DC Government

“Mayor Muriel Bowser urged the Council to seriously consider several key issues that are broadly problematic for sound budgeting and the operations of our government in the response and recovery from the pandemic and the recession it caused.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Carla

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Ahead of the Council of the District of Columbia’s first vote on the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, Mayor Muriel Bowser urged the Council to seriously consider several key issues that are broadly problematic for sound budgeting and the operations of our government in the response and recovery from the pandemic and the recession it caused.

Among the concerns outlined by the Mayor in a letter sent to Chairman Phil Mendelson and members of the Council is the reduction in funding for the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Cadet Program, a very effective program that recruits and employs officers who are both from and familiar with DC neighborhoods and plays an important role in recruiting women and officers of color. Additionally, the Mayor highlights concerns with reducing the MPD budget by nearly $10 million, a reduction that would result in a level of sworn officers that has not been seen in DC since the 1990s, with seemingly no analysis on the impact this cut would have on the deployment of officers, officer response times to calls for service, and on community and neighborhood safety.

They Mayor’s full letter to the Council is below. (more…)

“the House of Representatives voted 232-180 to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51), the first time a chamber of Congress has approved a bill to make the District the 51st state.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Morgan Barna

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted 232-180 to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51), the first time a chamber of Congress has approved a bill to make the District the 51st state.

Today, with this historic vote, DC is closer than we have ever been to becoming the 51st state.

More than 160 years ago, Washingtonian Frederick Douglass told us: Power concedes nothing without a demand. As Washingtonians and as taxpaying American citizens, we are demanding what is owed to us – the rights guaranteed to us by the U.S. Constitution.

It is past time to fix this injustice. It is true that DC is more brown and more liberal than many other states. But the issue of taxation without representation was settled more than 200 years ago through the Declaration of Independence, and disenfranchising more than 700,000 taxpaying Americans is wrong no matter our politics or demographics. Who we elect is our business, and denying us statehood based on who we might send to Congress is both undemocratic and un-American. (more…)

“The United States is the only democratic country that denies both voting rights in the national legislature and local autonomy to the residents of the nation’s capital.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Jim Havard

From Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today managed the historic debate on the House floor on her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51) . In her opening statement on the bill, Norton said, “As we approach July 4th, it is long past time to apply the nation’s oldest slogan, ‘no taxation without representation’ and the principle of consent of the government to D.C. residents.”

Norton’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, follows.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Floor Remarks on H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act
June 26, 2020

The United States is the only democratic country that denies both voting rights in the national legislature and local autonomy to the residents of the nation’s capital. As we approach July 4th, it is long past time to apply the nation’s oldest slogan, “no taxation without representation,” and the principle of consent of the governed to District of Columbia residents. H.R. 51 would do so, and Congress has both the moral obligation and constitutional authority to pass the bill.

H.R. 51 would admit the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the Union and reduce the size of the federal district. (more…)

“How can the city claim jurisdiction over so-called heritage trees, and mandate their preservation, but refuse to compel a dc citizen to address a tree that poses a threat to life and limb?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Alexis Diao

Alexis Diao tweets us a situation we’ve touched on from time to time:

“The limb from an enormous tree next door in Columbia heights straight up fell across our yard and the next door yard. Thankfully no one was hurt. So crazy. my neighbor was standing right under it 20 seconds earlier. There’s damage to my car, flattened the recycling bins like a pancake, broke the fence. I feel really lucky actually bc it could’ve been much much worse. This tree is beautiful and big, but clearly has been dying for some time. We’ve actually had an arborist come out 3 times over 3 years bc we have been concerned about it. They said this tree is an accident waiting to happen. But the owner’s done nothing since we sent our reports. (more…)

Councilmember Charles Allen: “I am recommending a reinvestment of millions of dollars from traditional policing into programs better suited to meet the community’s needs.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Dean

From Councilmember Charles Allen’s office:

“Yesterday, Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6), Chair of the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, circulated recommended changes to the budgets of the 33 agencies, boards, and commissions under the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. The Committee will meet remotely to consider and vote on the budget recommendations today June 25, at 1 pm. The meeting will be broadcast live, available to the public and press here:  http://dc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=87

The full budget report is attached to this email – pages 12-23 contain an introduction narrative that helps provide context for various budget decisions.

The budget recommendations come as the District faces a massive economic shortfall under necessary restrictions to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. At the same time, protests following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky have the District, and the nation, once again confronting the role of policing in racial injustice today and in our history. The following is a statement from Councilmember Charles Allen: (more…)

“Norton Achieves Public-Private Partnership to Restore Historic Golf Courses in D.C.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Nathan Castellanos

Ed. Note: We first started following this development back in April 2014!

From Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who has long sought long term-investment to maintain the three public golf courses in the District of Columbia, today celebrated the announcement that the National Park Service (NPS) will begin negotiations with National Links Trust (NLT) to operate the three historic golf courses here in the District.

NPS will negotiate a long-term lease for the East Potomac, Langston and Rock Creek golf courses to ensure an optimum recreational experience for golfers and capital improvements. (more…)

Here’s the DPR (Parks and Pools) Situation for Phase Two – One Reader Wonders Why?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Rex Block

“Dear PoPville,

I saw on Twitter that splash pads will not reopen in Phase Two. Can anyone explain why that’s the case? The playgrounds are finally open, but mostly uninhabitable between 10am-5pm because of the heat. I’m confused about DCDPR’s reasoning that kids are somehow able to socially distance on playground equipment but not when frolicking around chlorinated water 20 feet away. This is especially urgent for kids who don’t have access to air conditioning and have no place to cool down during the day. I really hope DCDPR changes it’s plans or can clarify the distinction.”

From DPR:

“In accordance with Mayor Muriel Bower’s lifting of the District’s Stay-at-Home Order and the start of Phase Two, DPR has reopened playgrounds and athletic courts and will begin accepting permits for outdoor parks and green spaces for social gatherings of no more than 50 persons.

Like you, DPR is excited to begin the second phase of reopening our amenities after an extended closure. We look forward to welcoming residents back and appreciate your patience as we work to make sure all these public spaces meet our Gold Standard and are ready for our residents’ use. If an amenity at your local DPR facility is not ready immediately, rest assured we are working as fast as possible and it will be open soon.

Starting Monday, June 22, the following DPR facilities will be OPEN with social distancing safeguards: (more…)

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