DC Government

Epic Frustration After an Attempted Scooter Theft

By Prince Of Petworth

rumpshaker

“Dear PoPville,

On Wednesday afternoon, two youths tried to steal one of my scooters (as seen on sweet city ride: the rumpshaker). I was coming out of the bathroom when I heard a small crash outside, and would have thought nothing about it except for that a friend had pointed out two suspicious looking kids pointing at the front of our house earlier in the day. I wasn’t there, so I cannot attest to whether the kids were suspicious looking or just pointing very suspiciously. When I ran to my bedroom window, I saw two teens pushing the scooter out of my back gate. I found them in the alley attempting to hotwire? the rumpshaker; however, all they did was figure out how to open the front storage area. Having just underwear and wool socks on, I gave them a good scare (as the sight of me in my underwear would), knocking one of the kids to the ground and doing my best to come up with curse words. They ran down the alley and I wheeled the scooter back inside and called the police who said they would “canvas the area.” (more…)

“not pushing back against this location because we have a “Not In Our Back Yard” mentality – we’re pushing back because we already have homeless shelters at our doorsteps”

By Prince Of Petworth

with or against
Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

From an email:

“On Thursday night Mayor Bowser hosted a community meeting at New Cannon Baptist Church in Ward 5 to discuss her plan to end homelessness in all 8 wards. The community was told that the city intends to build a homeless shelter at 2622 25th Place NE in the neighborhood of Langdon. Many residents attended the event and expressed their strong opposition to the proposed location, citing concerns for both for the homeless families and the additional impact on the community which has numerous homeless shelters already.

Statement from Rhys Gerholdt (a Langdon resident near the proposed location): (more…)

The Petitions Have Started: “Mayor Bowser: Respond to the D.C. emergency!”

By Prince Of Petworth

ems emergency
Photo by PoPville flickr user Miki J.

From Avaaz:

“A medical director of DC emergency medical services just released a scathing resignation saying “people are dying needlessly because we’re moving too slow”. There are obvious solutions – but internal politics are holding up reform.

To DC Mayor Muriel Bowser:

We call on you to enact bold reform to address the egregious state of Washington D.C.’s Emergency Medical Service. EMS should operate independently from the fire department, and both the fire department and EMS should have all the resources they need to respond excellently to the city’s calls for help.

Sign and share the urgent petition with everyone.”

“I knew our EMS system had problems, but had no idea it was this bad”

By Prince Of Petworth

ems emergency
Photo by PoPville flickr user Miki J.

Starting to get a few emails about this – Susan comments:

“Just read the resignation letter of Jullette Saussy. OMG I knew our EMS system had problems, but had no idea it was this bad. Why can’t the city keep people like her employed? Our EMS system needs a major overhaul, but likely the Mayor will appoint another person from within and we’ll be stuck with the incompetence.

Here is her letter.”

DOEE’s new RiverSmart Innovation Grants “will provide funding for innovative projects that positively impact the District’s watersheds and waterbodies”

By Prince Of Petworth

Green Summer crew10
photos courtesy DOEE

From an email:

“The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) is now accepting applications for the new RiverSmart Innovation Grants program, which will provide funding for innovative projects that positively impact the District’s watersheds and waterbodies. DOEE anticipates awarding multiple grants of up to $20,000 each. Applications are due by 4:30pm on February 29, 2016.

This week, DOEE is holding two informational meetings: tonight at 7pm at the Benning Library (3935 Benning Road NE, Minnesota Ave Metro) and Thursday, February 11 at 1pm at its offices (1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, NOMA/Gallaudet Metro). The meetings will start with a short presentation. Q&A to follow.

Click here to download the Request for Applications.

Contact information: [email protected] or 202-535-2679”

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“goal of the office will be to identify our teenagers and young adults at the highest risk for committing or being a victim of violent crimes, for participation in a stipend based program”

By Prince Of Petworth

crime_dc
Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

From Council Member Kenyan McDuffie’s office:

“Today, the Council of the District of Columbia passed, on first reading, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie’s (D-Ward 5) “Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Amendment Act of 2016 (NEAR Act),” a comprehensive bill that re-calibrates how the District approaches public safety, by not just addressing crime after it occurs, but rather working to prevent crime by treating its root causes in a long-term, sustainable way. The NEAR Act addresses crime in several ways, including using a public health approach that requires the collaboration of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and health and human services agencies.

The NEAR Act will establish an Office of Violence Prevention and Health Equity (OVPHE). The OVPHE is a recognition of the years of research that show that violence is a public health problem. OVPHE will require the city to develop and implement a public health strategy using risk assessment tools, cognitive and family based therapy, and service coordination to combat the spread of violence, including placing clinicians in every hospital’s emergency department to respond to victims of crime immediately and prevent violence from escalating the minute they are brought in.

The NEAR Act also creates an Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE). Based off of the successful Richmond, CA model, the goal of the office will be to identify our teenagers and young adults at the highest risk for committing or being a victim of violent crimes, for participation in a stipend based program involving life planning, trauma­ informed therapy, and mentorship. The program will require its participants to create and execute a successful life­-plan, moving them away from the pitfalls of violent crime. Evidencing the potential success of ONSE, between 2007 and 2014, Richmond experienced a 76% reduction in firearm­ related homicides. (more…)

“Anyone else infuriated with this?”

By Prince Of Petworth

infuriated

“Dear PoPville,

Anyone else infuriated with this?

For the past ~6 months or so new construction has been going up on the block of Georgia between Webster and Iowa…

More recently barricades have gone up and part of the street was made a walkway since the sidewalk were eaten up by construction.

During #snowzilla, it appears the snow plow that cleared Georgia Ave. pushed the barricades into the curb and left residents with no safe walkway/sidewalk and forces people to walk onto Georgia Ave. with its busy traffic to get around…

Being a pet owner this is really tough to deal with. You can’t walk into a busy street with your dog and not be worried some speeding car will go around you… Also there are plenty of children that go home from school on Georgia Ave.

I’ve tried to call the city to see if they will deal with this and give us a safe walkway again. I’ve even tried to speak with the construction folks to see if they will be fixing the issue… No help in sight and the problem just seems to get worse with all this construction.

Who do you need to speak with in DC to get something like this addressed?”

“Books from Birth, a free book each month from birth until five.”

By Prince Of Petworth

reading
Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

This is pretty great – from DC Public Library:

“Even at an early age, reading to young children is the best thing you can do to put them on a path to success. Your kids pick up new words, have fun while they learn, and develop skills they will need later in school.

DC Public Library wants to make reading with your child fun and easy. That’s why the Library is launching Books from Birth, a program that mails all enrolled kids in D.C. a free book each month from birth until they turn five.

Parents. You must register for this program in order to receive free books for your child. REGISTER HERE.

Registration is now open to parents and caregivers. Books from Birth will officially launch in early February with an announcement from Mayor Bowser and the DC Council. More details on the program will be released at that time.

For more details about the Books From Birth program, please see our Frequently Asked Questions. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us.“

“Do I have a realistic shot at fighting either the parking citation and/or tow fee?”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

“Dear PoPville,

A couple weeks ago, I parked my car in an ambiguously marked tow away rush hour lane. Sure enough, when I got back the car was gone and towed off by the city.

Yes, I made a mistake parking it there, but the District definitely made a pretty bad mistake towing my AWD car at least half a mile by its front wheels without a rear dolly or flatbedding my car – totally against standard practice for towing an AWD vehicle. Long story short, $4k+ in damages to the differential and driveshaft; fortunately, my insurer is stepping in and hopefully will pursue a claim against DC’s towing service that will cover the insurer’s costs and my deductible.

I’m not writing so much about the damages, which I am upset about – fortunately they’re a sliver short of totaling the car.

The real reason I’m writing is that I think I may have a technicality that gets me around the $200 in parking fines and/or towing fees and want your advice. (more…)

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