Aurelia Butler

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    Try This Quiz on Books Written About America’s Gilded Age

    Welcome to Lit Trivia, the Book Review’s regular quiz about books, authors and literary culture. This week’s installment celebrates novels written about or during America’s Gilded Age era, which many scholars roughly peg between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the early years of the 20th century. In the five multiple-choice questions below, tap or click on the answer you think is correct. After the last question, you’ll find links to the books. More

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    Maps: Tracking Typhoon Kajiki

    <!–> [!–> <!–> –><!–> [–><!–>Kajiki was a typhoon in the South China Sea Sunday evening Indochina Time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said in its latest advisory.–><!–> –> <!–> –> <!–> –><!–> [!–> <!–> –><!–> [!–> <!–> [–><!–> –> Precipitation intensity Very light Heavy Extreme <!–> –> <!–> –><!–> [!–> <!–> [–><!–> –> <!–> [!–><!–> […] More

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    Read the Allegations Against Ingrid Lewis-Martin and Other Associates of Eric Adams

    For example, on July 12, 2023, LEWIS-MARTIN pressured the Deputy Mayor to leave a meeting with Mayor Adams – regarding hate crimes in New York City – to attend a meeting with LANDAU and HPD about the Red Hook Project. At approximately 11:32 AM, LEWIS- MARTIN texted the Deputy Mayor stating, “I know the mayor is major priority, but if you could skip out for second. They had been bugging the stuffings out of me.” Two minutes later, at approximately 11:34 AM, LEWIS-MARTIN sent a Signal message to MARTIN II and LANDAU stating, “Good morning: [the Deputy Mayor] is in a meeting with the mayor about hate crimes. She had [the Deputy Mayor’s Chief of Staff], her number one (1) join the call. I promise you that your project is priority. I need more.” At approximately 11:42 AM, LANDAU sent a Signal message to LEWIS-MARTIN and MARTIN II informing them that HPD “was giving push back and saying [the Red Hook Project] won’t close in December [2023].” At approximately 1:38 PM, MARTIN II replied, “Fuck him we make it close,” and at approximately 4:09 PM, LEWIS-MARTIN responded, “Ok. I agree with Glennie.” Within the same minute, LEWIS-MARTIN sent a text message to the Deputy Mayor stating, “Please give me a call when you have a chance.”

    LEWIS-MARTIN exerted similar pressure on the HPD Commissioner. For example, on July 28, 2023, from approximately 9:53 AM to approximately 12:13 PM, LEWIS-MARTIN sent multiple text messages to the HPD Commissioner directing him, in sum and substance, to “text me what is missing from the project that we discussed. I need to have a conversation with them,” and stating that she was awaiting the HPD Commissioner’s response. Later that afternoon, LEWIS-MARTIN called LANDAU using Signal. The next day, on July 29, 2023, LEWIS-MARTIN sent two follow-up text messages to the HPD Commissioner stating, “I have dates when all of the above was originally sent. More like months but [sic] weeks. We need to get it done,” and then adding, “December,” referring to LANDAU’s desired closing date for the Red Hook Project.

    In or about February 2024, HPD completed its background review of the project’s ownership structure and site acquisition allowing it into HPD’s “pipeline,” a list of projects slated to close. At any given time, hundreds of projects are in the pipeline, but only a few are able to close each calendar year. As a result, many projects wait multiple years before closing. But LANDAU would not wait his turn and LEWIS-MARTIN continued to push.

    LEWIS-MARTIN went so far as to engage directly with LANDAU’s representatives on the Red Hook Project by attending private meetings and phone calls without HPD or other City Hall officials present. For example, on April 10, 2024, at approximately 10:36 AM, LEWIS-MARTIN had a three-way conversation with LANDAU and his private consultant on the Red Hook Project. She stated, “We’re gonna, we gotta get that place [HPD] under control, so when we fucking tell them something, we expect them to make that shit move… I’m gonna speak to the Mayor, and then that’s it, so we’re just gonna push for December [2024] and we’re gonna keep it going.” The next day, on April 11, 2024, LEWIS-MARTIN confirmed a meeting with LANDAU and an attorney representing the Red Hook Project. HPD was not a party to these calls or meetings.

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    The Eaton Fire Destroyed Their School. They Created a New Wonderland Onstage.

    At first, it seemed unthinkable that the spring musical would happen. But school leaders quickly decided that it should go on.“We all believe that the arts are crucial to life, but especially to processing anything so traumatic,” said Jackie Gonzalez-Durruthy, who works with Arts Bridging the Gap, a nonprofit that helps run the school’s theater program. More

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    Read D.C.’s Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration

    B. The Home Rule Act Grants the District Autonomy Over Its Own Affairs, Including Control of MPD.

    39.

    After a century of struggle, and amid increasing recognition of District residents’ right to local autonomy, Congress finally passed the Home Rule Act in 1973. See Home Rule Act,

    D.C. Code §§ 1-201.01 to 1-207.71.

    40.

    Through the Home Rule Act, Congress “grant[ed] to the inhabitants of the District of Columbia powers of local self-government.” D.C. Code § 1-201.02(a). Quoting President Nixon, the drafters described the “spirit of home rule,” stating that a “pressing goal[] for this Nation is to place local functions under local control, and to equip local governments with the authority and the resources they need in order to serve their communities well.” S. Rep. No. 219, S. 1435, 93d Cong., 1st Sess. 2 (1973) (quoting President Nixon, 1971 message to Congress).
    41. The Home Rule Act created an elected legislative body, the Council of the District of Columbia, and granted it “legislative power,” subject to limited restrictions. D.C. Code § 1- 206.02. The Council’s powers and duties are comparable to those held by state legislatures, including the authority to adopt laws; to approve the annual budget; and to create, abolish, and define the powers and responsibilities of District agencies and instrumentalities, id. § 1-204.04(b). 42. The Home Rule Act “vest[s]” the “executive power of the District” in an elected Mayor, who serves as the “chief executive officer of the District government.” D.C. Code § 1-204.22. The Act makes the Mayor responsible for, among other things, overseeing the District’s local police force, MPD. Id. § 1-204.22(4); see also id. § 5-105.01(a).

    43.

    Under District law, the Mayor appoints the Chief of Police, who in turn supervises MPD officers. See D.C. Code §§ 5-105.01(a-1), 5-127.03. The Chief is “subject to any orders, rules, and regulations as may from time to time be issued by the Mayor or Council of the District of Columbia,” and is “responsible for the proper and efficient conduct, control, and discipline of

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    Judge John Hodgman: Can You Wear Pajamas Through Lunchtime?

    B: You are wrong. I guess you’re talking about sexy-time availability in your euphemistic parenthetical, which is none of my business. But if you’re indeed in the later stage of a happy marriage, then comfort, both in your (bed) clothes and each other’s company, is your deserved reward. Plus, at this point, one should always be ready for an impromptu nap or 12. More