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CITY TRENDS HOME PAGETHE REVIEW'S HOME PAGE TO WRITE THE REVIEW
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2007 WASHINGTON BLADE - The District of Columbia, if counted among the states, is the gayest. Among U.S. cities, it's the eighth gayest. And the number of same-sex couples identifying their relationship in U.S. Census surveys is five times larger now than it was when the information was first collected on a national scale in 1990. Those are just some of the conclusions found in a study released Nov. 2. [The] report shows that the 2006 Census Bureau data estimates there are 779,867 same-sex couples in the United States - up from 145,130 who self-identified in the 1990 decennial census. In the District of Columbia, the number of same-sex couples went from 2,213 counted in 1990 and 3,678 counted in 2000 to a slight drop to 3,520 estimated in 2006. http://washblade.com/2007/11-9/news/localnews/11527.cfm THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION & Tourism Corporation took a poll on its new website as to what people liked to call their city. The results: 70% DC 2006. . . There are 32,000 veterans in DC according to the Washington Post THE WASHINGTON AREA HAS THE SECOND largest number of wi-fi hot spots, next to Florida. 2005. . . A STUDY FUNDED BY the Greater Washington Ibero American Chamber of Commerce finds that the number of hispanic-owned businesses in the region has grown to 32,000 in 2002 from about 500 in 1970. The surge began in the 1980s after hispanic immigrants fleeing El Salvador's civil war poured into the area and has increased as more Central American immigrants have moved here to join their families. The largest group, Salvadorans, have started about 3,000 small family-run businesses -- restaurants, construction companies and retail stores -- in the Washington area, said Elmer Arias, president of the region's Salvadoran American Chamber of Commerce and owner of La Hacienda restaurant in Springfield. At first, these businesses were concentrated in the Adams Morgan area, but as immigrants saved money and moved out to the suburbs, businesses followed. . . . DC HAD 24,000 new immigrants between 2000 and 2005 according to the Census. Immigrants now represent 13.5% of the population o the city WASHINGTON POST - Private foundations in the Washington area increased grant amounts 11.5 percent in 2004 from 2003, according to a survey released by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, an organization of local foundations. It said total grants rose to $595.2 million in 2004 from $533.8 million in 2003 RECREATION The District today has 50 Little League diamonds and 25 regulation baseball fields, a vast improvement from a decade or two ago when many baseball diamonds were being turned into soccer fields because they were cheaper to maintain or simply fell into disrepair. Three years ago, a survey by the D.C. Department of Recreation showed as many as 4,000 District kids, high school-age or younger, were playing baseball. But James G. Mauro Jr., president of the Northwest Washington Little League, the largest feeder system for youth baseball in the city, said it's "absurd" the number isn't 10,000. WASHINGTON POST ESPN: DC IS WORST SPORTS
TOWN [Boston got 791 points, DC got 326] DAVID SCHOENFIELD, ESPN - Here's how we compiled the rankings: 1. We averaged the winning percentage for all teams in the four major sports for cities that have at least two franchises. 2. We then added bonus points: 50 points for winning a championship, 25 points for reaching the championship game and 10 points for making the playoffs. We subtracted 10 points if a team finished in last place. We also wanted to reward some individual achievements, so we added 5 points for each player who made the NBA All-Star Game, 4 points for making the MLB All-Star Game and 3 points for making the NHL All-Star Game. And 5 points for making the Pro Bowl -- but we only counted QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs, because, frankly, we don't care if your right guard made the Pro Bowl or not. e then adjusted this total so a city with more teams (like New York) would not have an advantage over a two- or three-team team city. 3. We also subtracted 50 points if one of your teams charged into the crowd to attack fans and subtracted 25 points if your team choked away a 3-0 series lead in the playoffs to your arch-rival. 4. This year, we created a city named "New Jersey," which includes the Devils and Nets (but we kept the Giants and Jets as part of New York). Also, Green Bay is included with Milwaukee and "Carolina" gets credit for the Panthers and Hurricanes. MILITARY Fewer young D.C. men register for the draft than in most other cities across the country, the nation's top selective service official said . . . Though all young men must register for the draft on their 18th birthday, only about 60 percent follow the law in D.C., compared to roughly 75 percent across the country, said William A. Chatfield, director of the Selective Service. About 70 percent of 19- to 25-year-olds are registered in the city, compared with 90 percent nationally. [DC Examiner] NON PROFITS WASHINGTON POST - Private foundations in the Washington area increased grant amounts 11.5 percent in 2004 from 2003, according to a survey released by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, an organization of local foundations. It said total grants rose to $595.2 million in 2004 from $533.8 million in 2003 WASHINGTON POST - The Washington area's charitable organizations employ more than one of every 10 non-government workers in the area and generating about $33 billion in annual revenue. The study, by the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, found that nonprofit employment grew nearly twice as fast as other business employment from 1995 to 2003, and that the average nonprofit worker made almost as much as the average commercial employee. . . The nonprofit sector has a larger presence in the District than in other U.S. cities, largely because of the federal government's proximity, the study found. More than 7,600 active charitable groups are based in the Washington area -- about 1.8 nonprofits for every 1,000 residents -- more than double the number in urban areas of similar size. Nearly half are national or international, such as the Nature Conservancy in Arlington and Refugees International in the District. STUDY: DC 6TH MOST
DANGEROUS CITY 2004 WASHINGTON POST - Between Tuesday and Thursday nights -- when members of Congress are most likely to be on the Hill -- there were 45 Republican fundraisers and 51 Democratic fundraisers last week. The week before, there were 35 grip-and-grins for Republicans and 12 for Democrats on Tuesday alone. 9/04 USA TODAY - Author-researcher Bert Sperling, known for ranking cities on a wide array of criteria, lists the USA's 75 biggest metropolitan areas according to how difficult they are to drive in. Tailgating Boston are Washington, D.C., San Francisco-Oakland, Baltimore and New York/northern New Jersey Number of DC residents not speaking English well, 1990 - 29,128
MEN'S FITNESS - Despite the fitness inclinations of the District's most famous resident, our nation's capital maintains its ranking as 25th fattest for the second consecutive year. Why? The commute is terrible, for starters -- hours that could be spent at the gym or on a jogging trail are instead wasted behind the wheel of a car or stuck on a train. Access to health care is ranked as second worst in the nation - pretty bad for a city where national health policy is created. And overall sports participation is embarrassingly low - 2nd worst in the nation (we didn't count filibustering as a sport). - Residents of the District consume nearly 4 gallons of alcohol per capita annually. Las Vegas pushes consumption in Nevada to 4.06 gallons per capita. Compare those numbers to Oklahoma, where residents imbibe a mere 1.72 gallons per capita per year. - D.C.'s air quality is exceptionally high, among the best nationwide. - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 71 percent of D.C. residents are at risk for health problems because of a lack of exercise. This is the lowest percentage -- and best score -- in the nation. AP - Attendance at the Smithsonian Institution's museums and galleries has yet to recover from the blow of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a situation blamed on a weak economy, harsh weather and worries about more threats to Washington. . . Twenty-four million people visited the Smithsonian's attractions in 2003, compared with 26 million in 2002. That's down from 31.7 million in 2001. . The Smithsonian reported a decline in large private donations _ saying that because of economic troubles, it received no gifts of over $5 million each in the 2004 budget year, which ends in October. But it received more money from the government. Federal appropriations this year are rising to $600 million, up $41 million from last year. About half of the increase is for fixing up the zoo. 1/04 Typical per capita expenditure
on library materials in cities roughly the size of DC: $10-$20 DC HAS the largest number of dot.com addresses per capita in the US. [INTERNET INFO]  Detail's of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder's new house as reported by the Washingotnian Magazine: Cost: 10 million
Tourism officials estimate more than 18 million people visited Washington in 2002, down 3.6 percent from a year earlier. . . The drop in Americans visiting the capital was driven by a decline in daytrippers -- down by nearly 1.5 million. There was also a 14 percent drop in visitors from overseas, last year.
 2003 PERFORMING THEATER
COMPANIES IN DC AREA 70 [HELEN HAYES AWARDS, 2003] DC LIBRARIES 715 ESPN surveyed fans around the country to see what they thought of their local professional sports teams. The Washington area didn't do so well. Here are the ranks: CAPITALS 68TH CAPITOL HILL is the largest historic district in the country, with some 5,000 sites. BOB LEVEY, WASHINGTON POST - One generalization about Washington seems truer than most. We are firmly a foreign car city. We buy more new vehicles made by foreign companies than any other city in America. This has been true for at least 20 years . . . But we are conservative-foreign in our tastes rather than splashy-foreign. Our top choices among foreign makes, according to the 2001 Scarborough Research profile of the market: Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Much nearer the bottom: Porsche, Triumph and Maserati. Which domestic brands do we disdain, at least in comparison with the rest of the country? Chiefly Chevrolet. That grand old brand captured 22.27 percent of the U.S. market in 2001, according to Fall Mediamark Research Inc. But Chevy grabbed only 14 percent hereabouts. Ford didn't do a whole lot better. Across the United States, Ford leads the way, with 26.01 percent of new vehicle sales. Ford leads in the Washington area, too. But it rings up only 21.4 percent here. Some other comparisons: Honda -- third in D.C., with 15.5 percent of new vehicle sales, but far lower in the country as a whole (9.31 percent). Dodge -- 10.8 percent in D.C., good for fifth place (who says minivans are passe?). But 12.28 percent in the country as a whole. Jeep -- the leader of the SUV boom does 5.2 percent of new vehicle business in D.C., 4.11 percent across the country. Volkswagen -- nearly doubles its national percentage here. VW does 4.5 percent in D.C. (ranking it ahead of Plymouth, Mercury, Chrysler, Buick and Oldsmobile, and just behind Pontiac). VW does 2.4 percent from sea to shining sea. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28777-2002Jul18.html After several fat years when the stock market climbed -- and the number of charitable foundations in the region grew by more than 500 -- the sour economy and unsteady market are wreaking havoc with the funding plans of many of these groups, according to the report released by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers. In a survey of its members in September, 40 percent of the respondents said they have reduced the number of grants awarded locally, and a nearly equal number reported having reduced the amount they give. Nearly one-fourth of the foundations said they had put off at least some grants for future consideration. . . The region's 1,200 foundations reported giving $855 million in grants in 2001, down about 5 percent from the previous year; however, that number is expected to decline sharply this year and in 2003, said Kae Dakin, director of Washington Grantmakers. WASHINGTON POST 12/02 DC WAR CASUALTIES World
War I - 635, more than 3 states A new study by The Pew Research Center for People and the Press found the impacts of September 11 have been lasting. The Pew Center conducted an opinion survey of 400 adults in the Washington, DC, area [and] found that 99 percent remember exactly where they were or what they were doing the moment they heard of the attacks. After one year, 40 percent said they think about the attack every day, and an added 29 percent think about it a few times per week. Forty-nine percent said the attacks affected how they think about politics and national issues a great deal. Over one fifth said their lives have changed in a major way. One fifth said they personally know someone who was hurt or killed in the attacks; 14 percent said they or someone in their household lost a job or took a pay cut. Nearly one in ten said someone in their household has been called into the military or National Guard. The same amount have changed jobs or made different career plans. . . 72 percent said they were affected emotionally; as a result of the attacks, 60 percent said they often feel patriotic; 49 percent often think about life in spiritual terms; 27 percent often feel angry; 24 percent often feel suspicious of other people; 23 percent often feel sad; 15 percent often feel scared; 8 percent often feel depressed; and 3 percent often have difficulty sleeping. Many parents said their children have expressed fear about terrorism (44 percent). Three quarters said they have made a point to talk with their children about the topic. 30 percent said they have avoided going to large or crowded public events or places; 28 percent have traveled by air less frequently; 18 percent have avoided traveling to certain cities. 47 percent spend more time close to home and with family. Thirty-seven of those with children have made special arrangements for their children with family and friends in case there is an emergency. Thirty-two percent said they handle their mail differently. . . . Few said
they are making personal preparations -- only 18 percent have
stored food or water, and 6 percent have stored medications or
prescription drugs. And yet, residents expect more terrorist
attacks: 65 percent are at least somewhat worried there will
soon be another attack in the US -- 20 percent are very worried.
Forty-six percent believe the ability of terrorists to launch
another major attack on the US is the same as it was on September
11; 19 percent believe the threat is greater; only 32 percent
think the threat is less. And next time, this region fears terrorists
are most likely to attack with chemical or biological weapons,
or a suicide bomber will attack a restaurant, bus, or another
public place. Most significantly, 69 percent of area residents
now feel the area they live or work is a target -- this compares
to 42 percent of New York City area residents and 32 percent
of Americans at large. - MARK DAVID RICHARDS, DC WATCH - 9/02 Five years after jazz was silenced on the air, Washington remains one of the most important markets for the music. Fans here buy more jazz discs than almost anywhere else in the country -- at some D.C. chain outlets, jazz sales are double the national average. [MARC FISHER, WASHINGTON POST 1/03] ASSOCIATED PRESS - The Washington Post reports attendance at the museums increased by 53 percent in November and December, compared with the same time last year. . . Thanksgiving weekend attendance was up 45 percent from a year earlier. Crowds on the weekend after Christmas were up 73 percent. 1/03 SEPTEMBER 11
One fifth
said they personally know someone who was hurt or killed in the
attacks; 14 percent said they or someone in their household lost
a job or took a pay cut. Nearly one in ten said someone in their
household has been called into the military or National Guard.
The same amount have changed jobs or made different career plans.
. . 72 percent said they were affected emotionally; as a result
of the attacks, 60 percent said they often feel patriotic; 49
percent often think about life in spiritual terms; 27 percent
often feel angry; 24 percent often feel suspicious of other people;
23 percent often feel sad; 15 percent often feel scared; 8 percent
often feel 30 percent said they have avoided going to large or crowded public events or places; 28 percent have traveled by air less frequently; 18 percent have avoided traveling to certain cities. 47 percent spend more time close to home and with family. Thirty-seven of those with children have made special arrangements for their children with family and friends in case there is an emergency. Thirty-two percent said they handle their mail differently . . .
Few said they are making personal preparations -- only 18 percent
have stored food or  MARK DAVID RICHARD, DC WATCH - Harris Interactive recently updated a survey to find out which cities most American adults would like to live in or near, excluding where they currently live. Washington, DC, didn't make the list of top fifteen cities. Here are the most popular cities, in ranking order: New York, New York; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Orlando, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts; Ashville, North Carolina; Las Vegas, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; and San Antonio, Texas. 9/02 MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES 1991
- Michael [264] Christopher [211] James [174] William [161] John
[147] 1991
- Ashley [173] Jasmine [149] Brittany [131] Jessica [106] Sarah
[88] Veterans in the city
[WASHINGTON POST] % of area adults listening to radio formats News,
talk, information 21% [Scarborough Research] Number of movies Metro DC residents have seen in last month 0 47% [Scarborough Research] Members of the
DC Bar in 1972: 10,925. Most popular museum in DC and on the planet: National Air & Space Museum, which has had 219 million visitors in its first 25 years. Number of times the carpet has been replaced in the lobby: 3. [Washington Post] - Amount spent annually by cultural institutions in DC: $392 million. - Number of jobs provided by cultural institutions in DC: 23,075 [Cultural Alliance, 2001] Number of mosques
in Washington area: 45 DC has the smallest differential between male and female pay in the country compared to the 50 states. The figure for DC is 86 cents in pay for women for each dollar men make. Following DC: New York, California, Arizona, Florida, Texas. Worst state is Wyoming where women earn 63% as much as men. Also poor: Louisiana, Utah. [Census Bureau] DC has 715 libraries -- only 118 fewer than all of New York City. -- Average age
of Washington area theater-goer: 45 Tuition at Sidwell Friends lower school, 1965: $900. 2000: $15,170 |
||||||||
MARK DAVID RICHARDS,
DC WATCH - Washingtonians, like other Americans, have been forever
branded by September 11, 2001. A new study by The Pew Research
Center for People and the Press found the impacts of September
11 have been lasting. The Pew Center conducted an opinion survey
of 400 adults in the Washington, DC, area [and] found that 99
percent remember exactly where they were or what they were doing
the moment they heard of the attacks. After one year, 40 percent
said they think about the attack every day, and an added 29 percent
think about it a few times per week. Forty-nine percent said
the attacks affected how they think about politics and national
issues a great deal. Over one fifth said their lives have changed
in a major way.
depressed;
and 3 percent often have difficulty sleeping. Many parents said
their children have expressed fear about terrorism (44 percent).
Three quarters said they have made a point to talk with their
children about the topic.
water,
and 6 percent have stored medications or prescription drugs.
And yet, residents expect more terrorist attacks: 65 percent
are at least somewhat worried there will soon be another attack
in the US -- 20 percent are very worried. Forty-six percent believe
the ability of terrorists to launch another major attack on the
US is the same as it was on September 11; 19 percent believe
the threat is greater; only 32 percent think the threat is less.
And next time, this region fears terrorists are most likely to
attack with chemical or biological weapons, or a suicide bomber
will attack a restaurant, bus, or another public place. Most
significantly, 69 percent of area residents now feel the area
they live or work is a target -- this compares to 42 percent
of New York City area residents and 32 percent of Americans at
large.