DC Government

Photo by PoPville flickr user Clif Burns

From a press release:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Leif Dormsjo will kick off AlleyPalooza, a campaign that will repair or renovate 64 alleys throughout the District – eight in each of the District’s eight wards over the summer. The District’s Alleys are a vital, yet often overlooked piece of the city’s infrastructure.

Alleys for AlleyPalooza were selected based on community feedback, including 311 calls and a review by DDOT engineers. The new program demonstrates the Bowser Administration’s commitment to improving the District’s infrastructure.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

From a press release:

“A bill introduced today [Tuesday] in the DC Council would increase fines for shoddy home repairs, poor construction, condemnation, and vacant properties. The bill from Ward 1 DC Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau doubles these fines from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and then ties them to inflation. The bill also clarifies that DCRA can use its authority to issue multiple fines for repeat violators.

“This bill is a response to what we’re hearing from constituents and news reports about outdated fines that are too low to deter bad behavior by unscrupulous contractors and developers,” said Nadeau. “Homebuyers don’t want to feel like they’re playing roulette when they’re buying a house. We need to give DCRA the tools it needs to enforce our laws and support safe housing.”

Some fines haven’t been updated in over 20 years. Under the bill, a violation such as failure to obtain a permit for building operations would change from $2,000 for the first offense to $4,000 for the first offense.

Nadeau is joined by co-introducers Councilmembers Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) and Brandon Todd (D-Ward 4), all fellow members of the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which has oversight of DCRA. Cosponsors are Councilmembers Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) and Anita Bonds (D-At Large).

This bill complements Councilmember Nadeau’s successful amendment to increase the number of housing inspectors at DCRA. Taken together, they create more powerful enforcement and ultimately safer housing conditions across the District. In February, Councilmembers Nadeau and Orange hosted a Ward 1 Town Hall on BCRA issues at which residents shared problems with holding bad contractors accountable.

A copy of the bill is available here.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

“Dear PoPville,

Not sure if you’ve heard anything about this, but this morning I tried to visit a rec center gym and was told the facility was closed to adults until 6 pm for the rest of the summer. The explanation was that something happened last week at another rec center with a child in a camp or summer program, and so they’ve enacted this policy. I called to confirm this with DPR and was told this is in fact true. Do you have any idea what happened or is going on? Seems like a pretty bold move to close all rec centers to adults until 6PM for the rest of the summer. I’m sure I’m not the only one affected by this.”

UPDATE from DPR:

“All outdoor pools are open to the public (adults included) Monday – Friday from 1 pm – 8 pm and on Saturday/Sunday from noon – 6 pm. Additionally, to clarify, there were no reported “incidents” involving a child at a pool last week.

The agency is reviewing access to recreation centers during camp hours to ensure the safety of our campers. This may be the source of the confusion. However, no determination has been made and any change will be communicated with the public.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

I’ve been having a dispute with the Office of Tax and Revenue that I hope your readers can help me with. Basically, I have two questions:

1. When OTR disagrees with what I reported on my tax return and says I owe money, what are the exact names of documents it sends send to try to get it, and in what order does it send them? When do they resort to something more forceful like garnishing my paycheck or offsetting a subsequent year’s refund?

2. Has anyone ever had to challenge OTR’s refusal to allow the Schedule H credit, which is a credit for taxpayers to take a credit based on the amount they paid on their household rent or mortgage?

I claimed the credit on my 2014 taxes and expected a refund as a result. Last year, I was a student with an adjusted gross income of about $12,000 because I was living off student loans (which don’t count as income on your tax return).

When I didn’t receive the anticipated refund, I called OTR to inquire. A customer service representative said they disallowed the credit because my rent was higher than my income. Yes, it was, but I’ve been researching this issue and I think it doesn’t matter which is higher, according to the D.C. Code. (If anyone wants to check, it’s D.C. Code § 47–1806.06, available at http://dccode.org/simple/sections/47-1806.06.html.)

When OTR sent me a bill, I filed a protest at the Office of Administrative Hearings. OTR’s attorney told me he thinks OAH doesn’t have jurisdiction because it can only hear protests of a Notice of Deficiency, and the document I received was called a Notice of Correction and Tax Bill. (D.C. Code § 47–4312 gives OAH jurisdiction to hear taxpayer protests. It’s at http://dccode.org/simple/sections/47-4312.html.)

This sounds like a distinction without a difference. Are these actually different documents? If I ignore the notice of correction, is OTR eventually going to send me a notice of deficiency?

Does anyone out there have experience with challenging OTR’s refusal to allow this credit?”

From MPD:

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are conducting a death investigation following the discovery of a body that was partially submerged in the Tidal Basin on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at approximately 6:26 am.

Members of the Second District responded to assist United States Park Police after they located an unconscious and unresponsive adult male at the location. The decedent was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.”

and

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating the death of an unidentified individual who was discovered in the Potomac River.

On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at approximately 11:59 am, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s K-9 Unit were flagged down in reference to human remains in the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center. Members from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner transported the decedent to their facility.”