DC Government

Dear PoP – A ticket without actually getting a ticket

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I wanted to know if this was a common and accepted practice, or if I should attempt to contest this:

Twice within the past few months, I have failed to move my car on street sweeping day but wasn’t actually ticketed. Woops. I’m usually pretty good about it, but every so often I take my bike to work or take a day off and don’t wake up in time. Anyway, I received a notice in the mail for failure to pay a parking ticket for the first offense. I never had a ticket on my car, so I figured I got lucky. I have no problem paying the fine, it was my fault, but to pay the late fee on a ticket I never knew existed seems ridiculous. Out of curiosity, after the second time I failed to move my car, I kept checking back on the DMV’s website to see if a new ticket appeared. Sure enough, about a week later, there it was. I’ll pay this one before it doubles, but I just feel like this is messed up!”

This is an interesting question that I’ve wondered about in the past. What happens if you get a ticket and the wind blows it off or it somehow disappears? Has this happened to anyone else? I assume you just gotta pay it when you get the notice in the mail, right?

Dear PoP – District Dept of the Env Closed the 11th and Monroe Park

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Apparently on Friday (I was out of town Fri–Sun but hear this from a neighbor) there was demo work being done on the building one up from the northeast corner of 11th and Monroe NW. They failed to properly seal the building and some nasty dust flew out as a result, coating the alley running perpendicular to Monroe between 13th and 11th. Enough of this got into the park at 11th and Monroe that the District Department of the Environment closed it down for testing.

It’s lead that they’ve determined is in the area. Anyone who has visited the park or lives nearby can get tested at some place around 14th and Girard. I haven’t heard back from DDOE, but apparently they’ve had lots of folks at the site during the day. Hopefully other people have better info. I got back home late tonight so most of the folks who hang out in the park (and who are now displaced onto the sidewalk) had gone home and no one was sitting on the stoop with news.

I don’t know if you know anything about the building in question (one unit up on the east side of 13th, north of Monroe), but it’s been empty/boarded up since I moved into the area in November. I’d say the rumor is that it was the cause of the contamination, but I haven’t heard that from anyone 100% in the know.”

Crazy, I saw the testing truck driving away down 11th St, NW last night. Thanks to all who sent emails about this.

New Optional Environmental Restaurant sales tax in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

A friend of mine has gone to the newly opened We the Pizza on Capitol Hill (305 Pennsylvania Ave SE) where a specialty slice of pizza is $4. When paying he was charged $4.44 instead of the $4.40 which is what is expected given the 10 per cent restaurant tax. The manager, when asked, said that the extra 1 per cent was “environmental” and that he didn’t have to pay it.

What gives here?”

Has anyone else heard of this tax? Is it really optional?

Update: Thanks to @Capital Spice for sending a link to Chowhound which explains:

“Far from it. Good Stuff Eatery, which promotes recycling and whose kitchen staff uses “bio-smart” towels, prides itself on “trying to be as green as we can,” says Catherine Mendelsohn, the restaurant’s director of operations and mother of chef Spike Mendelsohn, formerly of TV’s “Top Chef.”

The enviro charge is “around 1 percent” of the bill, she explains, and “if anyone disagrees with it, we’ll remove the charge.” (So far, she has had no takers.) Why not just add the cost to the price of a meal? “I like people to know what they’re paying for,” says Mendelsohn. — Tom Sietsema”

And since we’re talking about it, how’s the pizza here?

Dear PoP – Help a new bakery come to Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’d love to get your readers’ thoughts on a business my family is trying to open. It’s a French coffee shop and bakery, with authentic French pastries and several varieties of bread– including real baguettes!– baked on site. We’re thinking wi-fi, comfy chairs and good coffee. It’s the sort of Mom and Pop operation where the proprietors will get to know their regulars, and take special orders, and keep little treats on hand for your kids.

We’ve found what seems to be an ideal spot, in DC USA. However, the main office of the development company has been blowing us off for months. The good folks of the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights are excited about our proposal, but have also expressed frustration with the passive resistance of the head office. It’s true, we don’t come with the backing of a nationwide chain. This is, however, a local, woman-owned business, exactly the sort of thing that the developers claimed they would be seeking out. We’ve just about given up on this property, but Jim Graham’s office has indicated some willingness to facilitate between us and the landlord; it’s too early to know if anything will come of that.

So if you think this sounds like the sort of place you might patronize, let’s hear it! Maybe some support from the community, along with our solid business plan, long small-business experience, and singleminded determination, will encourage the landlord to talk to us. We’d also love to hear suggestions for elements that would make you love a bakery/coffee shop even more.”

This sounds amazing. I’d definitely support it! I’m really frustrated reading about your experience. I can’t believe some people would rather have these store fronts sit empty than have a promising business like this. Would you guys like to see a bakery like this go into the DC USA? If so, show your support and let’s help them make it happen.

Dear PoP – Great Experience with DC online services

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user a.w.miller

“Dear PoP,

I wanted to share surprisingly positive experience I had with DC’s online services request. After the last big storm we had there was a large tree limb that broke off and was hanging down over the sidewalk at the entrance to our back alley. If it had fallen on someone, it would have caused serious injury. I entered a request on the DC government site for Tree Removal. This was this past Friday morning. By Saturday morning, the limb was gone. I was shocked given that I have read some comments on your blog from people saying that DC’s services requests are a waste of time. I just experienced the opposite. They even sent me an e-mail confirmation that the request had been resolved.”

Oliver Tunda: The mayor of Mt. Pleasant by Tony Lizza

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: A few weeks ago a reader suggested that some Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) reps be featured since many readers are unfamiliar with them/their mission. PoP contributor Tony Lizza has taken on the mission and this will be the first in a small series. If you know of a particularly interesting ANC member please email me.

When I first set out to interview an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) member, I’ll admit to having some preconceived notions. I mean, what kind of person takes an unpaid position that involves frequent meetings about potholes and mundane parliamentary procedures? The role seems perfect for that kid in elementary school who used to ask the teacher for homework. More specifically, I imagined a bunch of over-involved NIMBYers who fear that any new local bar is going to turn their sleepy little hamlet into the next Adams Morgan. Oliver Tunda (ANC 1-D) did a thoroughgoing job of fixing my misconceptions about what an ANC member should be. I recently got the chance to sit down with him to talk about Africa, voluntary agreements, and some of his proudest moments as an ANC member.

Seated at the venerable Sangria Cafe with beer in hand, Oliver Tunda recounts the circumstances that brought him to the US: a civil war in his native Sudan that took him on a grueling over-land journey to Liberia and another civil war in Liberia that took him to Cote d’Ivoire for three years. Oliver has a remarkably sunny disposition for a man who’s fled two countries. He received refugee status and arrived in the United States on September 21, 1995. He repeats the date for emphasis. September 21, 1995. When he first arrived in DC, he moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he lived in the Deauville, now better known as the Burned-Out Shell on Mt. Pleasant St. He finished school at George Washington University and got a job at the State Department processing refugees.

In 2008, his local ANC seat became vacant, so he decided to run for the position. “I had been active with the Sudanese community,” he says, and he wanted to expand his involvement to help more of the community. He met with ANC members and local businesses and ran for ANC in the 2008 election. He ran unopposed and boasts about having won with 97% of the vote. “You can go online and check,” he says with a laugh. Dictatorial margins of victory aside, the electioneering feat he’s most proud of is appearing on a ballot with Barack Obama. “I have the ballot framed in my apartment,” he adds.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Uh Oh, are BIDs Trying to Kill Food Trucks in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

It seems like every couple of days we’re hearing about a new food truck coming to DC. Could their days be numbered? Curbside Cupcakes mentions that some BIDs (Business Improvement Districts) are looking to put a stop to their success. They don’t mention which specific BIDs are behind the campaign.

A readers sends in a link to a plea from Curbside Cupcake’s Facebook page:

Dear Nation,

We need your help! Some local merchants and B.I.D’s are lobbying the City Council to limit or kill mobile food trucks in Washington, DC. They want change the law to stop us from being able to operate in DC. No more cupcake bliss right to your curb!!

In this fight, food trucks like Curbside Cupcakes, Fojol, DC Slices, Sauca, are the little guy and we need your help. Strong lobbying interests are working against us. We need to show City Council that DC wants a diverse base of vending options. Mobile trucks like Curbside Cupcakes and others are reaching out to you our friends, followers and families to help us so we can keep bringing you your cupcakes. Otherwise we could get shut down and shut out by larger interests, that have more money, power and influence than we do.

Will you please join our email campaign? DCRA is helping us by collecting comments on the new legislation. We need to collect as many emails in support of us as possible.

[email protected]

Heres a draft of what it could say:

Subject: I Support Title 24 Chapter 5

Dear City Council,

I am a customer of Curbside Cupcakes and I am writing to support the current proposed DCRA regulation Title 24 Chapter 5 that will allow mobile vendors to stay in DC and continue offering more choices and value. Please do not allow the introduction of any discriminatory language into these regulations. Please pass the regulations as written and protect the diverse vending options in the city.

Thank you,

Since food trucks have reached such a large following, it is not terribly surprising to hear some traditional lunch providers may be a bit upset. Think there is any possibility of successful legislation being passed to limit or kill food trucks in DC?

Dear PoP – What Can Be Done About Overhanging Branches

By Prince Of Petworth


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“Dear PoP,

Do you know if there is anything that can be done regarding overhanging branches from a private yard? I’m thinking specifically of the large overgrown tree on the corner of 11th and Columbia Rd, NW which interferes with the bus stop, as well as pedestrian traffic, especially in bad weather. Since it’s private property, is there anything the city, or neighbors can do?”

This is an interesting question. I believe if the branches overhang a neighbors property the neighbor is allowed to trim back the branches from their property line. But this is different because it seems the branches are overhanging public property. I wonder if WMATA would be in charge of trimming it back if it interferes with the bus stop? Could the city trim it back or have the owner trim it back?

Any suggestions?

Dear PoP – Today is the last day to change party affiliation

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user schmiddi

“Dear PoP,

I’m not sure if you’ve posted anything (or want to), but today is the is the last day to change party affiliation for those that want to Vote in the Fenty vs Gray Democratic primary on Sept 14. People like myself who are registered Independent (or Republican) and would like to vote in the Democratic primary need to change this by COB today.”

You can download a new voter registration application at www.dcboee.org here.

Dear PoP – Parking Woes (Continued)

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jess J

“Dear PoP,

My DC parking woes continue. (I was screwed by the City’s self-correcting parking meters.) The latest involves vehicle registration/zone stickers. See below for the story; I would be curious if this has happened to any of your other readers?

I recently moved. My new place is in a different “parking zone”, as defined by DC. As a result, I had to get a new Residential Parking Permit (“RPP”) from the DMV so that I could park on the street in front of my new place. (The RPP is the sticker all DC-registered cars have in the lower left hand corner of their windshields.) DC will only give you a new RPP if you bring in the old RPP.

This morning [Thurs.] I drove over to the DMV, parked directly in front of the DMV Service Center, removed the RPP from my windshield, and after thankfully only an hour wait, I exchanged my old RPP (and seven bucks) for a new one. I returned to my car to find a $100 parking ticket for failure to display the RPP, which apparently also serves as the vehicle’s registration tag. How unjust is that? The City requires you to turn in your old RPP to get a new one, but then tickets you for failure to display the RPP!”

Insane.

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