Another week, another step we take into the thick of SPOOKY SEASON. Are you decorating? Add yourself to our Spooky Hill map here! And make a neighborhood kiddo’s Halloween at least 110% more magical here!
What else is going on?
Let’s start with some good news: According to HVAC Gnome (who?!), DC is the fourth best city in the nation to be car-free. As someone who’s been car free for six years this October, I heartily concur.
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton sent out a statement voicing her objections to the paternalistic nature of today’s Congress hearing on DC crime. While it is true that DC has seen an increase in crime, Republican leaders want to stifle DC’s rights and prevent us from ever having full representation.
Of course, it doesn’t help when an elected member of Congress, like Rep. Henry Cuellar from Texas, gets carjacked and has his sushi stolen–– and then decides to joke (?) that DC is more dangerous than the U.S.- Mexico border (Twitter/X), a place that’s been declared the world’s deadliest land migration route by the United Nations, according to the Voice of America.
And to add to the hyperbole, Rep. Eric Burlison from Missouri often makes calculations as to whether it’s better to sleep in his office because he’s so afraid to go around DC. In a conservative radio show, he even went so far as to aver that owning a car in DC is “insane” ––and we kind of agree! If this isn’t some bipartisan miracle, I don’t know what is. New York Post
Last week, there was a shooting outside The Point at Buzzard Point, and now we have an arrest. Swift work, MPD. Well done. WaPo
Two stolen cars were found near The Roost on Monday. The cars were left running, but with the steering wheels ripped off. WUSA-9
It’s good that we’re going to focus on bad drivers. But will there truly be enforcement? A new bill aims to make a difference. WJLA
FOX-5 grills Mayor Bowser about the rising crime rates and she defended her responses and her record: “And we’re just going to keep working that we have laws to deter crime. That we have a policy environment – laws that will help us make sure we have the number of police officers that we need. And we’re being responsive to emerging crime trends.”
Of course, it’s important to remember that part of the police upheaval and push for accountability over the past few years was a natural and overdue response to the very real and pervasive problem of police brutality and specifically, to deaths at the hands of police. The Washington Informer writes about a local coalition of mothers seeking more accountability in that kind of cases, especially through a safety bill recently introduced in the DC Council.
Las Placitas was burgled earlier this week. Please help support this beloved eatery during this tough time. Twitter/X
Hey, baseball fans: The circle formerly known as Dave Thomas’ Circle (and, honestly, mostly called the clusterf- by yours truly) has been renamed as Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza. Mamie Johnson was one of three woman players for the Negro baseball league in the early 1950s, and the only pitcher among them. Washingtonian has more details.
By the way, if you want to learn more about the project, click here.
The old Boys and Girls Club building on 17th and Massachusetts SE is finally going to be turned into housing. That’s an overall win for the neighborhood, though we do wonder what it could have been if we had an anonymous philanthropist who wanted to turn it into a community center or something meaningful for youth. Anyway, something something gift horse. Urban Turf
Hiraya is really all that and a bag of chips. And the Makulay latte is as delicious as it is pretty (even iced, it’s still a pretty, delicious time). By the way, makulay means “colorful” in Tagalog and it’s a guaranteed serotonin boost. Eater DC
We hardly knew ye as DC United coach, Wayne Rooney. We’re sure the missus is happy, though. KGET
Ephemeral Tattoo really lived up to its name. Did Wayne get a tattoo there? PoPville
Reminder: Several public safety meetings are happening today and in the upcoming week. Hill Rag