District death wish?(data centers could improve run down areas of Washington D.C.)(Brief Article)(Editorial)

Emergency move to curtail data center development another example of anti-business atmosphere

In this space last week, we praised D.C. Mayor Tony Williams for deciding to not appeal a judgment to pay five city hospitals $30 million in back Medicaid reimbursements.

A forward-looking decision, we said, that showed his commitment to making business easier to do in the District.

But now the mayor has taken two steps back.

Two huge steps.

Williams and his staff recently enacted three-month emergency restrictions on developing data centers in D.C. During that time, the city will take public comment on the issue, after which permanent …