DC Government

via DC Energy & Environment

From the Mayor’s office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by Tommy Wells, Director of DC’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), and Ann Honious, National Park Service’s Deputy Superintendent of National Capital Parks – East, to sign the Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016. This legislation grants DOEE more authority over the protection of natural resources as well as the sale and regulation of licenses for recreational fishing, and increases environmental protections for aquatic life, wetlands, and shorelines in Washington, DC. The Act also authorizes the Mayor to impose penalties on persons who knowingly transport or trade in certain invasive plants and nonindigenous species.

via DC Energy & Environment

“As the nation’s capital, we need to lead the way when it comes to preserving our environment, and part of this work includes protecting our important local wildlife and precious natural ecosystems,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today, we are taking another step to ensure that our natural habitats are protected for residents and future generations to enjoy.” (more…)

Ed. Note: Last week the Washington City Paper reported:

“Just a few months ago, the D.C. government was unified in saying no to the proliferation of digital signs across the city and the powerful corporations behind them.

But that position has changed, at least in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office. Loose Lips has learned that Bowser is planning to circumvent her own government by attempting to reopen a backdoor already slammed shut by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, the Office of the City Administrator, and the Office of the Attorney General.”

“Dear PoPville,

Here’s an update on the stop-work order on the soon-to-be-former Douglas Development headquarters at 111 Massachusetts Avenue NW. Two things are happening:

Douglas is being sued by the District over what it calls the illegal installation of the giant LED signs that were the target of the stop-work order. The suit contends that a building permit for the installation of what are basically giant TV screens facing into the building was illegally used to mount those screens facing out in order to display full-motion video advertising to passersby along three sides of the building.

Douglas is among 10 defendants in the suit, along with other DC property owners and Digi Media Communications — an electronic outdoor advertising company with a slick brochure for their DC plans but no apparent track record. The litigation is currently in the discovery phase.

Meanwhile, the developer is on the verge of getting approval to tear that very building down to its skeleton and add several stories to it. Those signs are not depicted in the renderings for the new design. I’ve attended the last two Zoning Commission hearings, and, strangely, neither the signs nor the lawsuit have been discussed.

Anyone opposed to Digi Media’s plans to Jumbotron-ify Downtown, along with major corridors in and out of it including I-395 and New York Avenue, can speak out in any of these ways: (more…)

via @SafeDC

Statement from Councilmember Charles Allen:

“In response to the nomination of Interim Chief of Police Peter Newsham by Mayor Bowser to assume the permanent position, Councilmember Charles Allen issued the following statement:

“As the Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, I’m looking forward to leading the Council’s confirmation process for the Mayor’s nominee. My top priorities for the next Chief will be a demonstrated commitment to community policing and relationship building, enhancing the transparency of the Department’s operations and data, protecting our most vulnerable communities and residents, and stabilizing the police force by recruiting and retaining the best of the best.

I take the Council’s role in confirming a new Chief seriously, as I do our responsibility to engage District residents and our officers. The Committee will hold three public hearings in the coming weeks for public comment on the nomination — two roundtables held in the community and one public hearing at the Wilson Building. Dates and locations will be announced shortly.

I look forward to hearing from Interim Chief Newsham about his qualifications and vision for the Department.”

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Bowser announced that she has nominated 28-year Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) veteran and longtime deputy to former MPD Chief Cathy Lanier, Peter Newsham, as the next MPD Chief of Police. Newsham joined MPD in 1989 and has served as Interim Chief of Police since September 2016. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user DC@rt

From a press release:

“Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau introduced legislation that aims to target and eradicate street harassment in the District through education, awareness, data collection and culture change. The Councilmember spearheaded the first-ever Council roundtable on street harassment in December 2015 to bring attention to an experience that is all too common for many District residents. The bill is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Silverman, Grosso, Allen, Evans, R. White, and T. White.

“Street harassment is an unfortunate shared experience facing many of the District’s vulnerable populations,” said Councilmember Nadeau. “At the roundtable I spearheaded, we heard heartbreaking testimony about how pervasive and damaging it can be for residents. This legislation sends a strong message that harassing one another on the street is not something that Washingtonians will stand for.”

“Anti-Muslim and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policies on the federal level have a direct impact on the safety of people here in our community, particularly those who live at the intersections of multiple oppressed identities like queer and trans Muslims,” said Jessica Raven, Executive Director of Collective Action for Safe Spaces. “This legislation will equip D.C. agencies to address harassment in all its forms and make public spaces safe for everyone.”

Street harassment is defined as unwanted, disrespectful, or threatening comments, gestures, or other actions forced on a stranger in a public place without their consent. Harassment is directed at someone because of actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. (more…)

“Dear PoPville,

New and being passed around town to all the LGBT places are these posters from MPD. What sayeth the good citizens of DC is it really necessary to have a seperate group focused in on a particular group? Isnt the police all for one and one for all or am I missing it?”

From MPD:

“The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Liaison Unit (LGBTLU) is a team of dedicated officers that focuses on the public safety needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and their allied communities. They conduct public education campaigns on issues related to hate crimes and public safety. Their primary focus is to gain the trust of the community and seek out information that leads to the closure of hate crime and violent crime within the LGBT community. They conduct patrol functions and respond to all citizen complaints.”

Thanks to a reader for sending from Takoma. I don’t know if I’d call this a “shaming street sign”, and c’mon you can do better, but it could be an interesting question – who do you think have been the worst and best mayors for DC?

While I’m no historian…