DC Government

“Patrons should be requested to wear face masks or coverings at all times when not eating or drinking.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by angela n.

From ABRA (Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration):

“In accordance with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s lifting of the District’s “Stay-at-Home Order” and the start of Phase One, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board on Thursday adopted emergency rulemaking modifying the current suspension of on-premises alcohol beverage sales to allow for outdoor dining. ABC licensees are able to start offering table service for outdoor dining effective Friday, May 29 at 8:00 a.m., including on existing rooftops.

Establishments with existing sidewalk cafes and summer gardens making no changes to the perimeter of the licensed space do not need to register with the ABC Board and may start operating tomorrow.

Additionally, the ABC Board adopted emergency rulemaking allowing ABC licensees to sell and serve alcoholic beverages in new and expanded outdoor dining space. Potential options include patios, courtyards, alleys, sidewalks, and surface parking lots. All new and expanded space must be on ground or street level.

Key guidelines include: (more…)

“Has anyone else been able to get their wedding license through the online application process during the quarantine?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Jim Havard

“Dear PoPville,

My fiance and I had to postpone our October wedding to ensure our immunocompromised friends and families wouldn’t be put at risk, and we rescheduled for Memorial Day weekend of next year. We still want to get married, so we decided to take advantage of DC’s online applications for marriage licenses, so we can get married on May 30th, so that our wedding date next year will be our one-year anniversary.

Unfortunately, we submitted our application a month ago and still haven’t heard anything from the DC Marriage Bureau. We tried calling the number listed on their site, and a woman answered, “HELLO?!” and seemed genuinely surprised and very unhappy that we were calling. She dismissively told my fiance to check his spam folder (obviously we already had), said nothing else could be done by her or anyone else to check in on our application, and hung up.

We have just two weeks left to figure this out… would love to hear if anyone else been able to get their license through the online application process during the quarantine?

We reached out to our Councilperson for help, who reached out to Rep. Holmes-Norton, who hasn’t responded. Any other suggestions would be really appreciated! We’ve already had a tough year of loss and challenges (recognizing that we’re not the only ones), and it’d be great to have at least one thing go right – or, rather, for DC’s bureaucracy to do one thing right.”

DDOT to Resume Paving in Residential Neighborhoods Today

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Jim Havard

Can street sweeping be far behind?

From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that paving of local roadways will resume across all eight wards on May 27, weather permitting.

Since paving season began in March, DDOT has completed 23 miles of paving on highways and in District neighborhoods with fewer residential homes to avoid inconveniencing residents while they stay at home. In 2019, DDOT paved more than 100 miles of roadway across all eight wards of the District. (more…)

“The 2020-2021 (DC Public) school year will begin, either in-person or at home, on August 31, 2020”

By Prince Of Petworth

From Mayor Bowser’s press conference today:

“-Summer School will be June 22-July 24 and will include a K-8 enrichment program, as well as programming for English language learners and students with disabilities

-If DC enters Phase 2 of reopening, there will be an in-person summer bridge program for grades 3, 6, and 9 beginning in August

–The 2020-2021 school year will begin, either in-person or at home, on August 31, 2020

-The DC Deputy Mayor for Education will launch a family engagement survey to gather feedback”

From a press release: (more…)

MPD Memorial Day Weekend Reminder About “Enforcing the Mayor’s Stay-at-Home Order”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Metropolitan Police Department:

“As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, we wanted to take a moment to encourage everyone to stay safe and healthy during this unique period in our history. Many of the food and restaurant venues in the First District will be open for take-out service and we hope our small businesses receive your support. However, remember that the Mayor’s Stay-at-Home Order is still in place. Last weekend we saw some unacceptable gatherings and crowds outside some venues, in some parks, and in some neighborhoods. If not engaged in essential activities, everyone is still required to remain at home. That means returning home after picking up food and not lingering in public areas, even if the weather is nice. When you are engaged in essential activity, when in public or common areas, remember to practice social distancing and to wear a mask.

The Mayor’s Order specifies that residents may only leave their residences to: (more…)

“How many emergency no parking signs do you need to cover a full block?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

How many emergency no parking signs do you need to cover a full block?

Example: On the 900 block of 1st St SE, there are two emergency no parking signs at the north end of the block (denoted with an “S” in the attached image) that claim they reserve all the spaces on the entire block. I was towed today from the other end of the block (the spot denoted with a C in the attached) for allegedly violating those signs. It seems nuts that a sign 150-200 feet away from my car could properly serve as notice that I can’t park there – but I don’t know what the actual threshold is.

Bonus Q: After I discovered my car was gone, I called 311 and went through the process to see if the city knew where I’d been towed to. They had no record of me being towed, (more…)

“Today’s wild VIDA update. Says they’re opening on June 24” – “although we are working to get that date moved forward”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Ted Eytan

Thanks to Jack for passing on the latest Vida update:

“To our VIDA Fitness Members,

I want to thank you for your many heartfelt thoughts and suggestions for our reopening effort. The health and safety of everyone that enters our clubs continues to be our top priority. That has been our primary focus since March 15th and your recent input has made our plan even better. I am grateful for your insights. (more…)

“we now see animals going in and out of the house and have just recently heard animals behind the party walls from inside our house”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

We live next to a vacant rowhome, that DC won’t declare a vacant property because a kind neighbor mows the lawn. We filed a number of 311 complaints over the years but to no avail. But we know the owner has been in a long term facility for over 6 years and would occasionally send a friend or worker to co into the house. The house is in super bad shape and any reasonable passerby can tell it’s vacant However we now see animals going in and out of the house and have just recently heard animals behind the party walls from inside our house. (more…)

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