DC Government

Mayor Bowser Launches Petition asking Metro to stay open late and “#KeepMetroPromises”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Kyle

The petition says:

“Metro promised the region that late night service would return on July 1, 2019. Now they’re trying to backtrack on that promise.

The Metro Board may soon vote on whether to break the promise and kill Metro’s late night rail service. Washington, DC needs a Metro system that meets the needs of our residents, our workers and our businesses. That means we need a Metro that stays open as late as our region does. Sign the #KeepMetroOpen petition to let the Metro board know that you agree with Mayor Bowser: we are a world-class city that deserves a world-class Metro.”

You can sign here.

Ed. Note: Reduced hours went into effect June 25th 2017.

“A Better Plan B For The Columbia Heights’ Dog Park”

By Prince Of Petworth


11th and Park Road, NW

The following letter was also sent to Mayor Bowser.

“We are writing you on behalf of a concerned group of residents in North Columbia Heights regarding the WMATA owned property at 11th and Park Road. It is our understanding that the District of Columbia has offered $2.1 million for the parcel to preserve it as a dog park but that WMATA must by law take the highest bid. If the city’s offer is not the highest bidder then a private owner will close the park and develop the property. In that case, we have heard that there is a push to turn the Triangle Park at Sherman Avenue and Park Road into a dog park. We would like to explain why that would be a bad idea and suggest a better alternative.

The Triangle Park as currently configured is one of the last multi-use green spaces left near an 11th and Park neighborhood that will see an additional 60+ condominiums added in the next several years within three blocks. Several hundred apartments and condominiums will be added within an eighth of a mile on Georgia Avenue in the same time frame. Residents regularly utilize the Triangle Park green space for church events, yoga, children’s play space, neighborhood parties and leashed dog walking. It is a truly multi-use space for the entire community that is used on a daily basis by the entire community.

If this park is enclosed and becomes a dog park, all other alternative uses will effectively come to an end. (more…)

“in this day and age of righteous indignity and negative raging on social media about government’s and management’s faults and shortcomings, I officially want to go record as saying that Mr. Goodwin is among DC’s best”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user James Crane

“Dear PoPville,

I write not because several of our trash bins on the lower 2100 block of 15th Street NW (homes just north of St Augustine Catholic Church) were overlooked yesterday…

I write because of how incredibly well, quickly and professionally it was remedied. And the manager to whom all credit is due is named Lloyd Goodwin (I hope I have this spelling correct, too.) I called this morning to report the (small) oversight (and fully understandable as I told Mr. Goodwin given the dicey weather yesterday) and Mr. Goodwin promised that he would personally see to it that our bins were emptied immediately. Little did I expect that by “immediately” he meant less than 5 minutes from the time we hung up. (more…)

“Turn up the volume in the attached video to hear what it sounded like. Hell.”

By Prince Of Petworth


1423 P Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Logan Tavern is a neighbor and they were doing construction work last night from approximately midnight to 1:30am. The noise woke up a ton of people in my building. Several of us went to investigate what was going on and found several restaurant managers overseeing the work. They refused to stop despite our pleas that it was 1am. Any ideas what recourse should be taken? Having a hard time navigating DC’s website with respect to this issue. Turn up the volume in the attached video to hear what it sounded like. Hell.” (more…)

“There is a PUBLIC HEARING about the new club, Play DC at 1541 7th St NW.”

By Prince Of Petworth


1541 7th Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

There is a PUBLIC HEARING about the new club, Play DC at 1541 7th St NW. It is located in Shaw on 7th St NW between P & Q, next door to The Passenger. The hearing will be on Wednesday, January 30 at 4:30 pm. UPDATE “now set for Wednesday, February 6 at 3:30 pm” See details below.

This club got a lot of attention because they had music and the bass blasting until 4 am in late-Dec, early-Jan. They were running an obstructive car valet blocking 7th. It’s likely that the M80 explosion on Jan. 2 was set off by someone leaving the club.

The more people we can get to attend the hearing the better. Please come!

HEARING DETAILS: (more…)

D.C. Stepping Up Some More Amidst Shutdown Woes

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, as the partial federal government shutdown extends into its second month, Mayor Bowser and the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) have announced a new program to provide mortgage assistance to District homeowners who are furloughed federal government employees. Through the District of Columbia Mortgage Assistance Program (DC MAP), financial assistance will be made available to qualified homeowners in the form of a zero-interest, recourse loan. DCHFA has allocated $9,000,000 for DC MAP and qualified homeowners will be able to receive up to $5,000 a month.

“Many people – myself included – who make a monthly mortgage payment depend on having a steady paycheck to be able to do so,” said Mayor Bowser. “Unfortunately, this unprecedented shutdown has created a tremendous amount of economic uncertainty for federal employees and their families, and so we are doing everything we can to ease the burden and alleviate stress. It is very unfortunate that this is what it has come to and I join millions of Americans in urging the President to work with Congress to end this shutdown and get our federal employees back to work.”

To qualify for DC MAP, a homeowner must: (more…)

The “Should I Call 911 or 311?” Conundrum Gets Some Clarity But Confusion Shall Remain, I Suspect

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user
Mr.TinDC

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of Unified Communications (OUC) is proud to announce the implementation of a police non-emergency option. Residents and visitors of the District can now call 3-1-1 to report all police non-emergencies. The OUC defines a non-emergency call as any call related to an incident that does not pose an immediate threat to the safety of individuals and/or incidents that occurred at least one hour before the initial request for police assistance is made.

Last year, the agency received approximately 1.5 million 9-1-1 calls for service, and approximately of 20 percent of those calls were for non-emergency incidents. To improve call taking efficiency, the agency has developed a pathway for non-emergency calls using the current 3-1-1 call tree, previously utilized exclusively for city services and information. (more…)

“Cuba Libre Restaurant to Institute Company Policies to Protect Transgender Residents from Discrimination” after settlement with Attorney General

By Prince Of Petworth


801 9th Street, NW

UPDATE:

Statement from Barry Gutin, president and CEO of Guest Counts Hospitality:

“We appreciate the DC Attorney General’s continuing efforts to protect Washington’s transgender community. Immediately following this regrettable incident, Cuba Libre implemented all training and signage requirements expressed today in the settlement with the Attorney General. Our focus now is to help ensure safety for DC’s transgender community at all area restaurants.

We have engaged Ruby Corado, founding member of Casa Ruby, to conduct a workshop on Understanding the Transgender Community and Ensuring Compliance with DC Regulations. Casa Ruby is the only LGBTQ bilingual and multicultural organization in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that provides social services and programs catering to the most vulnerable in the city and surrounding areas.

This workshop and training will be held at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar (801 9th Street, NW) on Monday, January 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. It is open to DC area restaurant owners and managers only. Creating a welcoming atmosphere and dining environment for guests and staff members is vital for all public facing businesses operating today. This workshop will help restauranteurs understand the challenges of the LGBTQ community, steps that can be taken to ensure compliance with local regulations and how to foster an inclusive and safe environment.

We invite restaurant representatives to confirm their attendance by Sunday January 27 at 6 p.m. via RSVP.”

From the Attorney General’s Office:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced a settlement with Cuba Libre Rum Bar and Restaurant for discriminating against a transgender District resident and also introduced legislation to clarify the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) ability to protect District residents from discrimination. Cuba Libre, a downtown restaurant, made headlines last year when an employee attempted to prevent a transgender District resident from using a bathroom that corresponds to her gender identity. OAG’s settlement with Cuba Libre requires the restaurant to stop discriminating against transgender residents, institute policies and employee training to ensure compliance with the District’s non-discrimination laws, and pay the District $7,000 for a penalty and legal costs. The legislation introduced by OAG today, the “Attorney General Civil Rights Enforcement Clarification Amendment Act of 2019,” will clarify OAG’s authority to bring lawsuits regarding violations of the District’s Human Rights Act (HRA). (more…)

“MPD will dedicate additional officers to community policing assignments that are deployed by foot, bike, Segway, and scooters.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

From a press release, Mayor Bowser Announces a New Focus on Deploying More Car-Free Officers:

“In her Second Term Outlook Address, Mayor Bowser announced that as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) continues to build up its police force to 4,000 active officers, MPD will dedicate additional officers to community policing assignments that are deployed by foot, bike, Segway, and scooters. Currently, MPD employs over 3,800 sworn officers.

“We know that reducing violence in our city requires an approach that includes police involvement, human services involvement, and community involvement. We also know how important it is to have a police force that is resourced, trained, and that reflects the values of Washington, DC,” said Mayor Bowser. (more…)

Salt Trucks Out in Full Force in Preparation for coming Snow – Increased Snow Accumulation Totals from National Weather Service

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Adam O’Neill
‏
Thanks to Adam for sending:

“At least no one will be able to complain the city wasn’t ready. Trucks are out treating the streets on Wisconsin Ave.”


via National Weather Service

From the National Weather Service:

“Winter Storm Warnings have been expanded further northward this afternoon as expected snowfall has increased for much of the area. #Snow will persist into Sunday, potentially mixing with rain/sleet across southern MD. Latest.”


Photo by Doug Landry

Doug reports:

“DC handling impending with usual restraint and calm. The 14th street TJ’s line is wrapped to the bread section, which frequent guests will know is BONKERS.”

From the Mayor’s Office (Friday):

“With the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting two to four inches [Ed. Note: Updated accumulation totals above.] of snow in the District this weekend, beginning sometime Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday, Mayor Bowser has deployed the DC Snow Team to begin pretreatment of roads. On Thursday, January 10, the Snow Team began treating National Highway System roads with liquid brine, and the Mayor has ordered the deployment of more than 200 trucks to pretreat all District roads on Saturday, January 12. The DC Snow Team will continue its deployment through Sunday evening, treating and plowing roads as necessary. Residents and motorists can register to receive important weather alerts from the District on their devices by signing up for AlertDC at alertdc.dc.gov.

Despite the continuation of the partial government shutdown, the National Park Service will be bringing in personnel to cover the network of roads, sidewalks and pathways under the responsibility of the federal agency, as is their normal snow plan. (more…)

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