Thanks to a reader for sending this bizarre flier “found taped over the pickup hours on a mailbox in NW DC”. Doesn’t seem like the smartest approach one can take to support the legalization of marijuana. Has anyone else seen a flier like this around town?

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This protest occurred Sunday afternoon. Before I got close I thought it was a strike against Hour Eyes… Anyone know why they chose the corner of 18th and K?

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While I’ve admired these posters in the past it does really upset me when I see workers straining to have them removed. This one is from 18th Street in Adams Morgan near the old Carribou Coffee spot. I wish there was a designated spot for protest posters. I used to have to remove grafitti for my town (Rockville Centre, NY represent) and it was a huge pain in the ass (not court ordered, just a summer job). I felt so bad for this guy scraping away the poster that was not coming off easily.

Where, if anywhere, should these posters be allowed to go? Do you think there should be something like a designated protest poster spot or does that sorta defeat the purpose?

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Photo from PoPville flickr user J Y W

From an email:

“Rally for DC Marriage Equality Announced on Eve of Final Council Vote

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced today it is joining the Campaign for All DC Families and DC Clergy United to co-host a rally in support of marriage equality in the District on Monday, December 14, 2009, at the Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street N.W.

On October 6, Councilmember David Catania introduced the “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009.” After conducting two days of hearings, the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary marked up and approved the bill by a 4-1 vote on November 10. A first vote by the full Council took place December 1, passing by a vote of 11 to 2. The second (and final) vote will be the following day, Tuesday, December 15th.

WHAT: Rally for DC Marriage Equality

WHO: Campaign for All DC Families, DC Clergy United, co-hosted by the Human Rights Campaign

WHEN: Monday, December 14 starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.

HOW: To participate the day of the rally, go to the Kennedy Recreation Center at 1401 7th Street, Washington D.C.”

Also from an email:

THE ESPERANZA EDUCATION FUND INVITES YOU TO A BENEFIT CONCERT AT THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON

“On Thursday, December 17, one of the nation’s foremost young concert pianists, Elizabeth Joy Roe, will play a private concert for guests of the Esperanza Education Fund at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Hailed as “brilliant” (The New York Times), “electrifying” (The Dallas Morning News), and “an artist to be taken seriously” (The Chicago Tribune), Elizabeth has appeared in concert halls in New York, Paris and Seoul–and on NPR, the BBC and MTV. The concert will be followed by an open bar champagne reception in the Carnegie’s rotunda with music by the Peach String Quartet.

For tickets & tax-deductible sponsorships, visit www.esperanzafund.org.

To read more about Ms. Roe, visit http://www.elizabethjoyroe.com/basics/bio.html.”

The Esperanza Education Fund, Inc. is a community-financed college scholarship for immigrant students in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. It is a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Unlike other scholarships of its kind, the Esperanza Education Fund makes its awards without regard to ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status.

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Photo from PoPville flickr user cacophony76

Thanks to a reader for sending the news from a group called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition:

U.S. House and Senate negotiators agreed on Tuesday on the final details of the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

* Washington, DC will finally be allowed to implement the medical marijuana initiative that voters overwhelmingly approved in 1998 but has been blocked by Congress each year since then.

* Washington, DC will be able to use federal funds to implement syringe exchange programs.

Here’s how Congressional appropriators themselves describe the news:

Removing Special Restrictions on the District of Columbia:…Also allows the District to implement a referendum on use of marijuana for medical purposes as has been done in other states, allows use of Federal funds for needle exchange programs except in locations considered inappropriate by District authorities…

Has anyone else heard about this?

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From a press release:

Busboys and Poets invites the local community to watch President Barack Obama’s live televised announcement to send more troops to Afghanistan. Phyllis Bennis alongside Zia Mian will engage the audience in a discussion to add context to the announcement. The discussions will take place on December 1st at 7 p.m. at the 14th & V location before the 8 p.m. announcement and then end with a follow-up discussion at the 5th & K location.

Phyllis Bennis is a Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies, and co-author of the forthcoming Ending the US War in Afghanistan: A Primer. Her newest article, “Reprise: Obama and Afghanistan” was published in the Huffington Post on 30 November.

Zia Mian directs the Project on Peace and Security in South Asia at Princeton University. He is a regular contributor to Foreign Policy in Focus, and author most recently of FPIF’s “United States, Pakistan: The Decade Ahead.”

Busboys and Poets is a restaurant, full service bar, bookstore, fair trade marketplace and fully equipped performance space that features political and cultural events. Busboys and Poets has 3 locations, 2021 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C 20009; 1025 5th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001; and 4251 South Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206. www.busboysandpoets.com

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“Dear PoP,

Fenty and his handlers were making their way up Rock Creek Church Rd from NH and GA Aves campaigning for his reelection. I got a knock on my door around 4pm (I work from home) and one of his handlers was there. He introduced himself and asked for my support and then called Fenty over who also asked for my support and shook my hand. It was one of those moments where I was caught off guard and could think of nothing to say to the mayor but nice to meet you. My question is isn’t it a bit early to be campaigning for reelection in 2010 when clearly there is a lot of work that Fenty could be taking care of on a Tuesday afternoon? With the rash of crime in the area I would prefer to see cops walking a beat rather than a politician. I guess that’s what I should have said to him… but like I said I was caught off card and a little celebrity struck.”

Given all the scandals he has been going through, I’d say it def. makes sense that he has begun campaigning. When I asked if folks thought he was doing a good job there were very few positive comments. He also has a pretty slick reelection Web site set up.

But what do you guys think – is it too early for Fenty to begin Door to Door campaigning?

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DSCN5915, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

A reader sends in a tip:

“Obama at Habitat for Humanity site in NE right now. Clay and 54th NE, look for a blue United We Serve Banner. And hulking Secret Service agents.”

I love how Obama is visiting and representing in DC proper!

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DSCN6891, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

For the out of towners Mary Cheh is a DC Councilmember representing Ward 3 and her last name is pronounced “Chay”. Well done! Frankly I’m just happy to see some stickers with politicians other than Obama…

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IMG00010-20090203-1359, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
Thanks to all who sent emails. Here’s the Post write up.

“At the school, the president and Michelle Obama read to a group of second-graders in the school library from a picture book entitled “The Moon over Star,” an account of the first moon landing in July of 1969.”

And many thanks to the reader who caught the motorcade and sent the above photo. Our man on the scene writes:

“They was there for about half an hour, they came in the front door and then left through the side door in the alley. At first they had everyone on the Mt Pleasant side of 16th street, then they moved us all to the corner of 16th and Irving across from Bell Multicultural High School. There were about 50 people there on the corner waiting for them to leave the school. One we were all on the sidewalk they put up police tape. Once the motorcade started a police car pulled up right in front of us as well. As they were pulling away the Obama’s were in the second limo and he looked over at us on the sidewalk and waved.”

In less than a month the President has been to U Street and CH/MT. P – gotta love it.

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DSCN6104, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

Yesterday the Post’s DC Wire reported:

“One of the most vocal proponents of the DC vote bill offered an alternative today: stripping DC residents of the obligation to pay federal taxes.

Rep Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told a hearing of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties that he was introducing a bill this week to exempt District residents from paying taxes.”

Today DCist had a great list of alternative options to DC’s non vote problem.

But I’m gonna make the FQOTD a simple one – would you rather have a vote in Congress or not have to pay Federal taxes? I’m hesitant to admit but if given the choice, I’d have a very tough time turning down an exemption to Federal taxes. You?

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DSCN6114, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

That the guy is so out of proportion. It looks like the guy has a shrunken head. I’m just saying, I think it takes away from the message is all…

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DSCN6104, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

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DSCN5823, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

I was all for the “Yes We Can!” but I think “We Did It”. So for any other new causes lets be a little creative and come up with a new slogan. Or if we have to recycle slogans let’s use the best – from the great Adlai Stevenson – “The Thinking Man’s Candidate”. So we can say, “DC Statehood – The Thinking Man’s Objective”. Or perhaps we can update it to say “The Thinking Person’s Objective”. Adlai was the master orator although I guess he never did win the presidential elections… Anyone else tired of everyone using Obama slogans for other causes and marketing purposes (like Pepsi)?

Anyway, these signs are all over DC now. DCist has a little background info. They say:

“Over the weekend, D.C. voting rights activists hung signs advocating for statehood. Designed to look like the District’s flag and emblazoned with Obama’s “Yes We Can!” slogan, the signs were the brainchild of Shadow Senator Michael Brown and paid for by the D.C. Statehood Fund.”

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Ben’s Chili Bowl, U St NW, originally uploaded by dbking.

Thanks to all who sent me notes about this historic visit. Sadly, I was in the area about half an hour earlier and had no idea what was about to happen. The Huffington Post reports:

“Barack Obama dropped in Saturday afternoon for a bite to eat with Washington’s mayor, Adrian Fenty, at Ben’s Chili Bowl, the venerable diner in Washington’s U Street district.

Obama said it was his first time visiting Ben’s Chili Bowl and “it was terrific.” The expectation is that Obama _ already at ease in big cities from his time in Chicago _ will venture into town more than President George W. Bush, who rarely made forays into unofficial Washington.”

Was anyone there Sat. afternoon? For other genuine tastes of DC where would recommend Obama visit for a bite to eat? I’d recommend the Hitching Post or the Florida Grill.

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