Banneker filled May 2022
“Dear PoPville,
Just curious: has DCPR announced when outdoor pools will open? I’m not seeing anything on the website and I don’t want to assume it’s Memorial Day.”
DC Government
“Dear PoPville,
On Wednesday, I was driving down Whitehurst Freeway in Georgetown (just south of 27th St). The sewer grate in the middle of the exit lane popped up as I drove over it and my brand new car is now essentially totaled. Is there any way to pursue recourse with the city? I’m very frustrated this happened! The strut and suspension in my car is broken. I hope the grate was fixed bc I imagine it’s very unsafe and hurting other people’s cars too!!!!”
“375 M Street, SW photo from a racial justice rally we (SW DC Action) held at the space in 2020. The space also hosts the farmers market and the night market.”
From a press release:
“Here’s a link to the online petition, which already has over 350 signatories.
The two parcels at 4th & M, 425 and 375 M Street SW, are currently on the market. The community has used this space for gatherings like the DC State Fair. SW Action is calling on the District of Columbia government to purchase the land, which was originally purchased for $10, and transfer ownership to the Douglass Community Land Trust. The Douglass CLT will set up a SW Chapter, made up of SW residents, to steward the land to serve the best interests of the neighborhood and justice. (more…)
From the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia:
“AG Racine today announced the first enforcement action brought by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) against owners of long-term vacant or blighted homes who made false claims to avoid paying the higher property taxes that the District imposes on empty or blighted properties.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) filed a lawsuit against the owners of a crumbling and vacant Ward 6 home, alleging that they made false claims to the District to avoid paying the vacant property tax since at least 2015. This enforcement action represents a new front in OAG’s efforts to combat the District’s affordable housing crisis and to ensure property owners uphold their legal responsibilities. (more…)
1125 Spring Road, NW ribbon cutting photo by John J. Falcicchio
Ed. Note: See some historical photos of the former Old Hebrew Home.
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA), District leaders, and community members participated celebrated the opening of The Appleton, The Robeson, and The Rows, three communities that make up the Spring Flats redevelopment that transforms a previously blighted site into affordable housing for seniors and families as well as homeownership opportunities. In total, the Spring Flats project is delivering 185 housing units, of which 149 are affordable. The Appleton is providing 88 affordable units for seniors. The Robeson offers 87 apartment units for mixed-income households, and The Rows offers ten townhouse-style condos. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
There is an out-of-state vehicle that was parked on our street in September and has not been moved since. Several neighbors noticed that it is leaking fluids and there is what appears to be an oil slick running right down into the storm drain. Unfortunately, I have called every DC agency and no one seems to have responsibility. (more…)
Photo by C Buoscio
Thanks to James and Kim for passing on from DDOT:
“Statement on Potential DC Circulator Operator Strike and Possible Limited or Interrupted Services
The District Department of Transportation has been advised by RATP Dev USA, our contracted operator for the DC Circulator, of a potential strike, beginning May 1, with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, the union representing drivers. (more…)
photo by Mr.TinMD
“Dear PoPville,
The trash truck didn’t come pick up our trash this week. It didn’t come pick up our street’s cans and the surrounding street’s cans. We’re in NW DC. This has happened a few times now where the city just skips trash pick up days resulting in overflow trash on the streets. I’m curious if any of your readers are experiencing this in their neighborhoods or have insight into why the city just doesn’t pick up trash some weeks?“
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Robert J. Contee III announced the Violent Crime Impact Team (VCIT), a collaborative effort between local and federal partners to remove illegal firearms from the community and apprehend armed criminals. The focus of VCIT is to reduce violent crime by using more intelligence-driven operations and enhance our investigative abilities through federal agency partnerships.
“We cannot allow people to terrorize our communities with guns,” said Mayor Bowser. “This is about using a whole-of-government approach, but it’s also about focusing our attention and resources on exactly where we know the problem is. Our message is clear – we will continue to offer people in our city a better path forward, but if people choose to engage in violence, then they will be held accountable.”
The Violent Crime Impact Team is a joint partnership established by MPD with our federal partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). (more…)
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by District and community leaders to announce the results of the 2022 Point in Time (PIT) count, the annual census of individuals experiencing homelessness. This year’s count took place on January 26, 2022. The results show that for the sixth consecutive year, the number of people experiencing homelessness has declined. The overall number of people experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia decreased 13.7% over the past year and is down 47% from 2016 (more…)