Sassy Black Friend

Party Priorities

While televsion and newspapers in DC focus on the craziness that will surround Barack Obama’s Inauguration, regular folks have more important things to think about. You know, like bars. Last week it was announced that bars in the District will be able to stay open 24 hours a day from January 17-20 and serve alcohol until 5 am. My liver hurts already.

Not surprisingly, the city council’s decision is facing strong opposition.

Senator Bob Bennett, Republican of Utah, and Mrs. Feinstein, a Democrat, sent a joint letter to Mayor Adrian Fenty and City Council Chairman Vincent Gray, saying that security concerns should trump those of local establishments looking to cash-in on the revelry.

“With projections as high as 4 million people planning to visit the city during this time period,” the two senators wrote, “we are deeply concerned that the plan approved by the City Council could seriously strain law enforcement resources that need to be focused on the large crowds and security requirements of the Inaugural and its impact on the city.”

Whatever. Back up off the party. Besides, every law enforcement officer in the mid atlantic region is already going to be here. But never fear, District residents are pulling together to try and make the mayor stand up to the party-haters. There’s a petition at SaveTheParties.blogspot.com.

And a friendly warning to Congress. We’ve been fighting for voting rights forever, to no avail. Home rule is a joke when you hold the purse strings. Fine. Now you dare get in the way of our week long drunk-a-thon? There’s a line. Don’t cross it.

To be clear, I don’t actually think this is important. I mean, sure, will make some extra money for local businesses, but in the grand scheme of things, I don’t really care. But it is funny.