Friday Question of the Day

Friday Question of the Day – Was the City Right to Make the Pug Remove “The Ward 8 Special – Marion Berry’s Dirty Asian Summer Punch”?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo tweeted by @mikedebonis

Folks have been talking a bit about this in the rant/revel section but I’ve gotten a few requests to start a separate thread on it. For those who missed it, The Washington Post’s Mike Debonis wrote:

The punch, a fruity vodka concoction, was whipped up by the H Street NE bar’s owner, Tony Tomelden, as an admittedly crude but satirical tribute to D.C. Council member Marion Barry’s controversial comments this year criticizing Asian shop owners and Filipino nurses.

On Thursday, the Office of Human Rights delivered a letter to Tomelden calling the sign “racially offensive” and requesting that it be taken down and “Dirty Asian Summer Punch” be taken off the menu.

Tomelden was given 72 hours to remove the “Dirty Asian Summer Punch” sign, lest the agency pursue a “formal charge” against him with the Commission on Human Rights. A commission proceeding can result in a cease-and-desist order and civil fines of up to $10,000 for a first-time offender.

Read the full story here.

Did the the Office of Human Rights do the right thing? Or, whether you found the sign offensive or not, do you think it should have been protected under freedom of speech?


Friday Question of the Day – Which Building/Eyesore Most Desperately Needs to be Fixed/Developed?

By Prince Of Petworth


3145 Mt. Pleasant St, NW

We’ve spoken about what developments/improvements that we are most excited about. And fortunately there have been many successes. But today I want to talk about those that seem to be stagnating. For me – four places automatically jump out at me. I’ve walked past these places for years and despite numerous press releases, pronouncements, declarations, applications… they always look the same. Following is my top 5:

First is the Uline Arena at 1140 3rd Street NE in NoMa. Second is the building at 11th and K St, NW while a raze permit has already been applied for, it would be amazing if it could be saved to some degree. Third is the old Gales school at 65 Massachusetts Avenue, NW slated to become the new home to the Central Union Mission shelter. Fourth is the old Ontario Theater in Adams Morgan.

And finally is the one that bothers me the most – the old Deauville apartment building which burned down back in March 2008 at 3145 Mt. Pleasant St, NW.

Which property’s current state of affairs is most upsetting/disappointing to you? What properties would you add to the list?

Friday Question of the Day – What’s Your Favorite No Frills Bar?

By Prince Of Petworth


Dan’s Cafe located at 2315 18th Street, NW. Aug. 2012

Well it’s the Friday before the long Labor Day weekend and there aren’t too many of us left at work today. So given all the new bars/restaurants we talk about I thought it would be fun to give props to some of our favorite old school bars. I also saw the Dan’s Cafe sign in Adams Morgan has completely disappeared and I wondered if anyone still goes there?

For this week’s Friday Question of the Day – What’s your favorite no frills bar?

Dan’s Cafe circa 2009:

Friday Question of the Day – How Long Do You Think You Will Live in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love

Last week we talked about how long folks had lived in DC for the Friday question of the Day. At the time a reader requested that I follow up that question by asking folks how long folks they think they would stay in DC. For those who plan on staying in DC a while do you think you will stay in the same neighborhood you are currently living in? For those who think they will move out of DC at some point – do you think you will move to the suburbs or a completely new city? Does anyone think they will move away but then move back at some point?


Friday Question of the Day – How Long Have You Lived in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

I don’t know if it’s because it’s August and some folks originally came to DC because of school but I’m seeing many of my friends announce their anniversary of years lived in DC. I actually fall into this category as well, I came to DC in August 1997 to start grad school at American University. I can hardly believe it but this week marks my 15th anniversary living in DC. My first home was in Woodley Park in a basement apartment on Garfield Street:

So for today’s Friday question I thought it would be fun to ask how long folks have lived in DC? For those who have lived here over 5 years – do you still live in the same neighborhood as you did when you first moved here? Anyone born and raised here? Anyone born here and moved to another city then moved back to DC?


Friday Question of the Day – What Do You Think About the Trend in Restaurants Fundraising Through Sites Like Kickstarter?

By Prince Of Petworth

For this week’s Friday Question of the Day – I’m curious what you think about the trend in restaurants fundraising through sites like Kickstarter? Pleasant Pops was able to raise over $20,000. Mothership from the owner of the El Floridano Food Truck has raised over $11,000 with a goal of $30,000. A site similar to kickstarter called fundrise is trying to raise money for Maketto hoping to come to H Street, NE. Do you think this trend is here to stay? Do you think it’s a good way for restaurants/markets etc. to raise money? Have any of you invested in one of these ventures?

Friday Question of the Day – Where is Your Favorite Weekend Getaway?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user slightlyworn

I can’t believe it’s already August. With August comes vacations but unfortunately not everyone is able to take a lot of time off – so for this week’s Friday Question of the Day – let’s talk weekend getaways. Where is your favorite spot to go when you wanna get out of dodge? Let’s say within 3 or 4 hours driving distance? Any places that are reachable if you don’t have a car?

Friday Question of the Day – Is Lowering Fines for Automated Traffic Enforcement a Good Idea? Realistic?

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in July 2010 a reader wrote:

Speed camera fines have gone through the roof. I knew they had gone up but wasn’t aware as to exactly how much until I got a lovely new one in the mail. 1-10 mph over the speed limit: increase from $30 to $75. 11-15 mph: increase from $50 to $125 (that’s 150%!!! insane!). I’m not sure what the original fines were for higher speeds but those are very very steep now too: 16-20 mph is $150, 21-25 mph is $200, and 26-30 mph is $250. Just though everyone would like to be aware of the massive increases for minor speeding.

Since then, it seems, we hear about the deployment of more traffic/speed cameras around the city every few months.

Council Member Tommy Wells has created a Task Force to Study Lower Fines for Automated Traffic Enforcement:

Councilmember Tommy Wells announced today that he has formed a task force to study safety-focused changes in automated traffic enforcement that can lead to lower fines.

“The goal is to make sure the automated enforcement program is about safety, not just revenue,” stated Wells.

For years, the District has attempted to discourage hazardous driving by charging high fines. Drivers may have a low chance of getting caught for dangerous behavior like speeding, running red lights, or violating other’s right-of-way — but when they do get caught, the penalty is significant. The high fines are particularly harsh for low-income drivers who don’t have the discretionary budget to pay traffic infractions.

Wells added, “Some fines have increased by 250 and 500 percent over the past four years. The goal of assuring safety has been eclipsed by the government’s dependence upon the revenue generated by high fines. With the use of cameras, assuring stricter enforcement of our traffic laws, the need for high fines should be revisited.”

New plans for automated enforcement (e.g., speed cameras, red light cameras, and other new technology) mean that drivers are more likely to be caught when breaking traffic laws. Better enforcement opens the opportunity for a new strategy — lower fines with consistent enforcement.

Councilmember Wells has invited Councilmember Mary M. Cheh to co-chair the task force, and will ask the group to examine fines, automated enforcement plans, and crash data. He expects some possible recommendations will include:

• immediate adjustments to certain automated enforcement fines,
• fine reductions to be implemented once there are a certain number of automated cameras (i.e., enough to achieve consistent enforcement),
• dedication of fine revenues to road safety activities,
• graduated fines, or
• other changes to ensure that the automated enforcement program is focused on safety.

Do you think lowering fines is a good idea or just politics? If a good idea, given how much revenue it raises for the city, do you think they can realistically be lowered?

Friday Question of the Day – Summer Book Recommendations?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

Some folks have been sharing book recommendations in the rant/revel posts and since it’s beach season – I’m ready for this year’s summer reading recommendations from PoPville. We got some great recommendations last year.

While not the most traditional beach read, I just started The American Porch An Informal History of an Informal Place by Michael Dolan. So far it is awesome.

I’m also gonna recommend a book from one of our own. PoPville contributor and Petworth resident Eric Nuzum has a new memoir coming out in early August called GIVING UP THE GHOST: A Story About Friendship, 80s Rock, a Lost Scrap of Paper, and What It Means to Be Haunted. I was lucky to get an advance copy and it is a terrific read.

So for today’s FQotD – what are you reading this summer? Have any good beach read recommendations?

Friday Question of the Day – Rating Pepco

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Day 5 of no power, but Pepco installs a street light!

How is it that Pepco sends out a crew everyday this week to install a street light when the residents of the street are STILL WITHOUT POWER?! How dare they brag about restoring 90%!”

Another resident has started a change.org petition with over 1500 hundred signatures as of Thurs. evening:

Pepco makes millions in profit but remains one of the most unreliable utility companies in America. Add your voice to the demand that Pepco invest their profits in burying the power lines and making our power system more reliable and safe.

In the first 3 months of this year the utility company Pepco made $68 million in profit. In 2009 the CEO of Pepco, Joe Rigby, made $2.9 million in personal income.

My neighbor is 70 years old, her name is Kay, and she has now been without power for 4 days in this sweltering heat. (Update: Kay told me this morning that her dog is acting really sluggish and she is worried the dog might die).

For almost $3 million a year, Joe Rigby needs to be held to account. We demand, on behalf of all the seniors, poverty-stricken and children, that Pepco immediately begin investing their profits in improving our power and implement a long term solution to these unacceptable delays.

For instance, Pepco could commit to a 5 year plan to bury the power lines in their service areas which would greatly improve reliability during massive wind storms and blizzards.

Invest your profits in your customers!

And in the tradition of the Cabin Fever video from Snowmaggadeon 2010, other readers send in a video voicing their frustration (NSFW) in song about Pepco:

But on the other hand we’ve seen Pepco employees working through the 4th of July and scorching heat.

Do you think Pepco is to blame for taking so long to restore to power to 100% of its users? Or is this just the unfortunate reality of a huge storm and living in an area with lots of trees and above ground wires?

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