DC Government

“AG Racine Sues DCHA for Endangering 5,000+ Tenants at 10 Public Housing Properties”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Tim Brown

From the Office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) for endangering over 5,000 tenants at 10 public housing properties–as well as the surrounding communities in Wards 1, 5, 6, and 7–by failing to confront drug- and firearm-related nuisances at the properties. DCHA is an independent District agency that provides housing for low- and moderate-income residents. Between January 2019 and May 2020, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has responded to over 5,270 incidents that occurred at the properties, including homicides, shootings, and drug offenses. DCHA has failed to respond to both resident complaints and Office of the Attorney General (OAG) notices and requests for action, including recommendations to increase security presence, lighting, and security cameras. Following DCHA’s inaction, OAG filed suit seeking a court order compelling DCHA to make immediate security improvements to its properties to protect District residents. (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Announces Seven New ‘Slow Streets’ as DC Continues to Reimagine Public Space – Slow Streets are restricted to local traffic only and the speed limit is set at 15 miles per hour”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced the first seven locations for the new Slow Streets initiative, which will give residents more space to social distance while moving around outside. The locations are spread across all eight wards of the District.

“Like the streateries and other expanded dinging areas that are now on roads, alleys, and sidewalks throughout the city, the Slow Streets initiative is one way we can reimagine public space to make it easier to enjoy the outdoors and stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Bowser. “We want people to be able to move around and be outside, but it is important, as we continue through Phase One and into the summer months, to remember the importance of social distancing, face masks, and frequent handwashing.”

Slow Streets are restricted to local traffic only and the speed limit is set at 15 miles per hour to support neighborhood-based safe social distancing while walking, running, or cycling. The first seven slow zones will be implemented in the following locations: (more…)

“Deadline for public testimony re: protests to official record of Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety is June 16.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Victoria Pickering

Thanks to all who passed on from Council Member Charles Allen’s website:

“Due to the importance of the protests around the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, is rescheduling [the] virtual Committee budget oversight hearing on the Metropolitan Police Department’s FY 2021 proposed budget. The remaining, scheduled agency hearings for tomorrow will take place as announced.

Originally, given the limited time available for committees to hold virtual budget oversight hearings, MPD’s hearing was scheduled for 90 minutes and restricted to government witnesses, with public opportunities to submit testimony via phone, email, video, and Facebook Live.

From Councilmember Allen:

“I am rescheduling the hearing for two reasons. First, tomorrow morning, MPD leadership will be engaged in real-time response to the First Amendment assemblies taking place today and tomorrow. In order to have a productive and meaningful oversight hearing with Chief Newsham and his team, a delay is necessary.

And second, thousands of District residents are calling out injustice, racism, and police brutality against Black Americans. It is clear to me the public needs more opportunities to testify directly before the Council on the issues of policing communities of color, excessive force, freedom of speech, and public funding for law enforcement agencies and violence prevention.

Our budget is a document that reflects our values, including around law enforcement and how to improve public safety. I welcome our residents to share their recommendations for change and their budget priorities with the Council, and I will find an additional time for District residents to testify on MPD’s budget with the Committee.”

MPD’s FY21 proposed budget documents are available here: https://cfo.dc.gov/node/1462961

How DC residents can submit testimony to the Committee

The deadline for receiving public witness testimony for the official record is June 16, 2020. Public witnesses can currently testify on the FY21 proposed budget by: (more…)

Senator Mike Lee: “Just heard that Mayor Bowser is kicking the Utah National Guard out of all DC hotels tomorrow.”; The Mayor Responds

By Prince Of Petworth

So about that quartering of troops…

Senator Lee tweets: “Just heard that Mayor Bowser is kicking the Utah National Guard out of all DC hotels tomorrow. More than 1200 troops from 10 states are being evicted. This is unacceptable. These brave men and women have risked their lives protecting DC for three days. Rioting, looting, arson, and vandalism have all disappeared bc these soldiers served. And now they are being kicked to the curb by an ungrateful mayor. This must be stopped.”

Mayor Bowser responds: “Senator — until they are recalled home — which I have formally requested from the President, your troops are in DC hotels. However, DC residents cannot pay their hotel bills. The Army can clear that up with the hotel today, and we are willing to help.” (more…)

Mayor says tonight’s curfew hours will be from 11pm – 6am

By Prince Of Petworth

Tonight’s curfew is 11pm-6am. More details as we get them.

Official announcement:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew for the District of Columbia from 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4.

During the hours of the curfew, no person, other than persons designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand, or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park, or other public place within the District. (more…)

DEVELOPING: Mayor Announces 7pm Curfew for tonight and tomorrow (Monday, Tuesday)

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Phil Yabut

Thanks to all who shared word of the 7pm curfew tonight and tomorrow night from the Mayor’s press conference:

“The curfew runs from 7 PM to 6 AM both nights.

There are several exemptions from the curfew:
* Anyone voting or participating in tomorrow’s election activities (e.g., poll workers & volunteers);
* Essential workers when engaged in essential functions; &
* Anyone traveling to a hospital/urgent care.”

From a press release (more…)

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