District of DeBonis - More than a city. Not quite a state. Enough for a blog.

Posted at 07:20 PM ET, 03/30/2011

Leon Swain, D.C. taxi czar, recalls Reagan shooting

By Mike DeBonis

Leon J. Swain Jr. recalls being the young D.C. cop who drove John Hinckley Jr. away moments after he had shot President Reagan.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:20 PM ET, 03/30/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:31 PM ET, 03/30/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 30, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 12:31 PM ET, 03/30/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:36 PM ET, 03/29/2011

Michelle Rhee’s flat-earth response to testing reliability

By Mike DeBonis

A USA Today article raising questions about the impressive testing results at a DCPS school has the former chancellor on the attack.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:36 PM ET, 03/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:08 PM ET, 03/29/2011

Do D.C. census data herald the end of the black electorate?

By Mike DeBonis

New census data show that black residents represent a dwindling plurality of the city’s voting-age population

By Mike DeBonis | 04:08 PM ET, 03/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:36 PM ET, 03/29/2011

Listen: New hip-hop track takes aim at Vincent Gray

By Mike DeBonis

Ron Moten, a longtime political foe of Vincent Gray, has produced a new hip-hop broadside against the embattled mayor.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:36 PM ET, 03/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 03/29/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 29, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 12:35 PM ET, 03/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:55 PM ET, 03/24/2011

Wards 2 and 6 see biggest population jumps in D.C.; Ward 8 shrinks

By Mike DeBonis

Official U.S. Census Bureau population figures were handed to D.C. Council members and staff this morning, providing the first indications of how the city’s political geography might change in the coming redistricting process

By Mike DeBonis | 01:55 PM ET, 03/24/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:14 AM ET, 03/24/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 24, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 11:14 AM ET, 03/24/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:41 PM ET, 03/23/2011

Irvin Nathan to D.C. Council: I am not Peter Nickles

By Mike DeBonis

By Mike DeBonis | 06:41 PM ET, 03/23/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:53 PM ET, 03/23/2011

Natwar Gandhi: D.C. agencies overspending by $42 million

By Mike DeBonis

City agencies are on track to overspend their current budgets by $42 million or more, Chief Financial Office Natwar M. Gandhi told city leaders this morning.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:53 PM ET, 03/23/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:18 AM ET, 03/23/2011

Music video to take aim at Gray’s ‘power’

By Mike DeBonis

By Mike DeBonis | 11:18 AM ET, 03/23/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:04 AM ET, 03/23/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 23, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 10:04 AM ET, 03/23/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:27 PM ET, 03/22/2011

Team Thomas catches eye of D.C. campaign finance office

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. Office of Campaign Finance is probing D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) and his relations to organizations her ran.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:27 PM ET, 03/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:25 PM ET, 03/22/2011

D.C. Council vehicle questions date back to 1975

By Mike DeBonis

Questions over the chairman’s automobile date back to mere weeks after the District’s first home rule government was seated

By Mike DeBonis | 02:25 PM ET, 03/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:49 AM ET, 03/22/2011

D.C. budget cuts lead to shortage of garbage cans, recycling bins

By Mike DeBonis

Budget cuts mean that the District government is no longer providing garbage cans or recycling bins to city residents.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:49 AM ET, 03/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:06 AM ET, 03/22/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 22, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 10:06 AM ET, 03/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:56 PM ET, 03/21/2011

Gray confidant Lorraine Green had prior run-in with Issa

By Mike DeBonis

Rep. Dan Issa (R-Calif.), head of the House oversight committee, knows Lorraine Green, who chaired Gray’s campaign and transition committees and also works as Amtrak’s top HR executive, from another investigation.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:56 PM ET, 03/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:56 AM ET, 03/21/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 21, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 10:56 AM ET, 03/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:09 PM ET, 03/18/2011

BUD’SPAC goes to bat for Patrick Mara

By Mike DeBonis

A group of city business leaders is soliciting funds to help D.C. Council candidate Patrick Mara fill Kwame Brown’s vacated seat.

By Mike DeBonis | 03:09 PM ET, 03/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:49 AM ET, 03/18/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 18, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 10:49 AM ET, 03/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:11 AM ET, 03/17/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 17, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 11:11 AM ET, 03/17/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:54 PM ET, 03/16/2011

Gray meets with business leaders to stave off doubts

By Mike DeBonis

After weeks of bad news, Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) sat down with city business leaders Wednesday, seeking to show that he was addressing his political problems.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:54 PM ET, 03/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 03/16/2011

D.C. Republicans targeted by apparent shooter

By Mike DeBonis

Small projectiles appear to have shattered windows at the D.C. Republican Committee’s downtown offices.

By Mike DeBonis | 01:25 PM ET, 03/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:14 AM ET, 03/16/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 16, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 10:14 AM ET, 03/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 PM ET, 03/15/2011

Patterson booted from at-large ballot, but Mara stays

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics ruled Tuesday that Jacque Patterson did not submit enough petition signatures to appear on the April 26 ballot. Republican Patrick Mara, meanwhile, survived a scare.

By Mike DeBonis | 08:00 PM ET, 03/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:12 PM ET, 03/15/2011

Wal-Mart targeted by new D.C. Council bills

By Mike DeBonis

Phil Mendelson wants the world’s largest retailer to guarantee community benefits and pay employees a ‘living wage’ before it opens D.C. stores

By Mike DeBonis | 05:12 PM ET, 03/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:11 PM ET, 03/15/2011

Trout Report raises specter of ‘pay to play’

By Mike DeBonis

A new investigation into D.C. parks contracts raises questions about contractors’ ties to two allies of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

By Mike DeBonis | 03:11 PM ET, 03/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:48 AM ET, 03/15/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 15, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions

By Mike DeBonis | 09:48 AM ET, 03/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:51 PM ET, 03/14/2011

Elections board could boot Patrick Mara from at-large ballot

By Mike DeBonis

Patrick Mara, seeking to fill a vacant at-large Council seat, is in danger of being ousted from the special election ballot after officials identified possibly falsified signatures on his petitions.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:51 PM ET, 03/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: DCision 2010, The District

Posted at 02:11 PM ET, 03/14/2011

Trout Report identifies questionable dealings by Fenty friends

By Mike DeBonis

An 18-month investigation into city parks contracts clears former Mayor Adrian Fenty of wrongdoing but calls for a federal probe into two allies’ business dealings.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:11 PM ET, 03/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:47 AM ET, 03/14/2011

D.C. food truck owners object to sales-tax proposal

By Mike DeBonis

A newly formed group of city food truck owners are objecting to a D.C. Council plan to have mobile vendors pay the same sales taxes as stationary outlets.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:47 AM ET, 03/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:32 AM ET, 03/14/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 14, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

By Mike DeBonis | 10:32 AM ET, 03/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:33 AM ET, 03/11/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 11, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

By Mike DeBonis | 11:33 AM ET, 03/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:48 PM ET, 03/10/2011

Howard Brooks hires former Prince George’s state’s attorney

By Mike DeBonis

By Mike DeBonis | 07:48 PM ET, 03/10/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:57 PM ET, 03/10/2011

D.C. Council tensions erupt over Gray hiring allegations

By Mike DeBonis

David A. Catania (I-At Large) called a report on Gray administration nepotism a “whitewash” and called for a hearing on the allegations.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:57 PM ET, 03/10/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:35 AM ET, 03/10/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 10, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

TODAY IS MARCH 10, 2011 — DAY 67 OF THE GRAY ADMINISTRATION

By Mike DeBonis | 10:35 AM ET, 03/10/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:20 AM ET, 03/09/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 9, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A daily roundup of D.C. political news — the latest on the Sulaimon Brown allegations and Kaya Henderson’s nomination to be DCPS chancellor

By Mike DeBonis | 11:20 AM ET, 03/09/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:58 AM ET, 03/08/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 8, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

TODAY IS MARCH 8, 2011 — DAY 65 OF THE GRAY ADMINISTRATION

By Mike DeBonis | 11:58 AM ET, 03/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:28 AM ET, 03/08/2011

Adrian Fenty backs Scott Walker in anti-union push

By Mike DeBonis

Former D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty lent rare Democratic support to Wisc. Gov. Scott Walker’s push to defang state employee unions. “I think it’s a new day,” Fenty said. “I think a lot of these collective bargaining agreements are completely outdated.”

By Mike DeBonis | 10:28 AM ET, 03/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:08 PM ET, 03/07/2011

Key congressman says he’s ‘a fan’ of Lanier

By Mike DeBonis

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), a former prosecutor, oversees the District government. He met last week with the city’s police chief.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:08 PM ET, 03/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 03/07/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 7, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

By Mike DeBonis | 11:45 AM ET, 03/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:39 PM ET, 03/04/2011

Poll: George Allen set up for easy primary victory

By Mike DeBonis

A new poll indicates that tea party challenges to George Allen are token at best.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:39 PM ET, 03/04/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 03/04/2011

Yes, Kwame Brown is really driving a mail truck

By Mike DeBonis

In my not-a-column about D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown’s political future, I noted that he said in a recent WTTG-TV interview that he is currently driving a “1983 mail truck” — that, in lieu of the city-paid 2011 “fully loaded” Lincoln Navigator L he once piloted.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:35 PM ET, 03/04/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:19 AM ET, 03/04/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 4, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

Questions about Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s vetting process continue, a day after he announced that he “is asking city police to again scrutinize senior and mid-level managers he has hired thus far, fearful that the initial vetting process was not thorough enough,” as Tim Craig and I report in today’s Post.

By Mike DeBonis | 11:19 AM ET, 03/04/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:25 PM ET, 03/03/2011

Did Gray give Baker CapStat’s last hurrah?

By Mike DeBonis

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker visited the John A. Wilson Building this morning — D.C.’s city hall — to visit with his fellow new leader, Mayor Vincent C. Gray. Afterward, Baker tweeted Gray a thank-you: “Appreciate DC Mayor Gray showing me CapStat and the DC 311 center.”

By Mike DeBonis | 02:25 PM ET, 03/03/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:06 AM ET, 03/03/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 3, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

TODAY IS MARCH 3, 2011 -- DAY 60 OF THE GRAY ADMINISTRATION PREVIOUSLY -- Coming soon: Wilson Building baristas? -- D.C. property assessments rise modestly for 2012 Mayor Vincent C. Gray appears to have a vetting problem. A week after...

By Mike DeBonis | 11:06 AM ET, 03/03/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Morning Mike, The District

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 03/02/2011

Coming soon: Wilson Building baristas?

By Mike DeBonis

Staffers and visitors to the John A. Wilson Building might soon be able to enjoy a grande latte with their governance. The Department of Real Estate Services has been tasked with exploring the feasibility of locating some sort of food-and-beverage...

By Mike DeBonis | 06:00 PM ET, 03/02/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: The District

Posted at 09:42 AM ET, 03/02/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: March 2, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

TODAY IS MARCH 2, 2011 -- DAY 59 OF THE GRAY ADMINISTRATION Here's the number: $322 million. That is the bona fide, Nat Gandhi-certified amount of the District of Columbia's fiscal 2010 budget gap. Expect to hear that number several...

By Mike DeBonis | 09:42 AM ET, 03/02/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Morning Mike, The District

District of DeBonis: March, 2011