From the DMV:
“Following the Mayor’s recent announcement that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) has been extended to May 20, 2021, DC DMV has increased the availability of appointments for those residents who require in-person services. (more…)
DC Government
“Dear PoPville,
Our DC rowhouses aren’t conducive to “aging in place”. My wife and I are both getting on in years, and we’re becoming a bit unsteady on our legs, needing handrails to manage stairs. For that reason, last fall I bought a couple of nice steel handrails for our front steps, needing merely to be bolted in place.
Permits are required, because our steps are, as is frequently the case, on Public Space (and Mount Pleasant is in a Historic District). I was determined to go through the proper permit process, as an example to my ANC constituents, whom I advise to file for permits, rather than just doing the work and hoping that nobody complains.
I’ve been in Permit Purgatory for more than four months now, (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I’m wondering if any other readers are having the similar problems with the DC Department of Unemployment Services (DOES) that I am. Like many others I found myself out of work when the pandemic hit a year ago. Being that I was self employed I was fearful that I wouldn’t be eligible for unemployment benefits. Luckily the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program was put in place which allowed those who were 1099/gig workers to be eligible. To expedite the roll out of the PUA program all claimants were given the DC’s minimum weekly benefit amount of $179, but would receive an email asking if they would like their claim to be reevaluated for a higher benefit amount that was based on their previous income.
That email never came, but at the end of August and after multiple email inquiries over several months I was finally told the information I needed to submit in order to begin the reevaluation process. I was also assured that any higher benefit amount would be paid retroactively to when my initial claim was filed. I quickly submitted the information and began the waiting game once again. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Basic timeline of events:
– scheduled an appointment on 2/27 for 3/27 at 2:15p. I got my first vaccine at a Safeway originally (took 10 minutes!) and then had to sign up online for my second at a different location through a link Safeway gave me to. I picked this senior center at 3001 Alabama Ave SE.
– 3/27, 2:15p: show up at the site. Incredibly long line that wraps around the building. Everyone in line has scheduled 2p or 2:15 appointments.
– 2:30p: the 2:30 appt people start showing up and stand behind me in line. The line has not moved
– 2:35p: they finally let everyone in the building, they corral 50-100 people into hallways (more…)
From Councilmember Nadeau’s office:
“In order to address sound levels in residential neighborhoods while protecting and expanding the local music culture in the District, Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau has introduced the Harmonious Living Amendment Act of 2021, joined by Councilmembers Christina Henderson, Janeese Lewis George and Brooke Pinto.
“This legislation seeks to address the rising tension that we are seeing between performers and neighbors who live in buildings or homes that are not adequately soundproofed, while also celebrating and respecting the long history of street performance and high-quality performance venues,” said Nadeau. “My goal is to ensure that the artists and performers who make our communities so special can co-exist with those who reside in vibrant neighborhoods throughout the District.”
The bill sets soundproofing standards for new residential construction on mixed-use corridors and entertainment districts, with higher requirements for buildings within 300 feet of a performance venue to address crowds and low frequencies. Currently, the District does not require any soundproofing standard for building exteriors. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I seem to have run into a new form of DC bureaucratic dysfunction. Last week, I received a summons to appear in person for jury duty at the DC Superior Court at the end of April — a week before the earliest I would be eligible to get the Covid vaccine needed to appear for in-person jury duty safely. The court’s announced policy (which still appears on its website) is to routinely allow deferrals of up to 90 days, but the staff there tell me they’ve disabled the ability to request deferrals during the pandemic and are requiring all jurors to show up in person on the date assigned, no exceptions, and won’t even entertain any requests otherwise. The jury services office says that they “will practice under the CDC guidelines,” although it’s hard to imagine how forcing dozens of potential jurors to gather together in a room all day could actually do so.
So I seem to be stuck between two different arms of the DC government: (more…)
Photo by Diane Krauthamer
From the Mayor’s Office yesterday:
“Today, as part of March Madness, the Bowser Administration, led by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, announced a new partnership with WeWork, designed to help our community return to work in a flexible, safety-focused way. WeWork, a global leader in flexible space, is the largest private lease holder in the District of Columbia.
“These types of partnerships are going to help DC come back strong in 2021 and beyond,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Throughout this pandemic, our businesses and workers have shown a tremendous amount of resilience and creativity in finding ways to pivot their services and operations. Now, in WeWork, we have another partner in those efforts and another way to think about safely returning to work.”
“The pandemic has disrupted the way office workers experience the workplace. As we explore the future of office work in DC, we are proud to partner with WeWork, a company that has been disrupting and redefining the office place since 2010,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic John Falcicchio. “Together, we’re going to help DC businesses and workers find the space they need to get out of the home office and return to work in a safety-focused and flexible way.”
Through the D.C. x WeWork partnership, local businesses and individuals will have access to reduced rates on WeWork spaces if they are relocating to, returning to, or expanding in DC. Those reduced rates include: (more…)
RIP Mazza Gallerie 7
From a press release:
“In partnership with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the DC Office of Planning (OP) has engaged the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Washington to examine the future of Friendship Heights with a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP). The TAP will be a key step in exploring opportunities for advancing transformative and equitable redevelopment in Friendship Heights, as outlined in Mayor Bowser’s proposed Comprehensive Plan update.
The TAP will examine Friendship Heights, once a leading regional destination for luxury retail which has experienced a major disruption in its market position, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Today, Mayor Bowser and DC Health are announcing a new partnership to bring on three CVS pharmacies that will focus on vaccinating teachers and school staff, child care workers, health care workers, and DC residents 65 and older. Eligible individuals will still pre-register through vaccinate.dc.gov, but will be directed to schedule their appointment directly through the CVS website. Over the next 7-10 days, 3,510 doses will be made available for this partnership. Two of the CVS pharmacies are in Ward 7 and one is in Ward 5.
Since the pre-registration system launched, approximately 28,236 individuals have already pre-registered, received an invitation, and booked an appointment. To date, approximately 202,824 individuals have pre-registered for and are awaiting an appointment. At this time, all residents and District workers who are not yet vaccinated are encouraged to pre-register, regardless of current eligibility.
This week, DC is receiving 27,140 doses of vaccine – 14,400 doses for vaccinate.dc.gov; 5,610 doses for hospitals and health centers; and 7,130 doses for special initiatives (including the CVS partnership). (more…)
From DDOT: “Slow Streets program as it currently exists will end in May.
We are reviewing the lessons learned from this experiment as we seek a permanent & more effective strategy to safely create spaces for people. (more…)