DC Government

Dashiel, photo by Alexandra Friendly

“Dear PoPville,

I’m a resident of Chevy Chase, DC, and wanted to bring to your attention a kind of crazy issue going on regarding keeping backyard chickens in the District.

My family has had chickens in a coop in our backyard for over 4 years.  DC law currently allows for backyard chickens with very strict regulations although the Department of Health contends that chickens are banned outright.  The regulations state that the Coop cannot be within 50 ft of any human residence, the Coop must be built to prevent rodent access, the Coop must be kept sanitary and free from odors or pests, owners must obtain the written consent of all neighbors within 100 ft of your home, and you are forbidden from owning a rooster.

Photo by Allison Sheedy

About a year ago the DOH got an anonymous complaint about our chickens.  Animal control/DOH showed up and told us that they had 48 to get rid of them or they would be back to ‘dispose’ of them.   WAMU did a story.

We decided to sue the city to protect our family pets.  We had done our homework before getting the chickens, and were following all of the regulations.  The Post did a story.

When we showed up at court to get a temporary restraining order against DOH, their lawyers conceded we would likely prevail, settled the case, and granted us an official permit to keep our birds. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user quemac

I’ve been getting lots of emails about this new program – thanks to all who sent from DPW:

“District residents can now drop off food waste to be composted at designated Farmers Markets, one in each of the District’s eight wards, free of charge on Saturdays. The food waste will be taken to a local composting facility where it will be turned into compost, a soil amendment. Come visit us at one of our farmers market locations and ask our compost experts for more information!

courtesy DPW

Where Can I Participate? (more…)

Thanks to textdoc for passing on the story from WAMU:

“In June, the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles will revert to using “Washington, D.C.” on all new driver’s licenses, a change aimed in part at addressing uncertainty in some quarters over what exactly the “District of Columbia” is.

“The administration determined ‘Washington, D.C.’ better represents the city and will reduce confusion in other jurisdictions,” said DMV director Lucinda Babers in an email.”

I mean I get it but I don’t like it.

Assistant Chief for Patrol Services and School Safety Bureau Dianne Groomes Ed. Note: That’s what today is The Coupe in the background back in 2008

From MPD:

“The Metropolitan Police Department would like to announce the retirement of Assistant Chief Diane Groomes effective April 29, 2017. As Assistant Chief for Patrol Services and School Safety Bureau for nearly 10 years, AC Groomes has been instrumental in creating a model community policing program in Washington, DC. During her 27 year-tenure, she developed and expanded a number of innovative patrol initiatives and undoubtedly has been one of the Department’s most valuable assets in building relationships with the community and reducing crime throughout the city.

For the past three decades, I have had the honor to work alongside Diane and consider her a trusted friend and colleague. The District of Columbia meant the world to her and it showed in her approach to policing. She policed the city with compassion, integrity, and grit. Diane was proud to wear the MPD badge and embraced the great responsibility that came with it. I am thankful for her service to the community and wish her all the best in her retirement.

patrol services_fact sheet (PDF)

With this transition, we will be restructuring the Patrol Services Bureau. First, Patrol Services will be divided into two bureaus: Patrol Services North (PSN) and Patrol Services South (PSS). Taking effect April 23, 2017, the Patrol Services North Bureau includes the second, third, fourth, and fifth police districts and the Patrol Services South Bureau includes the first, sixth, and seventh police districts. Each patrol bureau will be led by a Patrol Chief, who will ensure a seamless transition. (more…)

From an email:

“Deadline for letters to be signed and returned is Tuesday, April 11 evening (i.e. tomorrow). This is not just for Tricia, whom we lost tragically and brutally, but also for the Public Safety of the DC community, so that such a thing never happens again.

Hello,
Just a reminder (if you have not already) to send your letter in memory of the tragic loss of our beloved friend and Bloomingdale resident
Tricia McCauley.
(and please pass this email along to friends and other DC residents, and/or share on Social Media) (more…)

From a press release:

“A new alcohol law is in effect beginning today that creates new ways of doing business for District alcohol manufacturers and retailers.

“This new law allows District businesses to expand areas of their operations consistent with other jurisdictions,” said Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration Director Fred Moosally. “It also clarifies existing law for licensees and the public. We greatly appreciate Mayor Muriel Bowser’s introduction and support of the legislation.”

The Omnibus Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Amendment of 2016 (D.C. Law 21-260) makes a variety of new licenses available to businesses. It creates a new bed and breakfast license that is the first of its kind in the District. The license permits an inn that has fewer than 30 guest rooms to serve alcohol to registered guests as part of a room fee. Another measure in the law allows for hotels in the District to apply for an off-premises license to sell beer and wine to guests from a store inside of the hotel. Previously, hotels in the District could generally only sell alcohol to guests from restaurants, bars or minibars. The legislation also makes additional licenses available for beer and wine stores in the District.

Businesses can also expand the types of containers they offer under the new law. Grocery stores are now able to sell wine, cider, and mead in growlers for the first time instead of only beer. In addition, restaurants and taverns that brew beer—known as brew pubs—can sell the beer they manufacture in cans, kegs, bottles and other sealed containers for customers to take home. Brew pubs were previously only permitted to sell beer in growlers. The law also allows a distillery or winery to sell its products in cans and kegs instead of only barrels and bottles. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Lorie Shaull

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser presented “DC Values in Action,” DC Fiscal Year 2018 (FY2018) Budget and Financial Plan, to DC Council. As the twenty-second consecutive balanced budget, this proposal will help ensure that every single resident has a roadmap to inclusive prosperity. For the third consecutive year, Mayor Bowser hosted a series of budget engagement forums to hear directly from residents about their ideas and concerns about education, public safety, affordable housing, jobs, economic development, health, and human services.

“This budget fulfills our commitment to promote and defend DC Values and to aim for inclusive prosperity,” said Mayor Bowser. “From historic investments in public education, to investments in job training, second chances for returning citizens, and ensuring our families have a safe, affordable place to call home, this budget prioritizes DC residents by standing steadfast to our DC values.”

“DC Values in Action” incorporates this feedback along with agency recommendations and mayoral priorities to formulate the FY2018 budget proposal. From again investing $100 million in the Housing Production Trust Fund to allocating more than $1 billion in full-scale school modernizations, this budget will continue to move Washington, DC forward. Here are a few of the key investments proposed in DC Values in Action:

High-Quality Education

Rising enrollment in our traditional public and public charter schools, and increasing student achievement demonstrate that school reform in DC is working. The FY2018 budget makes the largest investment in public education in the history by:

• Committing an additional $105 million to increase the per student rate and meet the needs of a growing student body;
• Increasing charter school facilities by 2.2 percent to $3,193 per student for non-residential charter programs and $8,580 per student for residential charter schools;
• Improving technology to help parents navigate and engage in public education, specifically the parent portal for DC Public Schools; extending MySchoolDC for mid-year entries and transfers; and launching a new MyChildCareDC site;
• Increasing the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and the Community College of the District of Columbia funds for the staff and programs by $5.7 million;
• Expanding and improving Child Care by $15 million. Potential sites include UDC’s Flagship Campus (4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW), UDC’s Community College Campus (5171 South Dakota Avenue, NE), UDC’s Community College Campus Headquarters (801 North Capitol Street, NE), and the Deanwood Recreation Center (1350 49^th Street, NE);
• Transferring $4.9 million of former DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (CYITC) funds to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) for out-of-school-time programming; and
• Investing $1.3 billion for school modernization over 6 years to ensure that schools in line for modernization under established, defined criteria are budgeted for necessary improvements.

Safer, Stronger DC

The District is committed to ensuring that those in all neighborhoods feel and are safe, providing an environment in which residents and businesses can thrive. The FY2018 budget includes the following investments: (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Lindsey Robinett

From a press release:

“Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen will introduce emergency legislation at next Tuesday’s meeting of the full Council to protect women’s health care benefits required under the Affordable Care Act by making them local DC law. All 12 of Councilmember Allen’s colleagues on the Council will join him in co-introducing the bill.

“This Presidential administration is threatening to roll back basic, life-saving women’s health benefits by any means necessary,” said Councilmember Allen. “Just this week, we saw HHS Secretary Tom Price promise before a congressional committee that he’s going to do everything he can to take away coverage for women. We know benefits like cancer screenings and contraception improve health outcomes and lower spending. We need to make these critical benefits local law for District women now.”

Many of the benefits guaranteed to women in the Affordable Care Act aren’t written into the law itself, but instead are required by guidelines and recommendations created by the Health Resources & Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Preventive Services Task Force. These guidelines and recommendations are particularly vulnerable to federal action. (more…)