Posts tagged Phil Mendelson
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DC officials tweet, but with varying enthusiasm
Twitter can be a powerful tool for politicians and government agencies to connect with constituents. Many of DC’s elected leaders are on Twitter, but they use their accounts to widely varying degrees. Their tweets also vary in frequency and quality, and some officials tweet personally while staff send out tweets for others. Which are the best and the worst? Tommy… Keep reading…
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Afternoon links: Budget surprises
New revenue funds few priorities; Councilmembers should read amendments; Residents obeying laws more; NJ rep takes money from NJ rails; Return of the luxury train; Women biking = the economy?; So much for conservation; Hampshire-Cowen for TOD, solutions; Council opposes Western Bypass. Keep reading…
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Public officials choosing private schools: is it our business?
Several members of the DC Council don’t send their kids to public schools. Should voters care, or is it a private matter? These important private choices of public officials do tell us something about the beliefs of our elected leaders, but we shouldn’t read too much into them. The Washington Examiner recently pointed out that Councilmembers Vincent Orange and… Keep reading…
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“Jackmandered” redistricting puts self-interest over sense
Last week, the DC Council redistricting committee issued its proposed boundaries, which included a strange and surprising line between Ward 2 and 6 which moves territory based on the personal and political self-interest of one person, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans. At-large members Michael Brown and Phil Mendelson have let themselves be complicit in this clear conflict… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Changing the status quo
How about some rights?; Does DC have enough police?; Alexandria struggles with waterfront plans; Could mortgage interest deduction go?; PG raises Purple Line gentrification fears; MWAA mandates union hiring; University neighbors have mixed feelings; WABA, FABB join up; And…. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Transit around the Beltway
Maryland big dogs stick up for transit; Loudoun waffles on Silver Line; DC gets more of Walter Reed; Will MPD respond to bike/ped concerns?; Drivers ignore school bus stops; Smith spent thousands against student; House will probe Gray campaign; And…. Keep reading…
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DC Council considers primary date, diagonal parking, free school transit, taxi medallions and much more
DC’s primary will likely move to April, people will get solar rebates, and bills introduced in the DC Council yesterday could establish a taxi medallion system, make transit free for schoolchildren, add diagonal parking, and put requirements on large retailers like Walmart. The Council approved the first reading of a bill to move DC’s presidential and local primary… Keep reading…
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Frequent enforcement, better data needed for road safety
Today at noon, DC Councilmember Phil Mendelson is holding a hearing on bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement. Here is my draft testimony. Comments are welcome. Mr. Chairman, Last April, Constance Holden was bicycling home from her job at the journal Science when a military truck backed over her while setting up for a motorcade, killing her. The National Guard said that… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Let it snow
Snow highlights city/suburb difference; Buses not spared from wintry mess; Why H Street isn’t developing faster; Half-busy day for WMATA Board; Bag search feedback mixed; O’Malley to use transportation fund to cut deficit; Mendelson calls for better traffic enforcement; NYPD cracks down on cyclists; And…. Keep reading…
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Congratulations Hans, Vince, Phil, Tommy, Mel and others
While the primary defeat of DC’s sitting mayor is the main headline in nearly every news outlet this morning, another significant and very exciting challenger victory is Hans Riemer placing third second in the Montgomery County Council at-large race. The top four vote-getters win the nomination (and, inevitably, the seats themselves in November), meaning Riemer will… Keep reading…