DC Government

“Unemployment Website Confusion – website is a tangle of nonsense”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I am trying to file a new unemployment claim and the website is a tangle of nonsense. When you go to the does.dcnetworks.org website it says you cannot file for a new claim over the internet (see photo below) and when you call the phone number is says they no longer accept claims over the phone (see phone guidance on the unemployment.dc.gov website below). Has anyone recently found a way around these loopholes, I really don’t want to have to go to the office in Deadwood. Any help would be appreciated.”

In other Transit enforcement – “Warning Period Starts for Clear Lanes Automated Bus Lane and Zone Enforcement Program”, Fines will “range from $100 to $200–will begin on September 18, 2023”

By Prince Of Petworth


via WMATA

From WMATA:

“The future is looking clearer for Metrobus, as Metro and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announce the start of the 45-day minimum warning period for the Clear Lanes program. The goal is to improve bus speeds and reliability. Parked cars and vehicles illegally using dedicated bus lanes and bus stop zones slow buses down and impedes customer safety.

Under the program, cameras mounted on Metrobuses will capture video and photos of vehicles illegally operating, parking, standing, or stopping in dedicated bus lanes and bus zones. All enforcement will be handled by DDOT. Metro will not have any role in ticketing and enforcement. (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Names Pamela Smith Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Police Department, Smith Becomes the First African American Woman Named Permanent Chief of MPD”

By Prince Of Petworth


via MPD

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she has named Pamela A. Smith as the next Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Smith has over 25 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as the Chief of Police for the United States Park Police in Washington, DC. During her service at the U.S. Park Police, Smith served in major city field offices across the United States, including San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. After retiring from the U.S. Park Police, Smith joined MPD in May 2022 as the department’s first Chief Equity Officer, assigned to the Executive Office of the Chief of Police. She made a significant impact in a brief time span and in April 2023, was promoted to the Assistant Chief of Police, Homeland Security Bureau where she leads the operational and administrative functions of the Special Operations Division, Joint Strategic & Tactical Analysis Command Center, and the Office of Intelligence. (more…)

DC Office of Planning Public Survey on Downtown: “Which places inspire you and which underwhelm?”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by angela n.

From the DC Office of Planning:

“The DC Office of Planning is developing plans to make Downtown’s public realm safer, more welcoming, and more enjoyable. The agency welcomes input into the future of Downtown’s streets, sidewalks, plazas, and parks. Which places inspire you and which underwhelm? Fill out a survey here to assist this project and improve Downtown for all.”

“Jail coming to 501 NY Ave NW”?

By Prince Of Petworth


501 New York Ave, NW rendering via Zoom

“Dear PoPville,

Did you know the little police house at 501 New York Ave in the middle of mount vernon triangle is being turned into the central cell block for dc? All detainees will be held there. And possibly released from there as well. I don’t think the community even knows what’s happening”

Another reader writes: (more…)

Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2023 Passes Council Vote 12-1, Has Support of the Mayor

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor yesterday:

“Today, the Council approved Councilmember Pinto’s emergency legislation that includes several provisions from my Safer Stronger Amendment Act of 2023. I want to thank Councilmember Pinto for her partnership, leadership, and sense of urgency, and I want to thank the more than 150 people who testified two weeks ago at the Council hearing.

We know that a safer DC is possible. And our community is in agreement that the status quo is unacceptable. People getting killed on our streets is unacceptable. People getting their cars or property stolen at gunpoint is unacceptable. Parents being afraid to let their children play outside or seniors being afraid to walk to the bus stop is unacceptable. The legislation that the Council passed today will fill gaps in our criminal justice system and, in doing so, will increase accountability for violent and criminal behavior and make our city safer.”

From Councilmember Pinto: “I’m proud that today our govt. leaders came together to take immediate action to address our public safety emergency. (more…)

“Councilmember Allen Introduces Bill Creating New and Stronger Enforcement Tools to Reduce Dangerous Driving in the District”

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Today, Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) is introducing legislation to reduce dangerous driving and expand accountability for drivers who make our roads unsafe. The bill improves street safety in three main areas: (1) enhanced booting, towing, and impounding of offenders’ vehicles based on repeat or serious traffic violations in a six-month window, (2) new authority for the Office of the Attorney General to bring civil suits against drivers or the vehicles themselves, and (3) stronger and more streamlined license revocation procedures for repeat DUI offenders.

“No matter where you live in the District, not a day goes by without a driver recklessly speeding with little regard for pedestrians, cyclists, or other drivers. Our current accountability tools are failing to change behavior or save lives,” said Councilmember Allen. “Driving on our roads is a privilege, and there should be serious, effective, and timely consequences when a driver breaks the law – especially repeatedly. This bill better focuses our dangerous driving laws on repeat offenders, creates a novel legal authority for the Attorney General to try to get bad drivers, including from states without reciprocity agreements, off our streets when other tools aren’t working, and fixes the communication problems between the Court and DMV we’ve seen in recent weeks with drunk driving enforcement. It’s also equitable: just because you can pay your ticket doesn’t mean you’re a safer driver. We want to offer second chances to people who try to follow the rules, regardless of their ability to pay, but go after those who think they can get away with endangering others.”

The bill is named the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Amendment Act of 2023. Councilmember Allen serves as the Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment and has oversight of the District’s traffic laws, DDOT, and DMV. The bill follows a public hearing Councilmember Allen held on traffic enforcement on May 23, 2023 and builds on the Committee’s oversight of the DMV following that hearing, focusing on gaps in the District’s system for revoking licenses for anyone convicted of a DUI.

To improve safety on our streets, the bill: (more…)

Coming Soon: “More Secure Driver Licenses and ID Cards for District Residents”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the DMV:

“The DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) is bridging technology, exceptional security and an unparalleled design that is uniquely DC with the release of DC’s newly designed driver licenses and identification cards. Created in partnership with Thales Group, this new design will help protect DC residents from identity theft. (more…)

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