Tasty Morning Bytes – D.C.’s Poor Get Less, Bud Bust in B’dale and Bad News for Schools
Good morning, DCentric readers! And a sunny Thursday to you. And you. But not you. We know you’d rather be in New York.
Funds for D.C.’s needy go elsewhere Money went to catering, event supplies, more: “A D.C. Council member who represents some of the city’s poorest households has spent less than 5 percent of the money she has raised since 2007 to help constituents with urgent needs, such as funeral expenses, rent and utilities, a review of campaign finance records shows.” (Washington Times)
Behind the cost of Chairman Brown’s SUVs More Kwame-gate! “Even before budget managers city-wide had to focus on tightening belts, many others who use public vehicles were able to make do at a fraction of the cost of the SUVs Brown ordered. The average cost of a D.C. public vehicle lease costs taxpayers about $430, almost 4.5 times less than Brown’s Lincolns.” (wtop.com)
“Massive” Marijuana Farm Busted In Bloomingdale “Commander Lamar D. Greene reported that an evening burglary reduction unit…noticed a back door on the unit block of Adams Street NW open and unattended. When the officers went to check it out, a man appeared and started acting jittery; when the officers investigated further, they found a huge cultivation, distribution materials and three firearms.” (DCist)
African-American lawmakers blast budget plan as step back for civil rights “…the GOP cuts threaten to bring the U.S. back to a time when “America was not in her finest hour, a time when the poor, the rural and people of color were denied equal opportunities to education, healthcare, jobs with decent wages and protections, and the possibility of homeownership. We cannot and must not go back there.” (thehill.com)
‘Severe cuts’ planned for D.C. schools Uh-oh: “D.C. schools will be forced to lay off teachers and other staff under significantly slashed budgets that officials plan to release later this week, according to members of central office staff.” (Washington Examiner )
Biddle Challenges Include Some Notable D.C. Voters Biddle disputes signatures that got competitors on ballot: ! “Biddle’s challenges included his campaign chairperson, campaign manager, campaign treasurer, former Councilmember Kathy Patterson…several sitting ANC Commissioners and other candidates. “If I didn’t take every part of the process very seriously, this would be pretty funny,” said Weaver” (DCist)