DC Government

Councilmember Grosso “introduces bill to protect abortion providers from discrimination”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown

From a press release:

“Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) today introduced legislation that would prohibit discrimination against health care professionals who provide or support abortion care.

“Doctors and nurses are vital patient advocates,” Grosso said. “They should not fear employer discrimination for speaking up in the interest of patients who have decided to have an abortion.”

The Abortion Provider Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2017 would amend the Human Rights of Act of 1977 to make it unlawful to discriminate against health care professionals for providing or being willing to participate in abortion and protect their ability to speak publicly about their support for abortion. It also prevents hospitals from denying staff privileges just because the health care professional is an abortion provider. (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Talks Rats and Trash at Shaw ANC”

By Prince Of Petworth

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

Mayor Muriel Bowser and a team of department heads discussed many topics at the regular monthly meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E/Shaw last night (November 7), but the conversation frequently circled back to garbage and the vermin who feed off of it.

“The number one complaint is rats,” said ANC6E Chair Alexander Padro (Commissioner for district 01), as he prepared to pepper Bowser with sanitation-related complaints from Commissioners and constituents.

“I take it very seriously,” Bowser replied, adding that the city is working with restaurants and examining best practices from other cities. Bowser also said that “the growth of the rat population is real”, due to exceptionally warm weather the last two winters, and she was hoping for “a very cold winter” to assist in dealing with the problem.

Bowser also told the audience that the administration was planning a rat-centric (“not potholes, not lights, not trees – just rats“) community walk in the Dupont Circle area next week.

After discussing some other topics, Padro asked: “Are we ready to move on to trash?” (more…)

“OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS TODAY. SHARE WIDELY.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Victoria Pickering

Find DC Health Link Enrollment Centers here.

From the Mayor’s Office:

Today, Mayor Bowser rang the DC Health Exchange bell to kick off open enrollment—encouraging DC residents to sign-up for health insurance at DCHealthLink.com, the District’s state-based health insurance exchange established under the Affordable Care Act. DC Health Link provides health insurance to approximately 18,000 residents through the individual marketplace and more than 76,000 people through the small business marketplace. Open enrollment for individuals and families begins today, November 1, 2017, and runs through January 31, 2018. Despite the federal marketplace now limiting its open enrollment period to six weeks, DC Health Link is offering a three-month open enrollment period. (more…)

Oh Happy Day – The Leaf and Holiday Tree Collection Guide is Here!!

By Prince Of Petworth

Well one of my favorite days of the year anyway – it’s the time I reset the clock for the last Christmas tree in town.

From DPW:

“The fall leaf collection program runs from November 6 through January 12. Collecting leaves reduces potential accidents and injuries caused by slipping on wet leaves, and prevents catch basins (storm drains) from clogging and causing street flooding during heavy rains. (more…)

“Can a single-family house fit in this space?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Proposed site of single-family dwelling behind 1665 Harvard St NW from Office of Zoning Files

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

Meridian Hill ANC Says No to Harvard Street “Popbacks”

Homeowners on the 1600 and 1700 blocks of Harvard Street NW are meeting local opposition to adding rear additions to their homes. At the October 24 meeting, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1D/Mount Pleasant, voted to oppose three separate requests for zoning relief in these blocks. Each vote to oppose was unanimous.

The first case was for zoning relief for a property at the rear of 1665 Harvard Street. The owner of the lot wishes to build a two-story, single-family dwelling on a lot facing a rear alley. Although the owners may build “by right” (i.e., without having to ask for permission), the proposed design cannot satify the requirement for setbacks along the side and rear of the property without zoning relief.

Attorney Meridith H. Moldenhauer, representing the applicants, noted that the city is encouraging the construction of alley dwellings and the lot under consideration was the only lot in the area that is “large enough to be buildable”. However, neighbors came out in force to object to the petition, saying that the proposed project would render an adjoining walkway difficult or impossible to use, and that no other house on Harvard Street has been granted an exception to the setback requirements, among other objections.

One neighbor said approving the zoning relief “would eviscerate zoning requirements”. (more…)

“ANC Loves Phase II Waterfront Development but Protests it Anyway”

By Prince Of Petworth


via Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) files

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

“This is a gorgeous project. It’s a magnificent project,” said Commissioner Andy Litsky, Chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D/Waterfront.

Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton (district 06) called it “a beautiful phase two”.

“Phase one is extraordinary and we fully expect to come to a good conclusion rapidly,” said Commissioner Meredith Fascett (district 07).

Nevertheless, ANC6E, after listening to a long presentation led by Shawn Seaman, Executive Vice President of developer PN Hoffman, voted to protest the request to DC’s zoning authorities to proceed with the project because a few details remained to be negotiated. Among the matters of contention were:

— working out an on-street parking plan that kept tour buses off residential streets,

— the details of a prohibition on electronic signs (e.g., will bus stop advertisements be included?),

— minimizing the inconvenience that the project will cause to “live-aboard” community, that is, Washingtonians whose homes are boats moored in a Southwest marina.

This last group made a strong showing at the meeting, with over 50 people on their feet when the ANC asked members of the live-aboard community to stand up. The local live-aboard community claims 94 members total.


via Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) files

The tone of the meeting was very cordial and both ANCs and audience members seemed eager to get the project moving forward. (more…)

“I am curious if anyone else has gotten this letter, and should I ignore it and wait for an official letter?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

We received the below note for an unpaid parking ticket. My gut reaction is this is a scam, since we haven’t gotten a parking ticket in months, we haven’t gotten any late notices from dc on unpaid parking tickets, and normally when tickets are late it doubles. I am curious if anyone else has gotten this letter, and should I ignore it and wait for an official letter? I know there were a bunch of scam letters floating around. Thanks!”

Dupont ANC Commissioner Called Up to Serve on Hospital Ship Aiding Puerto Rico

By Prince Of Petworth


Scott Davies, photo via ANC2B

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

Commissioner Scott Davies (district 09) of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont missed last week’s meeting, but no one present faulted him.

“It’s more important than this,” said Commissioner Mike Silverstein (district 06) in an announcement at the beginning of the October 11 meeting.

Silverstein was referring to Davies’ work on the hospital ship USNS Comfort, which has been deployed to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. (more…)

D.C. Proposes Four Sites for Amazon Second Headquarters

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Bowser announced the four locations that will be included in Washington, DC’s response to Amazon’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for its second headquarters, Amazon HQ2: Anacostia Riverfront, Capitol Hill East, Shaw-Howard University, and NoMa-Union Station. The four locations were selected because they can provide the global tech giant with the greatest opportunity to create a world-class headquarters that supports the company’s need for decades of growth.

“These locations present an unparalleled opportunity for Amazon to create interconnected, transit-oriented, and sustainable campuses with access to riverfront and green spaces,” said Mayor Bowser. “Our city’s growing tech scene, talented and diverse workforce, rich culture, and inclusive environment already made Washington, DC an ideal location for Amazon HQ2, and now people can begin to think more specifically about how the tech company will fit into our community.”

Anacostia Riverfront

Riverfront Sports and Entertainment Hub Accessible by Land and Water

The Anacostia Riverfront proposal provides riverfront space along one of Washington, DC’s main waterways. It offers the best of two worlds: a breathtaking river corridor with more than 1,200 acres of parklands integrated into a high-density and transit-oriented community that is accessible by walking, biking, metro, ferry, or even kayak. The location includes Capitol Riverfront, which is five blocks from the United States Capitol, and encompasses the Yards Park and Buzzard Point neighborhoods. Capitol Riverfront is DC’s fastest growing neighborhood with 8,000 residents and a commuting workforce of more than 34,000. Home to Nationals Park and Audi Field, the area is a vibrant entertainment hub. A quick stroll across the soon-to-be-constructed, world-class bridge leads directly into Poplar Point, where consolidated building opportunities await along Anacostia Park.

Anacostia Riverfront provides a space where urban living meets water, people meet parks, and history meets progress.

NoMa-Union Station (more…)

“Lawyers Target Street Musicians at Dupont ANC Meeting”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Barbara.K

The following was written by David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings. David will be starting a regular column for PoPville. And this is very good news!!

Report of last night’s Dupont Circle ANC Meeting

Private lawyers are drafting legislation to limit noise from street musicians, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle was told at its regular monthly meeting last night (October 11).

A pair of lawyers told the ANC they intend to return and ask for support of a resolution favoring new legislation creating a “reasonable and enforceable standard” for the volume at which “buskers” (street musicians) can play. No resolution was proposed at last night’s ANC meeting. The lawyers said they had been “retained by commercial interests” to work on this legislation, which they intend to eventually send to the DC City Council for approval. (more…)

View More Stories