DC Government

Photo by PoPville flickr user Lorie Shaull

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Bowser joined the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) to highlight DC’s innovative use of technology to improve public safety and combat crime. Since launching the Administration’s Safer, Stronger DC public safety agenda in 2015, multiple DC Government agencies have found new ways to use technology to respond to crisis situations, such as the report of a missing person, and spread awareness around criminal activity.

“Building a safer, stronger DC requires our public safety agencies to be innovative, nimble and responsive,” said Mayor Bowser. “When we make more people in the community aware of open cases, we can work together to keep our neighborhoods safe. Through the use of technology and social media, our public safety agencies have found new ways to solve tough cases.”

Most visibly, in 2016, the MPD Youth and Family Services Division started aggressively using social media to generate immediate public attention for missing persons. The Department’s tweets generate significant public attention which is often a key contributor to finding missing persons. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

I can’t find any information on DC government websites about regulations for putting a hot tub on a roof deck. Structural engineer has given the approval, but I don’t want to run into any problems after I’ve already bought the thing. Any thoughts?

In other news, the “Housing and Property” link on the DC website doesn’t work!”

Ed. Note: Councilmember Charles Allen previously wrote:

“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.”

If planning on attending please RSVP at [email protected] so they can plan accordingly.

In an interview with the Washington City Paper, Jeffrey Anderson asked:

“LL: The FOX5 report dredged up allegations of domestic abuse and alcohol abuse, among other things. (Newsham did not comment for the FOX report, which disclosed that he had his service revolver taken away from him years ago when he was found passed out on the sidewalk.)

Newsham: More than 15 years ago I had a custody dispute with my ex-wife over custody of our two children. I’m not going to talk in detail about it. It was a difficult time for my family. I’m not going to criticize someone who I loved and who is the mother of my children. I’m not going to dispute criticisms. It’s something I have to live with. It troubles me to have my family have to hear unfair things that will be said. They didn’t sign up for that.”

Read the full interview here.

“Dear PoPville,

I learned that Mayor Bowser has nominated Peter Newsham, and I want to let the city know why I don’t think this is a good idea, and to urge my fellow citizens to contact their council members and ask for a public hearing on the new police chief nominee.

First letting me state angers me that this process has not been transparent at all. The mayor over sent out a survey for the city to weigh in on public safety, and in no way has there been enough time for her in her office to go through all the response before making her decision. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Senator Tom Carper (DE), Shadow Senator Michael Brown, Shadow Senator Paul Strauss, Shadow U.S. Representative Franklin Garcia, and DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to announce the introduction of the Washington, DC Admission Act. With a record number of cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Norton introduced her bill to make Washington, DC the 51st state. Senator Carper will introduce the bill in the Senate.

“We are here today because we are setting a bold path forward for DC statehood. DC’s values are American values – we all value democracy and believe that our country’s power should reside in the people,” said Mayor Bowser. “Washington, DC has a self-sufficient, effective and responsible government; we are no more reliant on the federal government than any other city or state. Washingtonians serve our country in the military and pay more per capita in federal taxes than every other state, yet when the U.S. Congress votes on important issues that affect all Americans, we have no representation. It is time to fix this great civil rights injustice and give the 681,000 residents of Washington, DC full access to our country’s democracy.”

In the past, Congresswoman Norton has introduced DC statehood bills with each new Congress, previously known as the New Columbia Admission Act. The bill introduced in the 115th Congress will reflect the statehood efforts of the New Columbia Statehood Commission and the historic support of 85.6 percent of voters on the November ballot question. This is the first time that the bill will be called the “Washington, DC Admission Act” to reflect the new name selected by the DC Council. (more…)

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…)