“Dear PoP,
Have you seen these signs in Dupont on Q St, NW across from Teaism, to pay to park? I didn’t think I had seem them on your blog. Just curious if anyone has used them?”
Hmm, we spoke about the pilot program but I think these just rolled out this week. It looks pretty easy. Has anyone given them a shot?
Photo by PoPville flickr user Bogotron
“The DCRA is working to gain full authority to issue all types of vending licenses, but currently lacks authority for some. At this time, the DCRA does not have authority to expand the number of vendors selling goods or foods from public sidewalks. We have recently published new street vending regulations to grant the agency full authority to launch the new street vending program. Once these new rules are passed by the Council of the District of Columbia, the DCRA will be fully authorized to once again, offer a license and permit to sidewalk vendor licenses across the city. Before the final rules are published, however, we want to hear from you. We want to know what you like and don’t like. We want to know what type of foods you’d like to see more of and less of.”
Take their Survey Here.
I’d like to see some street gyros!
Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1
“Dear PoP,
Just to give the PoP community a head’s up…speed camera fines have gone through the roof. I knew they had gone up but wasn’t aware as to exactly how much until I got a lovely new one in the mail. 1-10 mph over the speed limit: increase from $30 to $75. 11-15 mph: increase from $50 to $125 (that’s 150%!!! insane!). I’m not sure what the original fines were for higher speeds but those are very very steep now too: 16-20 mph is $150, 21-25 mph is $200, and 26-30 mph is $250. Just though everyone would like to be aware of the massive increases for minor speeding.”
Sign spotted in front of a DC home after a few school closings were announced last year.
“Dear PoP,
I thought this article was interesting and something people would be eager to discuss.
Rhee seems to have made HUGE strides in public schools and yet she still seems to get ripped on. Reading the comments at the bottom of the article I get the distinct feeling that many of those are coming from teachers that were fired. All of that being said, I think that it could be very difficult for parents of the kids who are having so much turnover in their school’s staff.”
The brief Post article says:
“D.C. officials announced Tuesday that reading and math test scores declined in elementary schools this year, halting a two-year run of significant gains and dealing a setback to Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee as she seeks to overhaul city schools.”
However the article also says:
“Rhee called the three-year gains at the middle and high school levels — an average of 14 percentage points in reading and 17 points in math — a significant achievement.”
So how do you judge if Rhee is successful or not? Clearly this has become a major (Mayoral) campaign issue as the article also notes. Can success or failure be judged now or will it only become clear a few years from now?
In completely unrelated Rhee news it was reported by News8 that “Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says he will marry D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee over the Labor Day weekend.”
“Dear PoP,
Is there any info out there on the construction currently going on between Euclid and Harvard on 16th Street this week? They’re working during rush hour and blocking multiple lanes of traffic. Each day this week my bus has taken twice as long to get to work because of this. Who at DDoT decided it would be find to close multiple lanes on
both 14th and 16th Streets at the same time for major roadwork?
Anyone know if this is a major project that will take some time? It could have serious implications for the commute down 16th street if this continues beyond this week.”
There were lots of details given yesterday about 14th and Park Road, NW. Anyone have details on the 16th St, NW between Euclid and Harvard construction?
Photo by PoPville flickr user dullshick
On the MPD-4D listserv a resident writes about a situation at 7th and Kennedy Streets, NW:
“I wanted to let you know that this activity is only getting worse. 7 people basically sitting on my lawn distributing money at the end of a hard day’s work dealing all around the street and neighborhood.
I call 911, but all the police ever really do is drive my them slowly. These people aren’t intimidated by that and they wont’ move. Basically the front of my house is a drug dealer office from about 7:30 pm to well past midnight – unless MPD cars are literally parked on the street. I can’t do anything about this without risking the safety of myself or my family.
Getting pretty frustrated.”
After a few more messages back and forth from residents and Captain Anderson, Capt. Anderson writes:
“We do have a system that also documents by officers run log for assignments. So our patrol officers are out of the scout car walking as well, from time to time during their tour in this area. This is along with the assigned foot patrol officers. So every level is performing policing as was noted by some citizens. They see the officers and acknowledge that we are locking lots of these guys back out there. So let’s be clear we are out with a presence and lock up perpetrators of crimes. The cat and mouse game is what I’m told frustrates citizens NOT the lack of policing at any level.
Last, I will ensure this presence continues after 730pm . Thanks to all who commented.”
I think this is a great example of how difficult this problem is in many of our neighborhoods. While I am a huge supporter of more visible foot patrols by MPD, it does make me realize that it looks like policing alone will not solve this problem. I feel bad for the resident and the Captain. You can’t blame either of them for feeling frustrated.
At the suggestion of a reader I have the opportunity to gather some reader submitted questions to pose to the mayoral candidates (via email) – current Council Chairman Vince Gray and current Mayor Adrian Fenty. So if you’d like to know what the candidates would recommend to resolve this situation or any other questions please place them in the comments and I will select five to be answered by the candidates.
Don’t Jump: Photo from PoPville flickr user Columbia Heights Climber
“Dear PoP,
I’m wondering if you’ve heard from any other readers missing their DC income tax refunds. Mine is totally missing, and I’ve had one hell of a time (read: impossible) reaching a human about it to let me know what’s up. The short story is this: I filed my taxes in March. In April, I got a letter from the DC Office of Tax & Revenue asking for written confirmation from my employer verifying that they have a DC tax withholding account, or something like that. My employer sent that letter immediately. Since then, I’ve tried several times to contact the OTR to check the status of my refund, but it’s been a nightmare maze of automated phone menus, unanswered emails, and being put on hold indefinitely. I have yet to get any kind of answer about what’s going on. It’s gotten to the point of serious frustration and I’m at my wit’s end about where to go from here, or what kind of recourse I have. I don’t mind paying my taxes, but I do mind when the DC government doesn’t give me back what I’m owed– it’ll be around a grand, if I ever see it.
Can you ask your readers for advice or similar experiences?”
Anyone still missing their refund as well?
“Dear PoP,
This is that corner of Holmead and Park Road, NW where you have to do a U-turn to get in to the Giant parking lot (in Columbia Heights). Illegal parkers at this location really irritate me, as they destroy visibility and impede travel.
Check out the plate on this gem. “At large Council Member” It was there for at least an hour as I shopped. Note the proximity to the stop sign, the fire hydrant and the clearly marked “no parking” sign. Why in all get out couldn’t he just park in the garage?!”
So which At Large Council Member drives an H3? Secondly, in the age of camera phones and the internet how can they possibly think this will not get out. So I am publishing these photos at 10:30am – how long until we get an apology? And if they were not ticketed I’d like them to donate the cost of a parking ticket to a Columbia Heights charity of their choice – sound fair?
Since we frequently judge curb cuts I thought this story would be of interest. WTOP’s Mark Segraves reports:
“A homeowner in Northwest D.C. is being ordered to remove his driveway that’s been in front of his house for nearly three years. The reason: the homeowner’s handicapped mother has died.”
The article discusses whether or not DDOT’s letter was rude but I think the more interesting part of the story is that the city can make you remove a driveway (as the driveway was only permitted because of the owner’s handicapped mother in the first place).
Photo from PoPville flickr user a.w.miller
“Dear PoP,
Does anyone know the legality of this:
The home next to me is being rented by a group of adults. they have lived in it without electricity for several months. is it legal to rent out or occupy a home without electricity? My concern is about the condition of the house after months of no electricity and that the inhabitants are using candles which could start a fire.”
Mike Ruppert from DCRA replies:
“If the building is owner occupied then they have the right to live “off the grid” if they choose to. If it’s a rental property, then we are charged with getting electricity restored to the property on behalf of the tenants in most cases. Not having electricity is typically an indicator that other serious life safety violations likely exist. We strongly urge the neighbor to contact us and get an inspector there immediately.”