Deborah Simmons
Articles by Deborah Simmons
D.C.’s Gray defends pace of transition
Defending the pace of his efforts to staff his incoming administration, D.C. Mayor-elect Vincent C. Gray on Thursday announced a second round of appointments, but revealed no picks for key posts for city schools, the police department or other major agencies. Published December 9, 2010
SIMMONS: Time to end the wars of class warfare
Class warfare. Ward Cleaver and the Beaver vs. Archie Bunker. George Jefferson vs. Fred Sanford. That about sums up the inside-the-Beltway talkathon that is putting the squeeze on America's middle class. Published December 9, 2010
D.C.’s Gray names chief of staff, city administrator
In the first major personnel moves since his election, D.C. Mayor-elect Vincent C. Gray announced on Wednesday two top nominees who he said will "serve as the cornerstone" of his administration. Published December 8, 2010
D.C. Council OKs cuts in budget, furloughs
D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray put his first stamp on the District's shaky financial future by winning preliminary approval Tuesday of budget-balancing legislation that pares spending and pushes off inevitable tax increases until he becomes mayor next year. Published December 7, 2010
Key Gray initiatives at risk as D.C. pares budget
New funding for D.C. schools could be at the center of a major new political tug of war for Mayor-elect Vincent C. Gray, who is pushing for even bigger savings as D.C. lawmakers prepare to cast their first votes Tuesday on a package of fiscal 2011 budget cuts. Published December 6, 2010
New WTU chief: Top job ‘is to protect members’
The new president of the Washington Teachers' Union promised a "progressive" administration rather than a "reactionary" one, and said his No. 1 priority is to protect members' job security. Published December 2, 2010
SIMMONS: Private gallery right for ‘Hide’
Score another one for Christianity. How else to definitively assess what happened at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery? Published December 2, 2010
Fenty seeks cuts in jobs, services to fix budget gap
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has proposed his plan to right-size an unbalanced budget, which the public scrutinized Tuesday during a D.C. Council hearing at which several lawmakers and stakeholders proposed a host of new taxes and fees. Published November 30, 2010
D.C. Council debates budget-cutting plan
Facing a tight deadline to construct and enact a balanced budget by the end of December, D.C. Council members held lame-duck Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's budget-cutting plan up for public scrutiny, and lawmakers revealed early indications about where they stand. Published November 30, 2010
High-school graduation rate rises; ‘dropout factories’ fall
America's ornery dropout problem has been called an "epidemic" and a "crisis," and while an advocacy group founded by retired Gen. Colin L. Powell say they remain appropriate labels, the group will announce some good news on that front Tuesday. Published November 30, 2010
Obama-Gray meeting set for Wednesday
It had been penciled in for nearly a month, but now it is set in ink. Published November 29, 2010
Charters seek to be first in line for D.C. schools
The classrooms of Meyer Elementary School in Northwest Washington used to be filled with young minds and its playground was full of romping youngsters. Published November 29, 2010
SIMMONS: Charity begins with research
Due diligence is a must in charitable giving. Published November 25, 2010
Furloughs will be in D.C. plans, union says
As the Democratic chairman of the D.C. Council Finance and Revenue Committee calls for payroll cuts, a union that represents thousands of city-government workers said furloughs will be a part of the District's budget-cutting proposal. Published November 23, 2010
Taxes, cuts on table for Gray era
The numbers don't lie. Published November 21, 2010
GAO report: Where did D.C. school dollars go?
As Republicans prepare to take the leadership reins of the House, D.C. school officials on Friday welcomed recommendations in a new federal report that faults the Fenty and Rhee administrations for failing to track and monitor how federal education dollars were spent. Published November 20, 2010
SIMMONS: Lions fan wants God in huddle
Thanksgiving Day. Time to begin a season-long celebration of what matters most in life - faith, family and food. Published November 18, 2010
Booster clubs for high school sports face Title IX scrutiny
High school booster clubs take note: Uncle Sam may start checking the books to see that the boys and the girls get the same cut. Published November 16, 2010
Barry seeks to enforce lifetime welfare cap
Marion Barry displayed his own brand of conservatism Monday during an hours-long hearing on welfare reform. Published November 15, 2010
D.C. public assistance bill focus of hearing
D.C. Council members Marion Barry and Yvette Alexander, whose Public Assistance Amendment Act would track the 1996 federal welfare-to-work law by limiting eligibility to 60 months, say the District's welfare program is breeding a cycle of dependency. The bill got its first hearing on Monday. Published November 15, 2010