Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not, hence the use of "diversions.". DC has serious and systemic issues that need to be addressed, including poverty and education. Passing legislation imposing a five cent tax on plastic bags isn't gonna get us there.

a bloomberg-esque mayorship would just export it out of the city like what he did to manhattan/brooklyn.

I wouldn't be surprised if such a mayor takes charge of dc in 10 years time.

Can't wait.

Anonymous wrote:Not, hence the use of "diversions.". DC has serious and systemic issues that need to be addressed, including poverty and education. Passing legislation imposing a five cent tax on plastic bags isn't gonna get us there.

a bloomberg-esque mayorship would just export it out of the city like what he did to manhattan/brooklyn.

I wouldn't be surprised if such a mayor takes charge of dc in 10 years time.

Not, hence the use of "diversions.". DC has serious and systemic issues that need to be addressed, including poverty and education. Passing legislation imposing a five cent tax on plastic bags isn't gonna get us there.

Anonymous wrote:Middle and low income residents of DC just aren't all that concerned about building height restrictions, bike lanes, streetcars or sidewalks near RCP. That is the Tommy Wells - GGW constituency. Hopefully Charles Allen will not become the new poster boy for these diversions.

Will "not" or will "now"?

Middle and low income residents of DC just aren't all that concerned about building height restrictions, bike lanes, streetcars or sidewalks near RCP. That is the Tommy Wells - GGW constituency. Hopefully Charles Allen will not become the new poster boy for these diversions.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with Bowser is that she is a panderer. She will not have the backbone, I suspect, to back the smart forward-thinking people who have pushed bike lanes, transit, sustainability codes, etc. etc. She will cave to the loudest voices. At least that's what I'd be afraid of.

Pretty much this. Anything that had to do with progressive transportation reforms such as streetcars and bike lanes, she is opposed. Bus lane on 16th street, opposed. Sidewalks near Rock Creek Park? Opposed. If you are a candidate for the Office of Planning, DDOT or DDOE, would you take a job with a mayor who may not back you when the "unpopular" decisions need to be made? Would she hire a Gabe Kline or Harriet Tregoning as Fenty did? Would individuals like that want to work for her?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if it was up to me the whole city would be bike lane and london-esque congestion charge pricing for automobiles.

Let's do lunch!

Can I come? That's how real cities need to roll these days.

Anonymous wrote:She used to be a Fenty protégé. Does this mean a return some more bike lanes and yuppie stuff? She seems very "Northwest". I know that Tony Kornheiser is in love with her. He was basically running ads for her on his show.

I would certainly hope so, but I haven't followed her so closely. It concerns me that the Ward she represents is far from urban in character, meaning that it's a low-density, SFH-filled, far from Metro kind of place. I don't see her "getting" the interests of residents in the walking neighborhoods. Fenty sort of did, but it was an ideological thing for him-- his own life choices (except for the Smart car, maybe) were pretty suburban.

Then there's the "Alice Deal for everyone" thing, which may have played well in a Ward concerned about boundary changes but won't work for everyone.

The problem with Bowser is that she is a panderer. She will not have the backbone, I suspect, to back the smart forward-thinking people who have pushed bike lanes, transit, sustainability codes, etc. etc. She will cave to the loudest voices. At least that's what I'd be afraid of.

Anonymous wrote:if it was up to me the whole city would be bike lane and london-esque congestion charge pricing for automobiles.

Let's do lunch!

Anonymous wrote:Saw she said she'd keep Lanier. Haven't seen her say anything on Henderson yet.

yikes.

She strikes me as the second coming of Sharon Pratt Kelly - good intentions, no follow through. I hope I am wrong.

I'm not fan of Muriel but the city, itself, is on such better footing both financially and managerially that she can do too much harm. She'll probably decide to stay the course on most policies. I'm not anticipating any radical change (mostly because she doesn't have a lot of ideas).

Saw she said she'd keep Lanier. Haven't seen her say anything on Henderson yet.

yikes.

She strikes me as the second coming of Sharon Pratt Kelly - good intentions, no follow through. I hope I am wrong.

if it was up to me the whole city would be bike lane and london-esque congestion charge pricing for automobiles.

Mayor Catania will do a great job and help clean up this city's badly tarnished reputation.

She used to be a Fenty protégé. Does this mean a return some more bike lanes and yuppie stuff? She seems very "Northwest". I know that Tony Kornheiser is in love with her. He was basically running ads for her on his show.