News Bullets, unsafe at any bus stop Monday;

Anyone else actually watch the entire Redskins game yesterday? Loved that safety at the end, way to go, really, kudos indeed. Jim Zorn is now off play calling duty, and a new offensive coordinator will be named later today. It's unclear exactly what the point of JZ is now, other than to look pretty and pointlessly throw challenge flags.

Metrobus and Metrorail unsafe, claims WTOP. I agree, but not exactly for the same reasons. WTOP's Adam Tuss and Mark Segraves obtain some employee discipline records from WMATA and the numbers aren't pretty. The article, Ride At Your Own Risk ledes with "[s]ince 2004, Metro bus drivers and train operators have been cited more than 4,000 times for endangering the lives of their passengers." Over that same period of time, 18 employees have been fired. WTOP made the spreadsheet of information available, and the category with the most infractions was "bus collisions." There were 1,650 documented. The numbers seem a bit odd, though, with 484 collisions in 2005 and only 110 in 2008. That's quite a decline. Metro GM John Catoe declined comment for the article, though a Metro spokesperson did say the agency is looking at their discipline policies. Without some context, or comparison to other transit agencies, it's difficult to make sense of these figures.

Recession over for some, frugality gets boring. The Washington Post looks at people who never really had to worry about money and gave up their credit cards because it was fashionable. Well, now, fashion is fashionable again and it's time to make up for lost handbag purchases. Retail therapy is back! While the recession may be over for some, many are still dying of AIDS and the homeless still don't have proper services. Sadly, though, donating to non-profits is not a form of retail therapy.

Damning investigation in the Post about the city's AIDS programs. If you missed the feature piece in yesterday's paper, I share some thoughts over at a new web site, District Daily.

Man stabbed and killed in Northeast. George E. Wakefield, 30, of the 1100 block of 21st Pl. NE was found stabbed near his home early Saturday. No information has been released about any motive or suspects. The location, a bit east of Trinidad is just a few blocks south of the National Arboretum.

Some residents nervous about Fort Totten redevelopment. The plans to build the "Art Place and Shops at Fort Totten" are still a bit up in the air, but residents are already being moved to temporary housing. From an article in the Post:

The foundation has not decided how the project will be financed and is awaiting city approval to move forward. The D.C. Zoning Commission recently held a hearing to discuss the request for the planned unit development. In the meantime, the foundation, which received the land as a gift about 50 years ago from the late Morris Cafritz, a real estate mogul and an influential commercial and residential builder in Washington, is moving residents into temporary apartments about a block from their current homes.

This is an interesting project, because it's being spearheaded by a 501(c)3 foundation. The goal of the project to revitalize the community and also build an 'arts outpost' of sorts. The Cafritz foundation provide current residents with new apartments when they are completed, and will also pay the difference in rent. If this turns out to be the case, this could be a great development in that area. With access to both the Red and Green Line, it could be a prime location. Seems like a good deal for everyone involved if it gets off the ground.