DC Government

“if we leave our cars in spaces will they be towed?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I received the attached letter in the mail this week about the alley improvement project hitting my alley this week.

I live 2 blocks from both Nats Park and Audi Field and both of those stadiums have events during the time covered. When Bowser announced that the State of Emergency yesterday I remembered the letter said “weather dependent” and I called DDOT to confirm no work would be done due to that state of emergency.

The woman I encountered was rude and unhelpful. I won’t post her name here, but she basically said “The letter said weather permitting, so if you had read it you would know the answer and wouldn’t have to call.” (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane Florence”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor’s Office:

“As the District prepares for Hurricane Florence, Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a state of emergency, effective immediately.

“While we are monitoring potential impacts of Hurricane Florence on the District, we remain committed to keeping our residents safe, prepared, and informed,” said Mayor Bowser. “I encourage all District residents and visitors to take this storm seriously and stay up to date on the latest emergency information, including signing up for our AlertDC messaging service.”

The declaration of public emergency is effective immediately and will stay in effect for 15 days. The declaration authorizes the City Administrator, in coordination with the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, the Director of the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), and the Chief Financial Officer, to apply for financial assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, any other federal, private, or nonprofit disaster relief and recovery organizations, and any other appropriate agencies of the United States government.

The emergency declaration implements the District response plan and applies to all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the DC Government. It also permits utility workers and District agencies to retain crews to complete emergency repairs and restore services beyond normal work hours. The emergency declaration prohibits price gouging during the public emergency or for the next 30 days (whichever is shorter). The last time Mayor Bowser declared a state of emergency was on January 21, 2016, ahead of the winter storm known as Snowzilla.

HSEMA is coordinating preparations and emergency planning with its partner agencies at the District, federal, and regional levels. Additional information will be provided to the public as Hurricane Florence’s trajectory and its impact on the District become more precise.

Mayor Bowser advises that District residents and visitors should: (more…)

Council Members Parking Poorly But Legally For Them Vol. 89

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader sends Council Member Brandon Todd’s car Saturday afternoon: “On Upshur street during the petworth day festival. Worth noting there were various spots a block further away.”

Ed. Note: We’ve previously learned that Council Members are not obligated to follow parking regulations however they still shouldn’t park in front of fire hydrants. Also, it just really pisses people off but bigger fish to fry I guess.

“Electromagnetic Radiation Fears Cause Shaw ANC to Delay Voting on New Pepco Substation”

By Prince Of Petworth

The following was written by PoPville contributor David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings.


Photo by David McAuley

At its regularly-scheduled meeting September 4, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E/Shaw voted to table a decision on a proposed new electricity substation at K and First Streets NW, in Mount Vernon Square. The vote took place after PEPCO representatives and local residents argued over whether electromagnetic radiation from the plant will pose a danger to the community.

The ANC is involved because PEPCO must get zoning relief in order to construct the substation. The footprint, height, and setback of the building are within what PEPCO may build without seeking zoning relief, but the current plans do not include as many spaces for cars and bicycles as required, nor do the plans meet the requirements for a trash room. However, since the building will be mostly “unmanned”, it was argued, normal building requirements are not relevant in these categories.

A team from PEPCO, led by Vice President for Government and External Affairs Mark Battle, presented first.

“A substation is not a power plant,” Battle said.

Battle also said there will soon not be enough capacity from existing substations, given development in the Mount Vernon Square area. (more…)

“The City Stole my Bicycle”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I was at the WSC gym this morning on lower Connecticut (1211 Conn) between 9-10am. When I left, my bicycle was gone. It was locked up to an actual bike rack with a heavy-duty U lock. Here’s where it gets interesting– Both the guy at the gym desk and the manager of Buredo next door saw a DC truck (one of the utility trucks with a butane tank in the bed) pull up to the curb, a crew jump out, cut the lock with a torch and take it. All this happened within the time span of a minute. And they only took my bike; there were others they didn’t take. Again, locked up to an actual bike rack. The truck had DC insignia on the side and the crew were in high-vis vests. (more…)

FIN for now “remaining Outdoor Pools will close for the season at 6 p.m. on Labor Day”

By Prince Of Petworth


2500 Georgia Avenue, NW

From DPR:

“All DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) administrative offices, recreation/community centers and indoor aquatic facilities will be closed on Monday, September 3, 2018 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

All athletic fields, parks, playgrounds, and park sites will be open for general use.
All previously permitted OUTDOOR events will take place as scheduled.
All Spray Parks will close for the season at 8 p.m.
The following remaining Outdoor Pools will close for the season at 6 p.m. on Labor Day: (more…)

“Mayor Bowser, Metropolitan Police Department, and DC Police Union Reach Labor Agreement”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Bowser, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Peter Newsham, and Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police MPD Labor Committee Stephen Bigelow, Jr., today announced a new collective bargaining agreement for over 3,500 law enforcement professionals in the District. The new agreement, the first mutually agreed upon contract in almost 20 years, creates a clear path forward for wage increases while aligning fringe benefits with current DC Government packages.

“Members of the Metropolitan Police Department put their lives on the line every day to protect our city,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “This new collective bargaining agreement shows our commitment to the courageous men and women who are helping us build a safer, stronger Washington, DC.”

Under the negotiated contract, represented MPD officers will receive: (more…)

Ground Broken On Three Multi-Purpose Recreational Fields on the RFK Stadium Campus

By Prince Of Petworth


rendering via www.RFKCampus.com

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Bowser today was joined by Events DC, the District’s convention and sports authority, to break ground on the multi-purpose recreational fields that begin the RFK Campus redevelopment plan. Construction will begin in September 2018 and the fields are expected to open for play in March 2019.

“The community has waited a long time to see this land put to good use, and today, we are all proud to get this project started,” said Mayor Bowser. “When these fields are complete, this will be the community space our residents deserve. Here at RFK, Washingtonians will have it all – the amenities of a big city, access to a thriving waterfront, and fantastic outdoor fields and play space.”

The groundbreaking will transform nearly 27 acres of asphalt into three new state-of-the-art artificial turf fields with community amenities. (more…)

Office of the Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against a group of businesses that “repeatedly spilled used automotive oil onto streets and sidewalks and into the water system”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown

From OAG:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced a lawsuit against a group of auto repair and sales businesses located in Ward 5 for repeatedly spilling toxic oil onto neighborhood sidewalks and streets, the culmination of a pattern of environmental violations spanning a decade. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) filed suit against the owners and occupants of a property at 2201 Channing St., NE for discharging used oil into public spaces, failing to take required steps to prevent oil spills and leaks, improperly storing hazardous waste, and failing to pay previously-ordered penalties. This is the first environmental enforcement action OAG has brought against local businesses using its authority as an independent agency. In this suit, OAG is seeking monetary and injunctive relief, and penalties to the District. (more…)

“$1.7 Million Grant for Downtown Day Services Center to Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness”

By Prince Of Petworth


1313 New York Ave, NW. Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Bowser today announced a $1.7 million grant to build a Downtown Day Services Center that will provide critical services to individuals experiencing homelessness. The program will be housed in the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and managed by the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), with social services provided by Pathways to Housing DC (Pathways), District agencies, and other key partners.

“As we continue our work to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring, the Downtown Day Services Center will enable us to reach more individuals and get more residents connected to the resources and supports they need to stay safe and secure permanent housing,” said Mayor Bowser. “This center is one more way we can provide individuals experiencing homelessness with the respite and resources they need and deserve.”

The center will open prior to the start of 2018-2019 hypothermia season which begins on November 1, 2018 and will serve at least 100 clients per day. (more…)

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