DC Government

“Two Bills to Put People First and Create Pedestrian-Only Streets”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Victoria Pickering

From the office of Councilmember Charles Allen:

“Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen is introducing two bills to create more regular pedestrianized corridors in the District. The goal is to designate more desirable areas for people to gather and local businesses to thrive. The Public Life and Activity Zones Amendment (“PLAZA”) Act of 2023 directs the District Department of Transportation (“DDOT”) to identify and designate one corridor that is at least one-quarter mile long to be closed to personal vehicle traffic for at least 24 daytime hours per week starting in October 2026, with two more corridors to be designated by 2027. (more…)

Credit Ratings Agency Downgrades DC’s “rating outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’” but affirms Aaa Rating

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by angela n.

From the Office of the Chief Financial Officer:

Moody’s Affirms DC Aaa Ratings November 2023 (PDF)

Rating_Action-Moodys (PDF)

Rating_Action-Moodys-changes-outlook (PDF)

From Council Chairman Phil Mendelson:

“DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson issued the following statement in response to Credit Rating Agency downgrade:

“Today’s decision by Moody’s to change its rating outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’ is further evidence of how Congressional oversight and lack of Statehood actually hurts the District. (more…)

“MPD AirTag/Tile Giveaway Debacle”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

So after parking outside the inaccurate address listed in the MPD announcement (100 Eye Street SE is an apartment building) as the location for 1D’s AirTag/Tile giveaway, I followed the directions on the hastily-made sign to a cluster of MPD vehicles and officers at the north end of Navy Yard’s Canal Park. (more…)

“During the pilot program, tracking tags will be available to residents who live in Police Service Areas (PSAs) where MPD has seen the greatest increase in vehicle theft.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department announced a pilot program to provide District drivers in selected police service areas (PSAs) with free digital tracking tags for their vehicles. Installing tracking tags in vehicles will assist MPD in combatting crime by assisting in locating and recovering stolen vehicles and holding those responsible accountable. (more…)

“Lawsuit Alleges that 14 of DC’s Largest Landlords Coordinated Through RealPage’s Centralized Price-Setting Algorithm to Artificially Inflate Rent Prices”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the The Office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced a lawsuit against RealPage, Inc. (RealPage) and 14 of the largest residential landlords in the District for colluding to illegally raise rents for tens of thousands of DC residents by collectively delegating price-setting authority to RealPage, which used a centralized pricing algorithm to inflate prices, costing renters millions of dollars.

The defendant landlords are some of the largest providers of multifamily housing in the District, and the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation revealed that RealPage’s technology was used to set rents for more than 50,000 apartments across DC, in violation of the District’s Antitrust Act.

“RealPage and the defendant landlords illegally colluded to artificially raise rents by participating in a centralized, anticompetitive scheme, causing District residents to pay millions of dollars above fair market prices,” said AG Schwalb. “Defendants’ coordinated and anticompetitive conduct amounts to a District-wide housing cartel. At a time when affordable housing in DC is increasingly scarce, our office will continue to use the law to fight for fair market conditions and ensure that District residents and law-abiding businesses are protected.”

The 14 landlords named in the lawsuit are: (more…)

“Yet another DC ticketing adventure”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

The situation: I got a parking ticket in April in Foggy Bottom for legally parking and paying with Parkmobile (there was almost a half hour left on my reservation). In fact, the parking officer ticketed EVERY car on BOTH sides of the street. No construction, no street sweeping, all parked within the posted hours. There was plainly some kind of technical (or officer) error. I appealed, (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Announces New Legislation to Support Safe and Effective Policing, Address Retail Theft and Loitering Around Open-Air Drug Markets”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the Addressing Crime Trends Now Act (ACT Now), new legislation that will address recent public safety challenges by giving law enforcement more tools to hold criminals accountable and keep neighborhoods safe. By adding more tools while also amending provisions of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Amendment Act, the legislation will also help create an environment that better supports communities and victims as well as the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) ability to hire and retain highly qualified officers.

“This legislation reflects what our community is telling us: they want appropriate accountability for those who choose to commit crimes and inflict fear in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Bowser. “At a time when we’re dealing with historically low staffing levels at MPD, we’re making common-sense changes that recognize the day-to-day operational challenges our officers experience and that will better support safe and effective policing.”

The legislation Mayor Bowser is sending to the DC Council includes commonsense policies that will support MPD’s ability to address recent crime trends by: (more…)

2023-2024 Leaf Collection season starts October 30th, Street Sweeping No Parking (for street sweeping) Stops at end of the month

By Prince Of Petworth


AND

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) kicked off the 2023-2024 Leaf Collection season. Leaf collection will begin on October 30 and continue through January 20. Officials also reminded residents that they can compost pumpkins and gourds at the District’s food waste drop-off locations and highlighted the upcoming snow dry run. (more…)

“DMPED Kicks Off DC Sports Study to Analyze Stadium Financing and Measure Economic Impact”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by DCbmyers

From a press release:

“Today, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced the selection of a team to perform a Sports Study to support DMPED’s work to plan, coordinate, and support professional and recreational sports in Washington, DC. The team selected to lead the Sports Study is Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc (JLL) and the Robert Bobb Group. (more…)

View More Stories