D.C. Today

D.C. Today

Washingtonians love to talk about the city they call home: its joys, its headaches, and its juicy gossip. If you're looking to strike up a conversation with a local, just mention one of the following topics. These are the things on everyone's mind—and everyone has an opinion.

Local Politics

D.C. residents take a different view of the 2008 elections than the rest of the country. Given the city's measly three electoral votes and general lack of representation at the Capitol, Washingtonians may be more interested in what the outcome means for their employment than in the actual candidate-to-candidate battles. What city dwellers are more passionate about is the often-scandalous and always contentious world of local politics.

Mayor Adrian Fenty, who began his term in 2007, is number one on the hot topics list. D.C. mayors have always been colorful characters—remember Marion Barry and his drug-abuse scandals?—and Fenty is no exception. Within the first weeks of his term, he had announced a plan to wrest control of the school system from the Board of Education. Some applauded his dedication to improving D.C.'s failing schools, while others argued that his hard-line solution wouldn't actually improve academic achievement. Many worried that parents would be left out of the decision-making process. Check the Washington Post to see what other controversies Fenty is raising during his term.

At this writing Congress was about to decide whether to finally give D.C. the vote. The liberal-leaning district (whose license plates read "Taxation Without Representation") may get a full-fledged representative in exchange for giving conservative Utah an extra House member. Should Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton be promoted to Congresswoman, the news will be on the lips of everyone from the metro to Starbucks to the halls of the Capitol itself.

Sports Crazy

Washingtonians are certifiably sports crazy. Where else but D.C. would a mediocre team with an offensive name be the most valuable sports franchise in the NFL? Loyal Redskins fans are extremely passionate, selling out every game and wearing burgundy and gold from September to December.

Beloved son Joe Gibbs has returned to coach the Redskins after an 11-year break from the sport. He led the team to three Super Bowl victories in the '80s and '90s, but his 2006 season was a dud. Many fans blame owner Dan Snyder's poor off-season strategies—throwing money at free agents rather than slowly building a team through scouting and the draft. But no one would dare to wonder if perhaps Gibbs had lost his golden touch.

Washingtonians also have a new sports passion—baseball—though the currently uninspiring Nationals aren't nearly as exciting as the drama over their stadium. The new sports complex, which is expected to open on the Anacostia waterfront in time for the 2008 season, was a pet project of former mayor Anthony Williams and the MLB. The $611 million project was opposed by many residents and City Council members, who thought taxpayers would be contributing too much money for insufficient financial return. Those who have wanted a baseball team in D.C. since the dawn of time have turned a blind eye to the hard numbers.

Transportation

Spend an hour in gridlock on the Beltway—or wait 20 minutes for a metro train to come—and you'll know why Washingtonians gripe so much about transportation. The metro is slowly improving; weekend closing times were gradually extended from midnight to 3 AM, and Yellow Line cars extended their route during off-peak hours, so commuters will spend less time waiting for infrequent Green Line trains.

The most major metro extension is, of course, the most hotly contested. A project has been approved to build a new rail line linking the Orange Line to Tysons Corner, Dulles Airport, and other Northern Virginia destinations. Although the entire project should be completed by 2015, arguments over whether the Tysons Corner section should be elevated or underground have held up the entire process. Given the poor public transit options from D.C. to Dulles, locals hope that someday the metro will reach two airports—not just one.