DC Government

DC Courts Clears Up Confusion About Jury Duty Email Notifications

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Davin Tarr

On Friday we posted “I understand that it is the cornerstone of our court system and blah blah blah…but jeez, asking me to drop everything and show up on a three working days notice…that’s a little much.”

The DC Courts PIO responded to us:

“Due to an oversight just before the holidays, jury summons for Jan 29-Feb 8 were not sent out. When this was discovered last week, the court immediately mailed the summons out – and emailed those it had email addresses for, given the unusually short turn around time.”

“Logan Circle ANC Balks at Aiding Church Avoid $1 Million Tax Bill”

By Prince Of Petworth

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


Photo via Google Street View

If New Bethany Baptist Church (1300 10th Street NW) cannot regain its lost real property tax exemption, it will owe the DC government more than $1 million in taxes. So, the leaders of the church, along with their attorneys, appeared before a committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2F/Logan Circle last night (January 24) to ask the ANC’s support a new real property tax exemption for the church, which has been operating on that location for 84 years.

ANC2F’s Community Development Committee was not inclined to support the request. Members of the committee and the public recalled years of strained relations between the church and the community under the church’s former leadership. The church’s new leader asked the committee to look ahead.

“This is a new day. We want to correct as much as we can,” said Reverend Jesse J. Jackson.

In addition to the church’s main building (which is still exempt from property taxes), the church owns a few lots nearby on 10th and 11th Streets, including one next to the church at the northeast corner of 11th and N Streets. (more…)

“Dividing DCRA into two agencies is not a cure-all, but it is a significant step in the right direction.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From Council Member Silverman’s Office (no relation):

“D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) today released the following statement after co-introducing a bill with Chairman Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) to divide responsibilities of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) into two newly created agencies:

“The District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs needs a significant overhaul. It is vital to protecting the health and welfare of our residents, as well as our businesses and our economy. That’s why I am an enthusiastic co-introducer of Chairman Mendelson’s bill today, the Department of Buildings Establishment Act of 2018, to break up DCRA into two agencies.

Department-of-Buildings-Establishment-Act-1 (PDF)

Take just these last four days: D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) crews have been called to fight fires that were caused by contractors either unlicensed or without proper permits. The violations were so obvious that FEMS could identify the problem almost immediately. These fires are further examples of the ways that DCRA puts our residents and businesses at risk.

Dividing DCRA into two agencies is not a cure-all, but it is a significant step in the right direction. It will give a greater focus to their core mission and bring more leadership. In my time on the Council, I have heard a steady and consistent stream of examples of DCRA falling short in permitting, inspections, and enforcement of construction codes in the District. These shortfalls cause real harm to residents through expensive legal fights and costly renovations and, in the case of the recent fires, put lives in danger. We simply must do something to better serve our residents.

I look forward to a hearing on the bill, quick passage, and implementation to make our government work better for everyone.”

“Any success stories on getting public trash cans replaced?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Gerry Suchy

“Dear PoPville,

My husband and I have been Petworth residents for a few years now, and when we first purchased our house, we had public trash cans on our street. Over the last year or so, two cans have been removed and not replaced. I have tried twice, unsuccessfully, to get the cans replaced. The latest response from our commissioner was that “the city is moving away from having cans close by residential homes because residents tend to leave their trash there rather than in their own bins.”

Is this true across the district? And, more importantly, is there anything we can do? I hope the city can appreciate the irony of removing trash cans because they are being used.

Our street has had a noticeable increase of litter, and it’s also tough because I often walk my dogs, alone, late at night, and I appreciated being able to stay right on my block, where I know most of my neighbors and I felt safe – I could easily walk a block to toss out my dogs’ poop bags. But now, if we’re doing a late night bathroom break, I have to walk 3-4 blocks to the nearest garbage can.

I’d love to get more information on this (i.e., if this is happening across the district, if anyone has any points of contact with DPW, if anyone has any success stories on how they remedied the trash situation, etc.).”

“Community Shows Anger at Proposed Ward One Family Homeless Shelter in Columbia Heights”

By Prince Of Petworth

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


Rendering photo by David McAuley

CORRECTED: Community Shows Anger at Proposed Ward One Family Homeless Shelter

[CORRECTION January 21, 2018 by David McAuley: In the original version of this story, I reported in error that ANC1B distributed a proposed draft resolution at the meeting calling on the DC government to “revise the location of the new Ward 1 shelter site”. The document is not a draft. It is a resolution which was passed by ANC1B at its December meeting. I further reported that the draft resolution might voted on at the ANC’s February meeting. At this time, the ANC has no plans to vote on this, or any other, resolution at February. Please see last paragraph for complete correction. Apologies for the error.]

“We’re having a conversation about something that’s already done,” one Columbia Heights resident said. “You all have already decided without community input.”

The resident expressed the opinion of many who attended the Ward One Community Town Hall Meeting at Rita Bright Family and Youth Center (2500 14th Street NW) last night (January 18). The resident’s anger was directed at the December 7, 2017 announcement by Mayor Bowser to construct a 50-unit “family homeless shelter” on the site of the community center. More than 200 local residents filled the gymnasium and made so much noise during the post-presentation question-and-answer session that the presenters had to threaten to end the meeting prematurely.

However, the residents first sat quietly while Ward One Citycouncilmember Brianne Nadeau spoke briefly, and then Kristy Greenwalt, Director of DC’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, and Brian Butler, project manager from the DC Department of General Services, made a presentation about the proposed construction. Many of the details seemed unchanged from last month’s announcement: for example, there are 35 planned short-term family housing units and 15 senior permanent supportive housing units. The presenters showed slides portraying the general massing of the proposed project, but emphasized the slide did not represent the final design, which had not been decided.

The presenters also promised that the Rita Bright Center would remain on the site and be fully renovated as part of the project. Butler said that, although “the goal and aim is to keep this site open” during the entire construction process, DC “may have to shut some parts for upgrades”. In response to later questions, Butler clarified that the plan might be to shut down one part of the center for renovations while allowing another part to remain functioning.
The 200+ attendees became unruly during the post-presentation question-and-answer session. Although a man with a microphone went from person to person who wished to ask a question or express an opinion, it was often difficult to hear them over the angry shouts from the crowd.

Among the objections were: (more…)

“Looming Federal Government Shutdown Will Not Create Service Changes for District Residents, Businesses, or Visitors”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Ian Livingston

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser today vowed to keep the District open in the event of a Federal Government shutdown. The Mayor was joined by Deputy City Administrator Kevin Donahue, Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Chris Shorter, and a delegation of DC Government agency leaders.

“Leadership is about stepping up, not shutting down,” said Mayor Bowser. “Shutdown or no shutdown – DC is open.”

As part of the District’s plan to remain open during a federal government 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 would also treat and clear NPS roadways. (more…)

“I’m reaching out to alert readers to more DCRA incompetence and uncooperative attitude”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I’m reaching out to alert readers to more DCRA incompetence and uncooperative attitude.

My business partner and I are trying to start a food truck. We have followed every regulation, requirement, completed all necessary applications, provided all necessary documentation – and we are told that DCRA will not accept our application for a business license because we do not own the food truck.

We are leasing it from an individual who no longer wishes to operate a food truck. The truck meets all DC codes, is in good standing with valid tags and registration, and the owner has provided us with all of the necessary documents that the regulations state we need if we are not the owners of the vehicle.

DCRA is now stating that the regulations are wrong, and mistakenly typed. Upon pressing them to provide the regulation that states we must be on the vehicle registration in order to obtain a business license, we have been completely stonewalled. Repeated attempts to contact them have gone ignored. (more…)

PSA: Remember to Call 202-541-6083 To Verify You’re No Parking Permits

By Prince Of Petworth

Oof, painful/expensive lesson from Stevie:

“HEY THANKS NEIGHBOR FOR RIPPING DOWN MY SIGNS. Also glad that NOWHERE on said sign informed me that I had to call to have them verified. I just double checked my emails from my app process and SHOCKING it’s not in there. So for trying to be a good citizen I spent $60 and posted 72 hours in advance for NOTHING.

The 311 rep I spoke with acted like it was very common knowledge. She was very kind and felt badly for me but there was nothing she could do.”

In fairness, DDOT responded:

“Can you send me your tracking number, we’ll take a look at this for you. Generally, the verification instructions are on the second page printed out with the permit and listed on our website.”

Update from Stevie:

“Someone just reached out from the permit office– was super helpful and apologetic. Also, said a new and more clear permit process will be out shortly.”

Ed. Note: Call 202-541-6083 Monday to Saturday to verify signs: Sign Verification Procedures (PDF).

“DCRA no longer allows building wet bar in basement”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Flickr user Trader Scott

NO!!!!!!! A reader reports:

“I am currently renovating my basement, and my contractor was at DCRA last week to ask some questions. While there, he heard that starting 2018, DCRA is no longer approving building permits, where the owner wants to renovate and add a wet bar in the basement. Apparently this is coming from the zoning administrator. The concern is people often turn them into kitchens after the fact. I don’t remember hearing any announcements or discussions to this effect in a public forum – and am curious what others think.

However, I find the idea that the city won’t let a homeowner put a wet bar in his or her basement outrageous. (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Announces $4.7 Million Investment in Kingman and Heritage Islands; Southern Portion of Kingman Island to be Designated Critical Wildlife Area for Habitat Conservation”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, in honor of the Year of the Anacostia, Mayor Bowser announced significant conservation and investment commitments for Kingman and Heritage Islands. The Mayor directed the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to designate portions of both islands as a State Conservation Area and the southern area of Kingman Island as a Critical Wildlife Area. The State Conservation Area designation mimics the federal covenant for the islands, restricting their use to environmental, educational, and recreational purposes. In addition, the Mayor also announced a new $4.7 million investment for educational and recreational improvements on the islands.

“Our goal is a fishable, swimmable Anacostia River, and over the past few years, we have made tremendous progress toward that goal. However, there is more to do, and these conservation designations and this new funding will help us get that work done,” said Mayor Bowser. “Efforts and investments like these are how we will become the healthiest, greenest, and most sustainable city in the world.”

Consistent with the Kingman Island & Heritage Island Planning and Feasibility Study, the new investment will support outdoor classrooms, bathrooms, and accessible routes and pathways for visitors to the islands. (more…)

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