Washington, D.C

Lights out

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2023

One would suppose that the federal government of the District of Columbia, from the mayor’s workplace right down to the Advisory Neighborhood Fee, had been established as an establishment dedicated to the using of bicycles and the elimination of the car. My little nook of the world is a bit of Washington, D.C., District 3 of Ward 3. It’s ruled by an earnest assemblage referred to as the Advisory Neighborhood Fee, or ANC3D. Its members are as various as a retiree from the federal forms and a school child who in all probability isn’t of authorized age to order a beer. Fail to attend a gathering, and likelihood is your absence will likely be interpreted as an endorsement of plans to show your yard right into a clover-leaf intersection for high-speed commuter bicycle site visitors. That or a pickleball courtroom.

It’s not simply bikes, although. In a neighborhood reminiscent of mine, in a metropolis reminiscent of mine, the political and civic concepts of my neighbors and rulers verge towards absurdism. More often than not, the advisory neighborhood commissions may be discovered earnestly backing insurance policies that numerous slim curiosity teams discover all the fad and that everybody else needs would simply go away.

Contemplate the most recent absurdist gesture from my authorities. After I wasn’t paying consideration, my fee determined I ought to sit in darkness the opposite Saturday night time. The ANC3D had discovered time to go a decision in favor of the “Lights-Out Hour,” an annual worldwide gesture in solidarity with the setting. From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., we had been urged to show off “nonessential” lights.

For these involved about pedestrians being run over, we had been assured that the gesture did NOT contain streetlights. One can assume that was particularly the case for streets utilized by bicyclists. For these involved that some ne’er-do-wells would possibly lurk within the darkness with intent to loiter, we had been additionally assured by the neighborhood fee that the blackout did NOT contain alleyway lights.

Participation was voluntary, in fact, which might be taken as a small triumph for freedom of conscience. However this stuff have a method of being voluntary at first, and the following factor , you’ll be able to’t purchase a gasoline vary anymore.

One might additionally argue that being non-obligatory was important to the endeavor. It meant some folks would have darkened homes and a few wouldn’t — in different phrases, an ideal alternative for some virtue-signaling. The “Earth Hour” of us are actually preserving monitor of who’s placing in darkish hours, which they describe as “a symbolic occasion to point out our collective help for the planet.”

America is fourth on the board tallying collective hours folks have spent with out mild; Mexico is third and Brazil second. For some purpose, first place is merely listed as “others.” If I needed to guess who was included within the others, I might say the prize must go to North Korea. (The Democratic Individuals’s Republic, which might all the time be counted on to have the darkest of skies, is a rustic that in all probability does fairly nicely with bike lanes, too.)

In the meantime, town authorities has made a precedence of the brand new racket sport pickleball, a fad or probably a sturdy development. Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed, as a part of town’s annual funds, to spend $750,000 on new pickleball courts. The place, you might ask, will the cash come from? Nobody goes into the workplace anymore, which has severely reduce into the money collected in taxes on town’s downtown workplace buildings.

Bowser has an answer. The town presently solely has about 140 cameras for catching those that velocity or run purple lights. Simply think about the stunning revenues if there have been 340 extra of the issues. What a monetary pleasure for the district! What a rare disincentive to drive into town! And with fewer vehicles on the roads, simply think about the area created for bike lanes. Simply ensure that the velocity cameras flip off their flash bulbs throughout the annual Earth Hour.

Eric Felten is the James Beard Award-winning creator of How’s Your Drink?

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Washington, D.C

Unique deal could bring F-16s to Maryland, NFL to DC | CNN Politics

Published

9 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Unique deal could bring F-16s to Maryland, NFL to DC | CNN Politics

CNN
—

The state of Maryland is set to gain control of the DC Air National Guard fighter squadron as part of a major deal that will see the nation’s capital take over the site of RFK stadium.

The Air Force approved the transfer of the 121st Fighter Squadron from Washington, DC, to the Maryland Air National Guard, according to spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. Maryland currently flies A-10 attack aircraft, but those are scheduled for divestment from the Air Force next year, according to the governor’s office.

The new development means the Maryland Air National Guard will soon fly F-16 fighter jets, a more advanced aircraft that serves as one of the mainstays of the Air Force’s fleet. The DC Air National Guard also defends the National Capital Region, which is some of the most sensitive airspace in the country. The fighter wing has a round-the-clock alert force as part of its mission. By contrast, the Maryland Air National Guard’s aging A-10 aircraft were primarily used in an overseas attack role when deployed.

The Maryland unit was supposed to transition into a cyber role, but the transfer of control of the fighter squadron will maintain the unit’s flying mission.

“The men and women of the Maryland Air National Guard are some of the finest and most experienced pilots in the world. In partnership with our congressional delegation and federal partners, we have advocated vigorously to maintain Maryland’s flying mission, both in the interest of national security and to continue the proud tradition that Maryland plays in defending our country,” Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said in a joint statement with the state’s senators on Monday.

The transfer of the fighter squadron was a critical part of a complex deal that allows Washington, DC, to take over the land around RFK stadium, which could bring the NFL back to the nation’s capital, while also providing Maryland with funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The deal was at risk of collapse last week when a provision to transfer the stadium land to DC was stripped from a government funding package following opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

But in a surprise move early Saturday morning, the Senate unanimously passed a bill giving DC control of the land. The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature after it passed the House earlier this year.

The Washington Commanders football team has played at Northwest Stadium, formerly known as FedEx Field, in Landover, Maryland, since 1997. The franchise previously played at RFK Stadium from 1961 until 1996.

Maryland Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Drew Dougherty called the deal an “historic moment” for the unit.

“Over the past few years, we have been resolute on our commitment to securing a future flying mission. This transition is the first step in delivering a path where we can maintain our highly experienced pilots and maintainers, positions that are critically manned across the total force, while still keeping Maryland at the forefront of cyber operation,” Dougherty said in a statement.

Details about the timeline and the transition of the fighters from DC to Maryland “will be announced at a later date,” said Stefanek.

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Washington, D.C

‘What makes your state beautiful’: South Burlington students design ornaments for DC tree

Published

18 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

‘What makes your state beautiful’: South Burlington students design ornaments for DC tree

National Christmas Tree shines during 102nd lighting ceremony

President Joe Biden spoke to a crowd at the lighting ceremony for the national 35-foot Red Spruce Christmas tree from Virginia.

Students at Gertrude Chamberlin School in South Burlington designed ornaments for the 2024 National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C.

The 21 ornaments decorate the small tree that represents Vermont outside the White House. First to fifth graders at Gertrude Chamberlin create the ornaments with designs answering the prompt: “What makes your state beautiful?” The drawings include the Green Mountains, including a rainbow version by a first grader; maple trees; the state bird and fish – hermit thrush and brook trout, respectively; as well as a bullfrog and other animals found in Vermont.

“They represent our state well,” said Jenny Goodrich, the art educator at Gertrude Chamberlin School.

Vermont’s tree is among the 57 other trees with student-designed ornaments that surround the large 35-foot red spruce tree outside the White House. The 58 trees represent each of the 50 states, D.C. and the five U.S. territories as well as schools managed by the Department of Defense Education Activity, and Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education.

“I think it incredible that we come together as 50 states plus and that it’s our art that connects us,” said Goodrich. “Having children do this says a lot.”

Goodrich said she was contacted in July by the Vermont Agency of Education to see if she would like to have her students participate. “I said ‘of course’,” she said. “I knew about the National Tree but I had no idea about the smaller ones.”

The students were provided a template for the shape of the ornament, and Goodrich mailed the designs to the organizers who transformed them into three-dimensional designs.

Most of her students used crayons or colored pencils to make theirs, but one student made a collage. Goodrich used a high-quality scanner to make it two-dimensional and said it turned out great.

The designs were due at the end of September, so Goodrich picked students to work on the project. The school was limited to 24 ornaments. Goodrich picked students who had shown enthusiasm for art as well as those who had demonstrated growth in art.

Adding that she picked students who represented a variety of the school’s six grade levels and the student body’s diversity; Gertrude Chamberlin students speak 37 languages and come from many different countries.

What happens to all of the ornaments

Goodrich and two of her students and their families were able to travel to D.C. for the 102nd National Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 5 hosted by President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, the first lady.

“It was incredible to see so many people there,” said Goodrich. “GE Lights sponsors the event. … It was so dark and then they flipped the switch. They are so bright. It was really amazing.”

The ornaments will not be returning to Vermont as they are now property of the White House and will be included in the National Archives when the season is over.

“It’s pretty amazing they will be part of our nation’s history forever,” Goodrich said.

How to visit the National Christmas Tree and the state trees

The trees are on the Ellipse, which is south of White House, and are open to the public through Jan. 1. The trees are light each night at sunset but can be viewed as early as 10 a.m. daily. The display is open until 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is free and open to the public.

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