It’s a slippery Tuesday out there, so please be careful and avoid walking the perimeter of the Capitol complex fence because it is dangerous and most definitely not ADA-compliant. Here is a list of District resources to help you if you should need it during this cold emergency, including numbers to help neighbors in need.
It was nice to see DCist give some love to the neighbors who are trying to prevent the fence from becoming a permanent fixture. If Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the National Guard is leaving March 12, can’t they take the fence with them? WUSA-9
I strongly suggest subscribing to Charles Allen’s Ward 6 updates, which have plenty of timely and useful information. Read February 19’s update here.
Oh yeah. The hearing regarding the Capitol attack took place this morning. You can watch here and read the below Tweet as well:
That’s why it’s good, I suppose, that Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is working on getting the razor wire removed, and to get the United States Botanic Garden out of the fenced-in perimeter. Incidentally, Norton has also been busy making the removal of the Pike statue official (protesters took it down last summer) as well as working to remove the Emancipation Memorial at Lincoln Park. DCist
It’s good to remember that not only is the United States Capitol the people’s house, but that the fencing isolates Capitol Hill almost completely from other parts of town. CHAMPS DC, the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals, wrote a statement regarding the Capitol Fence that should be at the forefront of future considerations for this aberration:
“…permanent fencing gives residents and visitors alike a feeling of imminent threat and can deter people from coming to the neighborhood. Shoppers and diners have many choices across DC, and as we seek to emerge from this pandemic that has decimated small businesses, we ask that decision makers consider safety options that strike a balance with the traditional openness of our neighborhood and access to retail and dining.”
Our friends at Don’t Fence the Capitol released a statement on the subject of today’s hearing, which you can read below or over on their Instagram:
So, why are we again in this big fenced pickle? Oh yes– because DC has unequal rights to those of people across the nation. The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum writes a compelling case for statehood in “A Real Place Deserves Real Rights.” But Anne, DC was not built in a swamp so please don’t keep perpetuating urban legends such as those.
Metro has taken a big hit with the pandemic and they’d like the public’s input on their budget. Meanwhile, Union Station’s redesign has been put on pause after complaints that the design put forth was too car-centric. Look, it’s worth doing it right. This is great news. (Washington Post)
As data scientist and friend Charlotte Jackson wrote over at Greater Greater Washington, “maybe it’s time to rethink wide, fast-moving arterial roads, the benefits they deliver to the residents of DC, and whether those benefits outweigh the costs.”
At last week’s press conference, Mayor Bowser declared gun violence to be the public health and safety issue that it is. She introduced a comprehensive initiative to address it called Building Blocks DC. WTOP
Shave and a haircut is probably not going to cost two bits at Scissors & Scotch, a new place in Navy Yard where your tresses-trimming comes with a tipple. I’ve made this joke before, but I really hope the barbers don’t drink for the sake of your perfect fade. Eater
Looks like Handle 19 has hit a major roadblock. What a saga. WTOP