DC Government

“We keep having our trash and recycling bins stolen from our back alley.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Phil

“Dear PoPville,

We keep having our trash and recycling bins stolen from our back alley. Every time we have to replace them, we have to pay $95 to the city. We’ve called the Department of Public Works to explain the situation, but they don’t really care that our trash/recycling bins keep getting stolen. It’s basically our problem and we just have to keep buying them. In addition to the continuous cost, it takes several weeks to get a new trash bin from DPW, so every time this happens we have no way of throwing out our trash/recycling for several weeks except to be super awkward and put our trash in underfilled neighbor’s bins. Help!

Would appreciate any advice!”

“The funds will allow the District to offer an additional unemployment compensation benefit of $300 per week to eligible unemployment insurance recipients.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Diane Krauthamer

From the Mayor’s Office last night:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced approval of the District’s application to participate in the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program, which was created in response to the expiration of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) $600 weekly benefit in July.

The funds will allow the District to offer an additional unemployment compensation benefit of $300 per week to eligible unemployment insurance recipients. To be eligible for this benefit, individuals must have a weekly benefit amount of at least $100 per week from an approved unemployment compensation program and must certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. Payments would be retroactive to August 1, 2020 and the District expects recipients will start receiving payments by the first week of October. (more…)

DC Health Releases Updated List of High-Risk States Requiring 14 Day Self Quarantine

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by angela n.

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, DC Health released an updated list of high-risk states where the seven-day moving average of daily new COVID-19 cases is 10 or more per 100,000 persons. Mayor Bowser issued Mayor’s Order 2020-081 with requirements for all people traveling into Washington, DC from high-risk states.

Anyone coming into Washington, DC from a high-risk state (within the prior 14 days) who was traveling for non-essential activities will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days from their arrival in the District. Individuals traveling from high-risk states after essential travel or arriving in the District for essential travel are required to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days and, if they show signs or experience symptoms of COVID-19, they are to self-quarantine and seek medical advice or testing.

Travel to and from Maryland and Virginia is exempt from the Order. This list should be used until Monday, September 21, when an updated list will be posted on coronavirus.dc.gov.

States that were added to the updated list include: Montana and Ohio.

States that were removed from the updated list include: Alaska and Arizona.

High-risk states that require 14 days of self-quarantine: (more…)

“COVID-19 has devastated DC’s music community. Coalition of Music Advocates Launch Campaign To Pass DC Music Venue Relief Legislation”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Tim Brown

From a press release:

“A coalition of DC musicians and music advocates launched a grassroots campaign this week to advocate for government relief of the city’s music venues. The #SaveDCVenues campaign, which has accrued hundreds of signers within a few days, urges the DC Council and mayor Muriel Bowser to adopt a version of the 2020 DC Music Venue Relief Act: a piece of draft legislation that provides direct relief to businesses who rely on (now-absent) revenue from live music.

The outreach campaign is the latest in a series of public actions organized by the “DC Music Stakeholders,” a grassroots coalition of many DC-based musicians, venue owners, nonprofit leaders, and local activists. The Stakeholders formed shortly after the pandemic hit the District in March, and have met twice weekly since then, sharing information and providing support for a music scene in crisis.

COVID-19 has devastated DC’s music community. Since it began, the pandemic has forced the closure of at least four longstanding D.C. music institutions, all four cornerstones of the local music economy who presented the jazz, R&B and soul musicians bearing the torch of D.C.’s legacy of Black music. The most recent casualty is the beloved Twins Jazz, which supported DC’s vibrant jazz scene for 33 years, which announced its closure on August 27. (more…)

“Total visitation to Washington, DC estimated to fall 53 percent in 2020”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Eric P.

From Destination DC:

“After 10 years of growth, total visitation to DC estimated to fall by more than 50 percent in 2020 before potential rebound in 2021

Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, today announced that pre-COVID-19, the nation’s capital welcomed 24.6 million total visitors, with 22.8 million domestic visitors (up 4.1 percent), and 1.8 million overseas visitors (down 7.9 percent). (Sources: MMGY Travel Intelligence, Travel Market Insights, National Travel & Tourism Office, U.S. Department of Commerce). According to 2019 data from IHS Markit, visitation supported 78,266 jobs across all sectors in Washington, DC, up 2.3 percent from 2018. Tourism also generated $8.2 billion in visitor spending and $896 million in local tax revenue to the District.

Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of DDC, addressed approximately 1,000 attendees virtually at the organization’s annual Marketing Outlook Meeting. He also shared data from Tourism Economics that projects approximately 11 million domestic visitors, down 53 percent, will travel to the city in 2020. (more…)

“DCBOE has a handy search tool to help you locate your nearest Vote Center or Mail Ballot Drop Box for the November 3 General Election.”

By Prince Of Petworth


explore map here

From the DC Board of Elections:

“You may vote at ANY location!

Enter any DC address into the search tool to locate the closest Ballot Drop Boxes, Early Vote Centers and Election Day Vote Centers!

REMEMBER! For the November 3, 2020 General Election, you DO NOT have to vote at your assigned polling place.

*Early Vote Centers will be open on Election Day.”

District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions Working Group (DCFACES) Report Recommends Renaming schools, buildings, parks, statues and monuments.

By Prince Of Petworth

Read the DC-FACES-Executive-Summary (PDF) here.

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser released the District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions Working Group (DCFACES) report. In July 2020, the Mayor assembled the working group with the charge of reviewing the legacy of namesakes of District assets to determine if the individual, in an individual capacity or as part of a group, participated in the oppression of African Americans and/or other communities of color, or contributed to the nation’s history of systemic racism and other biases. (more…)

“was wondering if others around the city, and particularly in Ward 6, are experiencing major issues with trash pickup?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by James Crane

“Dear PoPville,

I was wondering if others around the city, and particularly in Ward 6, are experiencing major issues with trash pickup? Trash collection is supposed to take place twice a week but the trash collectors always drive down the block without actually picking up the trash on multiple occasions, and everyone’s garbage is starting to collect on the sidewalks. We’ve called our council member for the Ward, the Deputy Mayor’s Office, and the head of Waste Management to no avail. Anyone else experiencing these problems and if so, have they gotten anywhere with anyone at the City?”

Ed. Note: I have found DPW (and 311) to be very responsive on twitter.

“the city’s first rooftop community garden”

By Prince Of Petworth


300 Evarts Street, NE courtesy DPR

From the Department of Parks & Recreation:

“The Bowser Administration and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will host its weekly produce giveaway at the city’s first rooftop community garden on Tuesday, September 1 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Edgewood Recreation Center in Ward 5.

The rooftop farm is the first of its kind at a DPR facility and is classified as a green roof. The farm is 55′ X 48′ (2640 square feet) with five raised beds to assist seniors and people with disabilities. There is special soil used to reduce the weight of the roof and the farm is designed to grow a large amount of food in a small space. (more…)

“The judge granted the District’s request for a temporary restraining order against the company, and directed Washington Sports Club not to charge consumers on September 1”

By Prince Of Petworth

Follow up from the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia regarding: “the lawsuit AG Racine filed against Washington Sports Club for charging members during the COVID-19 shutdowns, I wanted to let you know that we scored a win in court today [Friday]! The judge granted the District’s request for a temporary restraining order against the company, (more…)

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