DC Government

Attorney General “Sues Washington Sports Club for Misleading District Consumers About Membership Cancellation Policies, Billing Practices, and Fees”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Office of the Attorney General:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today filed a lawsuit against Town Sports International (TSI), LLC, the operators of Washington Sports Clubs, over its deceptive cancellation and billing practices. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleges that TSI is violating both consumer protection laws and a 2016 settlement agreement by misleading consumers about the terms of membership agreements, failing to inform them of the gym’s cancellation policies, and continuing to charge them even after they attempt to cancel their gym memberships, among other deceptive business practices. OAG is seeking to stop TSI’s illegal conduct, provide relief for consumers who were harmed, and impose civil penalties. (more…)

My car was stolen off my property that I own, the police admitted their error, but now my credit is adversely affected and I’m stuck with this bill.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Several months ago, my car was towed off of my private property mistakenly after a renter in my condo mistakenly called the police after not recognizing my car. The police ticketed my car and had it towed without any type of validation of the claim and did not bother to run the tags to see it was registered. After finally walking into a station with my compaint, several calls, and emails the officer hand delivered a cancellation for the ticket and admitted his error. The renter paid me for the towing fee, and the officer assured me it was all fine now and apologized.

Six months later I received a delinquency notice from a debt collector that I I still owe the city for the ticket and the total is now $600. (more…)

Your Ride on Columbia Road about to get much smoother

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to Dan for sending:

“DDOT is finally repaving Columbia Road between 14th & 15th Street NW! As a cyclist, I have thought for years about how bad this road was for such a major East-West thoroughfare. Props for this one, Mayor Bowser.”

You’re Doing it Wrong Vol. 1154

By Prince Of Petworth

hahaha thanks to Nora for sending:

“and so, this is how it ends? I took a walk yesterday, 1/1/2019–and this is almost the first thing I saw. I know it’s wrong, but it made me laugh. Like, a rapid end to the season with commentary. Other trees were out there too, curbside, but this was the only one looking truly degraded and humiliated.”

Ed. Note: Info on how to properly ‘Recycle Holiday Trees & Greenery in DC’ here.

“How to Recycle Holiday Trees & Greenery in DC”

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: Muah haha haha ha.

From DPW:

“With the holiday season coming to a close, thousands of DC residents will be looking for an environmentally friendly way to dispose of their holiday trees and greenery. The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to provide District residents with two easy options for having their holiday trees and greenery recycled (no artificial trees). (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Releases District’s Plan to End Opioid Epidemic”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Behavioral Health announced the release of LIVE. LONG. DC., the District’s strategic plan to reduce opioid use and misuse and to reduce opioid-related deaths by 50 percent by 2020.

“This plan outlines how District agencies will work with our public and community partners to tackle DC’s opioid epidemic,” said Mayor Bowser. “We know that the opioid epidemic in our city looks different than how the epidemic is talked about nationwide. This plan was created in response to the specific needs of our community and focuses our resources on increasing awareness and prevention, enhancing treatment offerings, and strengthening recovery supports.”

Created by a public-private working group of more than 40 stakeholders, LIVE. LONG. DC. outlines strategies to address the opioid epidemic through prevention, treatment, and recovery supports. Even as the plan was under development, ideas sparked from the working group were put into practice right away and so several of the strategic approaches are already well underway.

The plan’s seven goals include: (more…)

“Starting in February, DDOT will begin installing no right turn on red signs at approximately 100 signalized intersections across the District.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user brunofish

From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation today announced plans to implement new safety improvements at intersections across the District to support Mayor Bowser’s Vision Zero initiative to end all traffic related fatalities and serious injuries.

The safety improvements, prohibiting right turn on red and installing left turn hardening infrastructure, are both focused on improving pedestrian safety in intersections. Mayor Bowser directed DDOT to look for locations to ban right turn on red and implement other safety improvements at a CapSTAT on Vision Zero earlier this fall.

“As we strive to build a safer, stronger DC, we are committed to exploring all options that can protect our residents and visitors,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “These locations were selected using data and recognized best practices to yield the greatest safety improvements.”

Left Turn Hardening
By the end of December, DDOT will complete the installation of new roadway infrastructure designed to reduce motorists’ speed and prevent cutting across crosswalks and lanes of traffic while making left turns at five intersections across the District. DDOT will install similar infrastructure at a total of 85 intersections over the next two years.

The left turn calming pilot infrastructure is being installed at the following locations:

7th Street and T Street, NW
9th Street and M Street, NW
11th Street and I Street, SE
14th Street and Columbia Road, NW
13th Street and I Street, NW

No Turn On Red
Starting in February, DDOT will begin installing no right turn on red signs at approximately 100 signalized intersections across the District. All signs are expected to be installed by the end of July 2019. A complete list of intersections where right turns will be prohibited is available here: (more…)

Bombshell Report About Ward 2 Council Member Jack Evans that will likely get overshadowed by the holidays, the insanity of the national news and impending shutdown madness

By Prince Of Petworth


Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans

This bomb dropped around 7pm last night from the Washington Post:

“A consulting firm owned by D.C. Council member Jack Evans received 200,000 shares of stock in a digital sign company just before Evans promoted legislation that would have benefited the company by allowing it to operate in the District, emails and other documents show.”

It is worth reading the entire jaw dropping report.

Initial reactions: (more…)

Bimonthly Reminder that the “District to Remain Open in the Event of a Federal Government Shutdown”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Lorie Shaull

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser vowed to keep DC Government open in the event of a partial Federal Government shutdown. During the partial shutdown, which would begin on Saturday, December 22 at 12:01 a.m., DC Government will remain open to serve all District residents, businesses, and visitors.

“As we said when this happened earlier this year: Leadership is about stepping up, not shutting down,” said Mayor Bowser. “Regardless what happens at the federal level, DC Government will be open for business.”

In the case of a shutdown, the Department of Public Works will take over litter collection for the National Parks Service’s (NPS) 126 properties across the District that would otherwise not be serviced during a shutdown. In the event of inclement weather, DPW will also treat and clear NPS roadways.

As part of the District’s preparation for a potential government shutdown, each agency has reviewed funding sources and guidance provided by their federal agencies. Thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District enjoys “shutdown protection” so that local operations may continue during a federal shutdown. Residents and visitors should expect no service changes or lapses in benefits through District agencies. This means that the District’s education and public safety agencies will continue operating as usual.

The following agencies have provided service clarifications to residents and clients: (more…)

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