As much local politics as humanly possible. Send your tips, releases, stories, events, etc. to lips@washingtoncitypaper.com.
Good morning, all. Yesterday was local politician day at the H. Carl Moultrie I Courthouse.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—-Report: Brazil Punched Guy “in the Back [of] the Head With a Closed Fist”; Brazil Pleads Not Guilty; Strauss Pleads Not Guilty!
Your new head of Employment Services is Joseph P. Walsh, former director of policy and planning for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty plucks one off of Mass Gov. Deval Patrick‘s bench. David Nakamaura reports in the WaPo. Also Jonathan O’Connell in the Biz Journal.
HMMM—-So what’s next for Tene Dolphin? Fenty’s confidante and first chief of staff left the third-floor bullpen to get DOES back in line after Summer Spencer’s firing. Now, says Fenty spokesperson Mafara Hobson, Dolphin will be sticking around for a bit to help Walsh with the transition. But after that? Hobson could not confirm that Dolphin would be remaining with the administration. Nakamura has more at D.C. Wire., inclufing this: “One administration official speculated the Dolphin, who has worked with the Democratic National Committee, might be angling for a job in an Obama administration.”
MALIA AND SASHA WATCH CONT.—-Examiner: “Presidential children have eschewed D.C. Public Schools since Amy Carter‘s four-year stint in the late 1970s, but recent reforms to the district could lure back the nation’s new first family….However, the odds aren’t great.” Also DCist; bloggers Joanne Jacobs, Ed in the Apple, Dee Does the District
Harry Jaffe has a D.C. wish list for Barack Obama.
ALSO FROM JAFFE—-In Washingtonian: Fenty’s midterm report card; “Born to Run,” a lengthy profile of Hizzoner
Obama transition HQ snarls traffic in Penn Quarter.
Eleanor as SecHUD? One guy hopes so.
Up to 240,000 inaugural tickets will be printed, reports WTOP. More from WaPo on getting ’em from Eleanor.
Local election recap from the Blade. Also from the Hoya.
Providence Hospital wants a “conscience clause” so staff can decline to give emergency contraception, reports Michael Neibauer in the Examiner. At a hearing yesterday on a bill to requiring access to the morning-after pill, David A. Catania said that he “would be willing to accept a compromise, perhaps requiring Providence to discuss options with their patients and then provide ‘quick transport’ to another facility willing to distribute the medication.”
D.C. Chamber chief Barbara Lang leaves D.C. Workforce Investment Council, reports Biz Journal. “[C]hamber spokesman Chris Knudson said Lang felt as though the organization ‘was in good hands’ and that she wanted to focus full-time on her work at the Chamber.”
Metro finally figures out the bus-to-rail transfer—-$.50 off! Also Examiner, NC8.
Veteran cop shoots suicidal, knife-wielding man dead in tony apartment building near Logan Circle. Detials still sketch. WaPo story;
National Zoo gets OK for 20-year plan from NCPC; includes plans for possible tram.
Scott McCabe in the Examiner: “U.S. marshals need the public’s help to find a known drug dealer with ties to the underground hip-hop scene who has been on the run for nearly two years….Kalif Prysock, 29, has multiple arrests for distribution of large quantities of drugs and has used many alias names. Prysock is believed to have been involved in the D.C. club scene and associated with a rap music label called CCE (Career Criminal Enterprise) records.”
MICHELLE RHEE BLOGGER ROUNDUP—-Education Notes Online rails about the “[Joel] Kleining” of America;
Conservative group Judicial Watch has a way of putting things into perspective: “D.C. Elects 2nd Convict To Council”
Bread for the City needs help with its food pantry, reports Michael Drost in the WaTimes.
WAPO BRIEFS—-Tram coming to National Zoo? And more on the Harold Brazil plea.
Hotels clean up with inauguration
More on the Children’s Hospital plug-pulling fight: From WaPo
Richard Layman has a plan to fix the teachers contract problem.
Mendo pays a visit to the BZA.
GlobeSt.com on the new D.C. government building at Minnesota and Benning NE.
Here’s yesterday’s “Connecting With the Mayor” on Channel 4.
ON THE RADIO…
The Politics Program with Mark Plotkin, 10 a.m. Friday, WTOP (103.5/103.9)—-Guests: Councilmember-Elect Michael A. Brown; Congressman-Elect Gerry Connolly; Democratic strategist Tad Divine, Republican strategist Craig Shirley; WTOP Hill correspondent Dave McConnell; WTOP metro reporter Mark Segraves
The Politics Hour With Kojo Nnamdi, 12 p.m. Friday, WAMU (88.5 FM): “Virginia moves to the “blue” column with Democratic gains in the U.S. House and Senate. Maryland voters back slots and early voting. And Washington D.C. ponders new voting rights tactics and strategy in a new Congress.” Guests: WRC-TV’s Tom Sherwood, former Va. state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis; GOP strategist Brian Summers
Metro Talk With Jerry Phillips, 1 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, WFED (1500 AM): Michael Brown‘s election “will open some new doors of political maneuvering in city politics. Some local political activists see friction between Mayor Adrian Fenty direction, Vincent Gray’s mayoral possibilities and a man (Brown) who competed against Fenty in 2004. Brown will explain his position of DC School reform, crime, budget revenues and housing.” Guests: At-Large Councilmember-Elect Michael Brown, et al.
D.C. COUNCIL TODAY—-10 a.m.: Committee on Public Works and the Environment event on development of the Anacostia streetcar, JAWB 123; 11 a.m.: Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs hearing on Bill 17-979, the Housing Regulation Administration Amendment Act of 2008, JAWB 412; 12 p.m.: Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary hearing on strategies to combat prostitution, JAWB 500.
ADRIAN FENTY TODAY—-10:30 a.m.: remarks, United Medical Center update, United Medical Center (formerly Greater Southeast Hospital), 1310 Southern Ave. SE; 3:45 p.m.: remarks, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School grand opening, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, 3600 Georgia Ave. NW.