From the Mayor’s Office:
“This week, the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City is installing nine new pet amenity stations to expand the reach of the District’s “Pride Is Picking Up” education campaign. The bag dispenser stations will help remind dog owners to pick up after their pets, keeping their neighborhoods clean, safe, and healthy for people and dogs alike. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Rudi Riet
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the District is mobilizing 26 new Parking Enforcement Officers (PEO) to enhance bike lane safety in support of the city’s Vision Zero DC initiative. The Department of Public Works (DPW) will begin assigning new PEOS to beats beginning today, November 12. (more…)
Thanks to Chris for the heads up from DDOT:
“The Visitor Parking Pass (VPP) program is designed to allow guests of District residents to park for more than two hours on Residential Permit Parking or RPP-zoned blocks. A VPP is only valid during the hours of RPP enforcement and in the same RPP zone and ANC boundary as the residence. The passes are not necessary on holidays or other times when parking restrictions are not subject to enforcement.
The VPP can be used to provide temporary Residential Permit Parking (RPP) privileges in the following eligible wards: (more…)
Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans
From The Washington Post:
“A majority of the D.C. Council on Tuesday called on their colleague Jack Evans to resign, a day after receiving a report that said he repeatedly violated council ethics rules by using his office to help his private employers and consulting clients.”
From Councilmember Allen’s office:
“The following statement is from Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen:
“The O’Melveny investigation into Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans released today outlines a clear pattern and practice of unethical behavior that has compromised his ability to effectively serve on the Council and has destroyed public trust in his decision making. We have had to question every vote and every action he takes.
The report highlights 11 known instances — in just the last five years — of official actions Councilmember Evans took on behalf of one of his outside employers or potential employers. This is the definition of pay-to-play. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin
From DPW:
“The fall leaf collection program runs from November 4 through January 24. 2019 Leaf Season Brochure
Please rake your loose leaves into your tree box (or at the curb if there is no tree box) the Sunday before your scheduled collection week. Every street will have two scheduled collection weeks. Our crews will only come once during each scheduled week. The MyDPW app is essential during leaf season, residents can receive alerts when leaf collection is scheduled for your address, it reminds residents the Friday prior to your scheduled collection, and will alert residents if leaf collection service is delayed or suspended on their street. (more…)
Photo by Alex Byers
Thanks to Alex for the reminder – and happy birthday!
Standby for more info on the leaf collection schedule – which starts Monday.
3428 O Street, NW
“Dear PoPville,
This is maddening. Jack Evans is trying to block Call Your Mother from opening in Georgetown on 35th Street, stating that it’s “too successful” for the neighborhood.
Jacks letter to the Zoning Board, first reported by The Hoya.
You mess with my bagels? This is war.”
Another reader writes: (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Along 14th st NW, particularly here at N st after the circle, the old traffic lights and crosswalk signals have been covered in burlap. The new ones are installed directly behind it — meaning that as a pedestrian, you absolutely cannot see the crosswalk signal, so everybody just goes off of the traffic lights meant for cars. Meaning you don’t know if you have 30 seconds or 5 seconds to make it across. We have a lot of elderly folks trying to catch the bus at this intersection. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan
Ed. Note: Yesterday we heard the other side.
From Councilmember Grosso’s office:
“The following is Councilmember David Grosso’s opening statement delivered at the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety hearing on the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019, which would abandon the District of Columbia’s criminalization approach to sex work in favor of one that focuses on human rights, health, and safety:
“Thank you, Councilmember Allen, for convening this hearing today.
“This is a historic occasion as we consider how we as the government and the community should treat commercial sex and, most importantly, how we can better protect the human rights of the people involved.
“Earlier this year, along with Councilmembers Robert White, Brianne Nadeau, and Anita Bonds, I introduced the bill before us today, the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019.
“Over the past 3 years I developed this legislation in close partnership with the Sex Worker Advocates Coalition, and the bill is in line with recommendations from Amnesty International, the World Health Organization, U.N. AIDS, Human Rights Watch, and numerous other human rights, public health, and anti-trafficking organizations.
“Since coming into office, I have met with and listened to sex workers and other people who trade sexual services for money as well as survivors of human trafficking.
“I met with them because all of my work at the Council is grounded in a human rights and racial equity framework.
“That means looking out for the human rights of the most marginalized communities, including people in the sex trade, and reconsidering policies that perpetuate racism.
“In listening to those most directly affected, I heard how criminalization and stigma cause tremendous harm to people in the sex trade. (more…)
Locations of Likely Human Trafficking Cases in the U.S. via Polaris
PoP-Ed. posts may be written about anything related to the District and submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line.
Fully decriminalizing the sex trade in Washington, D.C. would increase the risk of sex trafficking
Brad Myles, CEO of Polaris
Proponents of legislation headed for hearing before the D.C. Council in mid-October would have you believe that the question of how to handle the sex trade in our city is a binary one: Either you decriminalize sex work, or you don’t. Period.
That’s no accident. Even the name of the bill – the “Community Safety and Health Amendment Act” – is designed to send this misleading message. The reality is far more complicated. This bill does not solely decriminalize sex work in an attempt to help keep people in prostitution safer. It also repeals crimes related to pimping, brothel-keeping, and sex buying, on the grounds that people in prostitution should not have their livelihoods interfered with in any way. In doing so, it increases the risk of sex trafficking for vulnerable people in the District.
Here’s the more complicated, honest version. The sex trade in DC is heterogeneous – a market ecosystem involving many different actors and impacting tens of thousands of lives. Some people are in the sex trade out of intentional choice. They exist, but it is a minority of the trade. Some of the most marginalized and vulnerable members of our society are exploited in the sex trade, or get involved out of desperation and lack of other options. (more…)