@MMusikerRD tells us the note written on a parking ticket says:
“I put $5 in the meter. Fix this shit!”.
DC Government
Remember the pedestrian flags for crossing Connecticut Ave in Chevy Chase? How’s this for an upgrade? From a press release:
Mayor Vincent C. Gray and representatives from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will demonstrate how a newly installed pedestrian HAWK signal (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) works and discuss where other HAWK signals will be installed to make the District a safer and more walkable city.
WHERE: Connecticut Avenue and Northampton Street NW
BACKGROUND: The HAWK signal is designed to help pedestrians safely cross busy streets. While it appears differently to motorists, for pedestrians, this signal operates similar to other push-button-activated traffic signals in the District. It stops traffic with a red signal, allowing pedestrians to cross with a walk display. At certain locations, the signal can detect the presence of pedestrians waiting to cross and automatically activate.
Example of a HAWK system courtesy of DDOT
Photo via @GarberDC
On Thursday The House Subcommittee on Government Operations had a hearing to address the future of 49 L Street SE. The Half Street Market blog wrote:
The hearing is being called to discuss “the costs to the taxpayer of underperforming or vacant Federal assets and, in particular, the status of the vacant GSA Warehouse located on L Street in southeast Washington, D.C.” The committee has invited representatives from the GSA, GAO, and Ward 6 Council to testify on possible uses of the warehouse. Councilmember Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Ed Kaminski (ANC 6D02) have been invited to testify.
ANC Rep and Half Street Market Supporter @GarberDC tweeted:
“@HalfStMarket hearing went really well. Congress & GSA very aware of community interest. …What a great building”
However Washington Post reporter @TimCraigPost wondered:
“Has anyone considered some won’t want to spend $19 million to build another Union Market, which many in DC can’t afford?”
Post reporter @OConnellPostbiz also wondered:
“We already have @EasternMarketDC and @UnionMarketDC — hard to see a third this close being best economic use.”
So what do you guys think – should DC buy the vacant L St, SE warehouse for $19 million and convert it into a new Market? If not, what do you think should become of the old warehouse?
From a press release:
As part of this week’s activities celebrating Earth Day, today Mayor Vincent C. Gray reported on progress in implementing the Sustainable DC Plan during a press conference at the Department of Public Works (DPW) Benning Road Transfer Station. There, he discussed innovative new projects to help the District become the healthiest, greenest and most livable city in the nation, in particular highlighting four initiatives in the plan that are now being implemented:
· DPW’s first composting drop-off spot at the Benning Road facility, the first in a number of steps to support a larger composting strategy;
· New battery and anti-idling technology in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Ford Police Interceptor fleet that will reduce air pollution and save fuel and taxpayer dollars;
· The Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) new community gardens in each ward to increase access to fresh, healthy food across the District; and
· The Department of General Services’ (DGS) aggressive Game Change initiative to reduce energy consumption in District facilities by 20 percent in 20 months and save the District more than $10 million dollars annually.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Carly & Art
From DC Board of Elections:
Out of 505,698 registered voters, 49,869 or 9.86% voted for:
ANITA BONDS 16,054 32.19%
ELISSA SILVERMAN 13,740 27.55%
PATRICK MARA 11,367 22.79%
The Budget Autonomy referendum passed with 83.09% of the vote.
Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love
From a Press Release:
Mayor Vincent C. Gray and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Terry Bellamy today launched the District’s fifth annual Potholepalooza campaign to expedite pothole repairs on roadways across the city. The Mayor and Bellamy helped fill potholes on Whittier Street in Northwest Washington as DDOT crews mobilized for the month-long campaign.
This year’s Potholepalooza will run through May 22. As part of the campaign, DDOT is adding extra crews to fill potholes and aims to repair identified locations within 48 hours (the normal response time is within 72 hours). During Potholepalooza, residents and commuters are encouraged to phone, go online, tweet, use Facebook, e-mail or use the DC311 smartphone app to submit requests for pothole repairs.
The first-ever Potholepalooza was held in 2009; over the past four campaigns, DDOT crews have filled 21,011 potholes. In 2012, DDOT received 453 service requests for pothole repairs during the month-long campaign and filled 2,443 potholes.
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. Send a tweet to twitter.com/DDOTDC;
4. Post a comment to the Potholepalooza Facebook page at www.facebook.com/potholepalooza;
5. E-mail [email protected]; or
6. 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.
How is a pothole repaired?
Road crews fix a pothole by filling it with replacement pavement material. Cold patches are used for small potholes in lightly trafficked areas because they can be quickly applied. Hot asphalt is used in high-traffic areas or on large potholes, because it will hold much more effectively. If the road has become pitted with potholes, it may need to be resurfaced. Resurfacing a roadway involves stripping the upper layers of asphalt off, roughening the bottom layers, and applying a new upper roadway surface.
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John Andrade is owner of Meridian Pint.
Ed. Note: Meridian Pint is a PoPville advertiser. PoP-Ed. posts may be submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line.
Clarification, Accountability and a New Direction
Over the past 10 days the topic of Paid Sick Leave for Employees has become a hot button issue in DC politics. Last week, when called by a reporter from DCist, I was asked about my position on paid sick leave for tipped employees. I made the unfortunate mistake of speaking on this topic without being fully aware of this law and most importantly, how my staff truly felt on this topic. I was quoted as saying:
“I do my very best as the principal owner to take care of my staff above and beyond what I would argue is 99 percent of the restaurants in the industry, and I do very well at that. But when it comes to the government mandating that I take care of paying my employees in their absence, whether it be from being sick or emergencies or other issues that may arise, I’m not in favor of the government mandating it.”
I would like to apologize for those that I may have offended, most importantly my staff, but the fact is that I love my community and I love my staff even more. While I am not perfect, I would never expect anyone to work when they are sick or otherwise not able to work. I have always worked with our staff in these situations. I would prefer that staff members take the necessary time to get well. However, despite all my good intentions and great track record with the community, local charities and environmental sustainability, I have fallen short on the most important part of Meridian Pint, my staff. I am sorry to you all.
After reading the quote from another restaurant owner who said “paid sick leave is an expense that he and his counterparts can afford” I realized that he is right. While I believe that many restaurants in DC can barely afford to stay open, much less pay for sick leave, Meridian Pint is a great example of a restaurant that can and should afford to go above and beyond this law. Therefore, as of this week Meridian Pint will now offer paid sick leave to all of its employees including tipped employees.
The truth is, that the ‘Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008’ is one of the most important laws that restaurants must abide by yet most of us in the industry are not aware of it and often overlook it. The attention that has been brought to my doorstep this past week has opened my eyes to the seriousness and magnitude of this oversight. I have become the poster child for so many of us in the restaurant industry who overlook the most basic needs and rights of our staff members. Our staff members are the life of our restaurants and without their good health and commitment we would not exist.
I hope that all of my poor decisions up to and including this past week serve as a
wake up call to all my fellow restaurant owners. We cannot drive our businesses forward without taking care of the most important part of our business, our staff.
I would again like to apologize to my staff for overlooking your most important
needs, your health and your income. Moving forward I will promise to always put
you all first above all other concerns. I would also like to apologize to my
community for not following through on my pledge to be the best gathering place in Columbia Heights. I have let you down and for that I am sorry.
Dear PoPville,
I live on U Street between 14th and 13th and regularly walk past a homeless woman whom has made the stoop for the former Republic Gardens nightclub her hangout spot morning, noon and night where she congregates with other homeless, boozes, and asks for change. She also uses the alcove next to “her” stoop as her personal restroom, resulting in a constant and nauseating scent whenever you walk past. On occasion the walk from the stoop to the alcove is too much and she will just urinate where she sits. In recent weeks she has been an even more frequent fixture at this locations.
While I realize that homelessness and public urination (among other things) isn’t a new problem or even one unique to this location, it is without question disgusting.
Apart from notifying the police, which has proven useless in the past (I once informed a nearby officer that she was hammered and vomiting all over the stoop and sidewalk and he said “oh you mean [Susan], not much we can do about that”), is there anything else that can be done? This has to be a public health issue…right? She disappears for a few days from time to time, which I assume is when she either finds a new spot temporarily or is admitted somewhere but I suppose the allure of U Street keeps calling her back. Is there something that can be done as a more permanent solution?
Has anyone had success with DC’s Homeless Services?
Photo by PoPville flickr user gc-dc
From DPW:
The DC Department of Public Works will observe Emancipation Day, Tuesday, April 16; however, rush-hour parking restrictions will be enforced. Vehicles violating these restrictions will be ticketed and towed. Other parking regulations, including expired meters, residential parking and street sweeping, will be suspended for the holiday.
Sanitation services will be suspended for the holiday and will resume Wednesday, April 17.
· In once-a-week trash and recycling collection neighborhoods, Monday’s collections will follow the regular schedule, while Tuesday’s collections will “slide” to Wednesday, Wednesday’s collections will be made Thursday and so on.
· In twice-a-week collection neighborhoods, Monday’s collections will follow the regular schedule while Thursday collections will “slide” to Friday. Tuesday and Friday collections will be made Wednesday and Saturday.
· Street sweeping will be suspended Tuesday and resume Wednesday, April 17.
Street closures for DC Emancipation Day Parade after the jump. (more…)
A reader sends in this shot from 7pm Sun night at 13th and U St, NW.