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

Posted at 08:54 PM ET, 02/28/2012

DeEvening Links: Fairness for food trucks

By Mike DeBonis

A Post editorial says new rules “strike a reasonable balance” between trucks and traditional restaurants.

By Mike DeBonis | 08:54 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:03 PM ET, 02/28/2012

D.C. Democrats to vote on convention delegates

By Mike DeBonis

Any of the city’s approximately 342,000 registered Democrats is able to show up at UDC Saturday and vote between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:03 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:38 PM ET, 02/28/2012

A crowded field indeed in Ward 5

By Mike DeBonis

Attention Ward 5 voters: You will have choices come May 15, a lot of them.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:38 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:11 AM ET, 02/28/2012

DeMorning Links: Trust but verify

By Mike DeBonis

Could more have been done to prevent Harry Thomas Jr.’s thievery? It sure looks like it.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:11 AM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 PM ET, 02/27/2012

DeEvening Links: What’s in a name

By Mike DeBonis

Jim Vance notes we have an entire football team with a pretty darn racist name!

By Mike DeBonis | 07:00 PM ET, 02/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:39 PM ET, 02/27/2012

Ivanka Trump visits the Wilson Building

By Mike DeBonis

The Donald’s eldest daughter drummed up support for her company’s plans to renovate the Old Post Office Pavilion.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:39 PM ET, 02/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 02/27/2012

Elections board backs initiative to ban corporate campaign giving

By Mike DeBonis

Board vote sets up six-month effort to collect more than 22,000 valid signatures in order to get the measure on the November ballot.

By Mike DeBonis | 01:30 PM ET, 02/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:33 AM ET, 02/27/2012

DeMorning Links: The shine goes on

By Mike DeBonis

Shoe shine maven Ego Brown has had to close down his flagship stand inside the International Square building after 23 years.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:33 AM ET, 02/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:51 PM ET, 02/24/2012

DeEvening Links: Tweeter for life

By Mike DeBonis

Marion Barry had to work to convince WRC-TV reporter Tom Sherwood that he is in fact capable of tweeting all by himself.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:51 PM ET, 02/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:07 PM ET, 02/24/2012

It’s a small (political) world

By Mike DeBonis

Hey, look, they too have an at-large council race featuring a legacy politico!

By Mike DeBonis | 06:07 PM ET, 02/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:44 PM ET, 02/24/2012

D.C. youth funding, beset by scandal, has dwindled

By Mike DeBonis

A key city group implicated in the Thomas scheme makes a case for continued funding.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:44 PM ET, 02/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:31 AM ET, 02/24/2012

DeMorning Links: Kwamemobiles, one year later

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. Council chairman appears not to have followed through just yet on a promise to reimburse the city.

By Mike DeBonis | 09:31 AM ET, 02/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:43 PM ET, 02/23/2012

DeMorning Links: Frank Kameny’s heir

By Mike DeBonis

The Washington Blade has the fascinating story of the sole heir to the gay rights pioneer who died in October.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:43 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:50 PM ET, 02/23/2012

How many streetcars will H Street get?

By Mike DeBonis

Tommy Wells thinks two streetcars could mean the difference between success and failure for the entire trolley endeavor.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:50 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:35 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Parking ticket schadenfreude

By Mike DeBonis

Two years after its debut, the 15th Street NW cycletrack retains the ability to confound drivers.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:35 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 02/23/2012

D.C.’s recent crime spike, in context

By Mike DeBonis

Like much reporting on short-term crime trends, a Washington Times report on a recent violent crime surge is missing some context.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:00 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:56 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Editorializing on D.C. Council swearing

By Mike DeBonis

The Post cartoonist weighed in on the D.C. Council’s new rule against the public use of “profane, indecent or abusive language” by members.

By Mike DeBonis | 01:56 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:51 AM ET, 02/23/2012

DeMorning Links: The longest stay

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. government continues to house dozens of homeless families in motels.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:51 AM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:19 PM ET, 02/22/2012

DeEvening Link: Simply the best

By Mike DeBonis

Donald Trump on his plans for the Old Post Office Pavilion: “I think this has a chance to be one of the great hotels of the world, if not the best.”

By Mike DeBonis | 06:19 PM ET, 02/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:56 PM ET, 02/22/2012

Gray shows movement on affordable housing

By Mike DeBonis

A week and a half after One City Summit participants named housing as their top priority, Gray takes some action.

By Mike DeBonis | 05:56 PM ET, 02/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:17 PM ET, 02/22/2012

D.C. youth job training contract slammed by appeals board

By Mike DeBonis

Panel found “no consistent, discernible standard or approach” in awarding a contract to Synergistic Inc.

By Mike DeBonis | 03:17 PM ET, 02/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:56 AM ET, 02/22/2012

DeMorning Links: One plastic bracelet

By Mike DeBonis

“All of this violence over a piece of costume jewelry,” said the lead prosecutor in the March 2010 shooting spree that left five dead.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:56 AM ET, 02/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:19 PM ET, 02/21/2012

DeEvening Links: Watch your mouths

By Mike DeBonis

D.C. Council members must now “treat other members with dignity and respect and refrain from using profane, indecent or abusive language.”

By Mike DeBonis | 08:19 PM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:09 PM ET, 02/21/2012

Clark Ray’s new job: Bring DCPS and charter sports together

By Mike DeBonis

The former parks director has one job to do in the next 10 months — plan a championship football game for D.C. public high schools.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:09 PM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:14 AM ET, 02/21/2012

DeMorning Links: I’m back

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. Council Tuesday is set to consider a ban on members using “profane, indecent or abusive language” in public.

By Mike DeBonis | 11:14 AM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:40 PM ET, 02/10/2012

DeVacay Links: Reaching the summit

By Mike DeBonis

Mayor Gray’s One City Summit is only going to be as worthless as the people who don’t show up.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:40 PM ET, 02/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:39 PM ET, 02/10/2012

Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe addresses department tensions

By Mike DeBonis

The chief appeared on WAMU-FM to address the ongoing controversy, including the thorniest issue of all — the role of race.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:39 PM ET, 02/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:10 PM ET, 02/10/2012

Obama does the least he can do on D.C. budget autonomy

By Mike DeBonis

Obama continues to do the bare minimum expected of a Democratic president who can rely on the District for three electoral votes.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:10 PM ET, 02/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:27 PM ET, 02/10/2012

Ugly street signs will be fixed

By Mike DeBonis

Those messy-looking street signs I highlighted Thursday will soon be fixed. Soon, as in Friday.

By Mike DeBonis | 03:27 PM ET, 02/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:02 AM ET, 02/10/2012

DeMorning Links: We love you, Donald

By Mike DeBonis

It’s okay, Petula Dvorak says: “Washington is really pretty Atlantic City on the inside.”

By Mike DeBonis | 10:02 AM ET, 02/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:16 PM ET, 02/09/2012

DeEvening Links: Let’s get parallel

By Mike DeBonis

It’s been some time since the D.C. DMV has included parallel parking in its new-driver testing.

By Mike DeBonis | 08:16 PM ET, 02/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:21 PM ET, 02/09/2012

Kevin B. Chavous speaks!

By Mike DeBonis

Outtakes from the Ward 7 council candidate’s first interview after his December arrest

By Mike DeBonis | 06:21 PM ET, 02/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:02 PM ET, 02/09/2012

Some D.C. street signs are kind of a mess

By Mike DeBonis

There’s been some hiccups in implementing the city’s street sign design standard.

By Mike DeBonis | 03:02 PM ET, 02/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 02/09/2012

Taxi fare hike is at least a month away; some surcharges could remain

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. Taxicab Commission is plowing ahead with plans for a modest fare increase and to scrap some surcharges.

By Mike DeBonis | 01:25 PM ET, 02/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:52 AM ET, 02/09/2012

DeMorning Links: The price of ignorance

By Mike DeBonis

Perhaps its was worth it for city officials to go to New Hampshire to see what sort of attitudes the District has to change.

By Mike DeBonis | 09:52 AM ET, 02/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:01 PM ET, 02/08/2012

DeEvening Links: What’s in a traffic camera?

By Mike DeBonis

A traffic camera on Branch Avenue SE reveals some interesting cleavages in the world of neighborhood activism.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:01 PM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:41 PM ET, 02/08/2012

Thomas hasn’t paid up, but he’s not off the hook

By Mike DeBonis

Harry Thomas Jr. is in default of his civil settlement, but his criminal judgment will likely include restitution.

By Mike DeBonis | 05:41 PM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:27 AM ET, 02/08/2012

DeMorning Links: State of the District

By Mike DeBonis

Gray vowed to create an economy “less reliant on the federal government and. . .real estate development.”

By Mike DeBonis | 10:27 AM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:19 PM ET, 02/07/2012

DeEvening Links: Here comes The Donald

By Mike DeBonis

Feds pick the Trump Organization to redevelop the Old Post Office Pavilion.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:19 PM ET, 02/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:03 PM ET, 02/07/2012

In muted defense of Michael Brown’s approach to Internet gambling

By Mike DeBonis

Brown’s shadowy plan to implement “iGaming” might have survived Congress, but it backfired all the same.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:03 PM ET, 02/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:31 AM ET, 02/07/2012

DeMorning Links: ‘I enjoy throwing trash’

By Mike DeBonis

The charmed life of a D.C. garbageman.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:31 AM ET, 02/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:06 PM ET, 02/06/2012

DeEvening Links: No car barn, please

By Mike DeBonis

Kingman Parkers are pushing back on the notion of siting a streetcar facility near Spingarn High School.

By Mike DeBonis | 09:06 PM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:47 PM ET, 02/06/2012

State of the District speech could be flashpoint in firefighter conflict

By Mike DeBonis

Top union official says fire brass wanted to put the kibosh on firefighter protests at mayoral address.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:47 PM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:54 PM ET, 02/06/2012

Yvette Alexander will remain on primary ballot

By Mike DeBonis

Elections board finds “lack of substantial evidence” to corroborate challenger‘s fraud claims.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:54 PM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:27 PM ET, 02/06/2012

D.C. unemployment fraud crackdown underway

By Mike DeBonis

Gray administration officials say that nearly 150 city employees double-dipped, costing the city about $800,000.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:27 PM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:08 AM ET, 02/06/2012

DeMorning Links: #dciswhereskinsbelong

By Mike DeBonis

Last night’s Super Bowl awakened some heretofore dormant emotions inside Marion Barry.

By Mike DeBonis | 09:08 AM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:11 PM ET, 02/03/2012

DeEvening Links: Another hunger strike

By Mike DeBonis

D.C. hunger strikes: Not just for voting rights anymore.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:11 PM ET, 02/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:50 PM ET, 02/03/2012

President Obama gets a DCFD T-shirt

By Mike DeBonis

POTUS might have inadvertently waded in a hot-button local political controversy.

By Mike DeBonis | 05:50 PM ET, 02/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: D.C. Fire, D.C. government

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 02/03/2012

Yvette Alexander will have to disclose legal expenses

By Mike DeBonis

Turns out her attorney fees are everyone’s business, not “no one’s business.”

By Mike DeBonis | 05:00 PM ET, 02/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:57 PM ET, 02/03/2012

Marion Barry on Don Cornelius

By Mike DeBonis

Barry was acquainted with Cornelius over the course of three decades dating back to his early days as mayor.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:57 PM ET, 02/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Don Cprnelius

Posted at 10:46 AM ET, 02/03/2012

DeMorning Links: Bowling for compliance

By Mike DeBonis

Girls’ bowling is now a varsity sport in the D.C. Public Schools, but there’s no companion team for the boys.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:46 AM ET, 02/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:29 PM ET, 02/02/2012

DeEvening Links: Everywhere there’s signs

By Mike DeBonis

Watch DDOT make the city’s new mixed-case street signs.

By Mike DeBonis | 08:29 PM ET, 02/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:31 PM ET, 02/02/2012

Yvette Alexander campaign, challenger spar over ballot petitions

By Mike DeBonis

A campaign aide to the Ward 7 incumbent said any faulty petitions were discarded before submission to elections officials.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:31 PM ET, 02/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:20 AM ET, 02/02/2012

DeMorning Links: The unintegrating city?

By Mike DeBonis

D.C. appears to have bucked a national desegregation trend.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:20 AM ET, 02/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:28 PM ET, 02/01/2012

DeEvening Links: Who’s got a groundhog?

By Mike DeBonis

Aaron DeNu needs a groundhog, but he’s been having some trouble.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:28 PM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 02/01/2012

What will iGaming repeal cost the District?

By Mike DeBonis

At least $13 million, possibly much more.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:00 PM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:17 PM ET, 02/01/2012

Internet gambling rejected by D.C. Council panel

By Mike DeBonis

The 3-2 vote of the Finance and Revenue Committee came after about a half-hour of discussion.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:17 PM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: internet gambling, d.c. gambling

Posted at 12:54 PM ET, 02/01/2012

Yvette Alexander case tests new ethics law’s lawyer-lobbyist provision

By Mike DeBonis

Yvette Alexander’s hiring of a city lobbyist implicates a provision in the new ethics bill.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:54 PM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:20 AM ET, 02/01/2012

DeMorning Links: What happened to Theodoric James?

By Mike DeBonis

The city “did a better job of cleaning up his property than saving his life,” inspector general concludes.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:20 AM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:10 PM ET, 01/31/2012

DeEvening Links: Deer in the library

By Mike DeBonis

A deer crashed through the front window of the temporary Washington Highlands library branch this afternoon.

By Mike DeBonis | 08:10 PM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:04 PM ET, 01/31/2012

Vincent Gray now supports Internet gambling repeal

By Mike DeBonis

Gray’s pronouncement comes a day ahead of a D.C. Council committee’s vote on whether to proceed with the program.

By Mike DeBonis | 04:04 PM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:54 PM ET, 01/31/2012

Yvette Alexander fights to stay on primary ballot

By Mike DeBonis

A Board of Elections and Ethics hearing on challenges to her ballot petitions has been recessed until Thursday morning.

By Mike DeBonis | 01:54 PM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:43 AM ET, 01/31/2012

DeMorning Links: More magic money

By Mike DeBonis

Why having an extra $240 million in the city savings account is an enviable problem.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:43 AM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

District of DeBonis: February, 2012