DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! While you were watching the season finale of “Boardwalk Empire“…uh…we were, too! Don’t dwell on how Sundays are going to be boring without it– distract yourself with these links.

The Power of a Story "I felt pain, not because of the sadness of his story, but because of how common that narrative is here in DC. Our dropout rate is atrocious, with only 48.8% of students graduating from high school within four years of beginning 9th grade. Mardez is one of the success stories – he was able to re-enter school and is on target to graduate this year, with a plan to go to college and a dream of becoming a graphic designer. But the problems still swirl around him…. in 9th grade, one of his teachers embarrassed him by pointing out Mardez’s wrinkled clothes, ignoring all the issues Mardez was going through at home." (Racialicious)

All Opinions Are Local – Welcoming Wal-Mart — on our terms "I believe that we all have a responsibility to ensure that Wal-Mart establishes itself in the District with a clear and unequivocal commitment to the working class. We can accomplish this by negotiating a “community benefits agreement” setting forth certain conditions ensuring that Wal-Mart will be a good neighbor and employer in our city. Long before any store ever opens, for instance, Wal-Mart could put in writing that it will provide its 800 or so D.C. workers with a living wage." (voices.washingtonpost.com)

Capital Bikeshare distribution van "Capital Bikeshare has quickly become ubiquitous in the District’s central neighborhoods. Bikeshare riders are all over, pretty much all the time. But one thing that hasn’t yet become a common sight is the redistribution van. Since some stations are naturally used more than others, the system requires a crew to redistribute bikes on a periodic basis. They drive around in a van, picking up bikes from congested stations and carting them to empty ones." (Beyond DC)

Fairfax, MontCo students pass fewer AP exams "In the District, 1,720 public school students sat for 2,940 exams last year, up from 2009, when 1,493 students took 2,580 exams. Most notably, black student participation increased by 21 percent alongside a 5.3 percent higher pass rate. Nearly 40 percent of D.C. Public Schools offers AP classes." (Washington Examiner )

Arrest Following Assault on Pennsylvania Ave SE "MPD has made an arrest following the shocking assault of a female pedestrian on the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Ave SE. A juvenile suspect was arrested this morning with no incident at his residence. Police will not release more information about the suspect, as he is a juvenile. The woman was punched in the face for no apparent reason last week. She suffered a broken jaw after the attack. Following this incident and an unrelated shooting outside of Potomac Gardens, Hill East residents are again rallying against the housing project." (DCist)

Belt-tightening in the District "Surely, though, council members should be able to find comparable savings in a budget of roughly $5.3 billion. Consider that other local jurisdictions facing far more serious budget issues were able to realize savings by streamlining operations, cutting services, curtailing benefits to government workers or imposing furloughs. Those cost-cutting ideas appeared anathema to council members such as Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) and Michael A. Brown (I-At Large) who would rather raise taxes than even consider cutting pet programs." (The Washington Post)