Author Archives: Valencia Mohammed

DC’s expansion of its medical marijuana plan has caused a shortage in many of the products to treat for pain, cancer and other medical problems. As expected, the numbers for medical marijuana users significantly increased since the D.C. Council passed the Medical Marijuana Emergency Expansion Act of 2014 in July. As of Aug. 29, there were […]

For two decades, well-known psychiatrist Dr. Frances Cress Welsing ran monthly ads in the Black press telling people to stop trashing the community. The ads were straightforward and read,” Stop throwing down trash where Black people live, work, and play. Stop making filth the norm.” According to Welsing, the efforts were part of a behavioral […]

Dihann Moore, a native Washingtonian, has entertained international audiences with her singing abilities. Now’s she back home in D.C. to enjoy the benefits of the new residents and educate other African Americans how to make it big away from home. Chart-topping international singer and songwriter, Dihann Moore, a native Washingtonian, has spent the past 15 […]

Have you ever wondered where the melted plastic from the Styrofoam container disappeared when your food was too hot? Ever wondered why pieces of Styrofoam are found in perfect condition after being buried for decades? Recently, the D.C. Council adopted Bill 20-573, the “Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014,” which was introduced last November […]

In the nation’s capital hundreds of thousands of people are denied full citizenship. It’s easy for the majority of Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity and political affiliation to ignore the fact that in the nation’s capital hundreds of thousands of people are denied full citizenship. But many residents, like Julius Hobson, James Forman, Wilhemina and […]

Marijuana While many Washington, D.C. residents consider this one of the quieter mayoral campaigns in the city’s history, thousands are excited about the opportunity to vote to legalize marijuana. Initiative 71, the voter-generated measure to legalize marijuana in the nation’s capital, has passed the final phase of government scrutiny required to place it on the […]

Former Mayor and current DC City Council member Marion Barry, right, with his son Christopher Barry. DC Councilmember Marion S. Barry (D-Ward 8) and his son, Marion C. Barry are back in the news with more traffic problems. According to Gwendolyn Crump, spokeswoman for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Barry was involved in an accident […]

For two years, Pam Johnson, a native Washingtonian and businesswoman, was targeted by malicious gentrifiers through blogs, emails, tweets, and other forms of social media to discredit her reputation and business. Johnson owns a property on H St NE, an area that once was a mecca for Black businesses, but has rapidly gentrified due to […]

It has been a grueling month for District residents insulted time and time again by Republican congressional leaders attacking the D.C. Home Rule Charter. The most recent assault came from U. S. Rep. John Mica (R-Fl.) responding to President Barack Obama’s comment about supporting statehood for the District of Columbia. Stand Up! For Democracy in D.C. […]

Former D.C. Councilmember Michael A. Brown reported to prison to begin serving his 39-month sentence on bribery charge. Former D.C. Councilmember Michael A. Brown (D-At Large) began his prison sentence on his federal bribery conviction July 29. He pled guilty to the charge in June 2013. Brown was sentenced in May 2014 to 39 months […]

Today marked an historic moment moving in the direction of DC statehood. In an unprecedented move, the Senate’s fiscal year 2015 District of Columbia Appropriations Bill granted D.C. budget and legislative autonomy. This marked the first time ever that an appropriations bill has granted both authorities to the District. After a bruising fight for several […]

It’s official, sort of. Marijuana is decriminalized in the District of Columbia as of July 18. But the move, aimed in part at reducing incarceration for pot use could have the opposite effect. Adopted by the D.C. Council in April, the “Marijuana Possession Decriminalization (MPD) Amendment Act of 2014” replaced criminal penalties for possession of an […]