DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! Happy Friday to you.

Interim Schools Chancellor Gets Praise From Duncan “National Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised interim D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson Thursday, saying D.C. should remove the “interim” from in front of her title, but Mayor Vincent Gray hasn’t started his search for a permanent replacement for Michelle Rhee. Gray frequently praises Henderson, who was Rhee’s deputy for three years, but he insists on a major search before naming a permanent schools chancellor…”She certainly is a strong candidate,” Gray said. “We probably will have several strong candidates. I just don’t know who they are at this stage. We will follow the process that’s been laid out in the law.” (NBC Washington)

Scholarship in Memory of Jamal Coates sends Students to School in Guatemala “A scholarship fund in memory of Jamal Coates has raised $1,500, enough to send seven children to school in a Guatamala education program Coates was a part of before his death. Coates, 21, was killed Sep. 28 in a shooting during a funeral procession for his friend Ashley McRae. Coates’ family asked that community contribute to the scholarship fund for Guatemalan students instead of helping to pay funeral expenses. Coates spent eight weeks in Guatemala in 2009 teaching basketball with Hoops Sagrado, a D.C. organization that sends at-risk D.C. youth to Guatemala to teach basketball.” (homicidewatch.org)

NPR executive who fired Juan Williams resigns from her job “NPR chief executive Vivian Schiller has been docked her 2010 bonus because of her role in Williams’s firing, which set off a firestorm of controversy and fueled GOP cries to defund the news outlet. The outlet also announced that Ellen Weiss, who fired Williams, has resigned. Weiss was the senior vice president for news. NPR announced Thursday that chief executive Vivian Schiller will not receive a bonus due to “concern over her role in the termination process.” (thehill.com)

All Opinions Are Local – Bike lanes or homeless shelters? “The authors wrote that “demographics regularly pit issues such as adding bike lanes and dog parks against providing day care, homeless shelters and job training for the needy.” This is a false opposition: Bike lanes involve a relatively small expense. We cyclists are waiting eagerly to see whether Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) will provide safe, dedicated bike lanes, and we firmly intend to vote accordingly…The dedicated bike lanes on 15th Street are the right approach, but what good are just a few blocks? Former mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), a cyclist himself, talked a good game, but he never attempted to deliver…” (voices.washingtonpost.com)

Gray Has Experience With Raising Taxes — On His Fraternity “…Gray served two terms as president of his fraternity, during which he struggled, but eventually succeeded in pulling the chapter out of debt. And how did he do so? “[Gray] eventually balanced the books by cutting meal service and raising dues,” claims the report. Well, a fraternity is surely a smaller operation than a city, but let’s just say that it’s good to know that Gray has some experience with balancing budgets — he’ll surely need it come 2012, when the District will be staring down a deficit estimated to hit $500 million.” (DCist)

D.C. Democrats pick Sekou Biddle for vacant at-large council seat “After three chaotic rounds of voting, the D.C. Democratic State Committee chose Biddle, a relative newcomer to District politics and a Ward 4 resident, over former council member Vincent Orange. Biddle, who describes himself as “a progressive Democrat,” said he is ready to represent the city. “I’ve got a great opportunity for the next four months to increase the level of service that I give residents of the District of Columbia,” he said.” (The Washington Post)