solution: Go out at night.”
Agence France-Presse writer asks “Can Obama make Washington the capital of cool?” Gary Imhoff responds, “Doesn’t he get it backwards? Isn’t the proper question whether some of Washingtonian’s cool will rub off on Obama?”
WaPo’s Clarence Williams profiles “Squad 5″—-the most successful of the MPD’s eight homicide units. “Detective Anthony Greene compares the detectives in the squad to Michael Jordan‘s Chicago Bulls championship team in the 1990s National Basketball Association….’We’re like the Bulls,’ Greene said. ‘We’ve got to keep it going while we have it.'”
ALSO IN WAPO DISTRICT EXTRA—-Del Quentin Wilber tells the story of a fugitive sentenced to three years after fleeing the country; Hamil Harris, with Lena Sun, covers Graham Metro bill, KenCen MLK tribute, and finally corrects Mendo errors; IN BRIEFS—-OP moves to Reeves Center, etc.; health-code violations; your DCIAA hoops roundup, and ANIMAL WATCH.
It’s cold out there. Nay, “bitterly” cold out there. ALSO ON THE WX BEAT—-John Kelly takes a delightful look at “wintry mix.”
WAPO BRIEFS—-“Ex-Detective Sentenced in Tax Case” [MPD homicide vet Michael C. Irving sentenced to 14 months for evading $130,000 in taxes]; “BAMBOO NEEDED: Zoo Asks for Help Feeding Its Pandas”
—-THE INAUGURATION SECTION—-
STRAIGHT FROM LL’S INBOX—-“Fashion Designer b. michael selected to dress Inaugural Poet Elizabeth Alexander and Washington DC First Lady Michelle Fenty.” MORE ON THE MAN—-“b. michael known in the indusstry as ‘New York’s best kept secret,’ is no longer a secret b. michael’s career in fashion spans over a decade. You may have seen his scene-stealing designs in ‘Madea’s Family Reunion’ and ‘Ugly Betty.’ This exquisite designer has presented collections worldwide in such cities as New York, Beijing and Shanghai. When gala goers like Cicely Tyson, Tamara Tunie, Susan-Fales Hill and Lynn Whitfield need a dress that makes them look and feel confident, they turn to b. michael for a flawless design.” But not flawless copy-editing.
At DCist, Kriston Capps looks at whether the rumored “D.C. Welcome Event” that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is reportedly planning for the D.C. Armory is actually going to happen. “According to an events manager at the Armory, the venue is not hosting an inaugural ball by Mayor Fenty, or anyone else, on Sunday, January 18.” (For the record, LL asked Fenty what was up with the party on Tuesday. He said planning was still underway; he wouldnt say that the party would definitely happen.)
THE HOMELESSNESS ANGLE—-Petula Dvorak reports in WaPo about plans for homeless residents during the inauguration: “[H]omeless Washingtonians who live inside the nation’s tightest security zone are being encouraged to decamp during the inauguration for shelters in the city’s outer neighborhoods….The security sweeps will probably begin Monday. Buses will make one-way trips to two of the District’s largest shelters, which will remain open round-the-clock [and offer] warm beverages, food and live television feeds of the day’s ceremonies.”
Dorothy Brizill asks Fenty whether he’s ever objected to a Secret Service security request. “His response was immediate and brief: ‘No.’ Fenty’s willingness to allow the Secret Service to take over the District and close down large tracts of the city can be attributed, in part, to the fact that he is an honorary co-chair of Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration Committee. As one of fourteen co-chairs, Fenty is on the A-list for inauguration tickets, balls, and attendant events. It seems that Fenty’s position on the committee has superseded his duties and obligations to the residents of the District and to the city’s interests.”
Daily Show: “Black Guy Moves to Town, D.C. Declares State of Emergency”
750 hotel rooms left in the District, Destination DC says.
IT’S NO BEN’S—-Obama apparently also ate this week at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse.
WCP’s Rend Smith continues his ownership of the bike beat: You may indeed park your bike as usual outside of the security perimeter.
Washington Informer has more on unhappy vendors. “According to vendors, in early December, DCRA stated that permits would be issued on a first come, first served basis. According to the fee schedule, Coleman was prepared to pay $370. However, after she completed the application process, $840 was requested by DCRA officials.”
NC8: “Out-of-state limousine operators are scrambling to comply with new D.C. permitting requirements. More than 100 drivers or representatives from limo companies lined up at the D.C. Taxicab Commission Wednesday, hoping to buy the $125-per-limo permits.”
NC8 also covers inaugural prep, celeb-watching, “potty parity,” and the restaurant-supply scene.
WRC-TV covers the charter-bus scene.
Good luck finding a babysitter for inaug festivities.
Dr. Gridlock: “Dan Tangherlini may have used the word ‘unprecedented’ an unprecedented number of times in describing the region’s Inauguration Day preparations.”
106-year-old will attend People’s Inaugural Ball at J.W. Marriott.
There’s going to be mounted cops!
AU officials “concerned” about inaug alcohol use, sez Eagle.
Charlie Brotman will once again be announcing from the official reviewing stand.
Memorial, Roosevelt bridges will be closed for Sunday concert. “D.C. Department of Transportation officials recommend that attendees take Metrorail to Farragut North and Metro Center on the Red Line; Farragut West, Federal Center and Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange lines; and L’Enfant Plaza and Archives on the Green and Yellow lines.”
AP has a bunch more on the “Neighborhood Inaugural Ball”—-except where exactly to get tickets.
WELL, PHEW—-Transpo consultants in town for a conference think we’ll be OK for the inauguration, Leah Fabel reports in Examiner.
Also from Fabel: A look at the folks leaving town for inauguration. Says Dupont resident: “Everything will be closed except for the bars in my neighborhood, which will be open 24 hours….So I wouldn’t even get any sleep.”
EHN hands out 600 “surprise” swearing-in tickets. Where they came from, no one’s telling.
WTOP’s inaugural tips and a list of stuff to bring to the Mall.
LATEST JAN. 20 FORECAST—-“[M]orning clouds giving way to afternoon sun with highs in the upper 30s and a 10 percent chance of precipitation,” according to AP.
—-END INAUGURATION SECTION—-
Fort Totten project moves forward: City-owned parcel at South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE handed over to Lowe Enterprises and Jacksophie Development. “The development team is planning to build three separate projects surrounding the District parcel. The entire project will create nearly 900 housing units, more than 700 parking spaces and 94,000 square feet in retail space.” More from Housing Complex, DCmud.
Fairfax County supervisor Penny Gross is your new COG chair; Kwame Brown is a co-vice chair.
American Spectator scribe writes nice things about Michelle Rhee.
D.C. COUNCIL TODAY—-2 p.m.: Committee on Government Operations and the Environment meeting, JAWB 120.
ADRIAN FENTY TODAY—-6:30 a.m.: guest, Connecting with the Mayor, WRC-TV; 7:10 a.m.: guest, Fenty on Fox, WTTG-TV; 10:30 a.m.: remarks, “A Day of Service for Our Military” announcement, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, 2400 East Capitol Street; 5:25 p.m.: guest, Washington Post Live, Comcast SportsNet; 7:10 p.m.: guest, The Daily Drum, WHUR-FM.