Deborah Simmons
Articles by Deborah Simmons
Black Friday, Cyber Monday and beyond
Thanks is something none of us says often enough these days. Published November 22, 2018
California wildfires strike Jacob
The face of Jacob Saylors is an eye opener, a teary eye opener for the devastation that fires can cause. Jacob lost his home in a huge blaze that happened a decade ago when it swept through Paradise, California. His family lost their home that year, 2008. Then, like a cruel, cruel joke in a place called Paradise, Jacob lost his home again this month, when wildfires swept through Paradise. Published November 19, 2018
Driving a hard bargain for Amazon
It's unbelievable, but consider this premise: The commonwealth of Virginia, Arlington County and Jeff Bezos should ban motor vehicles from Amazon's future National Landing site and surrounding commercial neighbors. Published November 15, 2018
Aiding the deaf and hearing-impaired
Starbucks saw a window of opportunity and opened a D.C. sign-language store in October. Published November 15, 2018
Recount the voters and recount the ballots
You would think fair and free elections would be one of America's most treasured treasures, considering it's a hallmark of our democracy and we like to spread facsimiles of our democracy around the globe. Well, think again. Published November 12, 2018
Bladensburg Peace Cross is Veterans Day, World War I reminder
2019 will mark the 100th anniversary of the convening of the Paris Peace Conference, which formally ended World War I. And the Peace Cross is a memorial that today stands at a crossroads in Bladensburg, which lost scores of residents during the "war to end all wars." Published November 8, 2018
Let the ingrained fighting begin
Now is the time to take your respective corners for the next battle royale: Redistricting. Published November 6, 2018
Election results: What’s topical, urgent and necessary
Americans' midterm voting opportunities, now passe, still left some issues unattended. The least of which is whether the Fat Lady, like Tuesday's voters, is looking ahead to 2020, and the not-so-teensie cost to hire three designers — one for a scarlet affair, another for a blue-tinted outfit and a third for a violet gown that reflects inclusiveness with nary a shade of black, white or brown. Published November 5, 2018
Vote. Whatever you do, please just vote
"We did it," D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a liberal Democrat, proclaimed on Wednesday. "This week, we closed D.C. General once and for all." Published November 1, 2018
Americans have their own problems and burdens
Indeed, Americans understand why you want to come. You say you want a better life for yourself and your family. You say you want to escape the drugs, violence, sex trafficking and lack of economic opportunities. Well, here's an insider's tip. Americans face the same problems. Published October 29, 2018
Ben Jealous of Larry Hogan’s politics
The Democrats think they are going to reclaim the governorship of Maryland. However, at this juncture they need more than Ben Jealous. Published October 18, 2018
Shame on ACLU’s Arthur Spitzer
The National Park Service (NPS) is considering changing how it processes applications for marches in Washington. Published October 15, 2018
Metro’s bagel and lox, black coffee
Metro authorities are considering allowing vendors to sell food and beverages at stations is a bit concerning. Moreover, as a frequent rider pointed out Thursday, nowhere in Metro's proposal does it say that passengers will be allowed to "consume" food or beverages in the stations or on trains. Published October 11, 2018
D.C. Republicans don’t like D.C. Republicans
The nation's capital has been breeding progressive voters for so long that when real Republicans turn up on a ballot, social and fiscal conservatives think RINO and Democrats look for candidates who are designated by a "D" or "independent." Published October 8, 2018
Obama endorses Bernie Sanders’ shadow
It's easy to become so distracted by what's going in the swamp until you can't control your breathing or appreciate what's going on in your own hometown or state, huffing and puffing as you read the reaction to the reaction of the news of the day. Huddled masses who dare not yearn to breathe free. Published October 4, 2018
The geoeconomics of D.C. education
The mayor of the non-state of nonstates and the non-state's legislature are positioned for a tug-of-war over public schooling, and guess who's caught in middle? Published October 1, 2018
Homeless shell game sucks
There's nothing humorous about not having a home. Published September 27, 2018
D.C. needs jolt from Jeff Sessions
The Washington Times reported on New Year's Eve 2014 that "the city finished the year with 105 homicides, one more than was recorded in 2013 — a year that included 12 people killed in a mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard." Published September 25, 2018
Fire alarms: Do ours work?
You could still smell the evidence Thursday morning of what happens when fire alarms do not work. Published September 20, 2018
D.C. lawmaker proposes wasting resources on public restroom bill
Potty training is the saving grace. Unless, that is, the person is a D.C. lawmaker and proposes wasting resources on a task force to study the availability of "safe" public and private restrooms in the District. Published September 17, 2018