The Revealing Lifecycles of Politicians
• February 27, 2014

Watching politics is sometimes like watching the kings and would-be kings in Shakespeare’s histories and tragedies—on the throne, on the way to the throne, looking behind them, scheming and warding off rivals or overcoming them.
These past few days we’ve had a chance to see the human, unbending, self-repeating political process unfold right in front of us. In Virginia, Democrat Terry McAuliffe was formally anointed, if you will, as governor amid the usual ruffles and flourishes and speeches, congratulations and plans brewing in the background, his political future ahead of him, unblemished as yet by scandals or defeat.

In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie, a Republican with very big and real presidential ambitions, only recently re-elected in a landslide, found himself mired in a scandal apparently sparked by misdeeds by some of his top aides, the kind of thing that, from a distance looks both arrogant and stupid, but threatens his plans for higher office. The Christie presidential bandwagon has hit a pothole, or, better yet, is stuck in traffic.

In Washington, Mayor Vincent Gray made it official with his re-election kickoff event in front of mostly supporters, an event markedly different from that of his first campaign. These days the mayor remains burdened by the investigative cloud hanging over his 2010 campaign. Four of his campaign aides have been convicted of felonies in connection with the scandal. It is a difficult and ironic time for Gray, and for the city, for that matter, as he embarks on a campaign which seems to be based on putting the past behind him at a time when neither his opponents—of which there are many—or the media, or even the Attorney General may allow him to do that. While he may want to put the past behind him and run on his record and the future, many D.C. residents want to know what happened in 2010.

Both Gray and Christie once stood where McAuliffe stood for the first time Saturday — triumphant, with the campaign behind them, an era of duty and achievement ahead of them, a moment that all elected officials can enjoy, with no guarantees of what the future will bring.

Almost immediately after his inauguration, Gray became entangled in reports of the possibly illegal doings of his campaign heads and of a shadow campaign run by businessman Jeffrey Thompson which allegedly helped finance the Gray campaign. That shadow has dogged Gray until this day.
President Obama, after a convincing re-election win and a promising inauguration, has been hit by a scandals, including the NSA wiretap revelations, the horrible rollout of the Obamacare website and the Republican-led shutdown of the federal government.

Christie’s bridge scandal has as yet not been linked directly to him, but it brought up anew Christie’s alleged reputation for the use of the bully pulpit with the accent on bully. In the aftermath, Christie has shown a side he’s displayed before—the victim side, the land populated by ME, as if the damage of huge traffic jams was merely a nuisance that got in the way of the more serious blows of his betrayal by friends. He apologized, and then apologized some more to the Democratic mayor of Ft. Lee, who was apparently being punished by Christie staff for not endorsing him in his re-election bid.
Gray, too, has apologized, but in a way that appears not to have satisfied the media, toward whom he’s getting edgy, not always a smart thing to do. The media has been frustrated by a lack of answers on what Gray knew about the misdeeds in his 2010 campaign, and Gray is frustrated and apparently angered by the repeated questions from the media about them. But in an ethically challenged political atmosphere, it’s bound to happen again and again. The media will ask, his opponents will insinuate and make an issue of it. Perhaps nothing more will happen. But apologies, of course, don’t answer questions so he can look forward to a rough campaign.

That too is part of a politician’s life. McAuliffe got a taste of it during a generally combative election campaign against Ken Cuccinelli, the naturally abrasive Virginia Tea Party darling. McAuliffe gave as bad as he got and he won, but being governor—just ask Bob McDonnell—is part living in the mansion, part living in the media bubble.

You look at McAuliffe now, and it’s a refreshing sight, the face of a happy man, reaching across the aisle, eager to DO something. The future looks bright, tomorrow, tomorrow. It’s the face of Bill Clinton who, with Hilary Clinton, was in the audience in Richmond. It’s the face of Marion Barry, who was once called Mayor for Life. The recent contretemps between Gray and members of the press have a familiar feel to them, too and the mess in Jersey has its fathers and grandfathers in every state and city of the union.

In politics, sometimes it’s not just how elected kings feel and former elected kings feel. Sometimes it’s more like “the thrill of victory, followed by the agony of real life, the media and scandal.”

Weekend Round Up January 16, 2014
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50 Shades! The Musical – a parody

January 16th, 2014 at 08:00 PM | Visit Website for pricing | Tel: 877-686-5366 | Event Website

With sold out audiences in Chicago and New York screaming for more, and a hit run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a 4-star review, 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL – THE ORIGINAL PARODY is coming for the first time to Washington, D.C., at the Warner Theatre on
January 16 – 18 for four performances only.

Address

Warner Theatre; 513 13th St NW

Choral Evensong Series

January 19th, 2014 at 05:00 PM | Free | diana@christchurchgeorgetown.org | Tel: 202-333-6677

Christ Church, Georgetown continues its Choral Evensong series on Sunday, January 19 at 5 p.m. with the music of Richard Ayleward, John Blow, and Johannes Brahms. Sung by the professional Choir of Christ Church, this series is free and open to the public as a gift to the community. For information call .

Address

Christ Church, Georgetown; 31st and O Streets, N.W.

The Baroque in the New and the Old World

January 19th, 2014 at 05:30 PM | $30 – $60 | teatroliricodc@aol.com | Tel: (202) 360-3514 | Event Website

Acclaimed chorus director Thomas Colohan, whose work with the Washington Master Chorale has been described as “skillfully wrought and moving” (Washington Post), leads a cast of Baroque artists featuring sopranos Laura Stuart and Meghan McCall. The program includes “Venid Deidades” (Come, deities), one of the earliest operas composed in the New World; Alessandro Marcello’s oboe concerto, and Baroque dances from Peru. Produced by Teatro Lirico of DC in partnership with the Embassy of Peru.

Address

The Church of the Epiphany; 1317 G Street, NW.
(Metro: Red Line Metro Center station)

AUDITIONS: A Cappella Group

January 19th, 2014 at 06:00 PM | supremechord@yahoo.com | Event Website](http://www.supremechordsings.com/)

Supreme Chord, a DC-based co-ed a cappella group, is starting 2014 looking for tenors, basses, and vocal percussionists. Auditions in mid to late January. Please email us at supremechord@yahoo.com for more details! Check out our website at www.supremechordsings.com.

Address

Logan Circle area

Martin Luther King Day Power Lunch

January 20th, 2014 at 12:00 PM | $45 | Tel: 202.496.2020 | Event Website](http://www.omansion.com/)

From 12-2PM, Join us to celebrate the life of this visionary leader.
Gourmet buffet lunch, award winning desserts. Plenty of vegetarian options. Private rooms available.

Guests are invited to explore the museum’s 100 rooms and 70 secret doors after they dine. Search for Mrs. Rosa Parks room, the John Lennon room, the Safari room, over 50 signed guitars, art, memorabilia and much more. Be sure to bring a shopping bag, nearly everything’s for sale!

Address

The Mansion on O ST; 2020 O St NW

“Let Freedom Ring”

January 20th, 2014 at 05:00 PM | Free tickets will be given away up to two (2) per person | Tel: 202-467-4600 | [Event Website](http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=14982&source_type=B)

The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University host a musical celebration featuring the Let Freedom Ring Choir and other special guests honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in a free Millennium Stage concert. Tickets are required and will be distributed the day of the event in front of the Concert Hall beginning at 5 p.m. The 2014 concert features five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and recording artist Dionne Warwick.

Address

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; 2700 F Street, NW

Post Poll Looks Good for Gray, More or Less
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Sometimes, it seems almost too early to be talking about the 2014 Democratic mayoral primary campaign. At other times, it seems almost too late.

It’s too early because so far at least, the race is not yet on a majority of voters’ radars, even though it’s coming up very fast in the rear-view mirror, with the election slated for April 1. On the other hand, it seems almost way late in the game because it’s, well, slated for April 1.

If the recently published Washington Post poll on the race is any indication, a big portion of voters has not made up its mind. So far, early indications look good for Mayor Vincent Gray in relation to his rivals, but not so good in the mind of many who still have doubts about his trustworthiness and honesty.

Meanwhile, the race remains murky and unsettled, almost as much as Gray’s own situation — vis a vis the federal investigation into his 2010 campaign’s finances. Several of his campaign aides have been indicted, and this investigation is not closed and could still wreak havoc.

The poll is not good news for Gray’s Democratic rivals, no matter how much they slice it and dice it. The enthusiasm for long-time—some longer than others—District Council members running for mayor has failed to gain any sort of traction that might indicate they are serious threats at least at this time. Polls, as one pollster told me long ago, are pictures and thumbnails of a window in time, not predictors that you can bet the farm—or your minimum-wage check—on.

The poll asked the question: “If the Democratic primary election for mayor of the District of Columbia were held today, for whom would you vote?”

Of those polled, 24 percent picked incumbent Mayor Vincent Gray. Doesn’t look like much, but it’s a little more than double that of the three council candidates Ward Four Council member Muriel Bowser (12 percent), Ward 2 council member Jack Evans (11 percent), slightly more than Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells (also at 11 percent). Vincent Orange, an at-large council member, trails in single digits at 9 percent, and restaurant owner Andy Shallal got 5 percent. Rita Lewis and Christian Carter trailed far behind at 1 percent.

This is not good news for the trailing candidates, but it’s no cakewalk for Gray, either. The second big number in that particular part of the poll is the number of undecideds; it is almost as large as the vote for Gray.

Still, the showing of the council members doesn’t bode well. Less than two and a half months remain—75 days—for one or more of them to make a move, figure out what they’re not doing right, correct it and hope for the best.

Gray’s situation is a dilemma because of another part of the poll which measured the effect of the investigation into the 2010 campaign’s finances. Overall, 43 percent of those polled said it would be a major factor in their vote for a candidate, which is a significant figure. More importantly and more personally, 54 percent of those polled, when asked if the mayor was trustworthy or honest, said no.

That means that the investigation—which still holds the possibility of more indictments simply because it’s still ongoing—is a significant factor in the campaign for everyone, including the public at large.

On the other hand, Gray is getting lots of credit for doing a good job, especially in such areas as attracting new business, reducing crime, improving city services and creating more jobs. The only real area of concern throughout the city is education, where the margin is 38 to 34.

Gray is running for re-election as mayor of a city which has changed dramatically over the past decade, and especially during his years as mayor. Gray ran and won on a theme of “One City,” a slogan which he’s still using, although its meaning may be changing. Initially, it was meant to propel the idea of bring the city’s different areas together—i.e., bridging the gap between poor and rich, black and white. These days, one city, with that city growing and changing demographically with each day, seems more like a drive to homogeneity—and that is not the same thing.

These days, Gray is still shaking off questions about the campaign, although he’s delivered apologies on a radio show, a TV interview and during his campaign kickoff speech last week. The questions, it is safe to say, will continue to come. Just the other day Gray dismissed a question from a local television reporter asking him if he thought he was trustworthy and honest. Questions—maybe not that one, but similar ones—will continue. It’s one thing to insist that “I didn’t do anything.” That is not the same as not knowing anything.

Even if Gray wins the Democratic primary for mayor, he won’t be home free. An iffy poll result, one way or the other, is hardly a sure thing at this point. If at-large councilman David Catania does indeed run in the general election as he said he would if Gray won the primary, then there’s a spirited election ahead for him. Winning a one-on-one in November promises to be a tough task .

Celebrations for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
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This holiday, events are happening all over D.C. in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, some of which include:

7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19 — At-large council member Vincent Orange’s Black-Tie Gala and MLK, Jr. Celebration, Kellogg Conference Center, Gallaudet University.

8 a.m. to 9 a.m, Monday Jan. 20 — a wreath-laying service, hosted by the National Park Service, at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial.

5 p.m, Monday Jan. 20 — A musical celebration at the Kennedy Center and hosted by the Kennedy Center and Georgetown University. Tickets to this free event will be distributed at the Concert Hall.

Obama and Congress: Get it Together
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The news – on the net, in the morning paper, on television – always gives you pause.

I just walked down to the corner on my way to get coffee, and even that gave me pause. We have an Exxon station on Calvert Street there, which is usually a pretty good barometer of just how far oil companies will push the envelope on prices.
For months, the station’s price for regular stayed steady at $4.05 per gallon, which was still about 30 cents or so higher than everywhere else in the region. Still, that little sign didn’t move a half cent until last week. That’s when it jumped to something like $4.25. Yesterday it went up an- other ten cents. Seriously?

The jump reflects a sudden surge and spike in gas prices nationwide, with the average pushing toward $3.70 or $3.80 by yesterday. Some media types are reporting prices above five bucks in California, which is a good bellwether state for bad news these days.
All sorts of reasons have been given for this surge, which usually doesn’t start until the summer travel bug bites everyone. Now gasoline prices are biting everyone. Experts—who knows who they are—say it’s the Chinese buying up all the oil, after first hacking into all our corporate websites. They say it’s refinery repair costs, Russia, the turmoil in the Middle East, that it’s, I don’t know, Lindsay Lohan or Charlie Sheen and the decline of the Western World. These things would appear to be signals of trouble in the oil industry, and I’d go along with that, except for one thing. Whatever quarterly earnings reports come out on Exxon, Shell, BP and the rest, they’re going to come in under the heading of “record prof- its reported.” Just like they have before. If those profits come from the record prices at the pump, then something’s rotten in Denmark. Given that the U.S. economy is still sluggish, jobs are tough to find, grocery prices are going up, and you know what’s coming up March 1, shouldn’t our venerable oil folks take a little break from those record profits—at the expense of people who can’t afford to give them—and do something patriotic like keep the prices where they are (or were they were last week)? Just saying.

Speaking of sequestering, it’s enough to make you spit.

The media dutifully reported that 31 percent of American folks polled blamed the president, and 49 percent blamed the Republican congress. Wasn’t sequestering—proposed by the president and approved by the same congress – supposed to avoid this?
Now, both sides are blaming and predicting catastrophe—lost government and defense jobs, a weakened U.S. defense and military, furloughs, hits to public safety, a crippling of a slowly improving economy. No one will be able to afford the next incarnation of iPad or Chilean sea bass at Whole Foods or a ride on the Metro. If all this— the sky already fell in Siberia last week—is going to happen, shouldn’t both the administration and congress get their heads out of their hands and sit down and do something beyond kicking it down the road a few months.

To Mr. Boehner, Tea Party die hards and champions of the filibuster: the election is over. There will be no recall. Get your butts together and work.

To our president: the election is over, you won. Enough with the victory laps. They treated you bad the last time, which is not enough reason to rub it in.

Most people don’t even know what sequester means, but you all do. Do something about it, like, yesterday. Show that you’re a leader who can get things done, even when you’re dealing with demons, both yours and theirs. ?

Ins & Outs August 8, 2012
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Laytham Hotel, Citronelle, La Madeleine . . . Closed for Good?
News that the Laytham Hotel — along with Michel Richard’s Citronelle and the chain La Madeleine — was closed for at least six months due to “extensive flooding” and structural damage has been the talk of the town. How extensive will the repairs be for the hotel and its adjacent restaurants? Will it be ready for the 2013 inauguration? The hotel operator and owner have not been very communicative with the public, as the hotel has been for sale on-and-off over the last few years. (Indeed, Citronelle was rumored to be closing or moving about four years ago.) It is a sad situation for the restaurant and hotel workers, although some have gotten jobs in other places already.

Indeed, a Changing of the Guards
The other bad news: the closing of the Guards, at 2915 M Street since 1966. Supposedly temporarily . . . as restaurant owner Hossein Shirvani, who also once owned the famed Childe Harold restaurant in Dupont Circle, continued to discuss a new lease agreement with the property owner.

Then, the Washington Post’s Tim Carman reported: “It’s official. The Guards is closed. Yes, it’s true, says longtime owner Hossein Shirvani, that he and the landlord are deep in lease talks over the future of the Guards. They’re both, he says, looking for someone to take over the space. In other words, the Guards, the historic Georgetown restaurant that once was the playground of celebrities and politicians alike, is officially closed.”

“It’s just my decision not to sign a new lease. We need to pass on the torch. You know what I mean? We need to get new blood in there,” Shirvani told the Post.

7-Eleven Closed for Expansion Until Late September
The closing of the 7-Eleven at 2617 P St., NW, is temporary, as it must close for its remodeling and expansion into the space once occupied by P Street Frames. The convenience store will remain closed until late September, according to GeorgetownPatch.com, increasing in size by 2,500-3,000 square feet.

Dutch Clothiers Setting Up M Street Shops
Suitsupply at the Four Seasons Hotel at 2828 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., is almost ready to open by the looks of the M and 29th Street corner — and by the end of August. The Amsterdam-headquartered men’s clothing company combines nicely priced suits (affordable and custom) with high-end service, such as in-store tailors. The company appears as “qualified and equipped” as the Dutch Olympic team it outfitted for London Games. www.SuitSupply.com

Scotch & Soda Amsterdam Couture is set to move into the former location of Betsey Johnson’s store at 3029 M St., N.W. While sold in other stores around the city, the Scotch & Soda in Georgetown will be its third official U.S. store after New York and Miami. The Amsterdam-based brand mixes and matches an ungraded American look — 202-338-4090; scotch-soda.com

M&T Banks Opens Branch on Wisconsin Avenue
M&T Bank opened a new, full-service branch at 1420 Wisconsin Ave., NW, in the space once occupied by famed hipster clothing store, Commander Salamander.

“Our new Georgetown branch is an example our investment in and commitment to the greater Washington area,” said Steve Heine, M&T Bank’s greater Washington market manager. “This is a convenient location that will help us to serve existing customers and attract new customers with our high level of service and M&T’s wide range of banking products.”

M&T Bank Corporation is one of the 20 largest U.S. bank holding companies with more than 750 branch offices in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Delaware. Founded in 1856 in Buffalo, N.Y., M&T was originally called Manufacturers and Traders Bank. Investor Warren Buffett owns large amounts of the bank’s stocks.

M&T’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday. The branch’s phone number is 202-333-6163.

Luke’s Lobster to Open Aug. 23
Luke’s Lobster, which specializes in authentic Maine seafood rolls, is set to open a Georgetown location at 1211 Potomac Street, NW, Aug. 23. It is the same building which houses the ill-fated Philly Pizza & Co. and the Crave.

The young company which has eateries in Penn Quarter and Bethesda, along with its five Manhattan spots, was founded by Luke Holden, who is a Georgetown University business school alumnus. His family owns a lobster-processing company in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Holden opened his first spot in Greenwich Village in 2009.

As for the new Potomac Street spot, Luke’s vice president Ben Conniff said, “Aug. 23 is around when we think we will be fully decorated, staffed and ready to go. We hope to get a few days under our belt and introduce ourselves to the neighbors before the students return to campus. We can’t wait to open in the neighborhood.”

Luke’s is planning a grand opening party around the Aug. 23 date, Conniff said. “For customers, we’ll be giving away some Luke’s Lobster Georgetown swag to our first hundred or two customers.”

“Luke’s Georgetown years were as formative as his lobster-boat summers,” a company press release announces. “Dishing fresh, sustainable Maine lobster to his old neighborhood and fellow Hoyas has been Luke’s dream since he served his first sandwich. In particular, he has been pining for the building where he burned his mouth so many times on melted cheese and tomato sauce before the pizza joint closed in 2010. He couldn’t have found a better location. The whitewashed clapboard house at 1211 looks as though it was transplanted directly from a Maine lobster dock. Luke’s first two-story location will have room to satisfy neighbors and students alike amid lobster gear from his old boat. And the neighborhood’s love of good food, from cheesesteak to cupcake, makes it the ideal community to share the world’s greatest lobster, in the form of D.C.’s favorite lobster roll.”

The menu is already outside the door of the new eatery: Lobster roll, $15; crab roll, $12; shrimp roll, $8. For $20, there’s Taste of Maine, a sample of the three rolls in one meal; double that amount for $38 with Noah’s Ark. There is a blueberry ice cream sandwich — and, of course, chowder.

Sweetgreen Coming to Glover Park?
“We’re hearing that 2200 Wisconsin Ave.—home to BodySmith Training Gym—may soon welcome local fro-yo-and-salad chain Sweetgreen,” reports the Hyperlocal Glover Park news blog. “According to one source, the plan is for BodySmith to retain gym space in the building’s basement via a separate entrance, while Sweetgreen inhabits the glass-fronted retail space above.”
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Bank of Georgetown Branch Named for Co-founder Curtin Winsor
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Bank of Georgetown announced last week the relocation of its corporate headquarters and the opening of an adjoining branch at 1115 30th St., NW, just south of M Street. The bank’s 11th location in the Washington metropolitan area will be named “The Winsor Branch” in honor of its co-founder and late chairman, Curtin Winsor III, who died in December 2012.

“Curt poured his heart and soul into the creation and success of Bank of Georgetown,” said Mike Fitzgerald, chairman, president, and CEO of Bank of Georgetown. “We miss him greatly but know he would be proud of the path on which we are progressing. We hope to honor his legacy with our newest branch and through our unwavering commitment to the bank’s mission of providing highly personalized relationship banking service to local businesses and residents.”

After 10 years and multiple expansions at its original location on 31st Street, nearly 50 employees moved into the 17,400 square-foot facility, which features multiple conference rooms, a boardroom and more space for day-to-day lending and deposit operations. Bank executives felt strongly that leaving their original headquarters did not require moving out of Georgetown.

“It is important for us to invest in the resources necessary to support our consistent growth in assets and customers. This move reflects our commitment to building a premier Washington D.C.-based community bank,” Fitzgerald said. “We are excited about our new home and look forward to serving a larger portion of the Georgetown community, while continuing to listen and cater to the needs of businesses throughout the District, Maryland and Virginia.”

The full-service adjoining branch is the bank’s second in the neighborhood. Its first facility opened in 2005 at the corner of Wisconsin and K Street.

It’s Panda-monium as Panda Cub Bao Bao Makes Her Public Debut at National Zoo (Photos)
• February 20, 2014

Thousands of animal lovers braved the cold weather and construction on the Metro Red Line to greet four-month-old giant panda cub Bao Bao for her first day on public display at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park on Jan. 18. The giant-panda house, which had been closed to the general public for six months, re-opened for extended hours for the three-day Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend to accommodate the expected 10,000 visitors. They would be allowed only 10 to 15 minutes at a time in front of the baby panda, but many would come back to wait in line for a second or a third look. Although members of the Friends of the National Zoo had already been given preview peeks, this Saturday marked the first time members of the general public would be allowed to view the 18-1/2 pound cub . (When fully grown, female giant pandas weigh in excess of 200 pounds.) Infant pandas sleep quite a bit, up to 20 hours a day, and visitors were warned not to expect too much action from Bao Bao. We were lucky to see the cub wide awake for some exercise with handler Nicole MacCorkle. Bao Bao’s mother, Mei Xiang, was enjoying a meal of bamboo in the adjoining enclosure. The amount of time that visitors will be able to see Bao Bao will vary, depending on how much time the panda spends in her private den. Zookeepers try to allow animals as much free will as possible. Our advice: make this your first stop on your visit to the zoo. If the panda is out of view or asleep, just come back a bit later in the day.

Bao Bao was born August 23, 2013. She was the first giant panda to survive birth at the zoo since 2005. Many watched the event on the Pandacam. Bao Bao, which means “precious” or “treasure,” was formally named 100 days later. More than 123,000 votes were cast on the cub’s new name on Smithsonian.com.

Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. They have been classified as endangered in the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species. There are an estimated 1,600 living in the wild and another 300 in zoos and breeding centers around the world, mostly in China. Their diet is almost exclusively bamboo.

View our photos from Bao Bao’s opening day by clicking on the photo icons below.
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Upcoming Legal Decisions for D.C.
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Decriminalizing Marijuana in D.C.

Over the past four years, Washingtonians support of legalization of marijuana has increased exponentially with 63 percent of residents now in favor. Currently, a bill is being proposed that will make the possession of marijuana a civil offense rather than a criminal one. If this bill passes the level of possession of marijuana will be equivalent to getting a parking ticket and the level of police involvement and legal costs will reduce “undeniable racial disparities.” Passage of the bill is likely, as 9 out of the 13 council members and Mayor Vincent Gray support the measure.

Gray Awaits 11 Pieces of Environmental Legislation

In efforts to reduce pollution, a measure receiving the most attention is a ban on styrofoam food and drink containers. This would be the first measure taken to reduce the pollution in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers.

Proposed Law Would Ban Federal Funding for Abortions in D.C.

The “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” prohibits states from using federal grants for funding abortions. Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., introduced an amendment to strike language that defines D.C. as a part of the federal government, which he cited under the Home Rule Act passed in 1973. In opposition, House Judiciary Chairman Robert W. Goodlatte, R-Va., expressed controversial views of people supporting District autonomy. Goodlatte said that the budget of the District of Columbia must be approved by Congress, including revenues generated by local sources. Despite Conyers’s efforts, the committee rejected his amendment, siding with Goodlatte, and the “No Taxpayers Funding for Abortion Act” was favorably reported to the House.

Suspicious Package Shuts Down M Street
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“An unattended backpack,” according to the Metropolitan Police Department Bomb Squad, found within the Nike Store at 3040 M St., NW, next to Thomas Jefferson Street, shut down M Street from 33rd Street to 30th Street for almost two hours, halting traffic at the beginning of the evening rush. The street closure began just before 4 p.m. Pedestrians were also blocked at 30th and 31st Streets; part of Thomas Jefferson Street was closed briefly. Stores were also on lock-down.

No explosives were found, and an all clear has been given. M Street was re-opened to traffic after 5:30 p.m.