DC Government

From a press release:

“Today, the District of Columbia advanced the rights of the city’s transgender community by prohibiting discrimination in health insurance based on gender identity and expression. Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB) is issuing a bulletin to District health insurance companies addressing the application of anti-discrimination provisions in the insurance code, including recognizing gender dysphoria, or gender identity disorder, as a recognized medical condition.

“Last March, the District began the process of removing exclusions in health insurance on the basis of gender identity or expression. Through the hard work of my Office of GLBT Affairs and a multi-agency working group lead by my Chief of Staff, Chris Murphy, we have today taken the necessary steps to completely eliminate these exclusions,” said Mayor Gray.  “Today, the District takes a major step towards leveling the playing field for individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria. These residents should not have to pay exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses for medically necessary treatment when those without gender dysphoria do not. Today’s actions bring us closer to being One City that values and protects the health of all of our residents.” 

This action follows DISB’s March 15, 2013 bulletin notifying health insurers to remove language that discriminated on the basis of gender identity and expression from their policies and permit those with gender dysphoria to obtain medically necessary benefits. Today’s action goes one step further in protecting this community’s health insurance rights by affirming that gender dysphoria is a recognized medical condition and thereby treatment, including gender reassignment surgeries, is a covered benefit. To view the full bulletin, click here: http://disb.dc.gov/publication/disb-bulletin-13-ib-01-3013-revised-prohibition-discrimination-health-insurance-based

“This action places the District at the forefront of advancing the rights of transgender individuals,” Mayor Gray said. “It also fully implements the District’s Human Rights Act by incorporating gender identity and expression as protected classes in the District’s health insurance laws.” (more…)

Thanks to @justinfeldstein for tweeting us:

“an everyday occurrence.”

From a press release:

“Today, DC Councilmember Tommy Wells, Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, issued a letter to Mayor Vincent Gray calling for the resignation of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. Councilmember Wells released the following statement in regards to the letter:

Yesterday I chaired an oversight hearing to give the Gray administration a chance to explain what happened in the Cecil Mills case—in which five firefighters failed to respond to a personal plea for help at the firehouse door. Specifically, I wanted to hear the Mayor’s plan to fix the situation so it will never happen again. The administration’s response was deficient and disappointing. Our city deserves better.

In fact, there is no plan—or even apparent capacity—to rectify the failings of the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department and restore public confidence in reliable emergency response. Therefore I am calling on Mayor Gray to immediately ask for the resignations of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and the Chief of the DC Fire/EMS Department.

I was stunned to learn that the Mayor’s representatives had no plan to respond to the Mills case beyond disciplining the firefighters who failed to assist Mr. Mills, who suffered a heart attack across the street from their firehouse. The only additional corrective action was to issue a memorandum reminding firefighters to “follow the rules.”

But my response is not based on a single incident. There is systemic mismanagement throughout the department that was evident even before I became chair of the council committee with oversight of public safety one year ago. The department has a consistent record of failure. The shortcomings evident in the most visible and horrifying incidents—in which citizens like Mr. Mills have lost their lives—are just the tip of the iceberg.

From burning ambulances, uncertified fire trucks, and no procurement plan to adequately equip our fire and emergency personnel, to a shortage of paramedics, delayed response to emergencies, and poor training and management, this department has enormous and urgent challenges to overcome. Yet the administration has no coherent plan to improve the department’s performance.

Blaming racial divisions, union membership, or other perceived motivations for the department’s dysfunction must end. It is a disgrace to place responsibility on the rank and file employees who put their lives on the line for DC citizens every day. Whatever the divisions in the department, only strong leadership, sound management, and a new culture of excellence can resolve them.

A copy of the letter that Councilmember Wells sent to Mayor Gray is attached.

2014_02_25_Letter to Mayor (PDF)“

“Dear PoPville,

I walk to work down 14th street every day. There is a swastika drawn on an electrical meter box at the south end of Thomas Circle. I have called DC government and the relevant Councilman’s office and asked for assistance. Apparently, they don’t remove graffiti when its below 50 degrees. However, my first complaint about this situation was in November and while its been a cold winter, there have been plenty of days above 50. I guess my basic question is why is DC so broken that we have to live with swastikas for months at a time?

The picture attached is of the box with the graffiti but not of the swastika itself (I would not reproduce such a vile symbol).”

Photo by PoPville flickr user A. Drauglis

From a press release:

“Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins today announced the appointment of Rosalynn Hughey to serve as interim Director of the D.C. Office of Planning (OP), effective Monday, February 24, 2014. A search is underway to replace Harriet Tregoning, who resigned as Director to join the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Tregoning’s last day is Friday, February 21, 2014.

“The Mayor and I thank Harriet for her commitment and forward-thinking approach to making the District of Columbia one of the most sustainable cities in the nation. We wish her much success in her new role,” said Deputy Mayor Hoskins. “Rosalynn has proven to be exemplary in serving as Harriet’s deputy director and will carry on the Mayor’s vision while our search for a new director continues.”

Hughey has over 25 years’ experience in urban planning and joined the Office of Planning in 2000 as the Neighborhood Planning Coordinator for Ward 4. In 2004, she was promoted to Associate Director for Neighborhood Planning and in 2007 became Deputy Director for Citywide and Neighborhood Planning. Prior to joining OP, Hughey served in the Office of the County Executive in Prince George’s County, Maryland, coordinating the County’s community revitalization program for “inner-Beltway” neighborhoods; she also worked in the County’s Planning Department. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of Maryland at College Park.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user JoshBassett|PHOTOGRAPHY

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced today that the District has reacted to an exceptionally cold winter by filling more than 5,700 potholes throughout the city in 2014. District residents and commuters are encouraged to continue reporting potholes to guide DDOT crews as they continue filling potholes, weather permitting.

In January, DDOT worked to fill 3,213 potholes, with more than 2,500 potholes addressed in February. DDOT’s response to pothole-related service requests has been swift; the agency boasts a three-day turnaround time for filling potholes after they have been reported, leading the way among transportation departments in the Washington metropolitan region.

This year’s Potholepalooza will start in mid-to-late March, when ground temperatures are consistently above freezing. As part of this campaign, DDOT will add extra crews to fill potholes and aims to repair identified locations within 48 hours (the normal response time is within 72 hours).

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.     Use the District’s new DC311 smartphone application.

Those who report potholes should identify the precise location, including the correct quadrant (NW, NE, SW or SE) of the District, and provide as much detail as possible about the hazard (including the approximate size and depth of the pothole).

DDOT crews will also be out and about proactively identifying potholes.”