DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! Here are your Friday links:

What happened to the "Huxtable Effect"? "Sixteen years after "The Cosby Show" went off the air, the Times noted that Obama was similarly billed in Cosby-esque "post-racial" terms, and may have been boosted in 2008 by a so-called "Huxtable Effect," which reminded white voters that many African-Americans public figures are perfectly capable of representing and connecting with people of all races, not just their own. It was Obama standing on the shoulders of Cosby — or so the oversimplified story went." (Salon)

DC officials tracking freshmen to fight truancy “‘Truancy is almost always symptomatic of deeper issues in the community or at home,’ Mayor Vincent Gray said on Wednesday as he announced the seven-agency effort with Deputy Mayor for Education De’Shawn Wright. ‘By identifying the District’s most truant students, we are also identifying the families that are in needs of services, or families that are already receiving services but not receiving them in the most coordinated manner.’” (Washington Examiner )

Repairs to Shut Down DC Metro Escalators For Two Years “A Metro spokesman says time is needed because workers will have to rebuild the stairways. The spokesman says the work is part of the transit system’s $148 million, six-year repair plan for the escalators. Work on the Foggy Bottom escalators is expected to begin in January, while repairs are expected to begin soon at Dupont Circle.” (myfoxdc.com)

Darrell Issa proposes semi-budget autonomy bill “Things turned out rather well for Gray and the District. Instead of a Republican browbeating over awkward local affairs, the District got a promise from a prominent GOP lawmaker for new legislation that would hold the city harmless (or as harmless as possible) in the event of a federal government shutdown.” (Washington City Paper)

Reaching New Heights “At this point, it’s premature to call for changing height limits in a large swath of the city. But we believe it’s worth studying the idea — a process that must draw heavily on input from the residents who would be most affected. It would be important to find ways to maxi- mize the benefits to the surrounding communities while limiting the potential consequences, such as a rise in property values that might otherwise squeeze out longtime community members.” (Northwest Current)

D.C. unveils wheelchair-accessible taxis “The taxis, some of which have been in service for more than a year, provide options that paratransit services can’t, riders say. MetroAccess, Metro’s shared-ride service for persons with disabilities, requires a call a day in advance and keeps to a strict schedule. With the wheelchair-accessible taxis, riders can come and go as they please, said Richard Devylder, a senior adviser for accessible transportation to the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.” (Washington Examiner )