Where Is Honor to Be Found?

The founders of our great nation knew our Constitutional Republic could only survive if our citizens were honorable. But now we search in vain for traces of character in our body politic and the sinews of our democratic institutions.

Our three branches of government are smelling foul. And we are losing our “eternal vigilance.”

There was a day when a president facing impeachment had sufficient honor to resign rather than imperil the nation with a Senate trial. When a mendacious U.S. senator could be lastingly rebuked with simple words: “Have you no sense of decency, at long last?”

Today, in our nation’s capital, a new cast of charlatans arrives each election cycle determined to fleece their way to fortune, to sow discord for their own ends, and pander with their ignorance.

The rot goes far deeper than our previous president’s mounting list of criminal indictments – 88 at last count. The U.S. military is hampered by one U.S. senator’s hold on advancements in rank and the U.S. Marine Corps has no Commandant for the first time in its history. This senator, Tommy Tuberville (R) of Alabama, skipped military service during the Vietnam War, yet defends his patriotism by lying about his father’s military exploits during the Second World War. Now we learn he secretly lives in Florida.

But corruption is also found to the left. Even vaunted progressive Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), refuses to ban lucrative stock purchases by members of Congress. And political fundraising for all members has essentially devolved into legalized graft.

On the Supreme Court, conflicts of interest abound. The most contemptuous cases, of course, arise from justices Alito and Thomas. Accepting millions of dollars in exclusive Alaskan fishing vacations from billionaires with interests before the court, Alito doesn’t blush; he pens a Wall Street Journal editorial to say Congress has no power to regulate the court’s ethics.

Justice Thomas meanwhile has been exposed by ProPublica for accepting a Christmas list of gifts: 38 destination vacations, 26 private jet flights, 12 VIP passes to sporting events, 8 helicopter flights, 2 luxury resort vacations, one standing invitation to an exclusive, membersonly golf club… and a partridge in a pear tree.

Even liberal justices Sotomayor and Kagan have profited from increased book sales through reciprocal arrangements with universities, according to Forbes magazine.

Let us return to honoring our Constitutional norms.

Parking Frustrations Hamper Businesses

Violet Salon is a local business under the same ownership for about 15 years. We love being in Georgetown and servicing our local clients. The parking challenge, however, continues to get worse and worse.

Clients who drive into Georgetown to experience Violet Salon usually hear us rave about YELLOW Cafe, Boulangerie Christophe, the new Tai Chi, and many other businesses. Based on our recommendations, they patronize other Georgetown establishments. We have over 2000 clients. But a majority do not live close enough to walk. Customers who commute in give themselves an extra 20 minutes to find parking. For a while, this has worked; however, now they need 30-45 minutes. Now when they arrive, they’re frantic, frazzled, and not in a good mood. Their entire experience is impacted by the lack of parking, and now, we hear even more that coming into Georgetown is not something they want to do as long as they continue to have such a horrendous experience just getting here.

Discussing this issue with others in the neighborhood, who aren’t restaurant owners or tourists, they feel our pain and agree that something should be done about the parking situation. Problem is that the D.C. government continues to tell our organizations here in Georgetown that they don’t want cars in the city and fancy themselves the next Amsterdam. This sounds amazing, except for the future viability of our business or anyone who relies on recurring visits by anyone who needs to drive in and park.

What do I hope to accomplish by sharing this? Hopefully, a little more consideration for the businesses that rely on recurring visits, parking, and customers being serviced for 2-4 hours at a time. We struggle to come up with solutions other than telling our customers to walk 4 blocks to a garage in the humidity or rain after getting their hair done. Maybe by bringing this to your attention, someone will offer us a solution that we can relay to our guests who are considering finding somewhere less frustrating to visit.

— Robert L. Hughes, general manager, master stylist, Violet Salon & Spa, LLC.

“The crime is out of control and getting worse by the day,” White said. “We must declare an emergency regarding the crime and violence in our neighborhoods and act urgently. It may be time to call on the National Guard to protect the children and innocent people losing their lives to this senselessness. I am tired of burying our children. We are too comfortable with the state of our city. We must take action to gain control and protect our residents. Law enforcement is only one part of how we combat public safety issues. It will take all of us to heal our community.”

While we share White’s desperation about lives lost, his heartfelt appeal is actually calling for more officers of the Metropolitan Police Department to be hired and to be on street. That’s right, a member of the District Council wants more MPD fighting crime.

That’s the same Council which moved quickly in 2020 to reform body-camera use, police discipline and much more — even neck holds that MPD hadn’t allowed even then. At the time, Chief Peter Newsham said he and his officers felt “abandoned” by the Council, at least in part.

Three years ago, Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen said the District needs “to completely and radically rethink the way in which we deliver public safety.” Really? What does that actually mean? How’s that working out for the city?

While we now have an emergency crime bill in effect that gives MPD more options to fight crime, D.C. urgently needs to increase its current force of about 3,300 MPD officers to at least 4,000, a number regarded by experts as necessary.

Have we forgotten that D.C. has one of best police departments in America? Is it merely a coincidence that D.C. has had four police chiefs since 2020?

There is more to do in the remainder of 2023. We look forward to Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto’s bills on crime.

And, yes, we know there is so much more going on here in terms of society and human nature. But let’s start by making common sense the center of attention.

Let’s continue this conversation. The Georgetowner welcomes your comments on this vital issue. Please email Editorial@ Georgetowner.com.