DC Government

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

From MPD:

“Frequently Ask Questions as it Relates to the Department’s New Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU)

1. What does CIU stands for?

CIU stands for the Criminal Interdiction Unit. The Criminal Interdiction Unit is part of the Narcotics and Special Investigation Division.

2. How did the new units come about?

While most of our specialized units and tactics were focused on the violent crime associated with hundreds of open air drug markets through the late 1990’s; the violent crime today is driven by a very different criminal enterprise. This new enterprise is savvy at using evolving technology, social media, and the internet to facilitate sprees of violent crimes.

The illegal drug trade has evolved as well with major shifts in the criminal drug industry. Two of these changes include more widely available synthetic drugs and street drug markets becoming more high tech.

As a result of these changes, we put together a team of officers, detectives and officials, to develop a strategy that would address the changing culture of our violent crime and the evolving modern drug trade.

As a result of this team’s work, two major changes are being implemented: (more…)

A reader writes:

“I was biking to giant down O street at 730 or so Tuesday when I saw this parking enforcement car driving slowly the other way. I assumed she had a camera scanning license plates, hence the speed, but then I saw her on her phone. I turned around and tried to start taking video then, but, hilariously, she ran the stop sign at O and 10th, so I couldn’t start shooting until she stopped at the light at O and 11. She kept chatting on the phone the whole light cycle, then took off, still talking away.

The best part was when I reviewed the tape and discovered it was the same car number of a parking enforcement vehicle that had been driving like a maniac (illegal turns, trying to pass across a double yellow line on P just before it hits florida, and so on) 730 or so Friday!”

A reader writes:

“To piggyback on a posting last week. This is from my landlord. City inspections (PDF) Why would they encourage us to NOT let ppl in? It just seems like DC is getting its act together in terms of making fair assessments.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

From a press release:

Tthe Council of the District of Columbia unanimously approved Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2016 spending plan, the District’s 20th consecutive balanced budget, with only minor changes. The Mayor issued the following statement:

“Residents elected me Mayor of my hometown last year to deliver a fresh start and with my first budget that is exactly what we have done. With a focus on ensuring all of our residents share in our prosperity, our budget will create pathways for the middle class in all eight wards. Put simply: the budget the Council voted on today fulfills our key priorities, thus is a win for District residents.

“While no budget is perfect, this one makes historic investments in important areas that create opportunities, including a down payment on ending homelessness, a $100 million investment in the Housing Production Trust Fund, and continuing strong investments in our schools, job training, public safety, transportation and infrastructure. These investments will expand opportunities for District residents and help ensure we are leaving the next generation of Washingtonians with an even greater city.

“Just yesterday, I signed legislation expanding the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to include youth ages 22-24 for the first time ever. Today, the Council failed to fund this vital program in the next fiscal year. I will work with this year’s class of SYEP participants to ensure it is a success and then we will redouble our efforts to expand the program for other young Washingtonians in need of a hand up, not a hand out.

“While expanded parking hours, increased parking penalties, and other business taxes were not my choice, these revenue raises were unanimously supported by the Council.

“I look forward to signing the budget into law and working with members of the Council to implement the FY 2016 budget in a thoughtful, responsible way.”

From DPW:

“The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program and The DC Department of Health (DOH) Rodent and Vector Control Division will host a live Web chat to discuss how residents can control the District’s rodent population through proper sanitation practices on Friday, May 28, 2015, at noon.

Among their numerous services, DOH provides a comprehensive rodent control and animal disease prevention program for the District, while DPW is charged with enforcing sanitation violations that can encourage vermin. Renowned Urban Rodentologist Robert Corrigan, who has studied rats and mice in cities around the world for more than 20 years, will be on hand to provide expert advice on vermin control.

To participate in the session once it has begun, place dpw.dc.gov/livechat into the search browser or visit www.dpw.dc.gov and select the “Live Chat” icon up at the top of DPW’s homepage.

WHAT: Live, One-Hour Chat to Discuss how Sanitation Impacts Rodent Control with DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr., and Urban Rodentologist Robert Corrigan

WHEN: Friday, May 28, 2015, 12:00pm-1:00pm

WHERE: dpw.dc.gov/livechat”

A reader reports:

“This afternoon [Sunday] I took my 2 year old son to the Petworth water park– the one at 8th and Taylor – for its first open weekend. It was packed. Frequent visitors to that water park may notice that (what I assume are) the filters/pumps are located in the corner under large green lids a few feet from the edge of the paved play area. Next to one of these lids, towards the fence, was a white jug. I thought nothing of it since kids bring all kinds of containers to the water park. But when my little boy went over there, I followed because it had the look of a pool chemical container. I’m glad I did because it when I picked it up and, assuming it was actually full of water, sniffed it… Whoa! not water! My nose and eyes still hurt an hour later. It was a nearly full jug of muriatic (hydrochloric) acid with no top on it! (Photo attached.) This is dangerous stuff, very poisonous, and can cause serious damage to eyes. It etches concrete and cleans calcium stains and, as the photo shows, is used as a pool chemical (diluted in the water), which is why I imagine it was there. The jug is emblazoned in big red letters with: Keep away from children! With little kids running around dumping containers of water on eachother, imagine what would have happened if a 5 year old had dumped this on themselves or a friend!

Clearly this chemical was used by city workers/contractors when they turned the water park systems on to prepare the water and it was carelessly left there. Since no one was staffing the park’s building on Memorial Day, I reluctantly dumped the chemical down a storm drain and disposed of the container.

Assuming my guess is right and this was left by city staff when they turned on the water system, it was an incredibly negligent thing to do and could have ended with a very serious injury or even a poisoning death. I’m putting this is in writing to the city as well.”

“Contradictory signs volume 297. Are they open on Mondays or closed? (Pool at Volta park in Georgetown)”

Renovated Banneker Pool at 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW via DCDPR

@DCDPR tweets:

“The newly renovated Banneker Pool is ready for swimmers. Are you?”

2015 SUMMER SCHEDULE: 12 p to 6 p on May 23, 24, 25, 30 & 31 and June 6, 7, 13 & 14 | Regular Summer Schedule starts Sat., June 20

You can find a list of all DPR pools and hours here.