DC Government

“Flooding levels in our homes ranged from a few inches to five feet in the worst cases.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I am writing to share an unfortunate experience currently plaguing several residents of the 1400 block of Florida Ave NW, which up until this week has been a work zone for the Northwest Boundary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. The project came with the headaches of a significant infrastructure improvement project in the middle of a busy city (lots of noise, loss of street parking for residents, major traffic snarls on what is already a major thoroughfare for regular traffic as well as emergency vehicles), but residents of the area had been able to tolerate the disruptions and coexist peacefully with the crew.

Until June 22. (more…)

“Structural Integrity in Question?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

The structure at the corner of 9th and O NW looks like the roof could cave in at any time. Little has been done on this development and unsure if folks from the street can see what may be going on above. Thoughts on who to call?” (more…)

“Experience with Board of Zoning Adjustment?”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Fritz Myer

“Dear PoPville,

I wanted to get the take of readers on their experience with the Board of Zoning Adjustment to seek an area variance for a rear yard setback. We are in a zone that requires a 20′ setback from the alley behind our house in a row of houses all with 16′ setbacks that were grandfathered in. Our house is further back than the rest of the houses in our row because it was rebuilt back in 1986 after it was destroyed sometime in 60s. Now all we want is to make our house flush with the rest by bumping out the back. However, the zoning ordinance says we can’t bump it out to be flush with the rest of the houses so we are seeking a variance. Furthermore, we may need to seek additional variance because according to the zoning ordinance our lot width is 17′ and is less than the requirement for a compact parking space which is 20′.

Basically, a lot of this zoning is about fitting a car on our back lot. (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Announces Departure of Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt as the Director of DC Health”

By Prince Of Petworth


Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt via DC Health

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that after more than seven and half years of leading DC Health, Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt will be departing the agency and moving on to new endeavors outside of DC Government. In announcing Dr. Nesbitt’s departure, the Mayor released the following statement: (more…)

“One of the only green spaces around and it’s locked up.”

By Prince Of Petworth


“Harrison playground baseball field locked”

“Dear PoPville,

Any complaints about the DPR and their ridiculous regulations for using “athletic” fields? I’ve lived over here on v street next to Harrison park (basketball court, kids jungle gym, and baseball field)… and the DPR keeps it locked like 95 percent of the time. One of the only green spaces around and it’s locked up. (more…)

“DC Govt Must Take Action to Support Migrants Bused to DC”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Lorie Shaull

“Dear PoPville,

For almost three months, Governor Abbott has been busing migrants from Texas to DC. Buses arrive 6 days a week from the early hours of the morning to late at night. For 11 weeks the DMV community has been welcoming migrants arriving on buses, with NO help from the DC government. The community has received over 90 buses, carrying close to 3,000 people and spent around $200k of grassroots raised money doing so. This involves welcoming buses, purchasing travel tickets, arranging transportation and accompaniment to bus terminals and airports, responding to medical and other basic needs, and providing shelter for an increased flow of buses from Texas. (more…)

Soldiers Home 10th Annual July 4 Celebration is Monday! Also, Mayor Announces Public Safety Preparations Ahead of July Fourth Weekend

By Prince Of Petworth

And from the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by members of her Administration to highlight public safety preparations ahead of July Fourth weekend, including the deployment of Go Teams and the launch of a new multiagency Nightlife Task Force. The Mayor also encouraged families to go to summer.dc.gov to find safe activities for young people and families to participate in throughout the summer. (more…)

“DC Council is Considering a Bill of Rights for Domestic Workers” by Francisca Alvarez

By Prince Of Petworth

PoP-Ed. posts may be written about anything related to the District and submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line. No guarantess they’ll be published but I’m always happy to take a look. Thanks.

Francisca writes:

“Earlier this year, Councilmember Elissa Silverman announced the Domestic Worker Employment Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and just this month, the Committee on Labor & Workforce Development held a public hearing on the legislation. I want to share why it is so important for the council to pass this for domestic workers.

In a city like Washington, DC, many people rely on nannies like myself. Nearly from the moment I moved here, I have gotten up every morning and gone to work helping families care for their kids. The work I do is essential. Without it, working moms and dads wouldn’t be able to do their own jobs.

Throughout the pandemic, thousands of nannies in this city did the same work that I do. I was extremely fortunate to have employers that continued to pay me for six months during the lockdown when I could not go into work. However, some either never stopped working or lost their jobs and all income. The types of protections others typically have in their jobs, we don’t and it is time to change that. (more…)

“Limited Monkeypox Vaccination Appointments Will Become Available to Eligible Residents Today at 1 PM”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Bowser and DC Health announced that beginning today at 1:00 p.m., a limited amount of monkeypox vaccination appointments will become available to eligible District residents at PreventMonkeypox.dc.gov. To be considered eligible for the monkeypox vaccination, persons must be a District resident, 18 years of age or older and: (more…)

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