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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Trump Administration Is Shutting Down a Gay Landmark Ahead of WorldPride
The Trump administration is in an ugly fight with the LGBTQ+ community in Washington. But instead of focusing on political issues like trans rights, the outrage involves a neighborhood park — and highlights theabsurdity of the federal government's vast landholdings across the capital. At issue is the National Park Service's decision to fence off Dupont Circle ahead of the upcoming Pride parade. The park is the traditional heart of the local gay community, one that's especially vibrant during the first weekend of June. Closing it during Pride is like shutting down the landmark site of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. The Park Service claims this is to prevent damage by revelers. But plenty of outraged locals see a more sinister motivation. 'Dupont Circle is sacred ground for the LGBTQ+ community — a place with a rich history of protest, pride and joy,' said Zachary Parker, an openly gay Democratic member of the city council. 'Closing it during one of the most significant global celebrations of our community sends the wrong message.' Coming days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy to strip the name of gay-rights pioneer Harvey Milk off a naval vessel, it's hard not to wonder whether that wrong message was something other than an accident. 'It seems motivated by animus,' said Zar, a one-named LGBTQ+ community advocate and events planner who organized some political programming around the city's ongoing WorldPride festival. 'It's pushing an agenda. It seems tactical, like somebody said, 'let's mess with people.' ... Maybe they think they're going to cause people to act up, to see if people knock down fences and push a police officer. They want to shut it all down.' Anywhere else, the regulation of a grassy traffic circle would be a strictly a question for city hall. But in Washington, where the federal government owns 90 percent of the open space, many neighborhood parks are ultimately under the control of the White good news for D.C. is that it gets to have one of the nicest park systems in the country. The bad news is that the National Park Service isn't really built for folks who want to do things like play pickup basketball, stage a political protest or take part in a weekend of Pride festivities. In places like Yellowstone, the kinds of activities that happen in a city park are seen as hazards. Over the years, this culture clash has led to a bunch of completely inane controversies, like the time the Park Service ejected a bocce ball league from nearby Logan Circle because of National Park regulations against organized sports. But in the second Trump term, where the administration has sought to put its MAGA cultural stamp on Washington landmarks ranging from the Kennedy Center to the now-erased Black Lives Matter mural on 16th Street, the decision to close Dupont Circle during Pride is not going to be treated as another contretemps between an obtuse federal bureaucracy and a big-city neighborhood. The National Park Service declined to comment but shared documentation of a finding that 'this closure is necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety and protection of natural and cultural resources in Dupont Circle Park.' According to the Park Service documents, the initial request for a closure came from the city's police chief, Pamela Smith, herself a former Park Service official. Smith cited alcohol use, unpermitted sound systems and physical damage during prior Pride weekends. After a noisy backlash from neighbors (i.e., the people who elect Smith's bosses) she rescinded the request. But the Park Service (which answers to the White House) decided to stick with the closure. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declined to comment, but speaking on a radio show Friday afternoon, she called the initial request an 'unfortunate error' that should have been reversed as a matter of course. She said talks continued, but her administration was working on finding another space. 'I think it's important to have an alternate plan that we do control,' she said. Given that the circle during Pride weekend is a place to hang out rather than a locus of official events, it was a strange assertion. (Until last year, Dupont Circle was the traditional endpoint of the parade, but it has since been rerouted to the National Mall, leaving the park as an informal gathering spot.) But Bowser, who needs to stay on Trump's good side in order to salvage the city budget and possibly fend off a federal takeover, can't respond the way another big-city mayor might: by playing to the gallery and telling off the president. In the long run, the whole thing also ought to be a spur for getting the feds out of the business of local parks in Washington. It's nuts that taxpayers in Kansas or California pay for maintaining a bandstand at Fort Reno, policing off-leash dogs in Stanton Park or mowing the lawn at 356 minor patches of grass around the District of Columbia. And it's nuts that neighbors in Washington have to bring concerns about a Pride festival to a federal agency designed to preserve national treasures like Yosemite. And it's especially nuts that a bureaucratic decision about one circular park is plausibly understood as a rebuke from the president's administration against a nationwide identity group. But it's also another reminder that day-to-day life in the capital — even after work, even far away from the White House — is a lot more subject to federal whims than most locals like to admit. The same WorldPride festival has already been rocked by the abrupt withdrawal of private-sector philanthropic donors, many of whom turned out to be federal contractors who decided that supporting Pride was a bad look in the age of Trump's anti-DEI campaign. The president has changed Washington life in a myriad of ways that longtime residents didn't expect. All in all, it's a terrible look for Washington. The city spent millions to support WoldPride, an event that was supposed to showcase the city's vibrant gay community and tolerant local culture in front of visitors from around the world. And now the heart of that community is surrounded by giant fences and the locals apparently can't do a thing about it.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Uncertainty lingers over Dupont Circle's status ahead of WorldPride Parade
WASHINGTON () — With just two days left until the Parade in Washington, D.C., accessibility to Dupont Circle remains unclear, and city leaders are sending mixed signals about what to expect. Earlier this week, both D.C. and U.S. Park police over the weekend due to safety concerns. The decision stemmed from previous Pride weekends, when police said the area saw property damage, looting, underage drinking, and even reports of gunfire. The historic fountain at the center of the circle was reportedly damaged as well. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | DC police recinds request to close Dupont Circle park during WorldPride after pushback from DC community But following public pushback, including opposition from Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker, D.C. police have backed off their initial request. While the National Park Service has not yet made a final decision, many residents are calling for a solution that balances celebration and safety. 'It's a symbol for the gay community. It's a symbol for this neighborhood. It's one of the best neighborhoods in the city,' said Richard Lewis, who has lived near Dupont Circle for more than 20 years. 'I was disgusted and embarrassed [by the behavior last year]. I thought, this is not how we treat our neighborhoods. It was a slap to the gay community, knowing fully well that the parade wasn't even there.' Instead of a full closure, some neighbors are advocating for a compromise — keeping the park open, but with increased law enforcement. WorldPride underway in DC for first time 'I understand both sides of the story,' added Lewis. 'I'd like to see it remain open with increased police presence so people know there's accountability and that they shouldn't be damaging public or private property.' In a statement, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith confirmed the department's shift, saying, 'After hearing from community leaders and residents, I am formally withdrawing MPD's request to close Dupont Circle Park… While US Park Police will make the final call, MPD will have resources available if needed.' As of now, with a little more than 48 hours until the start of the parade, no final word has come from the National Park Service or U.S. Park Police about whether the park will remain open or closed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
DC police recinds request to close Dupont Circle park during WorldPride after pushback from DC community
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify information from the Metropolitan Police Department and the status of the park. WASHINGTON () — Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) leadership reversed its this weekend, just hours after authorities announced it would be closed during WorldPride. On Monday night, NPS said the park would temporarily be closed due to 'a history and pattern of destructive and disorderly behavior from unpermitted activities happening in the park during past DC Pride weekends, including vandalism in 2023 that resulted in approximately $175,000 in damage to the historic Dupont Circle fountain,' according to a spokesperson. It was a joint with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and U.S. Park Police (USPP), NPS noted. RELATED COVERAGE: Dupont Circle park to be closed this weekend during WorldPride The announcement caused immediate pushback from local leaders and D.C. residents, many of whom believe the park is a central park of the local LGBTQ+ community. Within hours, there were whispers that the park would remain open. In a social media Tuesday morning, D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen wrote, 'This would be the wrong move. The park is an important part of DC's Pride celebrations, gatherings, and history. We're hearing this decision may be reversed by MPD, with some accommodations to protect the fountain, and Dupont Circle park will remain open this weekend. 🌈 ⛲️ Man seen tearing down Dupont Circle Pride decorations; DC police investigating Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker said he spoke with MPD Chief Pamela Smith, who said the decision to close the park would be rescinded. 'The Park is central to the lgbtq community, and neighbors will be able to enjoy it this year for World Pride,' he on social media. On Tuesday afternoon, MPD confirmed it rescinded its request to close the park, noting how important the park is to the Pride celebration. The final decision still lies with the U.S. Park Police. In a statement shared with DC News Now, a spokesperson said: Chief Pamela A. Smith has heard from community members and understands how significant Dupont Circle Park is to the Pride celebration. The following letter was sent to the U.S. Park Police, formally rescinding MPD's request to close Dupont Circle Park this weekend. MPD stands ready to support the National Park Service and the U.S. Park Police during this weekend's events. The Metropolitan Police Department 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo performing at WorldPride music festival in DC In a letter, the department explained that there have been significant challenges in Dupont Circle Park after formal Pride events concluded, leading to the initial decision to close the park this upcoming weekend. For example, Chief Smith said, in 2019, an individual was arrested after gunshots were heard in the park, causing people to flee, thinking there may have been an active shooter. In 2024, a large group of juveniles entered the park and 'engaged in unpermitted and illegal activities,' she added. This included drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and fighting. Some of them also ran into local businesses and stole items. To prevent the recurrence of prior year's incidents, particularly with the demands of WorldPride 2025, MPD requested the closure of Dupont Circle Park and the installation of anti-scale fencing around its perimeter this upcoming weekend. However, after hearing from community leaders and residents, I am formally withdrawing MPD's request to close Dupont Circle Park and the installation of anti-scale fencing around its perimeter from Thursday, June 5, 2025, through Monday, June 9, 2025. MPD Chief Pamela A Smith in a letter shared with DC News Now NPS officials have not confirmed whether the park will remain open. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Despite Recent Gains, DLH Holdings Insiders Are Still Down US$85k
Insiders who bought US$155.3k worth of DLH Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:DLHC) stock in the last year have seen some of their losses recouped as the stock gained 19% last week. The purchase, however, has proven to be a pricey bet, with losses currently totalling US$85k. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. We've discovered 3 warning signs about DLH Holdings. View them for free. Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by President Zachary Parker for US$78k worth of shares, at about US$7.77 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than US$3.52 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. DLH Holdings insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Check out our latest analysis for DLH Holdings There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. If investing in lesser known companies is your style, you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Insiders own 15% of DLH Holdings shares, worth about US$7.6m, according to our data. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing! The fact that there have been no DLH Holdings insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think DLH Holdings insiders are doubting the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing DLH Holdings. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with DLH Holdings (including 2 which are potentially serious). But note: DLH Holdings may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
