Metro lines and tree canopy as indicators of inequality

April 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

EQUITY
- Plotting the median annual household income of the neighborhoods around each Metro station makes for some striking graphs of the region’s income inequality. The orange line shows the most dramatic fluctuations, ranging from $142,000 at the East Falls Church stop to $34,000 at Minnesota Ave. (City Paper, 4/25)

- D.C. is known for its greenery, but there is a clear divide between the number of trees in high-income neighborhoods and the number in low-income areas. (WaPo, 4/25)

WORKFORCE | Goodwill of Greater Washington has been selected to provide recruitment and job training programs to fill 600 jobs at the new Marriott hotel opening next year near the convention center. The United Way of the National Capital Area collaborated on Goodwill’s bid and has pledged $350,000 to support the program. (WaPo, 4/25)

EDUCATION
- Robert Bobb, chair of the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, writes in a Post op-ed that the various standardized test cheating scandals that have come to light around the country are indicative of a larger culture of corruption in some school systems (WaPo, 4/26):

For the sake of the nation’s children and its future, education reformers must begin to examine governance structures and the quality of management in public schools, including the handling of funds, distribution of bonuses and failed educational outcomes despite massive investments.

- Prince George’s County interim school superintendent announces resignation (WaPo, 4/26)

- D.C. attorneys respond to lawsuit challenging school closures (WaPo, 4/25)

HEALTH
- The state of Maryland will be giving $24 million in grants to local organizations to get uninsured residents to sign up for health insurance programs through the state-run insurance exchange. The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange’s Connector Program will create 300 jobs and raise awareness of insurance options for individuals and small businesses. (WBJ, 4/25)

- Local Food Advocates Prescribe Fruits And Veggies For Food Stamp Recipients (WAMU, 4/24)

ENVIRONMENT | Due to pollution in the Chesapeake, fisherman are catching some pretty freaky smallmouth bass. (WaPo, 4/26)

BUDGET AUTONOMY | Seriously? (WTOP, 4/26)

If you’re as scared of heights as I am, just watching this video will provide enough excitement for one day.

- Rebekah

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The Daily gets a new name! [News, 1.14.13]

January 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DAILY | Welcome to The Daily WRAG! It’s the same Daily you’re used to with a new name and some more content periodically. If you visit us on the web (rather than getting an email subscription), you can now go to DailyWRAG.com – and the old giving.wordpress.com still works, too. You’ll notice a few design changes soon, but we aren’t rocking the boat too much!

PHILANTHROPY | When Bill Hanbury (a WRAG board member) took over the United Way of the National Capital Area three years ago, he faced a slew of major organizational challenges. Since then, he’s transformed the local United Way into a thriving organization. And, before he steps down from the post in September, Hanbury wants to fundamentally reform the United Way’s role in workplace giving (WaPo, 1/14):

Instead of transacting money from a donor to a charity, United Way’s new approach is to broker partnerships between the two to create social programs, while collecting a fee from the donor.

“We have to convince corporate donors that this model has value, but they have to sustain the operations side of this. There’s no transaction costs. They have to believe in United Way.”

- A new report from JPMorgan and the Global Impact Investing Network looks at impacting investing and finds that, while there are challenges, major impact investors are highly satisfied with their results. (Chronicle, 1/13)

Here’s a weird memory that resurfaced from Mr. Achilles’ 8th grade history class: JP Morgan had a deformed nose and made sure that any photograph of him was polished to diminish the deformity.

NONPROFITS | Survey: Many Nonprofit Workers Are Anxious About Retirement Planning (Chronicle, 1/12) Well, yeah.

NEW COLUMN | One of the new features of the Daily is commentary from Tamara Copeland, WRAG’s president. She’ll share thoughts on topics including leadership, philanthropy, and the region. In today’s column, Tamara reflects on how spending time caring for an elderly relative has given her a new perspective on leadership transition between generations (Daily, 1/14):

Demographers are telling us that we have to prepare for the senior tsunami…But how do we also prepare for a large segment of vital gray-haired 60, 70 even 80 year old thinkers and doers whose energy and expertise need to be channeled for society’s benefit?

EDUCATION | An AP column making the rounds today asks, Will longer school year help or hurt US students? (WTOP, 1/14)

HOUSING | In Prince George’s, hundreds of vacant houses drag down neighborhoods (WaPo, 1/14)

ENVIRONMENT | No pressure, Mother Nature, but the health of the Chesapeake Bay for the next few years apparently depends on this spring’s weather. I won’t ruin the surprise of finding out why, but I will say that any article that uses the words “double whammy” is worth a read. (WAMU, 1/14)

REGION
- A panel on our region’s economic growth revealed an unfortunate fact: many of the region’s economic leaders aren’t interested in cross-jurisdictional collaboration. (WBJ, 1/12)

- Last week, the New York Times attributed our region’s economic boom to federal tax dollars and suggested that, with likely declines in allocations, we might be past our peak. Not so fast, says the Washington Business Journal, our region has a lot to offer! (WBJ, 1/12)

Happy Monday, friends. Did anyone catch the Golden Globes? I only saw a few minutes, but I thought Sacha Baron Cohen’s joke about Gerard Depardieu’s weight was hilarious. Argo was great, although I’m surprised it beat Lincoln. And while I haven’t seen Les Miserables yet, it would have to be a stunningly brilliant movie for me to like it more than Silver Linings Playbook.

Anyhow, is everyone ready for the inauguration fever?

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Susan Raymond on the next decade of philanthropy…Public transit use way up in our region…Should student proximity be given preference for charters? [News, 12.18.12]

December 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

PHILANTHROPY | Our final vignette from Reflections on the Past & Possibilities for the Future comes from Changing Our Future’s Susan Raymond. She says that philanthropy’s future over the next decade will be exciting – and also challenging. (Daily, 12/18)

GIVING | If you’re thinking about making a year-end donation, The Community Foundation for Montgomery County and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County have compiled a list of recommended nonprofits for Bethesda Magazine.

EDUCATION
- A District task force was, uh, tasked with considering changes to the charter school lottery system. Some major cities require preference to be given to kids who live close to the schools, but the District holds a citywide lottery. The task force’s report has recommended that the citywide lotto be preserved. (GGW, 12/17)

- Maryland releases new rating system for schools (Examiner, 12/18) The Schools Progress Index aims to “measure student growth, graduation rates and progress toward closing the achievement gap for minority students.”

FOOD | Greater Greater Washington looks at the geography and demographics of Ward 8 to consider where a grocery store could thrive. (GGW, 12/18)

TRANSIT | The Examiner compares census data from 2011 to 1999 and finds that the number of people riding public transit has increased considerably across the region. (Examiner, 12/17) I’m not sure why they didn’t compare the data to 2001, but I assume it has something to do with the fact that Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was released in 1999. And my assumptions are usually correct.

VIOLENCE | Courtland Milloy’s column this week makes a great point. In the wake of the Newtown shootings, we must take the time to reflect on smaller (but not lesser) acts of violence happening right here at home. (WaPo, 12/17)

Related: The Post has a wonderful story about a Fred Rogers quote and photo that went viral this weekend. I won’t spoil it, but it is worth a read. (WaPo, 12/18)

LOCAL | Trying to win support for a bill that would give new protections to ex-offenders, Marion Barry wrote a letter to D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson in which he said, “You sound like the white southerners who opposed the public accommodation bill and the Civil Rights Act.” (Examiner, 12/18) No, this isn’t an article from The Onion.

DAILY | What the heck…some how the holidays are upon us already! Rebekah is going to close out the week for the Daily. After that, the Daily will be taking a holiday break until January 2nd. Well, technically the editors will be taking a break until then.

In the meantime, we’re excited to announce something new for 2013. As you may have noticed, this blog was created when the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (WRAG) went by the shorter name “Washington Grantmakers.” That shorthand did a disservice to the important concept of regionalism, so our organization has been going by “WRAG” for a while now – but we haven’t changed the blog’s name.

Next year, we are going to be weaving in more content to the blog to complement the news roundup – guest columns from experts, unique perspectives from funders, thoughts from the WRAG staff. It’s going to be great and it’s going to be fun. And to mark the expansion, we’re introducing a new name: The Daily WRAG. Stay tuned for more details to come!

So, the world might end on December 21st and we might go off the ominous fiscal cliff before I get back. Dramatic times we live in! But I don’t actually think either of those things is going to happen, so I instead want to wish all of you the happiest of holidays. Enjoy your time with friends and loved ones – and make sure to do something nice for a few people. Also, find a reason to laugh! If you’re in the market for some humor, Elf is a very funny seasonal movie. This is one of my favorite bits.

See you all in 2013!

- Christian

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Wells Fargo offers $7 million in housing grants…Trust names Ed Davies interim CEO…A look at CFNCR’s workforce partnership with hospitals [News, 10.9.12]

October 9, 2012 By

HOUSING | Over the weekend, more than 1,300 individuals visited the convention center to apply for Wells Fargo’s new CityLIFT program. The program will provide about 350 grants worth $20,000 each in down payment assistance for individuals buying homes in the District and Prince George’s County. The grants are designed to extend their benefits beyond just the homeowner:

The CityLIFT grant program is designed to “spark the market,” said Lisa Zakrajsek, a Wells Fargo executive vice president for home lending.

Zakrajsek said that nonprofit groups working with Wells Fargo had reported that when even a couple of properties start to sell in a neighborhood, it generates interest and helps to lift the market. “It’s good for the neighborhood,” she said. “We felt like we had put everything we could into helping customers through the foreclosure crisis. We stepped back and asked, ‘What can we do to help the housing market?’ ”

Related: Watch Fox 5′s news segment on the program. (Fox, 10/8)

COMMUNITY | Congratulations to Ed Davies on being named interim CEO of the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation! Ed is the former vice president for external affairs and he takes over for outgoing leader Judge Mary Terrell. In a letter to the community, Ed writes:

I am excited to step into the position…I look forward to providing the leadership needed to support the work of our staff, grantees and partners that help our youth thrive. These are exciting times at the Trust….

WORKFORCE | Last year, the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region partnered with MedStar Montgomery on a workforce development program designed to support the continuing education of hospital employees. The Post profiles the partnership, which has been a big success. (WaPo, 10/9)

HOMELESSNESS | Family homelessness in the region has increased 23 percent since the start of the recession, but homeless shelters across the region are full and can’t keep up with demand. (WaPo, 10/7)

PHILANTHROPY | David Rubenstein was on CBS This Morning yesterday talking about his giving and the intent of the Giving Pledge. He also talks about private equity firms – which have become a topic of debate in the election. (CBS, 10/8)

EDUCATION
- Here’s some food for thought: a chart showing the incidences of violence in Montgomery County schools. (Examiner, 10/9)

- Former DCPS Chancellor Rhee: Pace Of Reform Has Changed (WAMU, 10/8)

DEMOGRAPHICS | The Atlantic has a cool map comparing inequality levels in metropolitan areas with countries. New York, for example, is equal to Swaziland. The Greater Washington region, though certainly not perfect, is noted as “having among the lowest levels of inequality.”  (Atlantic, 10/9)

Long before James Cameron decided to throw his career away by making sequels to that putrid stink bomb Avatar, he received huge amounts of praise and Oscars for a slightly less putrid stink bomb called Titanic. A major criticism of the movie (besides hiring Celine Dion for its soundtrack) was that (SPOILER ALERT) Leonardo didn’t actually need to turn into a DiCaprio-cicle and sink into the depths of melodrama the ocean.

Couldn’t he have fit on that piece of wreckage that saved Kate Winslett? Cameron has always maintained that the two wouldn’t fit. So MythBusters decided to find out the truth. Enjoy!

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Will the tech sector lead our region’s economy?…A look at Ivy City…New affordable housing project moves forward [News, 8.13.12]

August 13, 2012 By

ECONOMY | We know that our economy’s reliance on the federal government isn’t sustainable. So, how do we fill the void? Capital Business says that a growing technology sector could be the answer. (WaPo, 8/13)

Related: A Nonprofit Technology Leader’s Reading List (Chronicle, 8/13)

LOCAL | The Post profiles the struggles of D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood (WaPo, 8/13):

On any scale, Ivy City is a 98-pound weakling among District neighborhoods. It measures only 1.7 square miles near the Maryland border in Northeast and has some of the city’s poorest residents, with an unemployment rate approaching 50 percent.

But that has not stopped the D.C. government from placing a heavy burden on Ivy City’s scrawny shoulders, making it a base of operations for large projects other neighborhoods shun, “a dumping ground,” residents say.

HOUSING | Developers have lined up financing for a $65 million project near the Minnesota Avenue Metro station. The mixed-use project includes 376 residential units – 92% of them affordable housing – and 20,000 square feet of retail space. (WTOP, 8/13)

EDUCATION | D.C. adding classrooms for special needs students (Examiner, 8/13)

ETHICS | D.C. employees were asked to sign an ethics pledge earlier this year. When an employee felt that his boss had violated the pledge, he wrote to the council asking what to do. A staffer from Mary Cheh’s office wrote back, “It seems to me that [the pledge] is more of an aspirational set of goals.” (Examiner, 8/13) Of course it is.

AGING | Arlington’s Office of Senior Adult Programs put on a special show at the county fair over the weekend – a senior flash mob! Awesome. (ArlNow, 8/10)

NONPROFITS | From our friends at the Nonprofit Roundtable: Save money! Go Green! The Nonprofit Energy Alliance uses collective purchasing power to secure electricity at lower cost and protect the environment by building a greener economy. Since 2010, 60 nonprofits have participated, and saved over $500,000 – 10-15% in savings for each organization.

There is no fee to participate. Click here for more information and to register for an optional info webinar. Applications are due Sept. 14.

HOLIDAY | To any fellow southpaws out there, Happy Left Handers’ Day!

Thoughts on the Olympic closing ceremonies? There was some truly weird stuff (a fat Batman and Robin confusedly escaped from an exploding taxi?), but there was one particular segment that was epic.

In possibly the best Olympic ceremony moment ever, a human cannonball failed at his task, rolled pathetically back out of the cannon, and then revealed himself to be legendary Python Eric Idle. Then he began singing Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” It was perfect.

Anyhow, hope you all had a nice weekend. Our final all-day staff retreat is tomorrow, and then we’ll be back on Wednesday. So, see you then!

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Women’s Foundation joins ‘A Partnership for Women’s Prosperity’…MoCo supporting young farmers…Fairfax executive warns of agency cuts [News, 8.7.12]

August 7, 2012 By

COMMUNITY | Washington Area Women’s Foundation announced that it has joined five other women’s funds from across the nation for a joint-venture called A Partnership for Women’s Prosperity. The partnership is supported through funding from the Walmart Foundation and designed to allow participants to share best practices, scale up successful models and programs, and find solutions to common problems. (WAWF, 8/7)

ENVIRONMENT/WORKFORCE | Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett has announced a new program that will train aspiring farmers and place them on private land to grow crops and livestock. (WaPo, 8/7) And now I have this stuck in my head.

EDUCATION | The Hudson Institute’s Peter Meyer considers a long-running debate: do we have to “cure the poor before we can educate them” or educate them before we can cure poverty? He believes that there is a clear answer. (HuffPo, 8/7)

PHILANTHROPY
- Last week, WRAG partnered with Arabella Advisors for a session on impact investing. Folks from the Consumer Health Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and Living Cities talked about how they are shifting their perspectives to embrace impact investing and maximize change. Rebekah recaps the event here. (WG Daily, 8/7)

- What happens when you mix venture capitalists, funders, and entrepreneurs? The Chronicle writes a story about it! And they also develop interesting ideas. (Chronicle, 8/7)

BUDGETS | Fairfax County Executive Edward Long has issued a memo to county employees telling them to be prepared for agency cuts over the next two years. (WaPo, 8/7)

TRANSIT | MoCo has been awarded $40 million for transportation improvements related to Walter Reed’s move to Bethesda. (WAMU, 8/7) Jet packs, please. Because MD 355 is not getting any wider.

POLITICS | This is borderline gossip, but since it has been confirmed…well, what the heck. Mayor Gray’s chief of staff met with the crisis management expert who advised Monica Lewinsky, Sen. Larry Craig, ineffective quarterback Michael Vick, and even thespian Wesley Snipes. In the spirit of transparency, the Gray administration admits the meeting took place, but that the adviser “has no role in the administration, paid or otherwise.” (HuffPo, 8/7) Let me emphasize, “no role.” They were probably talking about the weather.

I won’t link directly to the video since it contains some profanity, but if you run a Google search for “Irish Olympic commentator,” you’ll find links to a laugh-til-you-cry video. The Irish commentator speaks his mind while watching a sailing race – a sport about which he knows nothing. Again, fair warning, there is some profanity.

In G-rated territory, here’s a spectacular video of the world-record breaking group skydive. Wait until they get into formation and then disperse.

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The ripple effect of transportation policy…Less than 25% of DCPS grads finish college in six years…National HIV Testing Day [News, 6.27.12]

June 27, 2012 By

POLICY | Yesterday, we linked to a Post article about the wide-ranging implications of the Northern Virginia streetcar project. In today’s Daily, WRAG President Tamara Copeland reflects on the history of Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood and how its demise offers important lessons for new transportation policies (WG Daily, 6/27):

[W]hen regional leaders start to talk about transportation policy and locations of streetcars, bike paths, and new roadways, I sometimes glaze over. I’m far more concerned about access to health care, community stabilization, and educational and workforce opportunities. I said that one day and a very wise colleague reminded me that transportation policy has historically played a pivotal role in creating pockets of geographic isolation and poverty.

HIV/AIDS | Today is National HIV Testing Day. Under a new two-year pilot program announced by the CDC yesterday, Walgreens and a number of other pharmacies will offer fast and free HIV tests. (WaPo, 6/27)

Related: Here’s where to get tested locally.

EDUCATION | According to estimates from the District’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education, only 23% of graduating D.C. high schoolers end up finishing college or post-seconday school within six years. (Examiner, 6/27)

- Editorial: Pr. George’s faces an education reality check (WaPo, 6/27) “Leading any school system is challenging. It’s especially difficult in Prince George’s, where pretty much every politician, from school board member on up, thinks he or she knows what’s best and doesn’t hesitate to interfere.”

GIVING | The Annie E. Casey Foundation has announced that it will close its Casey Family Services foster-care unit, which operates in seven states. The closure will free about $20 million in annual giving (Chronicle, 6/27):

Patrick McCarthy, president of the Casey Foundation, said he believes his organization can do more good by providing grants to improve child welfare across the country than it can by continuing to assist the 400 to 600 youngsters it now helps through direct services.

VETERANS | Three Families Unite to Raise $30-Million for Aid to Veterans (Chronicle, 6/27)

HUNGER | Opinion: Share Our Strength’s Billy Shore writes about childhood hunger and the 2012 election. He closes with a particularly powerful thought that we should all consider (HuffPo, 6/26):

Government once played the noble role of fighting for those among us without champions. That abandoned territory now is too often the province of nonprofits, foundations, and philanthropy, whose good intentions and entrepreneurial approaches lack the resources to scale. Sadly we are long past the point of expecting nobility from politicians of either party, but we should still demand it of ourselves.

LOCAL | The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail has been given a $10m grant from the Department of Transportation to build a new four-mile stretch. The expansion will connect 16 waterfront communities and link to trails in Maryland and the District. (WTOP, 6/27)

It is really sad to hear of the great filmmaker Nora Ephron‘s death. She made huge contributions to Hollywood, but I have a special fondness for her underappreciated script for the Steve Martin-Rick Moranis comedy My Blue Heaven. When I was looking through her IMDB page, I found this neat photo of Ephron and another legend stolen by cancer – Sydney Pollack.

On a happier note, Tamara’s piece on Jackson Ward reminded me how much I loved Cab Calloway in The Blues Brothers. No video available, but the sound is great here for Minnie the Moocher.

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NoVa street car plan is about much more than transit…Huge demand for District charters…MoCo faces budget shortfall [News, 6.26.12]

June 26, 2012 By

TRANSIT (AND MORE) | There are critics of Northern Virginia’s proposed Columbia Pike Transit Initiative. Some think it is unnecessary and a waste of funds, but the Post illustrates the broader importance of the street car line (WaPo, 6/26):

They are trying to put into place a vision that would turn the traffic-clogged, sun-blasted camino of concrete into a tree-lined boulevard fronted by a diverse set of businesses. They also want to entice new businesses that will cater to the 7,000-plus new residents expected to move into 3,900 new apartments over the next 30 years.

They are talking about preserving affordable housing amid growing development pressures and expanding the counties’ tax bases. Last but not least, they want to change societal behavior by coaxing residents and commuters out of their cars and into public transit.

Related:
- This week, a group of WRAG members will visit a number of sites along the proposed streetcar line to consider how the expected economic boom caused by the project will affect the low- and moderate-income families who currently live there.

- Neighborhoods Plan Envisions Greater Density for Columbia Pike (ArlNow, 6/26)

- Sharon Bulova, chair of Fairfax County, talks about plans for Tyson’s Corner. (WaPo, 6/25)

EDUCATION | Demand for charter schools is huge in the District. The Examiner reports that there are 17,396 students on waiting lists (Examiner, 6/26):

That’s 51 percent of the total number of students successfully enrolling in the city’s public charter schools in the fall, or 33,699 children. This year, 31,562 students attended charter schools, while 45,630 attended DC Public Schools.

DEMOGRAPHICS | Slate has a short piece that looks at the District’s racial demographics from a quasi-statistical point of view (Slate, 6/26):

Because most Americans aren’t black, if a bunch of “people” go move somewhere that’s currently majority black the tendency will be for the influx to dilute the existing black population.

BUDGETS | Montgomery County facing a $71 million shortfall in fiscal 2014 budget (WaPo, 6/25) The gap is the result of increased debt payments, retiree health benefits, and rising costs for teacher pensions.

CRIME | Two little kids and an adult camp counselor were shot in Southeast yesterday in the middle of the day. Some idiot fired a dozen rounds at another man and didn’t seem to care that there were 30 kids standing there. (WaPo, 6/25) It is utterly unacceptable that these kids aren’t safe playing outside at 12:30 in the afternoon.

ENVIRONMENT | Dirty water puts Washington’s stretch of the Potomac River off-limits to swimmers (WaPo, 6/26)

So it was 66 degrees when I walked to work this morning, and the cool breeze felt like San Francisco. But since this little slice of paradise is going to be replaced by 100 degree heat at the end of the week, here’s some relevant trivia for you.

As everyone is scarfing down ice cream, slurping blended coffee drinks, and crunching ice this weekend, you can impress all of your friends by telling them what causes brain freeze!

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Maryland foreclosure programs hurting recovery…New teacher evaluation rules for DC…Arlington tries new tactic to fight stormwater pollution [News, 5.24.12]

May 24, 2012 By

HOUSING | New data show that Maryland’s programs aimed at helping homeowners avoid losing their homes are actually prolonging the housing crisis by delaying inevitable foreclosures (Examiner, 5/24):

“In nine and a half out of 10 cases, modifications don’t work and the homes are eventually foreclosed on,” said Vince Caropreso, a Maryland real estate agent and certified distressed property expert.

EDUCATION
- Yesterday, the District’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education announced new teacher evaluation rules for the city’s public schools (including some charters). While standardized tests previously counted for half of a teacher’s evaluation, they now can count for as little as 30 percent. (Examiner, 5/24)

- Montgomery County, schools clash over employee raises (WaPo, 5/24) “[T]he county says [the raises are] excessive and could ultimately undermine student learning.”

That argument seems overly dramatic, but out of curiosity I wanted to compare the 3.4 raise to the county’s suggested $2,000 flat bonus. According to a document on the county’s website, Montgomery teachers make an average of $73,705 – the highest in the region and about $10,000 more than Prince George’s. So a 3.4 percent bump would be about $2506, or 25% more than the flat bonus rate.

ENVIRONMENT | Arlington County is developing “bioretention areas” to fight pollution from stormwater runoff with a project it is calling “green streets.” (Connection, 5/24) Sounds like a sci-fi movie.

Young guard: Sir! The bioretention area has been infiltrated!
Grouchy commander: My god! Drawn out pause. There’s only one man who can save us now.  (And that one man would be played by either Bruce Willis or Kurt Russell.)

HEALTH | Mapping a Lifetime of Health Risks (Atlantic, 5/23)

LOCAL | The Tysons Partnership, a nonprofit that will focus on developing Tysons Corner around its new metro stop, has named an executive director. (Connection, 5/24) Actually, his parents probably named him, but he still got the job.

The Daily will be taking a long weekend. We won’t have a roundup tomorrow, and then Rebekah will have a special announcement about WRAG’s Common Grant Application on Tuesday. After that, she’ll take the reins for a week while I globetrot like Indiana Jones. Or more like the Griswolds, probably. So I’ll see you next month!

- Christian

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District voting rights affect the whole region…Trust data highlight voucher program’s success…Homeless veterans prioritized [News, 5.23.12]

May 23, 2012 By

REGION | If you don’t live in the District, it can be easy to brush off the fact that the city’s residents don’t have representation in Congress. But WRAG’s president, Tamara Copeland, says that D.C.’s democracy deficiency has rippling effects across the entire region. (WG Daily, 5/23)

Related: Speaking of regionalism, a new report from Brookings says that DC Water needs buy-in from other local jurisdictions in order to meet federal sewage mandates (WaPo, 5/23):

“DC Water has no authority outside of its narrow rate utility and it has no state government to protect its interest,” the study said. “It needs help to ensure that all who will benefit from this expensive and lengthy project pay for it.”

EDUCATION | New data from the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation show that participants in the District’s school voucher program have had an impressive 94 percent graduation rate and an 89 percent college enrollment rate. (AFC, 5/22)

VETERANS/HOMELESSNESS | Dozens of homeless veterans are being “fast-tracked to a roof over their heads.” D.C. Housing Authority spokesperson Dena Michaelson says “It’s a priority for the country and it’s a priority for us.” (WTOP, 5/23) Amen.

BUDGETS | Fairfax officials dismayed by social service cuts (Examiner, 5/23) Needless to say, there is a healthy dose of finger-pointing.

TRANSIT
- Montgomery County officials have unveiled a plan for a 160-mile Bus Rapid Transit system. (GGW, 5/23)

Related: The system would probably cost county residents a whole lot of money. (Examiner, 5/23)

- A WTOP poll finds out what District, Maryland, and Virginia drivers think of each other’s driving. (WTOP, 5/23)

POLITICS | As the District faces another political scandal (haven’t had one in…days?), Greater Greater Washington puts a positive spin on things and looks at what the Gray administration has accomplished so far. (GGW 5/25, WaPo 5/22)

We’re halfway to the long weekend! To help get us the rest of the way, how about some great new music? Langhorne Slim has a unique style and the music video for his new single is fittingly creative. I love it.

If you aren’t in the mood for new music, then maybe you’ll enjoy this classic from John Fred and his Playboy Band.

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