Deborah Simmons

D.C. just can’t get housing right

D.C. has fallen to the bottom of the housing barrel, and cannot expect the Trump budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help the city to market. Published March 16, 2017

Winter storm hampers NCAA travel, hits cherry blossoms

How dare she mess with the NCAA tournament and the cherry blossoms. That Stella. Stella the double-fisted winter storm that's threatening to punch her way from the Plains southward and eastward before moving into Maine. Published March 13, 2017

House panel passes school voucher bill

Supporters of vouchers for D.C. families won Round 1 of the ongoing battle to continue the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which the Obama administration tried to shoot down. Published March 10, 2017

Get schooling ready for Generation Z

It's always interesting to see what's on the minds of teachers, unions and state leaders, especially during contract negotiations. Published March 9, 2017

Sanctuary cities are new Underground Railroad

You've surely heard of sanctuary cities and sanctuary house of worship, places where law enforcers generally tread lightly. Well, welcome a cottage industry: sanctuary homes. Published March 8, 2017

Terry McAuliffe’s guns, Andrew Cuomo’s marijuana

Politicians must find their way in all the smoke between advocates for blazing guns and others for blazing reefer. Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic governor of Virginia and a potential presidential candidate in 2020, is a member of the latter group. His bud Andrew Cuomo is, too. Published March 6, 2017

School choice, vouchers and the facts

The current mayor of D.C. did it -- as did a former Virginia governor, the president of the NFL Players Association, a Supreme Court justice and a first lady. Published March 2, 2017

Parents need to get a grip on social networking

The time has come for all parents to come to the aid their children, and rescue them from the ills of social networking. Published February 27, 2017

A mess of stress — our anxiety levels are ticking up, up, up

Stop hitting the recall button on your remote. Stop hitting the play button on online videos and music sites. Instead, hit your personal reset button. Published February 16, 2017

Illegal immigrants find some big-city enablers

Dream on veterans, you starving poor, all you granddads struggling to raise your children's children. Your mayor wants to spend your hard-earned money to aid illegal immigrants and shield ne'er-do-wells. Published February 15, 2017

Public safety perceptions, public safety realities

In politics it's not merely whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. Published February 13, 2017

Fifty shades of education reform

There should be no doubt where the Trump administration stands on education reform. The president would not have risked nominating a non-politician to run point on education policy if he doesn't plan or want to change policies from the inside. Published February 9, 2017

Donald Trump bathrobe thing

Does President Trump wear a bathrobe in the White House? Does he even own a bathrobe? Do you even care? Should you care? Why ask? Published February 7, 2017

D.C.’s pest control problem

D.C. has a pest control problem, and here's a solution: Trayon White might be tempted. He might be tempted to let his senior lawmaking colleagues take the lead role in what should be a citywide effort to ensure that school facilities get the all-clear sign on rodents, bed bugs, asbestos, lead-laced water, lead-based paint and other hazards. Published February 6, 2017

Super Bowl safety and security

Cathy Lanier won't be calling the game plays at Super Bowl LI in Houston on Sunday. As the NFL's senior VP of of security, her game book is pat, for the most part. Published February 3, 2017

D.C. vs. Congress: No contest in this Super Bowl

D.C. political players still can't get out of their own way to devise a winning offensive strategy. Published February 2, 2017

D.C. school’s rats, bedbugs create health emergency

A rodent problem might be understood, since Alfred Kiger Savoy Elementary School in the District sits hard by the Anacostia River. Bedbugs, not so much. What's truly troublesome is that school officials were aware of the infestation last year, which means they had the whole Christmas break to clear out classrooms, treat the problem, and return or buy classroom materials. Published February 1, 2017

School reform fallacies unplugged

A Democrat whose political brethren initially cried foul when parents wanted to establish school choice is (hopefully) turning a corner. And a Republican governor, who stomped his Democratic competition in a historically blue state, is making inroads on school choice. The national level is a bit more onerous. Published January 30, 2017

Dibs on Trump’s infrastructure bottom line

Can you smell it? Can you smell the change in the air? Congressional Democrats are pushing a "comprehensive" infrastructure plan to rebuild America, and Republicans are proposing to right-size America and fashion their own infrastructure package. At some point the two sides shall meet. A trillion dollars here, a trillion there. Published January 26, 2017