DC Government

“Data will be collected for research purposes only.” Still, Please Don’t Drive in the Bus Only Lanes

By Prince Of Petworth

From DDOT:

“Today, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced plans to install on-bus automated enforcement cameras on two DC Circulator buses to gather data about how DC’s Car Free Lanes are being used. The pilot is scheduled to begin on February 16, 2021 and will continue through April 15, 2021.

“Under Mayor Bowser’s leadership, DDOT continues to prioritize improving the reliability and efficiency of bus travel in the District through the Car Free Lanes,” said Interim DDOT Director Everett Lott. “The data we collect through this pilot will be used to evaluate how we can make our current and future Car Free Lanes safer and operate more efficiently.” (more…)

“Approximately 2,500 Vaccination Appointments Will Become Available to Residents in Priority Zip Codes on Thursday”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, DC Health announced that on Thursday, February 11 at 9:00 a.m., approximately 2,500 vaccination appointments will be made available to DC residents who live in priority zip codes and are 65 years old or older and/or work in a health care setting.

The priority zip codes are focused in Wards 5, 7, and 8 and include: 20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593. Priority zip codes include areas of the city where residents are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including number of cases and mortality rate. Wards 5, 7, and 8 are being prioritized because they have the lowest percentages of residents who are 65 and older who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

On Friday, February 12 at 9:00 a.m., DC Health will make approximately 2,500 additional appointments available for all District residents who are 65 years of age and older and/or health care workers in DC.

To date, more than 1 in 3 DC seniors have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (more…)

“Are they not supposed to be cleaning that up on a regular basis?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

A neighboring property is undergoing construction – it’s legal construction, with permits. It’s being done by a developer, but it’s changed hands, so we don’t know who the poc is now. There appears to be a lot of accumulated construction debris in the backyard for a while. Are they not supposed to be cleaning that up on a regular basis? Do we complain to DCRA or someone else? Any guidance would be appreciated.”

“Police escorting large protests/marches to maintain traffic safety is one thing, but this is excessive and clearly intimidating.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

As if we needed more evidence that the DC police budget is extremely inflated and misdirected…this scene from Columbia Rd NW between 18th and 16th on the evening of 2/6/21. A small group of peaceful protesters (30-40 people tops; I’m guessing racial justice-focused based on their chants, but I do not know the organizing group nor do I speak for them) walked down Columbia Rd while a disproportionately large police presence preceded them AND followed them. In the attached image, the only group NOT circled is the protestors.

Police escorting large protests/marches to maintain traffic safety is one thing, but this is excessive and clearly intimidating. (more…)

“you can title/register/tag/etc. your car at tag and title shops in the area”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

With all the posts about how hard it is to get an appointment at the DC DMV, I had to share that you can register your car without going to the DMV!

Back in November, I bought a used car from an auto shop in Maryland who could not process DC tags. I haven’t owned a car since living in DC, so I had to go to the DMV to get tags before I could take it off the lot. Like many readers, getting an appointment was IMPOSSIBLE.

So I did some digging and learned that you can title/register/tag/etc. your car at tag and title shops in the area. (more…)

“Settlement Resolves OAG Suit Alleging Shaw Gym Ignored Legal Requirements for Mask Use, Social Distancing, and Sanitization”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Diane Krauthamer

From the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced that Urban Athletic Club, a District gym chain, will be required to pay a penalty of $10,000 to resolve allegations it had misled consumers and failed to comply with emergency COVID-19 health and safety requirements. In a December 2020 lawsuit, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleged that Urban Athletic Club violated the District’s COVID-19 public health emergency orders and consumer protection laws by allowing customers to exercise at its Shaw location without masks, adequate distancing, or proper equipment sanitization. After OAG filed suit, the company entered into an interim agreement requiring it to begin enforcing the COVID-19 orders at its clubs. As part of the settlement, Urban Athletic Club must pay $10,000 to the District and continue complying with COVID-19 safety requirements and District law over the next year. (more…)

“what to do about the DMV?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I recently bought a new used car and I’d like to get it plated and registered in DC. This requires a trip to the DMV from what I can tell and during COVID, you must make an appointment. The problem is, the appointment scheduler website never shows any appointments available. And yes, I’ve heard of the “trick” that at 3pm on Tuesdays they open up a bunch of slots. I have logged in every Tuesday at 3pm for the last 6 weeks and no dice.

So my question for the community is: has anyone successfully snagged an appointment at the DMV and if so, how? (more…)

The Terrell, the Short-Term Family Housing (STFH) site in Ward 1 (last of the eight STFH sites) Completed

By Prince Of Petworth


14th and Chapin Street, NW looking south

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Department of General Services (DGS) celebrated the completion of The Terrell, the Short-Term Family Housing (STFH) site in Ward 1 and the last of the eight STFH sites to open in the District. This achievement marks another milestone toward Mayor Bowser’s strategic plan to end homelessness and close DC General in favor of short-term family housing programs. Families are expected to begin moving into the Terrell in March 2021. (more…)

“Is anyone else in this boat – all paperwork approved/no red flags on their UI account – and still not receiving benefits?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Ted Eytan

“Dear PoPville,

I’m a group fitness instructor out of work due to the Mayor’s orders. I used my initial 6 months of unemployment when the pandemic began, and refiled for the extended weeks this past November, receiving confirmation my claim was reopened and approved. I have not received any benefits since then – going on 8 weeks now. (more…)

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