DC Government

Dear PoP – National Night Out Casket Display and No DC Litter Laws – Can that be right?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

This ghastly thing was on Columbia Rd. It was a trailer with glass enclosing a casket and the goriest pictures I have seen in my life of gunshot wounds to the face and torso. I asked Marco S., the DCPD liaison who organized the PSA 302 event on Columbia, if he had lined up the hideous casket ‘n’ blood trailer – he said he didn’t know who invited them, they just showed up!”

I actually think that could be a pretty good deterrent. What do you guys think – too graphic?

Also from National Night Out:

“Dear PoP,

Get this. MPD PSA 405 had a Night out event on the unit block of Buchanan St, NE tonight. One of the questions asked was related to littering. Did you know the city does not have a litter law? Yep thats right if you toss trash the street in front of a cop, they can’t do anything! The only law on the books is illegal to through trash from a moving vehicle. Apparently though, you can pull over and shovel trash out of your car on the curb and it is perfectly legal.

I am just stunned This is the national’s capital for goodness sakes.

I am writing my Councilmember.”

Is it possible that DC doesn’t have a litter law? That seems insane to me. I always thought they just weren’t really enforced but surely one has to be on the books – anyone know for sure?

Dear PoP – Why Let Slumlords off the Hook?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

In the midst of the budget cuts and tax raises, one tax is quietly being decreased: the one that levies a 10% tax on owners of vacant property. In my opinion, it has actually been very effective in getting longtime slumlords to sell or fix vacant and dilapidated property. While it’s impossible to prove such causation, I think we’ve seen enough benefits to continue supporting the heightened rate, particularly when it’s bringing in millions of dollars to the coffers are a time when our city needs it most. So why are they looking to raise just about every tax conceivable, yet let slumlords off the hook?”

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/D_C_-likely-to-cut-vacant-property-tax-rate-in-half-8041530-52101147.html

What do you guys think – is it a mistake to lower the tax on vacant property?

Dear PoP – DC Budget To Cut Social Services

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I work on local DC issues.  I wanted to send you a link to a site about the DC budget. In the absence of good local reporting, it’s got information for the public about the impact of Council’s proposals.  It also is trying to get residents to send a petition to DC Council over the cuts in social service programs and lack of revenue options (like rescinding the tax break given to the richest residents two years ago).  We’ve had over 1200 DC residents sign the petition in the last 24 hours, and I hope you’ll share this with your readers: http://www.saveoursafetynet.com/“

Mayor Fenty visits Tivoli North Business Association Tonight

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“Tivoli North Business Association is pleased to invite you to our fifth general meeting of 2009, Tuesday, July 28th at 6pm in La Cabaña Restaurant, 3614 14th Street, NW.

This meeting will address your business-related concerns to improve the corridor, such as:

· Public Safety: violent assaults, shootings, loitering, etc

· Cleanliness: empty trash bins, curb-side bulk trash disposal, trash pick-up scheduling, DPW Vacuum Mobiles, and other city services

· Licensing and Permits: unfriendly system for small businesses

· Developments: beautification, tree box installation, light post, sidewalk improvements along 14th Street from Shepherd to Monroe Streets, NW”

“No stabbing, no murder, no drive-by, just secret dance party” From a Reader

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: On Friday, I walked by this section of Columbia Road but did not return home in time to blog about it. I did give my card to a Police Officer and requested that she tell me about similar events in the future.

The reader writes:

“One of the best events over the weekend was also one of the saddest. A super street party with a great live band, a peaceful neighborhood dance party that unfortunately no one in the city, or most of the neighborhood even knew about! It was taking place on Columbia Rd. at 14th St. Fri. evening, not 100 yards from my back door, but I only discovered it when I had to take the dog out. (I heard music earlier, but I was working, and loud music on a summer night isn’t unusual from over there.)

This was a major event – part of the “safe streets” campaign, with a flatbed truck stage and a really fine 7-8 member band made entirely of talented cops! I hung out until they ended around 9 and there were never more than maybe 200 people, all pretty much from the adjacent 2 blocks. None of my neighbors on Irving St. had heard of it. There were no flyers posted, no notices taken door-to-door, no email from any of the various email lists, nothing from Jim Graham’s office (and you know he’s quick on the email draw when it comes to shootings!) no mention on any of the neighborhood blogs, nothing in the Post. I had driven down Columbia Rd. at 2 that afternoon and had no idea anything was about to happen.

Columbia Road is a major street, and you don’t put something like this together in a week! I spoke to an officer, (I believe she was actually the assistant police chief) who admitted that they had kind of dropped the ball in that department. I spoke to another couple of officers who had helped organize the event, and neither were really aware of neighborhood blogs or listserves and had never heard of Prince of Petworth, DCist, Columbia Heights News or any others.

Here was a brilliant opportunity for our diverse community to come together in a really fun event and it was sad to see it overlooked. I know there are a lot of people in PoP land who are always looking for ways to make our good life a little better, this might be a great opportunity for someone to volunteer with the police dept. to be a sort of blog & neighborhood list-group co-ordinator/liaison.

I’m also curious about why, in the hour that I was there, I saw almost no-one from “outside” – (well, no other way to put it – no white people) join the fun. The music had to have been heard all around the DC-USA area and it was a lovely night with people outside. Did anyone stroll down a block and check it out? If not, why not?”

What’s Up With DC’s Bike Rental Expansion Plans?

By Prince Of Petworth

Folks had seemed pretty happy with Smart Bike DC when I asked back in November. But there has been some chatter on the Columbia Heights Listserv questioning the expansion:

“Does anyone know the status of the SmartBike program’s expansion? Back in March, they were saying that the program would grow from 10 stations to 50 by this summer, including a station that would be placed in Columbia Heights: http://wtop.com/?nid=30&sid=1628439

However, it doesn’t look like any new stations at all have been installed: https://www.smartbikedc.com/smartbike_locations.asp

Did I miss something? Was there a change in plans? What’s going on?”

Council Member Jim Graham responds:

“Thanks for including me on this. I understand DDOT had hoped to simply expand the existing bike sharing program. Unfortunately, the existing provider has not been that cooperative, so DDOT has been exploring the possibility of using a different bike sharing company. This is causing delays.

I am asking Jim Sebastian of DDOT to provide us with the latest estimate.

We are all very eager to see this successful program expanded.”

Wow, I wonder how difficult it will be to find a new provider?

Park Place Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Above Petworth Metro) Plus Some Details on Retail Revealed!

By Prince Of Petworth

Mrs. Peron Williams right (whose husband was an ANC rep who strongly supported this development) and Muriel Bowser cutting the ribbon along with CM Graham, Mayor Fenty and Chris Donatelli

On Wednesday the new building, Park Place, above the Petworth metro was officially unveiled. It brought out quite the representation from the DC government. In addition to Mayor Fenty, Council members Bowser, Graham and Kwame Brown were in attendance.

Some highlights from the remarks. Mayor Fenty said the day signaled that “economic development on Georgia Avenue had finally arrived”. He continued, “the days when stagnation reigned on Georgia Avenue are over”. And he gave a lot of praise and recognition to the Donatelli (the developers) family for their vision. “Donatelli is not afraid to invest in neighborhoods that other people have written off”.

Ward 4 Council member Muriel Bowser said, “My breath was literally taken away when I stepped onto this roof”. She continued, “This is just the start for things to come on Georgia Ave”. She also noted that this project captured the best of green development as it clusters people above the metro with easy access to commute to work. Bowser also lauded the community for their involvement in supporting this project.  Before the community got involved this space was slated to become a municipal property.

Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham said, “Who would’ve thought that we would have this kind of building at Georgia and New Hampshire? The neighborhood knew that this building could be here, that’s who knew”. Graham also noted that the project had “the benefits of transit oriented development in the best sense”.

Sadly, I passed out a bit from the blaring sun when Council member Kwame Brown said a few words. But he basically echoed the previous comments. I revived a bit when Chris Donatelli took the mic and started mentioning the coming retail. (Some info I found out after the official remarks.) There will be a cafe/coffee spot, 2 sit down restaurants (one from Gillian Clark formerly of Colorado Kitchen and the other possibly a Thai/Sushi spot). He said the retail may resemble some of the spots on U Street (in the Ellington building) as some of those folks are considering opening up second or third spots in Petworth. There are also discussions to bring a wine store in most likelihood the folks behind D’vines. There will be 8 retail spots in total.

Given the current state of the economy, I think we are very lucky that this project was completed. The place looks pretty amazing. It really sinks in when you hear Mayor Fenty say, “I remember the day when new development hadn’t been built on Georgia Ave. in like 80 years”.

As promised after the jump you can find some photos from inside along with a pricing sheet. (more…)

Federal Court Rules DC Checkpoints Unconstitutional

By Prince Of Petworth

The Washington Post reports:

“In a strongly worded opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit condemned the roadblocks, which police used last summer in the city’s Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast Washington. The checkpoints, which have not been used in about a year, were a response to a spate of shootings, including a triple homicide.”

Council Member Mendelson sent out a press release:

“I am pleased with the U.S. Court of Appeals decision reversing a lower court’s approval of the controversial roadblocks. It is unfortunate that the District’s Attorney General was so wrong to insist that the roadblocks were constitutional. However, today’s decision is no surprise given that the DC Court of Appeals came to the same conclusion regarding roadblocks – ironically, also in Trinidad – in 1991.

All of us want to reduce crime – there is too much of it despite the recent drop in numbers. But the District government should pursue strategies that are proven to work. Roadblocks sound good – they’re a “get tough” approach – but they are controversial and often illegal. There are much more effective strategies, as Police Chief Cathy Lanier has shown, that have the community’s support and reduce crime.

Today’s decision is a triumph over rhetoric.”

I’m curious to know how you guys feel about this issue.

Park Place Apartment to Have Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony With Mayor and Council Members on Wed.

By Prince Of Petworth

The Park Place apartments located at the intersection of New Hampshire and Georgia, above the Petworth Metro, will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wed. with Mayor Fenty, CM Bowser and CM Graham at 3:30 pm. There will be a reception following from 4:30-6:30. You can enter through the main entrance on Quincy. Some units will be available to tour. I’ll take photos and post the monthly rent when I get the info sheet. I’ll also be updating with more retail options as they become available.

Fence is down on the units in the back as well:

Friday Question of the Day – Time to Reform the ANC Structure?

By Prince Of Petworth

We’ve spoken about the DC Government’s ANC structure in the past but I received an email from Rob Goodspeed of the Goodspeed Update that is worth reading. He suggests four avenues of reform:

“1. Modify the structure of Single Member Districts,
2. City government should enforce greater transparency and consistency in operations,
3. Reduce the number of ANCs or enlarge SMD sizes, and
4. Term Limits for ANC Commissioners.”

Read his full post here.

I feel pretty lucky in that my ANC is pretty active and has (mostly) good, responsible, engaged representatives. For the FQoTD – do you think the ANC structure should be reformed? Also, what are your experiences with your ANC representatives? Do they help solve problems you have in your neighborhood? Do you support the way they spend ANC money? And I’m just curious with this one – do you know who your ANC Representative is?

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