DC Government

“New DC privacy law for sexual assault victims”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

“Dear PoPville,

Previously you posted about the DC Board of Election publicly posting the names, addresses, and some voting history details about every single DC resident registered to vote in the District. Pretty terrifying stuff.

A new law (sponsored by Charles Allen) is about ready to go into effect allowing victims of stalking, sexual and domestic violence, and the workers of some reproductive clinics to request their details be removed from the Board of Elections voting list, DMV databases, and public tax records. There are some caveats (i.e., legal documents to allow a request, etc.), but DC literally offered next to no protection before, so this is a huge step in the right direction.

Can you help spread the word so those who need to protect their privacy can get more information? Here’s a new WaPo story about it.”

“I wonder how many people build illegally because of this rule?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user DCbmyers

“Dear PoPville,

I was just subjected to a DOEE Soil Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) review, even though I am doing a project that is exempted under Section 541 541.1(b), for projects under $9,290.38. I am going to install a permeable paving parking pad that they priced at $5800 (diy $2900, structural marked it up to market). They are trying to do away with this rule even though it is an obvious carve-out for new concrete parking pads, for which I was recently quoted $9000. Furthermore, they are collecting review and excavation fees to which they are not entitled under this exemption. Interesting no? I wonder how many people build illegally because of this rule? How much money have they collected?”

“DC Council and Violent Crime. Instead of helping rapists, DC Councilmembers should be asking why the Department of Justice isn’t prosecuting rapes occurring in Washington, DC.” by ANC Commissioner Denise Krepp

By Prince Of Petworth


1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

ANC6B10 Commissioner Denise Krepp is a resident of Hill East. 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.

Ed. Note: The Post also published an editorial on this subject, ‘D.C. has gone too far on criminal-justice reform’

“DC Council and Violent Crime

Over the weekend, The Washington Post published an article about legislation under review by the DC Council that enables individuals convicted of rape and murder to be released early from prison. Instead of helping rapists, DC Councilmembers should be asking why the Department of Justice isn’t prosecuting rapes occurring in Washington, DC; why millions of DC tax dollars are being spent on sexual harassment settlements; and why DC agency employees who commit sexual harassment are still employed.

Currently, DC law enables judges to reduce prison sentences for crimes committed by individuals under the age of 18. There are no disqualifying crimes. The law simply states that the individual must served 20 years in prison.

Until recently, judges reviewing petitions for early release were required to consider the nature of the crimes committed. The DC Council removed that requirement from the law in January 2019.

Now, the DC Council wants to expand the early release policy to individuals who committed crimes under the age of 25. And again, there is no limitation on crimes. An individual can commit rape and receive early release if that individual was under the age of 25 when the crime occured. (more…)

“Nearly three miles of Georgia avenue will be free of vehicular traffic between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.” on October 5th

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: Let me tell you about back in the day…

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the District will host its inaugural Open Streets event on Saturday, October 5, 2019, along Georgia Avenue, NW. Nearly three miles of the avenue will be free of vehicular traffic between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., allowing residents to walk along and in the roadway and enjoy a wide range of activities for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. (more…)

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today filed a lawsuit against a local home contracting company for deceiving consumers about home construction services and damaging homes across the District.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jami Ansell

From the Office of the Attorney General:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today filed a lawsuit against a local home contracting company and its father-son management team–Precision Contracting Solutions, LP and Derrick and Stephen Sieber–for deceiving consumers about home construction services and damaging homes across the District. In the complaint, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleges a pattern of illegal behavior, including misrepresenting the quality of goods and services offered, negotiating contracts under false pretenses, breaking contract terms, and damaging property. With this lawsuit, OAG is seeking to stop the illegal conduct, to secure monetary relief for harmed consumers, and to recover penalties and costs for the District. (more…)

Gallup Poll Report: “Americans Reject D.C. Statehood”

By Prince Of Petworth

Brutal. From a Gallup news report:

“Americans are much more likely to oppose (64%) than to favor (29%) making Washington, D.C., a separate state. These results are consistent with past polling on the topic by other firms, which also found majorities opposed to the idea.

Although D.C. residents want their city to become the 51st state, their fellow Americans disagree. In fact, Americans have consistently opposed D.C. statehood in polling over the past three decades. The issue has become politicized, given that adding D.C. as a state would practically guarantee increased Democratic representation in Congress. As such, a D.C. statehood proposal is unlikely to pass unless there were a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, a filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the Senate and a Democratic president.”

Read the full report by Jeffrey M. Jones here.

View complete question responses and trends.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.

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