photo by Jim Havard

From the DC Attorney General’s Office:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today issued the following statement about violent crime in the District:

“Gun violence and violent crime are impacting the entire District, and residents deserve a thoughtful and long-term response. A six-year-old girl, Nyiah Courtney, was shot and killed last Friday. Tens of thousands of fans at Nationals Park dove for cover thinking they were in the middle of an active shooter situation last Saturday. These are appalling and gut-wrenching events. My heart goes out to the victims and loved ones of those directly impacted by all of these incidents and the community members shaken by the trauma of this violence in their city.

“Gun violence is hurting our whole community, ripping apart families, and creating fear and trauma. No one wants to fear for their child’s life as they go to school or walk down the street. But in parts of the District – that is a daily reality. We must be clear-eyed that violence has long plagued parts of our city that too often get overlooked – particularly low-income communities of color. It is our job as elected leaders to do everything we can to stop it, prevent more senseless deaths, and make every part of the District safer. I may not have all the answers, but my office is doing everything we can to stop the gun violence and violent crime in our community now and in the future.

“Our city needs a comprehensive plan. It needs a clear, consistent, and all-hands-on-deck approach. Some of these steps include action my office is already taking, and some are bigger than my office alone. But we must work together to make meaningful progress. (more…)


From a joint press release:

“DC Councilmembers Charles Allen (Ward 6), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), and Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4) will propose an amendment to the budget that would fund major goals of the Council’s landmark Birth-to-Three legislation by raising wages for thousands of early educators, make a historic investment in ending homelessness and introduce a monthly basic income for DC individuals and families earning less than $57,414 for a family of three. To fund these investments, the proposal would increase the marginal income tax rate on individuals earning more than $250,000 a year.

The proposal comes as the Council is set to hold a first vote tomorrow on the proposed budget, which includes $2.8 billion in federal dollars that will disappear in the next few years.

Statement from the three councilmembers: (more…)


From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser sent the following letter to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Charles Allen, Chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.

Dear Chairman Mendelson & Councilmember Allen:

Over the past year, the District of Columbia has been grappling with a sustained increase in gun violence. The terrible incidents of this past weekend, including the tragic murder of six-year old Nyiah Courtney, illustrates how far we still must go to address the brazen shooters in our neighborhoods.

As the Council requires that we report monthly on police overtime usage, and as you begin your summer recess, I write to notify you that I am directing the Metropolitan Police Department to use any overtime necessary to meet our public safety needs. (more…)


“Dear PoPville,

I’m trying to bring my basement condo up to code to pass DCRA inspection for renting it out. The DCRA checklist says “Do all sleeping rooms have adequate emergency escape and rescue openings? (IPMC §702.4)” I currently have fixed bars on both bedroom windows and understand I need to upgrade one of them in order to have an emergency egress. (more…)


From the Mayor’s Office:

“This week, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Lewis Ferebee announced a proposal to rename West Elementary School to John Lewis Elementary School, honoring the legacy of the longtime congressman and champion of civil and human rights. Congressman Lewis was a staunch supporter of DC statehood, cosponsoring legislation to make Washington, DC the 51st state every term he was in Congress.

“John Lewis embodied what it meant to be an American hero – dedicating his life, and even sacrificing his body, to the fight for justice, equal rights, and a better America,” said Mayor Bowser. “As we prepare to mark one year since we lost Congressman Lewis, we are proud to honor his legacy by dedicating this school and its beautiful new facility in his name. This name change is an opportunity to inspire our youngest learners, uplift our DC values, and build on the long legacy of a beloved civil rights icon.”

The school is located at 1338 Farragut Street, NW in Ward 4, and a newly constructed building will open at the site this fall. The renaming will require DC Council approval and could go into effect at the start of the upcoming 2021-2022 School Year should the Council introduce and approve legislation. (more…)



rendering via DDOT

From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host a public meeting to present information on the 9th Street NW protected bike lane project. DDOT will be sharing with the community details on the design, impacts, and the exciting opportunity this project presents to create a significant new low-stress bicycling route and a safer street for all users.

WHAT: DDOT Virtual Open House for 9th Street NW Protected Bike Lane Project
WHEN: July 29, 2021
TIME: 4 PM to 7 PM

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING: (more…)



Photo by Mark Andre

“Dear PoPville,

I am looking for some guidance on registering a canoe in DC. I am purchasing a canoe from Craigslist in MD which has not been previously registered and has no bill of sale. I am a DC resident and plan to use primarily in DC.

DC has documentation readily available, but the title needs to be notarized. It seems unrealistic to have a notary at the transaction. (more…)


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