“Dear PoPville,
Has anyone, who traditionally unable to apply for Unemployment insurance (insufficient work history/1099 worker), but now eligible through the CARES Act, been able to apply in DC?”
Ed. Note: Unemployment resources from DC here.
Also, Councilmember Elissa Silverman gives these sobering stats: (more…)
Thanks to Sara for sending:
“I work for Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit that works to repair homes for low income residents to create safe home and communities for all. (more…)
Update: “VII. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Order shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 1, 2020 and will continue to be in effect through April 24, 2020, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by a subsequent Order.”
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Today, due to an increasing number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Washington, DC and across the region and the nation, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a stay-at-home order for the District of Columbia. This order reinforces the Mayor’s direction to residents to stay at home except to perform essential activities.
“Our message remains the same: stay home,” said Mayor Bowser. “Staying at home is the best way to flatten the curve and protect yourself, your family, and our entire community from COVID-19. Many people want to know how they can help right now, and for most people this is how – by staying home.”
The Mayor’s Order specifies that residents may only leave their residences to: (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love
From a press release (via the office of CM Charles Allen):
“Today, the District of Columbia Board of Elections announced a significant effort to encourage District voters to use a mail-in ballot for the upcoming June 2 Primary Election and June 16 Ward 2 Special Election. The initiative is intended to protect residents’ health and prevent the spread of COVID-19, while ensuring that eligible residents remain able to vote, a core facet of our democracy.
“District voters can already vote by mail thanks to our low-barrier, ‘no excuse’ absentee ballot process. We’re taking a huge step forward to get a ballot into the mailbox of every District voter who asks for one while still maintaining some in-person Vote Centers. These are smart steps to protect the fundamental right to vote while adapting to unprecedented health and safety concerns,” said Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.
Vote-by-Mail: Current District law allows DC voters to request a mail ballot for any reason (traditionally called our “no-excuse absentee ballot”) by visiting the Board of Elections’ website or using the Vote4DC mobile application. This process is functionally a Vote-by-Mail system already in place, but the Board has never pushed this option as such. (more…)
Ed. Note: On March 20th the Mayor announced “All DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) facilities, including playgrounds, parks, and athletic fields, will be closed to the public.”
Many readers report at various school playgrounds and parks around the District:
“I saw people using the field at Garrison School at R and Vermont in Logan Circle…despite the signs posted on the gates. This is a real disservice to the city which is trying to keep us safe. It’s also an astonishing act of entitled privilege as the field should be in use right now by the public school children of our community. I called 311 but they have bigger problems to solve right now. Maybe you can remind folks that there’s a public health emergency, and that’s why the fields are closed for now? Not to keep children away so they can keep their fitness routines intact?”
New sign posted by a resident at Garrison
And while Rock Creek Park is obviously open, the Exercise Trail equipment is closed: (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.
Ed. Note: A LOT of folks were confused by this message many received on their phones last night. It was not a shelter in place order (at this time, anyway.) Seems like some officers are confused too.
“Dear PoPville,
Not sure if this is happening elsewhere in the city. We have a nanny share between our two children and one other child. Today the Nanny took the kids out for a walk around the neighborhood, like she does everyday for exercise and fresh air. Today police saw her, asked if she was going to Lincoln park, she replied no, that she was just walking around and making sure they avoid people. Police told her she can’t do that, she is not allowed to leave the house and she must go home. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Miki Jourdan
From the Mayor’s Office:
Ed. Note: “Number of People who have Recovered: 21”
“The DC Department of Health announces a third death in the District due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The patient, a 75-year-old female, was admitted to a hospital with underlying health conditions and passed away on March 25. She tested positive for COVID-19 and was included among the District’s reporting data.
“Each of these deaths is tragic, and we continue to pray for all the families who have lost a loved one as well as all the people in our community who have been sickened or affected by COVID-19,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “As we continue working to blunt the curve, my message to the community is simple: Be a good neighbor, stay at home.”
As of 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, the District’s coronavirus (COVID-19) data includes 48 new positive cases, bringing the District’s overall positive case total to 231 individuals.
8-week-old male
18-year-old male
24-year-old male
26-year-old female
27-year-old male
28-year-old male
30-year-old male
30-year-old male
30-year-old male
30-year-old female
31-year-old male
31-year-old male
32-year-old female
32-year-old male
34-year-old male
35-year-old female
35-year-old female (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user DCbmyers
From the DC Office of the Attorney General:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today joined with 33 fellow Attorneys General to urge Amazon, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, and Walmart to crack down on online price gouging on their platforms. In their letters to these major online platforms, the Attorneys General pushed the companies “to do more at a time that requires national unity.” Specifically, the bipartisan group recommends that these companies craft policies to restrict price gouging during emergencies, build tools to detect price spikes and anticipate conditions that lead to price gouging, and create pages that allow users to report suspected price gouging directly. (more…)
From the Mayor’s Chief of Staff:
“DC — Hitting your smartphone tonight at 8 pm: a wireless emergency alert from @DC_HSEMA
In simple terms: be a good neighbor, stay home”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Keith-DC
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser directed an additional $15,000,000 of the District’s Contingency Cash Reserve Fund to be used for the purchase of ventilators, personal protective equipment, testing supplies, medical supplies, and other necessary equipment for DC’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). To date, Mayor Bowser has directed $53.15 million to the District’s COVID-19 response and recovery.”