DC Government

“Has anyone been able to get OTR waive the interest on their taxes under these circumstances?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I received a non-filer complaint in early November concerning my 2015 taxes. I usually file by mail and did that year as well. Unfortunately, when I checked back through my 2016 statements, it does look like OTR never cashed the check I sent them. After many weeks of back and forth, OTR said they are willing to remove the penalty, a modest amount of about $130. The interest, which compounds daily at an APY of 10% and is much more (more than half of my original tax amount), they refuse to waive. My total bill is less than $1000, so no attorneys or CPAs will work with me. (more…)

“In the District, low-income riders comprise 48% percent of bus ridership, compared with 18% of rail ridership.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user small craft

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a new research project within The Lab @ DC to study the impact of low-income transit subsidies on transportation equity in the District. The study, which includes collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), will help determine if subsidies for low-income residents increase the use of transit and overall well-being. The study will go before the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board at its December 12 meeting for approval.

“Through innovative investments and initiatives, we can make our public transportation system more equitable and affordable for our residents,” said Mayor Bowser. “A strong, sustainable, and reliable public transit system keeps our city growing and thriving. This study will guide best practices on how we can effectively use transit subsidies to give more Washingtonians a fair shot.”

In the District, low-income riders comprise 48% percent of bus ridership, compared with 18% of rail ridership. Much of this discrepancy is likely caused by the higher cost of rail. Low-income riders are also less likely to receive a subsidy from their employer or be able to afford other transit options. (more…)

“this is the second year in a row that DPW hasn’t completed this job on our block”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I live in Woodridge and our street was slated for leaf collection last week. We used the ‘new’ DPW app and got the notification on Fri. Nov. 22 that leaf collection would happen the week of 11/25-30. I and many neighbors followed the protocols and had leaves ready for pickup on 11/25. It was the holiday week and the crew showed up on 11/30 with their blowers and rakes and prepped the piles for vacuuming up by the truck. We saw the truck around the corner vacuuming up another nearby block around RI Ave and Monroe NE so had faith that they would turn the corner and finish the job on our street. They never showed up and it’s apparent that many other streets around the block weren’t collected either; (more…)

“every year, the District is inexplicably underprepared for thousands of DC residents and tourists to descend upon Woodley Park every night for weeks”

By Prince Of Petworth


Connecticut and Cathedral Ave, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Saturday night’s shooting happened right in front of our building in Woodley Park. Our coop sent Mary Cheh, Jimmy DuBois (our ANC), and MPD District 2 Commander Duncan Bedlion the following letter. This is the most serious incident in recent memory, but it’s not the only problem we’ve seen with the District’s inexplicable lack of preparation for Zoolights year after year.” (more…)

Call Your Mother (Bagels Georgetown) “posted photos of how the line can be easily accommodated at their new location.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to ANC rep Michael Wray for sharing:

“This could be a PoPville caption contest – but in the ongoing Call Your Mother BZA case, the applicant posted photos of how the line can be easily accommodated at their new location. As their current ANC Commissioner – folks it’s no big deal. Best of luck.” (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Announces $5 Million Investment to Expand MPD Crime Camera Network”

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Kevin Donahue, DC Police Chief Peter Newsham, and public safety officials to announce a $5 million investment to expand the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) crime cameras program. The investment will fund a 70% expansion of the existing citywide crime camera network, adding at least 140 cameras to the network. (more…)

“For four years, bed bugs crawled from that neighboring property into my home through the wall we share.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Bed bugs are creatures from nightmares. Thousands of them can hide in cracks around your home, and feed on you while you sleep. According to the CDC they are a public health hazard that causes enormous psychological and physical harm. I know – I suffered from a four-year long bed bug infestation. I own a row-home in Northwest DC. My neighbors harbored a gigantic infestation. For four years, bed bugs crawled from that neighboring property into my home through the wall we share. I repeatedly offered to pay the full cost to exterminate the infestation. My neighbors repeatedly refused. The infestation spread to five houses down our block. My ANC representative, DCRA and DOH wanted to help, but lacked the authority to step in. It took, multiple appearances in Superior Court, 4 professional exterminator companies, several community mediators, and over 30 treatments to end this nightmare. I took a second job just to pay the extermination fees. I still wake up at night when I feel a hair on my arm move because I think the bugs are back again.

My story is surprisingly common. Americans spent $611 million in 2016 combating bed bugs. Washington DC is the second most infested city in the country. Those treatment costs are so high because of multi-dwelling infestations–infestations that cover several adjoining apartments or row-homes. In one case, an infestation that began in one unit spread to 68 others costing more than $200,000 over 3 years. Multi-dwelling infestations persist because a few occupants refuse to get treatment.

Tragically, tenants and low-income residents in DC are the most at risk. (more…)

“AG Racine Sues JUUL For Creating a Teen Public Health Crisis and Deceiving District Residents About E-Cigarettes”

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced a lawsuit against JUUL Labs, Inc., a major e-cigarette manufacturer, and its original parent company, for purposely marketing nicotine products to teenagers and misleading consumers about their highly-addictive quality. In its lawsuit, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleges that JUUL deliberately targeted underage consumers; failed to verify ages of purchasers; and deceived consumers about the content, strength, and safety of its products. As a result of JUUL’s conduct, roughly one-third of all e-cigarette users nationwide are middle and high school-aged kids–including thousands in the District. OAG is seeking to stop JUUL from engaging in these dangerous practices, and to impose civil penalties. Additionally, OAG is issuing subpoenas to eight other e-cigarette companies to investigate whether these companies engaged in similar practices, and to further prevent District kids from using these products. (more…)

“I swear the intersection of H and New York NW (between 13th and 14th) has to be the most dangerous intersection in DC.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I swear the intersection of H and New York NW (between 13th and 14th) has to be the most dangerous intersection in DC. Pedestrians are given a walk light for just half of the road, then expected to wait in the middle of the road to get a different walk light for the second half of the crossing. Because this is such an unusual way to cross the street, I think it doesn’t even occur to people that they have to wait for the second light; they then charge across, thinking they have a walk light, while oncoming traffic has a green light to go. It doesn’t help that this is in the heart of downtown where tons of people need to cross the road! (more…)

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