Dear PoPville

“Feds Reporting Despite COVID-19”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

Ed. Note: Yesterday we reported that OPM has said to “Please contact your supervisor to confirm telework schedule and to receive further direction from your agency head.”

“Dear PoPville,

There are still 21,000 State Department employees in the National Capital Region operating at a normal op tempo/on-site despite COVID-19. The State Department is keeping their employees in regular work status even though DC, MD, and VA have declared state of emergencies, have gone to telework status, and have taken other extraordinary measures to protect their citizens. The impact not only on these 21,000 people but on their network of family and other contacts could be devastating and undoes all the steps MD, VA, and DC are taking. Not to mention, many State Department employees are returning from foreign countries, escalating the risk.”

For any State readers – are you working at home or at the office?

We did a poll on teleworking on March 11th – let’s see where are people at today:

Animal Fix

Your Afternoon Animal Fix

By Prince Of Petworth

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood.  If you love the animal fix and want to ensure PoPville’s long term viability please consider donating to our Patreon here.

“This is Kina from Woodridge, NE DC. She’s going for a stroll at the arboretum.”

“This is Zeke! I rescued him as a kitten in Columbia Heights at Christmas 2013. When he’s not interrupting TV time, he enjoys sleeping in sunlight, cat yoga, and sitting on my shoulder (I’m basically his living couch). Zeke was preceded by Moo, who I found as a tiny baby kitten in the backyard of my basement apartment in Near Northeast in Fall 2008. Moo and Zeke (and my husband and I) live in Brightwood.”

Dear PoPville

“What would you do?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

My family and I are moving cross country and are closing on a house April 3. Almost 2 months ago we committed to a move date of April 27. I am trying to figure out whether we want to move that date up and get the heck out of DC (although the place we are moving has many more COVID-19 cases) or push the date back…and how much would you push it back. Neither situation is ideal, obviously.

We have 2 young kids and as an FYI, we are working from home in our new location, so jobs are not in play here.

What would you do?”

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The reality

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Beyond the management fee, most property management companies mark up vendor invoices — the plumber, the landscaper, the elevator contractor — by 10 to 15 percent before passing the bill to the association. It’s legal. It’s common. And boards have almost no visibility into it. (more…)

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Dear PoPville

“Help – tool stuck in dryer vent”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

“Dear PoPville,

A vent-cleaning company got part of their tool stuck in the dryer vent of my condo and can’t get it out. I’m having no luck finding any company that could get it out (long thin plastic rod about 5-10 feet inside from the outside wall, probably stuck in a clump of lint). Probably needs either a tool to extract it or a fan to blow it to either end of the duct. I tried all the duct companies I could find, plus animal-removal companies, and no one could do it. I’m getting desperate – any recommendations greatly appreciated!”

1000 words

“Is this legal? Is it happening around DC?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

So I was unable to get medication/items from Amazon delivered this morning, FedEx said that they had been sent away. I was very confused about this until I went to my apartment door and found this sign. Is this even legal? Is this something that is going around do you see? I’m so confused, we’re being told to stay at our houses and stay inside. But my complex is blocking that.”

Downtown

DC Improv Comedy Club “Today I had to lay off almost my entire staff (50 people).”

By Prince Of Petworth


Inside 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Photo by flickr user Aaron Webb

Thanks to those who sent from DC Improv:

“From Allyson Jaffe, owner and comedy school principal:

The last two weeks have been a nightmare with the last two days putting the nail in the coffin. Here’s the other side to the quarantine. Today I had to lay off almost my entire staff (50 people). Their worlds have been rocked and lives are forever changed. The DC Improv is closed for who knows how long. I have no idea if my business will be able to weather this storm and reopen. I have had to make some of the most difficult decisions of my life all while trying to keep it together and handle the anxiety of our customers and staff. I have never been so sad in my life. My heart breaks for all of my employees who I cannot help as I try to salvage the business I devoted close to 22 years to. I am grateful to the comedians who performed at the club this past weekend to give just a bit of relief to us during this chaos. I’m a survivor and have been through a lot in my life. I will do whatever I can to try to get through this with the goal of getting my crew back together again as soon as possible. This has been devastating but the one thing I know is that we need comedy more than ever.” (more…)

Dear PoPville

“Farmers Markets and Composting?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

In light of all the closings in DC, I haven’t been able to find much out about DC farmers markets, and especially the compost drop-off sites run by the DC government. I understand packed farmers markets aren’t the best idea during this time, but I hope the compost sites wouldn’t have to close too. Does anyone know the status of these services?”

From Freshfarm: “FRESHFARM is closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak as it continues to develop. At this time, markets will remain open in accordance with their usual schedule. However, we urge you to stay home if you are sick. If you attend the market, please prioritize essential food purchasing and do not use the market as a place for social gathering for the time being.” (more…)

Dear PoPville

“there has been no instruction on what dental offices should do”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user slatifolia

“Dear PoPville,

I work in a dental office where we work only inches away from a person mouth putting us at highest risk. Yet there has been no instruction on what dental offices should do other than a statement from the american dental association saying it recommends we should only do elective procedures. This would still be up the dentist’s discretion and I am afraid they won’t follow through. We don’t have the proper PPE to treat patients and it seems as though we have been forgotten about. Just thought it might be worth bringing to the public’s attention. I would just like to add that most dental offices don’t provide sick leave and we can’t telework so we wouldn’t get paid which is also an added stress that impacts the decision to stay open. It’s a difficult situation all around.”

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