DC Government

…but damn it, I was too late to get an egg.

And check out this awesome photo from Brookland in 1919 via DC Backyard Chicken’s website:

Stephen Boone sends this morning from Cleveland Park:

“Greta and Tilly won’t stand for Mayor Bowser’s executive overreach.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Victoria Pickering

“Dear PoPville,

To anyone that might shed some light on what “with ease” means.

Long story short, DCRA and I went through a series of incredibly confusing missteps this morning trying to get the inspector in for an early morning rental unit inspection. They apparently will just knock on the door and leave if you don’t answer unless you specifically ask for a courtesy call. Since I already have a tenant in there and it’s a secure access building, I mistakenly thought that common sense and necessity would require them to call me to access the unit so I waited in the courtyard. Nope. They left a door hanger with a message. The funny thing is that I was on the phone with the DCRA inspection office for almost 45 min trying to figure out where the inspector was and during this exact time he had already come and gone.

Longer story shorter, they were kind enough to reschedule to have the inspector come out again this afternoon, but only after a lot of back and forth including telling me that the person I spoke to on the phone this morning doesn’t exist. Okay.

So the inspector comes back and looks through the apartment unit. Our condo building was built in 2009, is completely compliant in every way and I have never had any complaints from our tenant. The inspector failed us, however, due to “the windows not opening with ease.” When I asked what that meant, he kept repeating “well, it doesn’t open with ease…WITH EASE.” I watched this man try to open aluminum, construction grade windows with one hand unsuccessfully. So then I went and opened all the windows in question for him albeit with two hands, but not with an excessive amount of effort. He said that they were heavy and failed us on that technicality.

I understand if this is a safety issue for windows that are the only means of egress other than the door. However, there is a Juliet balcony door that I opened for him that could be used in emergency situations in this 700sq ft unit. But the crazy things is that I opened all the windows anyways, in front of him!

So my questions are: (more…)

“Dear PoPville,

Historically, of course, a large percentage of English basement rental units were not technically legal, because the landlord did not have a Certificate of Occupancy for two units (unsurprising, given how onerous that process seems to be). My question is whether the Accessory Apartment Zoning rule which was passed last fall obviates that requirement, as long as your basement unit meets all the requirements of that rule.

This website certainly seems to suggest that to be the case, particularly when it notes that “Prior to renting an accessory apartment in any zone, the property owner shall obtain a Residential Rental Business License from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the property shall be inspected for relevant housing code compliance.” To me, the omission of any CoO requirement is significant.”

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…)