Opinion

For multiple decades, DC families — regardless of how long they’ve been in the city, their race or their ethnicity — have shared a common dream: a public education system that allows their children to attend top-quality institutions in…

Beyond the Beltway, just a few miles from the last Metrorail stations — and even in pockets within that bubble — commuting by car dominates the DC region. These suburban and exurban areas feature most of the new, affordable housing in the…

Teacher Appreciation Week felt strange at Chavez Prep Middle School this year. Our kids were fantastic, as always, and our school-based administration was really thoughtful and supportive. However, considering that the board of trustees…

It's National Charter Schools Week, a time for parents, students and teachers to celebrate these unique schools of choice. But in the District, legislators and unions are targeting the basic operating principles of charter schools: their…

While reprising her role as the DC Council’s nanny-in-chief and attempting to twist the arms of her colleagues to win passage of a so-called soda tax, Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh resorted to an old pattern of behavior: sullying the…

Educating our children is a responsibility we all share. As a community, the health of our future depends on it. In Ward 7, we understand community values. As the chair of the Ward 7 Education Council, I am proud to be joined by all of…

Nearly seven months ago, two DC public school communities ended up pitted against each other with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s decision to move Benjamin Banneker Academic High School from its historic Euclid Street NW building to the former Shaw…

As DC residents and parents of students at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, we are urging DC Council members to vote Tuesday to fund Mayor Muriel Bowser’s plan to build a new, expanded campus for Banneker at the site of the…

The most important thing you need to know about electric cars is that they’re now sufficient for the overwhelming majority of instances Americans drive. Their batteries hold enough energy for multiple days’ worth of commutes and…

As a fifth-generation Washingtonian, my love and passion for this city know no bounds. This is the city that raised me, educated me, and taught me about community. This is the city where I’ve chosen to come back and build my career…

Undoubtedly, DC business owner Geoff Griffis may flinch or become riled after reading the headline of this column. I am certain he would take issue with my characterization. However, there is no other way to honestly describe nearly four…

Sixteen years ago, I arrived in DC as a young Marine seeking to take part in shaping policies that benefited people who grew up in circumstances like mine. As a child growing up in Jersey City, my family routinely faced evictions and the…

It began as part of a criminal justice movement, aimed at reducing the number of African Americans, particularly men, being arrested and jailed for possession of marijuana. Then, people were told it was about decriminalization, making sure…

Longtime local DC journalist Tom Sherwood has this motto: “Local Washington is only as good as the people active in it.” My experience as a local reporter in the DMV corroborates that statement on a daily basis. Our region faces a…

Imagine the difficulty of being a new mom in DC with limited financial resources and a baby who has an unknown health condition. Imagine the fear and frustration of not knowing how best to help your newborn child after receiving different…

When I read the email exchange between Michael Musante, a lobbyist for local charter schools, and Scott Pearson, executive director of the DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB), I became enraged. I think, perhaps, you would have had a…

On any given night, approximately 7,000 of our fellow residents — families as well as individuals — experience homelessness, according to DC’s 2018 Point in Time homelessness count. Some may see this as a welcome decrease from the prior…

The room was awash with spring sunshine, bright and warm. While it was filled with people — including toddlers who, unintimidated by adults, dared to claim the space their own — it didn’t feel crowded. The ground-floor open lounge was…

As we celebrate another Earth Day, it is clear that the District of Columbia is living up to its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. In December, Mayor Bowser signed the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus…

In 2017, National Geographic identified the District of Columbia as the new hub for ivory sales in the United States — and our continued tolerance of this market ever since has been disastrous for African wildlife. Although the poaching of…