Deborah Simmons
Articles by Deborah Simmons
SIMMONS: Too many shoes can still drop at D.C. city hall
Kwame R. Brown is expected to appear Friday in federal court and plead guilty to bank fraud tied to his personal finances. He also became the second member of the D.C. Council to resign this year, making city stakeholders more than a little jittery about their body politic. Published June 6, 2012
SIMMONS: ‘High stakes’ in the politics of abortion
Missy Reilly Smith, who has paired up with pro-life Democratic presidential candidate Randall Terry to siphon votes from President Obama, isn't about to fall into the rabbit hole and start questioning the president's U.S. citizenship, parentage or even his views on government largesse. Published June 3, 2012
SIMMONS: Now walk the walk on Ward 5 talk
Concerned stakeholders of Ward 5 have been raising red-light issues for a couple of years now, mostly in response to a proliferation of strip and adult-entertainment establishments, shelters for homeless and wayward young adults in motels along the corridor and marijuana shops. Published May 30, 2012
SIMMONS: The value of the military’s life lessons
A lot has changed since Myrtis Matthews of Pittsburgh and native Washingtonian Ronald Crockett enlisted in the military during the Korean War. Published May 27, 2012
SIMMONS: In memory of hope for the poor
Monday is Memorial Day, the American holiday when we pay homage to heroes in jubilant and solemn fashion. And while I mean no harm to our commander in chief, I do think it the perfect time to again reflect on the audacity to hope on behalf of our rising generation of youths, who are inextricably tied to troubled school systems. Published May 23, 2012
SIMMONS: Obama ‘evolving’ on abstinence-based sex-ed?
Just say no. Remember when Nancy Reagan deployed that simple, declarative statement in the war on drugs during the Reagan administration? Published May 20, 2012
Thomas will go to Ala. prison next month
Harry Thomas Jr., the former D.C. Council member who was sentenced earlier this month to 38 months in prison, will report June 20 to a federal prison camp in Montgomery, Ala., a member of the Thomas defense team said Friday. Published May 18, 2012
SIMMONS: McDuffie says he heard what Ward 5 wants
Kenyan McDuffie tells me he is taking to heart the message that Ward 5 voters sent on Tuesday about what happens to crooks, liars and wannabes. Published May 16, 2012
SIMMONS: Cobbling and gobbling D.C. budget
Mayor Vincent C. Gray will be in bunker mode Monday, scheduled for a late-afternoon closed-door session with his Cabinet as his 2013 spending plan, which nickels-and-dimes residents and visitors alike, is set for a vote on Tuesday. Published May 13, 2012
SIMMONS: Majority of moms vouch for vouchers
Remember the Ohio mom who was jailed and put on three years' probation because she lied on her daughters' school applications about where they lived? Well, a new nationwide poll of mothers sort of bails her out. Published May 9, 2012
SIMMONS: Is Ward 5’s new boss same as the old boss?
Who is going to replace Harry Thomas Jr. as the Ward 5 D.C. Council member? Published May 6, 2012
SIMMONS: Notification makes sense for D.C. protests
Jack Evans' proposed legislation that calls for "reasonable notice" of planned demonstrations in the District makes sense on several fronts. Published May 2, 2012
SIMMONS: Oversight of spending by council in short supply
How do you cover up criminal intent? When all else fails, raise the cost of living. Published April 30, 2012
SIMMONS: Memories of Marvin Gaye kept alive by a loving sister
The younger sister of the late Marvin Gaye has some tough talk for anyone even remotely interested in the singer's life: "If it doesn't have my name or my sister's name attached to it, it may not be accurate." Published April 29, 2012
SIMMONS: Messenger Barry mauls his message
The messenger: Former Mayor and current D.C. Council member Marion Barry. The problem: How the messenger delivers his messages. Published April 25, 2012
SIMMONS: ‘Framework’ for more of the same in D.C. schools
District officials are scheduled to announce plans for the Gray administration's Early Success Framework, a cradle-to-career initiative that, while perhaps well-intentioned, should be viewed with considerable skepticism and through a lens of benchmarks that measures the effectiveness of traditional public schooling. Published April 24, 2012
SIMMONS: Sound-bite reality spews from D.C. Council
Let's face reality. Whether you are a lefty or a righty, there never is a shortage of sound bites from the D.C. Council, and this budget season is no different. Published April 22, 2012
SIMMONS: Meet the new boss - same as the old boss
It's deja vu all over again - almost. Published April 18, 2012
SIMMONS: Two steps forward, one back in racial progress
America certainly is a house divided — and the irony is that we are divided because we have the right to exercise unparalleled freedom and the pursuit of happiness as we see fit for ourselves and our families, yet we view race as a divisive issue. Published April 15, 2012
SIMMONS: Looking inward to draw lessons from a tragedy
Racial fear was front and center, where an all-black panel of the D.C. Commission on Black Men and Boys drew a mostly black audience for its forum titled "Lessons from the Life and Death of Trayvon Martin." Published April 11, 2012