Obama mania grips the capital

[babylonsister]

Obama mania grips the capital

With over 4 million expected for the inauguration, city services will be taxed to the max. But bar owners and locals with digs for rent hope to make bank.

By Mike Madden



The framework for the inauguration reviewing stand in front of the White House, Nov. 19, 2008.


Dec. 11, 2008 | WASHINGTON -- Hotel rooms for Barack Obama's inauguration are all booked, it's true. And yes, city officials expect up to 4 million people to flock to town next month to celebrate the first few moments of the Obama era. But even with an inaugural housing crunch, it's hard to fathom exactly what made the owners of a house in the Virginia suburbs -- a mile and a half away from the nearest subway stop -- think someone wanted to pay $10,000 to stay there for the week. In the District itself, people have gotten even more ambitious -- how else to explain the $40,000 townhouse rental listed Wednesday?

More than a month before Obama is sworn in, D.C. is in the grips of inaugural madness -- and it goes beyond the attempted price gouging on rentals. The city just decided to let bars stay open until 5 a.m., three hours after the usual last call, for the entire weekend before Jan. 20, sparking fights between neighborhood activists, bar owners and Congress (which can never resist the urge to meddle in District affairs). The mayor suspended all the usual rules for property rentals for the week (and won't charge local taxes on any rental revenue), setting up a legal free-for-all on the housing front. Planners are freaking out about what to do with an estimated 10,000 buses that will ferry people into the city for the ceremony (enough, if lined up end-to-end, to circle the entire Capital Beltway); there's nowhere to park them all, and not many good ways to get people from wherever they park to the inauguration. The folks who run the Metro system are basically just giving up -- they want anyone who's coming from less than two miles away to walk.

When public transportation officials start telling people not to take public transportation, you know things are getting weird. Washingtonians don't easily panic over crowds. It's not as if the city has never dealt with big events before; after all, these presidential inaugurations do happen, like clockwork, every four years, and no D.C. weekend goes by without at least a few streets closing for a protest march or a charity walk. Still, the Obama mania seems to be going well past anything the city has experienced before. Officials working for Obama's inauguration committee, which handles the parade and the fanciest parties, say they're confident the city will be ready to handle whatever happens next month. But if anything close to 4 million people turn up -- about seven times the city's population -- it's hard to figure out exactly how it could all go according to plan. By the time Jan. 20 actually gets here, D.C. may be completely crazed.

more...

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/12/11/inauguration/

[EFerrari]

1. I remember how crowded DC seemed after the last big demonstration.

This is going to be exponentially worse but, more fun!

I hope DUers who attend manage to live blog some of it for us. This is the first time in years I'm actually looking forward to a new year! :toast:

[babylonsister]

3. I considered going, but the crowds are daunting! I think I'll have

a better view from here. :popcorn: But I also look forward to anyone who wants to share the experience.

[goclark]

5. I can't wait to get there and glad I'm going on the 15th

We are going to stock up on food on the way to DC from BWI.

Hope there are Cheerios left by then.

Any hints are greatly appreciated.

[EFerrari]

6. goclark! You lucky person! Do you have digs there?

:hi:

[goclark]

9. I rented a house with some friends 5 months ago

So far so good....

I don't stay in hotels anymore.
It's cheaper to stay in a Vacation Rental, especially when you are with your family.

I'm not advertising it in anyway but I use www.vrbo.com and stay in the greatest houses!

Keep your fingers crossed for me because this historic event is like nothing ever seen before.

The owner told me the other day that "Even movie stars can't get a place to stay in DC, it's crazy!"

[EFerrari]

11. Very smart! It sounds like you're all set!

I'm so jealous!

lol

[nc4bo]

2. I hope security will be top notch. Not just for Barack but also

for any nutcase tomfuckery which may decide to occur that day from whatever source.

I'm so completely elated - ecstatic actually but now for some reason, a little tinny voice is starting to whisper stuff in my ear and I don't like it one bit.

Lots of security please D.C. - LOTS!

[GarlicBulb]

4. Protests over the expansion of bar/club hours is heating up

I, for one, agree. I think it was reckless and irresponsible for the city to approve of it.

[EFerrari]

7. I think it's a really, really bad idea. But, it's not my town. n/t

[Cha]

8. Rec'd~ People need to be

aware of all this if they're planning on going.

I wanted to go when there were going to be 2 million but I've decided to give my inches to someone else.

According to another article there're going to need more port-a-potties, too.

I'm glad so many will there to represent our excitement and enthusiam for our new government:bounce::fistbump:

[goclark]

10. Thanks for giving me some more space

:hug:

I sprained my ankle about 2 weeks ago and I don't have any urge to get in a crowd of people like that ~

I'll be in DC but for sure I'll be watching it on TV with some champagne! Can't wait!

[Cha]

15. Well, you'll be close enough

to get direct vibrations! Sorry, about your ankle(ouch!)

I'll think of you in your comfort and celebration mode in DC along with all the Millions who will be joining us all over the Planet! :patriot::bounce::patriot::fistbump::hug:

[ghurley]

12. My wife, brother and friend...

are planning on making the treck up NC. We have another friend from baltimore that we are planning on staying with.

Never live blogged before. Got a new iphone last week. Any suggestions?? I'm betting that with all the people there, it might be hard to make a call. Wonder if the cell phone companies are planning for extra call volume.

[LynneSin]

13. BTW there will be a party Monday night for the DUers in town

:woohoo:

[derby378]

14. Some of them might need some "No Pardon for Bush" clothing

...and this shop might have just what they need for the trip to the Capitol. Check it out:

http://www.cafepress.com/nopardonforbush

More products may be added soon, so if you have any suggestions, don't be shy!