Dear PoPville

“I can’t believe anyone would get so angry that they would respond physically to someone pointing out the rules.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by mychacos

“Dear PoPville,

Saturday I was walking my dog down Rock Creek through the tunnel. There are signs to dismount your bike through the tunnel on both sides. Two guys were going full speed on the narrow sidewalk. When one of them passed me, I told him he’s supposed to get off his bike. The next guy stopped and let me pass and I told him the same. The first guy then got off his bike, threw it to the ground, and started walking toward me aggressively as though he was going to physically assault me. His friend had to hold him back. I wish I had taken a picture of the guy. I can’t believe anyone would get so angry that they would respond physically to someone pointing out the rules. It’s really dangerous for people to ride their bikes through that tunnel when it’s busy with people and responding with aggression is not appropriate.”

“Pandemic Parking Permits”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I just moved to the district from VA and I need a residential parking permit to park on my street, but I can’t get one of those or even a temporary pass without having a DC license and registration. How likely am I to get a ticket and is there any other type of temporary pass I can get?”

Ed. Note: While street sweeping tickets continue to be suspended we’ve received conflicting info as to what other parking tickets are being issued. I was under the impression – the only ticket being issued would be for safety issues, parking in front of a hydrant, in a crosswalk etc. but last month a reader reported “for any spots labeled ‘resident parking only’ tickets are being written again”.

“It threw me that someone who was executed by the Government of the United States for war crimes would get such a laudatory marker.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I spotted this marker in Mt Olivet Cemetery not long ago. A quick google search for Henry Wirz revealed that he didn’t just die in 1865, he was executed in 1865 for running the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp. It threw me that someone who was executed by the Government of the United States for war crimes would get such a laudatory marker. Then again, in light of all that has been written recently about the Daughters of the Confederacy’s penchant for monuments that rewrite history, maybe this should not have shocked me. I’m curious if this particular monument has come under scrutiny before.”

“Preparing for Election Day: Poll Workers”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Jacques Arsenault

“Dear PoPville,

I would like to ask the PoPville community to help get the word out to recruit more DC residents, including young people 16 years and older, to sign up as DC poll workers. It’s a great way to be a part of this historic election and earn about $750 dollars for attending 1 training and 5 short early voting shifts as well as full shift on voting day. Masks, social distancing and other protocols are strictly followed throughout for safety.

In the District, there will be ballot drop boxes around town, but also a full week of early voting with lots of polling places to make sure everyone will be able to vote. Poll workers can request assignment to their most convenient polling places. (more…)

“What should I do about the overlapping day?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Pablo Raw

“Dear PoPville,

I have a question for the readership about DDOT No Parking permits. I’m moving out of an apartment that doesn’t have a loading dock, so I applied for and received a standard DDOT No Parking Permit for a moving truck. I applied for the permit on 7/22 for an 8/31 move out day. My permit is good for one day from the hours of 7am to 4pm. I went to the police station to print the signs on 8/9. So far, feeling pretty good and happy that I’m ahead of the game…

Just yesterday, No Parking signs were posted on my street effective for 8/20 – 8/31 for “Local Paving by DC/DDOT/GOVT”. These signs say they were printed on 8/15 – after I applied for and printed my permit. (more…)

“All I want is something I can ride around DC safely.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Mr.TinDC

“Dear PoPville,

I’m hoping to crowdsource a question about buying a bike. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and would like to move forward. I’m a bike newbie and definitely not high-maintenance. All I want is something I can ride around DC safely. I’m looking in the $300 tops range but I’ve heard that might be idealistic? Are there any discount bike stores in the District you know of? I would do Craiglist but with Ms. Rona out and about I’m nervous to take that route (no pun intended).”

“Donating used school/office supplies”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by brunofish

“Dear PoPville,

We have a lot of random office/school supplies that aren’t necessarily accepted for donation at most organizations. Think notebooks with half the pages ripped out, used pens, heavy resume paper, etc. Are there any organizations that accept and want this type of donation? My hope is that someone could use them at a nonprofit or really anywhere. We don’t have kids and have already repurposed whatever we can.”

“lead paint question for the community”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

My neighbor has a garage abutting my property with peeling paint that is continmating my property. I tested the paint with a 3M lead test kit and it tested positive for lead. It is a rental house and I have contacted the owner and informed them. (more…)

“DC-specific tips/tricks/suggestions for homeownership”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Bekah Richards

“Dear PoPville,

I am moving into a row home in early September and I was wondering if folks could share any DC-specific tips/tricks/suggestions for homeownership. For example, my friend told me that I only had a limited time to request free/new trash bins from the city, which I would never have known otherwise! Are there any other “only-in-DC” things I should be aware of?”

“Looking for a wedding officiant”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by DCbmyers

“Dear PoPville,

My fiancé and I are looking for an officiant who will marry a non-Muslim to a Muslim in a traditional Muslim wedding ceremony. Does anyone know of someone? The ceremony will be Zoom based so they don’t need to be local.”

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