All Opinions Are Local - A forum on hot topics in D.C., Maryland and Virginia - June 6, 2010

One more question for the candidates

By Walter Smith and Ted Trabue Washington Colbert I. King’s June 5 op-ed column posed a number of questions that candidates for D.C. office should answer. We would like to add one: What are the candidates’ plans for reducing the...

By washingtonpost.com editors | June 11, 2010; 7:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: D.C. , D.C. politics , HotTopic
Save & Share:

Shouldn't "we" have a say in WMATA's future?

You might never know it, but influential business leaders and former elected officials are trying to determine the future of WMATA's board and whether you have board members who listen to your concerns. The Greater Washington Board of Trade...

By David Alpert | June 11, 2010; 11:37 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: D.C. , HotTopic , Local blog network , Metro , transportation
Save & Share:

McDonnell wins with wind

Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell finally is doing the right thing with energy policy by joining a coalition of 10 coastal states that will push for wind turbines off the East Coast. It may sound like a no-brainer, but...

By Peter Galuszka | June 11, 2010; 10:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: HotTopic , Local blog network , economy , energy , environment , military , public health , recreation , traffic , transportation , weather , wildlife
Save & Share:

The value of endurance in the classroom

By William Tunney Grantsville, Md. Regarding Michael Gerson’s June 9 op-ed, “D.C.’s passionate reformers,” on the work of young Teach for America corps members: Somewhere outside of Mr. Gerson’s range of interest but integral to the D.C. public schools are...

By washingtonpost.com editors | June 10, 2010; 7:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: D.C. , HotTopic , schools
Save & Share:

A rising star in Murray's camp

Every candidate could use a little British ingenuity, right? Patrick Murray likely benefited from some of that in his victory over Matthew Berry in the 8th District Republican primary. The race turned out nicely for Murray, who raised only...

By Paige Winfield Cunningham | June 10, 2010; 2:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Local blog network , Va. Politics , Virginia
Save & Share:

Who a BP boycott hits hardest

Consumer anger over BP's oil spill and rig disaster is being carried over into boycotts of BP stations. But if you refuse to buy BP gas, will Tony Hayward, BP's embattled CEO, get your message? Possibly not. The reason...

By Peter Galuszka | June 10, 2010; 12:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: D.C. , HotTopic , Maryland , Virginia , economy , energy , environment , traffic , transportation , wildlife
Save & Share:

Good reason to investigate Michelle Rhee

My request for an investigation was not motivated by a desire to elect or defeat any candidate; rather, I am acting as a citizen seeking to protect a principle of public policy.

By washingtonpost.com editors | June 9, 2010; 6:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: D.C. , D.C. politics , HotTopic , Mayor Fenty , economy , schools
Save & Share:

Give Michelle Rhee a break

Why anyone would seriously think that D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee would resort to illegal maneuvers to secure her job in the District is beyond me

By washingtonpost.com editors | June 9, 2010; 6:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: D.C. , D.C. politics , education , schools
Save & Share:

'Streetcars vs. homeless' is a false dilemma

Yesterday in this space, Tom Howarth said that streetcars are a luxury and that the city should focus its spending on social services, especially for the homeless. Like we did during the Marion Barry administration. Those were glory years...

By Dan Malouff | June 9, 2010; 1:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: D.C. , HotTopic , Local blog network , transportation
Save & Share:

Cantor fights for unwanted jet engine

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) projects himself as a staunch critic of government spending. He speaks against big government regularly and offers a "YouCut" service on the Web where ordinary voters can suggest ways to trim the federal...

By Peter Galuszka | June 9, 2010; 12:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: D.C. , HotTopic , Local blog network , Va. Politics , Virginia , economy , military , schools
Save & Share:

Cycling advocates rankled over new bike lanes

Reasonable people disagree about whether the change to the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes is for the better or worse. Personally, I'm not sure. But the experience makes it more difficult to keep defending DDOT against criticism that they're not...

By David Alpert | June 9, 2010; 11:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: HotTopic , Local blog network
Save & Share:

Streetcars vs. aid for the homeless

By Tom Howarth Washington D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward.5) says the District has to look at its priorities because they are “mixed up” [“Spreading D.C.’s money around,” front page, June 6]. Is he right? During the recent budget...

By washingtonpost.com editors | June 8, 2010; 7:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: D.C. , HotTopic
Save & Share:

DDOT misses a step in adding bike lanes

The District Department of Transportation [DDOT] has updated its plans for the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes following its sudden and unexpected decision to redo the lanes just days before they were scheduled to open. The original design took one...

By David Alpert | June 8, 2010; 1:11 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: HotTopic , Local blog network , transportation
Save & Share:

Va. transportation: Is 'public-private' the answer?

The Post had an insightful editorial this past Sunday about how Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell's ideas for covering some $20 billion in transportation shortfalls fall short. McDonnell had hoped for $77 million a year from offshore drilling, but that...

By Peter Galuska | June 8, 2010; 11:23 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fairfax County , HotTopic , Prince William County , Va. Politics , Virginia , development , economy , energy , environment , real estate , taxes , traffic , transportation
Save & Share:

Joan's lost cause

By Robert M. Rosenblatt Washington I was touched by Margaret A. Morrison’s May 29 letter about the missing sword on the statue of Joan of Arc in Meridian Hill Park. I’ve lived in Adams Morgan since 1966 and have visited...

By washingtonpost.com editors | June 8, 2010; 10:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: D.C.
Save & Share:

Fairness for charter schools

By Robert Cane Washington As The Post did in the June 3 editorial “Departure point in D.C.,” the District’s public charter school community welcomes the new teachers union contract. Charters welcome the contract because they are strong supporters of Schools...

By washingtonpost.com editors | June 8, 2010; 7:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: D.C. , HotTopic , schools
Save & Share:

Network News

All Opinions Are Local: June 6, 2010 - June 12, 2010