DC Government

Dear PoP – Another City Councilmember on the (SUV) hot seat

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

I know you generally try to avoid discussing politics and politicians on your blog but I desparately want to know if your other readers are similarly outraged by the latest revelations about a DC City Councilmember. The City’s Office of Attorney General filed an enforcement action in D.C. Superior Court today against Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas. The complaint contains absolutely incredible allegations and is worth reading; it can be read in its entirety here.

The complaint alleges that Thomas diverted more than $300,000 earmarked for youth baseball programs in Washington, D.C. for his own personal benefit, including a trip to Pebble Beach, trips to casinos, airplane tickets, spending cash, a $690 tab at Love nightclub and a $60,000 Audi SUV. According to the complaint, Councilmember Thomas generated fake invoices and lied about staging sports workshops and camps for the City’s youth. I thought the city council had reached a new low with Councilmember Kwame Brown ordering a second $2,000/month, City-leased luxury SUV because he disliked the interior color of the first. But now we have a Councilmember allegedly stealing money for kids’ recreational activities so that he can buy a luxury SUV? I think Dante saved a special circle for people like this.

All this when the City has been facing a several hundred million dollar deficit. What are we supposed to do?”

Dear PoP – How Do I Get Speed Bumps on my Street?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I just found this letter in my mailbox, from DDOT…

It’s regarding construction on 1st St NW right next to the dunbar football fields..

DDOT letter

and here’s my Rant:

I’m planning on calling them today to ask why they can’t put in speed bumps at the same time – people speed down that street so fast, and there are cross walks where little kids going to the charter school nearly get flattened every morning and afternoon… that’s unless it’s gridlocked by the NY ave traffic… and bringing this down to one lane during construction will be a nightmare…

how do i get them to do a traffic study or something? I don’t know if a four way stop sign at 1st and N is possible, since traffic would back up into NY AVE, but my dog and I and every family in the area would sure love some speed bumps – it’s a school zone twice over! I’ve seen altercations after people fail to stop for pedestrians…”

I think you have to get a number of signatures from people on the block in order to get speed bumps/humps installed. I’d def. pursue the matter with your ANC as a possible first step.

Has anyone successful had speed bumps/humps installed on their block? Does it help with speeding?

Dear PoP – Is Street Vending Legal?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

I am in need of making some extra bucks this summer, and I had the idea of selling fresh fruit juices (aguas frescas style) to over-heated patrons. My idea is to set up near a swimming pool in a public park. What is the legality of selling something in a public park or on the sidewalk nearby? Would I be pushed away by the police or could I hawk my product with impunity? Are the rules different for items that are ingested?”

Unfortunately I’m told that if selling on a sidewalk, you will need a vendor’s license and if selling on park land it can’t be done if in federal park (ie Meridian Hill Park.) I assume the same applies for a public pool.

Here is info for a food license and you can find info for a non food license here.

Dear PoPville – Increase in Garbage/Recycling Fines?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoPville,

Has anyone else experienced an exponential increase in the trash/recycling enforcement in Dupont Circle? Over the past three months, my co-op on 20th street has received FIVE violations for “failure to separate recycling from other solid waste.” Because we are a building, not a house, the city isn’t even responsible for our trash. We have to pay a private company to pick up our trash/recyclables. Nevertheless, the DC Trash Enforcers are trolling the alleys, going through trash and recycling bins to make sure we are doing it correctly. They pick through the bags and take photographs of the trash. Photos of the offending trash are attached to the notice of violation. To date, our fines for these violations now exceed $1000.

In some cases, we have been able to pass the fine on to the individual violator because the trash police found mail with names amongst the offending trash. But in the cases where we cannot identify who put trash in the wrong place, we as a co-op have to pay for it out of our reserves. This madness is getting expensive.

My questions: why now? I’ve been here for several years and this is a first. How can we protect ourselves from this? Even if I can assure that our residents never ever ever put so much as a kleenex in a recycling bin, how do we know our neighbors aren’t putting trash in our bins? We can’t very well watch them around the clock. Is the trash company liable at all?”

Anyone else getting fined?

You think the enforcers are being overzealous or are they right on? Is it realistic to expect a building to be responsible for their bin? Are we going to be forced to put locks on our trash cans?

Have You Heard About DC’s Pilot Program – Live Near Your Work?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Faucetini

Thanks to a reader for the news. The Office of Planning press release says:

On Friday, April 29, 2011, the DC Office of Planning (OP) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for up to $200,000 in matching homeownership grants, to be administered by qualified employer(s) based in the District of Columbia. In partnership with selected DC employers, the Live Near Your Work (LNYW) pilot program will provide grants for down-payment and closing cost assistance to individual employees. OP will match employer contributions (up to $6,000 per participating employee) to attract and retain DC residents, with the primary purpose of encouraging employees to live close to their place of employment and/or transit.

CityPaper’s Lydia DePillis asks:

“the grants are available to people at any income level—might this grant just throw free money at people who were planning to move somewhere else anyway?”

What do you guys think – is the good idea? A good use of money during a tight budget?

Vincent Orange wins Special Election for At Large Council Seat

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Vileinist

According to DCBOEE Orange (28%) beat out Patrick Mara (25%) who took second and Sekou Biddle (20%) who took third (Weaver came in 4th with 13% and won Ward 1). Only 12% of the electorate voted.

D. Kamili Anderson won State Board of Education seat for Ward 4.

Trayon White Sr. won State Board of Education seat for Ward 8.

On twitter last night there was a lot of discussion that Mara had lost the election because the white vote was split – do you feel like there was a ‘Ralph Nader ala 2000’ candidate(s) in this election?

DDOT Release: Ginkgo Spray Started Mon. Night

By Prince Of Petworth

From a DDOT Press release:

To prevent the notoriously unpleasant odor of the popular ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) from overtaking city streets, the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (DDOT Trees) will begin spraying the unsavory smelling female ginkgo fruits tonight. DDOT Trees will use the same spray that has been used for the past several years, Shield-3EC 24(C).

Spraying will begin in Wards 1, 2 and 6, where female ginkgo trees are most prevalent, and continue through Wards 4, 3, 7, 8 and 5. Spraying will occur overnight for the next few nights and there is no need to move vehicles parked on streets.

For additional information please contact DDOT Trees at 202-671-5133.

Matt lamented this unpleasantness a couple of years ago. Anyone notice the smell this year?

MPD 4D Launches Littering Enforcement Pilot Program

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From an MPD press release:

“This email is to inform the community that effective May 1, 2011, the Fourth District will be launching a pilot project for littering enforcement. Attached are a map of the Fourth District boundaries and a flyer about the pilot which will be translated into multiple languages.

Of note- 4D members will issue warnings during the first moth of the pilot (May 1 – 31, 2011) while we educate the public about littering enforcement. Beginning June 1, 2011, violators may receive an actual ticket.”

Help Keep DC Clean_04 21 11_FINAL

Littering Enforcement Pilot Project
On May 1, 2011, MPD will launch a littering enforcement pilot in the Fourth Police District. Throughout May, MPD will issue warnings to violators as we work with community partners to educate the public about littering enforcement. Beginning June 1, 2011, anyone violating the city’s littering law in the Fourth District may be issued an actual ticket or subject to arrest. (D.C. Official Code § 8.801 et seq.)

If an officer sees you intentionally or carelessly dropping rubbish, waste matter, refuse, garbage, trash, debris, dead animals or other discarded materials of every kind and description, on public space, in waterways, or on private property not under your control, you may receive a $75 ticket for littering. Failure to properly respond by following the instructions on the back of the ticket will result in additional penalties.

If you are issued a ticket for littering, you are required to provide an accurate name and address to the officer. If you refuse or fail to provide an accurate name and address, you can be arrested. Upon conviction, you will be fined an additional $100 to $250 by the Superior Court.

4th District Map

DPW to Start Charging $62.50 for Supercans and $45 each for new 32-gallon trash carts and 32-gallon recycling carts

By Prince Of Petworth

From a DPW press release:

The DC Department of Public Works has announced that effective Monday, April 25, 2011, it will begin charging residents $45 each for new 32-gallon trash carts and 32-gallon recycling carts. The new fee is necessary to allow the Department to restock the supply of trash carts used in twice-a-week collection neighborhoods and recycling carts used citywide. DPW will continue to charge $62.50 for Supercans, the trash containers used in once-a-week collection neighborhoods.

DPW is unable to continue providing a free Supercan to new homeowners. Seniors will be required to pay the full amount for a Supercan ($62.50).

“Demand for the 32-gallon carts outstripped our ability to replenish our inventory and stay within our budget,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “During the previous administration, we met our budget mark for FY 2011 by eliminating $3.9 million, which included funds to replace trash and recycling containers.

“We could restore only $200,000 of that amount to purchase containers to meet the demand. No more funds are available for additional purchases.” This amount covers container requests that already are on hand.

Mr. Howland noted that requests for either of the 32-gallon containers made by midnight, Sunday, April 24, will be provided at no charge. “We also will honor senior citizens’ and new homeowners’ requests for a Supercan made before Monday, April 25.”

Requests for the containers may be made by calling 311 or placed through the DPW Web site – www.dpw.dc.gov. Residents may pay for their containers by check or money order, made payable to the “DC Treasurer,” and the address where the container is to be delivered should be written on the payment. Payments should be mailed to DPW, 2750 S. Capitol St., SW, WDC 20032. DPW advises residents that payment should be received within 10 business days of placing the request; otherwise, the request will not be filled. When that occurs, the resident should place a new request. Containers will be delivered within 10 business days after receiving payment. Once the container is delivered, residents should put their address on the side and top and record the container’s serial number to help deter theft and assist in identifying the container if it does go missing.

We recently spoke about the durability of Supercans here. Do you think the new prices seem reasonable given the budget crunch?

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