DC Government

Photo by PoPville flickr user Kate Conradt

Looking forward to hearing what each and every member of the Council of the District of Columbia has to say about how this well intentioned but clearly flawed law can addressed. Thanks to all who sent links and props once again to the Washington Post for devoting the resources and covering this depressing (all around) issue.

Read He says he robbed 100 people in D.C. Could he have been stopped before he killed? here.

“SECOND-CHANCE CITY | This is part of a continuing series that examines issues related to repeat violent offenders in the District of Columbia. Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

…D.C. judges twice sentenced him — for simple assault and robbery — under the District’s Youth Rehabilitation Act, a unique law passed in the 1980s that allows shorter sentences for some crimes and offers offenders under age 22 the chance to clear their records. All the while, he says, he returned to the streets to commit more robberies and sell crack cocaine.

“It’s just a slap on the wrist. And then you think you can get away with bigger crimes,” Smallwood says during a recent interview in prison.

The District’s Youth Act opens the door to all offenders under 22 except murderers, puts no limit on how many times the law can be applied and allows for departures from mandatory minimum sentences for violent gun crimes…”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jordan Barab

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Bowser released the following statement regarding the Council’s passage of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill:

“Chairman Mendelson and the Council passed a $250 million tax increase to mostly benefit residents of Maryland and Virginia. It is wrong to raise District taxes to fund a costly, new government program that sends 66 percent of the benefits outside of the city, and leaves District families behind. If the Council wants to raise $250 million in new taxes, shouldn’t the focus be on District residents and their needs?

Councilwoman Cheh was correct when she described this legislation as ill-considered, a situation we are likely to regret, and not the best way to go. I predict the Council will need to revisit this legislation and address the detrimental impacts on District residents and small businesses.

I will not add my name to this legislation.”

The Washington Post reports:

“The bill, which passed by a veto-proof margin of 9 to 4, guarantees eight weeks of paid time off to new parents, six weeks to workers caring for ailing family members and two weeks of personal sick time.”

From Council Member Silverman’s office:

“Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) voted with a majority of her D.C. Council colleagues to approve, on a second and final reading, the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016, which will create a family and personal medical leave program in the District of Columbia. The legislation passed by a vote of 9 to 4.

Under the final bill, the District will create a social insurance system that will provide up to eight weeks of annual paid leave to new parents for a birth or adoption, up to six weeks for District workers to care for a sick loved one, and up to two weeks for District workers in need of personal medical leave. Self-employed individuals may opt into the program. District government employees will remain under the D.C. government program; federal employees and District residents who work for employers outside of D.C. will not be covered by the bill. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mark Andre

From the Mayor’s office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser welcomed the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau showing that Washington, DC has reached a total population of 681,170, a figure not seen since the 1970s.

“Our growth in population shows that Washington, DC continues to be an attractive place to live, work and start a family,” said Mayor Bowser. “Our neighborhoods continue to grow safer and stronger, and our schools continue to enroll more students and improve outcomes. The District’s investments in neighborhoods – from affordable housing, public infrastructure, and transportation to public schools, parks, retail, and the arts – are all making DC a highly desirable place to call home.”

In general, the upward trend in Washington, DC’s population is expected to continue due to DC’s growing economic diversity and quality of life. Between July 1, 2015 and July 1, 2016, Washington, DC added 10,793 new residents, a 1.6 percent increase or an average of 900 new residents per month. The city has now grown by 79,000 (13.2 percent) since April 2010 when the decennial census count took place. (more…)

“Dear PoPville,

Is this par for the course for Jack Evans?

I am ashamed to admit that I don’t pay much attention to ward politics, but I have had a generally neutral impression of Jack Evans from the little I’ve read/heard. Then, last night I saw this response of his to a question on the Dupont listserv.

I was shocked by his condescending, curt, and utterly unhelpful non-answer to a question posed to him. (I have no opinion on the question posed- I was just dumbfounded that a politician in DC would respond so ridiculously.)

Is this normal? It’s so incredibly petty, it’s embarrassing.”

Jack, your constituents in Ward 2 on these list serves are anxious to hear how your leadership in promoting billboards in the District, and quite likely in our Ward in the future if the proposed legislation passes, benefits them. I for one remain opposed to visual blight and did not understand your leadership on this issue until I read the Washington City Paper article. As I said before, this battle over visual blight was fought decades ago with the billboard industry and our highways and byways are better for it. Please explain your position and provide your perspective concerning the assertions made in the Washington City Paper.

From: “‘Evans, Jack (COUNCIL)’

I don’t read City Paper.

Subsequent reply from another member of the listserv:

“Translation: I don’t care if my constituents hate me. I just got re-elected unchallenged because corporate donations have so filled my coffers that no one was willing to run against me. Keeping those corporate interests happy means more to me than a few constituents and an alt-weekly complaining about my corporate sell outs.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

Meant to put this up from a late rant/revel post last week that not many folks saw:

“Rant! My ANC commissioner is terrible and literally hasn’t returned a single email in months. Our NE neighborhood has a HUGE speeding problem – HUGE. There are a few repeat offenders I’m just waiting to get caught. I see police randomly patrolling our street but sadly they never see the brunt of the problem. I’ve asked other neighboring ANC commissioners for advice on how to contact my current one and they all pepper her with compliments (although if you ask my actual neighbors, no one can stand the inaction and indifference anymore as her reign has been too long and she avoids the idea of change all too much.) She was re-elected this year ….and alas, I’m back to trying to figure out the best way forward with this very dangerous speeding issue. I’ve literally watch the same two people almost PLOW DOWN dog walkers crossing in the cross walk as they do 75 on a 15 mph street (or something well above 40!) Any advice on how I can bring this issue to light?”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Lorie Shaull

From a press release:

“Today, the Bowser Administration announced major enhancements to the District’s homebuyer programs, including increased financial assistance and longer loan payback periods, giving District residents who are first-time homebuyers more purchasing power and a greater pathway to homeownership.

“For nearly 40 years, our homebuyer programs have given the gift of homeownership to thousands of DC residents, but as housing prices rise, we must do even more to make homeownership and affordable housing a reality for every resident,” said Mayor Bowser. “The improvements we are introducing deliver on my promise to ensure safe and affordable housing for more Washingtonians. Come January 1, when these new enhancements go into effect, we will change the way home buying works in the District. I couldn’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year.”

The enhancements are being made to homebuyer programs administered by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that provide down payment and closing cost assistance. Those programs include the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP), which provides assistance to first time homebuyers making up to 110 percent of the area median income (AMI); the Employee Assistance Housing Program (EAHP), which provides assistance of up to $10,000 for eligible District government employees; and, the Negotiated Employee Affordable Housing Program (NEAHP) which provides assistance of up to $26,500 for certain unionized District government employees.

“My chief mission at DHCD is to do ‘more with more’ to get residents into affordable housing,” said DHCD Director Polly Donaldson. “That includes not just producing and preserving affordable housing units, but overseeing homebuyer programs that help residents get the keys to their first home. The new changes to these programs will give District residents more down payment assistance, loan them more money and give them more time to pay back their loan. This will give them more purchasing power and put the keys in their hand faster.”

The four enhancements will: (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

Good on ya Mayor Bowser part two:

From the Mayor:

“Today, I am flying to Mexico City to represent the District of Columbia at a gathering of mayors and other leaders of the world’s major cities who are working to fight and mitigate climate change. We are holding this meeting – the largest since the Paris climate accords last year – because we know the health and well-being of future generations depend on the actions we take now. This summit is a remarkable opportunity to learn about cutting-edge work being done in other global cities and to share lessons from the work we are pioneering here in Washington, DC.

Today, Washington, DC is at the forefront of decisive, effective action to slow and adapt to climate change. Since 2006, we have reduced our annual carbon emissions by more than 23 percent. We are committed to cutting our greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2032, and by 80 percent by 2050. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, in recognition of World AIDS Day, Mayor Muriel Bowser, announced the release of 90/90/90/50, a plan for ending the HIV epidemic in the District by 2020. Through this public-private partnership, the 90/90/90/50 plan will achieve the following core goals:

• 90 percent of DC residents with HIV will know their status;
• 90 percent of DC residents diagnosed with HIV will be in treatment;
• 90 percent of DC residents in treatment will achieve viral load suppression; and
• the District will see an overall 50 percent decrease in new HIV cases.

(more…)

“Dear PoPville,

I received a parking ticket back in September and since I was absolutely at fault paid it without delay. I had pneumonia, but had to go to UPS at 6th and Penn SE. I pulled into the loading zone and left the car there with my flashers on since i thought I was just running in and dropping the package. Long story short, there was one person in front of me and it took 10 minutes to drop the package. I came out to a ticket, which I deserved.

Anyway, I just got my insurance renewal quote and its double what it was last year. When I inquired they told me that my ticket had been classified as a “moving violation.” I tried searching the ticket number on the DMV’s website in the “moving violations” look up on the website and it said it didn’t exist, and when I typed the ticket number into “parking violations” it confirmed the ticket was for that.

I’m basically wondering if anyone knows if I WAS guilty of a moving violation, and if not, what I can do to have that changed with the DMV since its impacting my insurance and driving record.”