DC Government

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Potholepalooza is the District’s spring campaign to repair damaged roadways across the city.  This year, the city is committed to making repairs under the standard 72 hour response time.”

From DDOT:

“Residents and commuters are encouraged to call, go online, tweet, or e-mail to submit requests for pothole repairs (see details below).

Residents can also Track Pothole Repairs.

How to Report a Pothole

Residents and Commuters can notify DDOT in a variety of ways:

1. Call the Mayor’s Call Center at 311,
2. Use the Online Service Request Center at 311.dc.gov,
3. Visit DDOT’s service request website http://ddot.dc.gov/potholes
4. Tweet to twitter.com/DDOTDC, Use the hashtag #potholepalooza
5. Email to Potholepalooza 2016.
6. Use the District’s DC311 smartphone application.
7. Visit, like and post a comment on Potholepalooza on Facebook.com“

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

“Dear PoPville,

As you know it’s the time of the year when the DC government mails new property assessments. Not unexpectedly, my tax is increasing by the maximum allowable this year, like last year and the year before that. I understand prices are rising in the city, but what incenses me is the lack of services I actually get for my property tax. I’m not sure how many people know this, but if you live in a building that has 4 housing units or more, the city doesn’t pick up your trash. Your building has to arrange for private trash pickup, paid for by a portion of your condo or coop fee.

Our 4 unit building pays about $140 a month for trash and recycling pickup, $1680 a year. If we have bulk trash, we have to pay extra to the private trash company for each instance and the price depends on the size and weight of the item(s). Periodic bulk trash collection is a service owners of rowhouses receive. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user hellomarkers!

“Dear PoPville,

So we got a “Notice of Correction” on our DC Income Taxes that eliminated all of our legitimate exemptions (me, spouse, and kids); as a result, DC OTR is now saying we owe almost double than we were supposed to get back.

We called our accountant who said that DC OTR had an error — which apparently hit quite a few people — and OTR +++should+++ be issuing correction (to their initial (erroneous) “correction”) notices soon, but still it is troubling to have a tax bill hanging out there even if it is wrong.

Anyone else get an erroneous notice like this? It seems wild that they could sent a letter like that without any real explanation (you have to do the numbers yourself to see where the “correction” is), and only give you a phone number and an address, but no real instructions on how to correct.

Any other ideas on how to address? Calls to the number listed on the OTR site were not helpful.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser presented the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget and Financial Plan, entitled “A Fair Shot,” to the DC Council.  This is the District’s 21^st consecutive balanced budget and makes key investments in education, affordable housing, transportation, infrastructure, public safety, job training and employment services that give residents a fair shot at a pathway to the middle class.

These investments are key priorities as identified by District residents at the Mayor’s public engagement forums, which were held during the budget formulation process.

“In a city as prosperous as ours, every resident deserves a fair shot – no matter who you are, or what ward you live in,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “The Fair Shot Budget is geared toward making life better for Washingtonians today, as we prepare for a strong, healthy and prosperous future.”

Key investments in the FY 2017 Budget: (more…)

10th and V St, NW

“Dear PoPville,

I wanted to pass along the response that I received from CM Nadeau to a letter that I wrote to her about what I feel are the egregious lease terms on the proposed homeless shelters. I find her response to be perplexing. She fails to include the cost of the $14 million build out in calculating the monthly costs of these units. Just dividing the $14 million over 30 years adds approximately $1350 to the monthly cost of each unit. And that doesn’t include the cost of financing, etc. Why are we paying $3600 for each of these units?”

Another reader writes:

“I received this from my council member, Brianne Nadeau, in response to an email I sent asking the council to reject the mayor’s homeless shelter plan. My rejection request was based on a number of reasons, including, among other things: 1) the obvious political cronyism with the mayor and her land owner donors; 2) the failure to create apartments that include the necessary amenities for the families (e.g. private bathrooms); 3) the unethical push by the mayor to subvert procurement and zoning rules; 4) the lack of transparency when choosing the sites; and 5) the failure to involve constituents in the process of selecting the sites. Ms. Nadeau ignored many of the concerns that have been raised in her response below, which is not a surprise considering her unwillingness to consider the comments of the citizens she supports. I would love for anyone with the knowledge to address her leasing versus buying justification and any other insight your readers may have. Thanks.”

Following is the very long letter in full:

“Recently I’ve received correspondence expressing concerns about the HomewardDC plan. Residents have asked about various aspects of the proposal, and presented questions about the specifics of the deal, and the nature of my support for the project. I want to respond to all of the questions that have been asked, and so would like to share with you my current thinking on the mayor’s plan to put temporary housing for families in transition at 10th & V Streets, NW in Ward 1. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user dullshick

“Dear PoPville,

I wanted to draw your attention to this article. I was a cautiously optimistic supporter of the city’s temporary homeless shelter plan–until I read this article. This is completely fiscally irresponsible. Why is the city spending 10 times as much money to rent these facilities rather than just buying them?

“The District would pay at least $4,500 on average per apartment, per month, each year for at least the next 20 years under Bowser’s plan.”

That’s significantly more than my mortgage…on a HOUSE. And most of these apartments won’t even have a bathroom inside. My local elementary school is in complete disrepair (falling ceiling, no windows in many classrooms) and renovation is delayed each year. And now the city plans to throw away funds (some to donors) for decades? This plan STINKS.

Frustrated taxpayer”

Photo by PoPville flickr user quemac

“Dear PoPville,

I was wondering if you’ve heard from others how they felt about the Zika threat to DC this spring and summer – I am newly pregnant, worried and sent the below messages to Bowser’s office – no response though as of yet. Maybe there are others in similar boats who could also request the DC government take mosquito control seriously this year?”

Dear Mayor Bowser,

Following up on my previous e-mail, I wanted to state that there is not only suspicion that the local Asian Tiger mosquitoes spread Zika, but there is already proof that they do: see here and here, for example.

Thus there is a huge urgency to act – please let me know what the concrete measures are that will be taken to avoid Zika transmission in DC.