‘matt’s suspicious package returns from lunch’
courtesy of ‘wetwebwork’

As I write this, 14th street is FUBAR between Rhode Island Ave NW and Q St NW because someone forgot to take their backpack, or their box of paper napkins, or threw out a small sealed box.  Have we gone too far with our treatment of these abandoned items?  Must every little thing somehow be a threat that requires the closures of whole blocks while the bomb squad is summoned, and hits a Transformer on the way to the site, and then declares the box to be napkins or newspaper or a dead newt?

But the question is: why do we so badly overreact to this whole thing?  Why do we have to seal off the block and prevent traffic going through so we can figure out it’s a box of napkins?  Have there ever actually been an IED or a bomb in one of those backpacks or boxes?  Or is it just Johnny’s school books or a dead old backpack?

Either way, something’s gotta give here.  I think that there ought to be fines for causing one of these events.  You want to shut down a block of DC by carelessly leaving something behind? If we can trace it back to you, that’s a $5,000 fine.  Fewer packages, AND a line item for assholes in the DC Budget.  Hell, it can go to fund the Bomb Squad.

‘DC9 Memorial Ali, The Morning After’
courtesy of ‘Chris DiGiamo’

The death of Ali Ahmed Mohammed two weeks ago at Howard University Hospital unleashed a chain of events that have shuttered rock club DC 9, caused protests from the Amharic-speaking community on U Street, and lead to a lot of hang-wringing concerning bar security personnel throughout the city.  The death of Mohammed, thought by police to be a murder, though the medical examiner’s report has not returned, resulted in the arrest of five employees at DC 9 on charges of aggravated assault.

Today, in front of a fairly full hearing room at the DC Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Admninistration, DC9 owner Joe Englert testified before the board concerning the safety of his club, the policies of the club, the training of the staff and future plans.  TBD’s Sommer Mathis and Washington City Paper’s Rend Smith have filed their initial reports from the hearing room, and report high emotions, and testimony that conflicts with the charging documents and public statements from MPD.  Chief among the new revelations is that DC9 has parted ways with part-owner Bill Spieler, who resigned, and has let go the other four accused, Darryl Carter, Evan Preller, Arthur Zaloga, and Reginald Phillips.  Englert defended his employees, but acknowledged the reality of having to part ways with them while the case was on-going.

The Office of the Attorney General made the argument today that DC 9 was too careless with their security policy, and that their license to serve alcohol served as a danger to the public and ought to be suspended.

At the end of the day, the board agreed with the Office of the Attorney General enough to issue a continued suspension of their license until December 1st, when the Board will hear a status review for DC 9.  The ABRA board would like to have a copy of the Medical Examiner’s report, as would, I’m sure, everyone else.

‘Police Line Do Not Cross’
courtesy of ‘jayneandd’

Using her emergency powers, Chief Cathy Lanier today announced a shutdown of DC9 for up to 4 days, while DC ABRA reviews their liquor license in the wake of the alleged violence outside the club last night.  5 employees of DC9 were arrested today in connection with the incident that left one man dead, after he threw a brick through a front window, and employees of the club allegedly retaliated.  The manager of the club denies that the individual was badly beaten by staff and that the victim was healthy and alive when they were taken away by MPD.  Chief Lanier disputed this account during a short press conference held late this morning.

It’s not clear yet when the 5 arrested individuals will be arraigned, other than this afternoon, and what charges they would be facing.  DC9 owner Bill Spieler is among those who were arrested last night.

’95/365′
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

100 people were arrested at the White House this afternoon as part of a civil disobedience protest concerning coal mining.  They had protested at Freedom Plaza, and then headed from Freedom Plaza to the White House, stopping traffic and disobeying pedestrian restrictions, according to WAMU.  The group was given the chance to disperse before they were arrested by the US Park Police.

My favorite quote from the AP Release: “Jeremy Cherson, a senior at American University in Washington, had a mandolin around his neck and held a carrot and stick in his hand. He said the carrot was a plea for clean energy and the stick was actions like Monday’s rally. He said he skipped a class on critical social thought to attend the rally.”