DC Government

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.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jamelle Bouie

From a press release:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Leif Dormsjo to launch the District’s fourth AlleyPalooza campaign and announce historic investments in Washington, DC’s alleys. Through increased budget allotments, better financial management, and aggressive program management, the Bowser Administration has been able to increase funding for alley maintenance and rehabilitation to unprecedented levels. In fiscal year 2014, $4.13 million was spent on alley maintenance and rehabilitation. In fiscal year 2015, this funding increased to $13.95 million – more than three times the amount spent the previous year, and in fiscal year 2016 the funding increased again to $15.82 million.

“We are investing in Washington, DC’s alleys at historic levels because they are a key part of our infrastructure and their condition is of vital importance to the health of the District,” said Mayor Bowser. “AlleyPalooza 4.0 builds on a highly successful initiative and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Washington, DC’s infrastructure is safe and reliable.”

AlleyPalooza is the Mayor’s initiative to repair and renovate alleys in all eight wards. Since launching AlleyPalooza in 2015, nearly 300 alleys have been improved throughout Washington, DC. (more…)

Thanks to all who passed on from the Humane Rescue Alliance:

“DC CATS ARE BEING THREATENED

The District’s City Council has taken the first vote to approve a bill with potential long-term threats to ALL cats residing in the District of Columbia. The Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) adamantly opposes this language and you should too. The bill, as proposed:

Would give the mayor the authority to categorize cats as an invasive or nuisance species.
Could jeopardize the use of our nationally-recognized and highly successful Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

The proposed bill, Bill 21-386, gives the mayor the authority to categorize cats as an invasive or nuisance species. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

From the Mayor’s Office last night:

“Today, Mayor Bowser issued the following statement reaffirming the District’s status as a sanctuary city:

“The values, laws, and policies of Washington, DC did not change on Election Day. We celebrate our diversity and respect all DC residents no matter their immigration status. We are a sanctuary city because we know that our neighborhoods are safer and stronger when no one is afraid to call on our government for help, and when our police can focus on protecting and serving.”