Photo by PoPville flickr user wolfpackWX

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced funding for the much-anticipated MetroExtra Limited Stop bus route on the 14th Street corridor.

“As the District continues to grow, so must our public transportation options,” said Mayor Bowser. “Moreover, our Administration is committed to inclusive prosperity so that residents in every corner of the District benefit from our growth. The new Route 59 is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance service and give residents more options to get to work, school and beyond.”

The new 59 route will serve the area between the Takoma Metrorail station and the Federal Triangle Metrorail station. The limited-stop bus service will operate in addition to the existing 52, 53, and 54 bus services. The route will initially operate every 15 minutes during weekday rush hours. The estimated operating cost is approximately $1.2 million annually. If approved in the budget, the funds will be in place in October 2017, allowing the 59 to begin service when the next Metrobus service adjustments occur in December 2017. Read More

From a press release:

“The Property Disposition Reform Amendment Act of 2017, aims to get vacant and blighted properties owned by District government into productive use by engaging licensed real estate brokers to sell these properties on the District’s behalf. The bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development—which currently has up to 180 vacant and blighted properties in its portfolio—to follow a broker disposition process used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This would put properties on a faster track to getting back into use for affordable housing or other purposes, but does not change the current mission of selling these Property Acquisition and Disposition Division or “PADD” properties to non-profit organizations at a significantly discounted rate for the purpose of redeveloping them for low and moderate income residents. Read More

“Dear PoPville,

Jack Evans (Ward 2 council member) parked like an a**hole tonight in Dupont Circle. It’s bad enough navigating the sidewalks and intersections when they’re covered in ice, but this entitled politician made it even worse by parking his car blocking a pedestrian crossing and handicap access point to cross New Hampshire Ave NW. He forced everyone to walk in the street into oncoming traffic. I’m sick of entitled politicians treating this city like they’re own personal kingdom.

Jack, you have to follow the law like everybody else. And if you decide to break them (like you did tonight) you might remember you license plate makes it easy to figure out you’re the a**hole.

Signed,

A Ward 2 Constituent who will not be voting for you during the next election cycle”

Ed. Note: This is not the first time people have been pissed at Evans’ parking prowess. We’ve previously learned that Council Members are not obligated to follow parking regulations except for fire hydrants of course.

13th and K Street, NW

Ed. Note: You can see previous proposals here.

From a press release:

“Today the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced the selection of Ann B. Friedman and Dantes Partners to lead the redevelopment of the historic Franklin School, located at the intersection of 13th Street NW and K Street NW in Ward 2. Delivering on the Bowser Administration’s commitment to the creative economy, the proposed development will transform the historic space into Planet Word, an interactive language arts museum and education space.

“Planet Word is a one-of-a-kind project that delivers on our promise to invest in the arts in the most innovative of ways,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian T. Kenner. “Developing the Franklin School into an interactive language center gives visitors and residents a unique learning experience, adds to the cultural fabric of our downtown, and is a great fit for the District’s growing creative economy.”

Planet Word’s mission is to inspire a love of words and language and increase literacy through a host of interactive exhibits and experiences. Along with the Mundolingua in Paris, Planet Word will be one of just a few fully-operational language museums globally. Initially inspired by MoMath, the National Museum of Mathematics in Manhattan, Ms. Friedman, with the support of her husband, Thomas L. Friedman, and a national board, has been developing plans for the museum for more than three years and is delighted to have found such an appropriate venue for the project and have the opportunity to restore the Franklin School to its former architectural glory. Read More

“Dear PoPville,

Is this par for the course for Jack Evans?

I am ashamed to admit that I don’t pay much attention to ward politics, but I have had a generally neutral impression of Jack Evans from the little I’ve read/heard. Then, last night I saw this response of his to a question on the Dupont listserv.

I was shocked by his condescending, curt, and utterly unhelpful non-answer to a question posed to him. (I have no opinion on the question posed- I was just dumbfounded that a politician in DC would respond so ridiculously.)

Is this normal? It’s so incredibly petty, it’s embarrassing.”

Jack, your constituents in Ward 2 on these list serves are anxious to hear how your leadership in promoting billboards in the District, and quite likely in our Ward in the future if the proposed legislation passes, benefits them. I for one remain opposed to visual blight and did not understand your leadership on this issue until I read the Washington City Paper article. As I said before, this battle over visual blight was fought decades ago with the billboard industry and our highways and byways are better for it. Please explain your position and provide your perspective concerning the assertions made in the Washington City Paper.

From: “‘Evans, Jack (COUNCIL)’

I don’t read City Paper.

Subsequent reply from another member of the listserv:

“Translation: I don’t care if my constituents hate me. I just got re-elected unchallenged because corporate donations have so filled my coffers that no one was willing to run against me. Keeping those corporate interests happy means more to me than a few constituents and an alt-weekly complaining about my corporate sell outs.”

From an email:

“The annual Logan Circle Holiday House Tour is Sunday, December 4, 2016, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Plan to join in a tour of traditional and contemporary architecture and interior design, and the always warming Wassail Reception at Studio Theatre.

Imagine yourself inside a giant organ. No, not that kind of organ. A pipe organ. Now hold on to that thought. Each year neighbors and visitors have come away delighted by the stunning architecture, unique interior design, world-class art, and the wonderful company of fellow house enthusiasts. And this year won’t be any different. Well, it’s going to be a little different. As part of this year’s tour, The Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes on Massachusetts Avenue at 12th Street NW, a Gothic Revival brick structure completed enough to use by December 1844, will be inviting guests into their new organ loft, and, even into the organ itself. It’s the perfect place to hear the story of how the new organ came to be, after its predecessor fell – thankfully not on a Sunday – into the pews below.

We can’t forget about the houses, of course. The self-guided tour includes eleven properties at nine locations, and yes, as always a Wassail Reception with refreshments, and raffle at the Studio Theatre located at 14th and P Streets NW. Read More

Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown

From the DC Board of Elections:

Total Ballots Cast 287,403

Hillary Clinton – Tim Kaine 260,223 90.54%
Donald J. Trump – Michael R. Pence 11,553 4.02%

DELEGATE TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Eleanor Holmes Norton 244,711 85.15%

AT – LARGE MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

David Grosso 102,544 17.84%
Robert White 217,834 37.9%
UNDER VOTES 159,593 27.76%

Other Council Member Victors by Ward are Vincent C. Gray, Brandon Todd, Jack Evans, and Trayon “Ward Eight” White. Read More

From Councilmember Elissa Silverman’s Office:

“Today, D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (At-Large) introduced a bill requiring property sellers in D.C. to disclose knowledge of any Stop Work Order issued on a property under consideration for purchase. The “Stop Work Order Disclosure and Regulation Amendment Act of 2016” will increase consumer protections by providing homebuyers with necessary information to make an educated purchase decision. The bill, which was co-introduced by Councilmembers Anita Bonds (At-Large), Mary Cheh (Ward 3), and Jack Evans (Ward 2), came as a result of resident testimony at oversight hearings on the District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA).

“This legislation is a basic consumer protection for homebuyers,” said Silverman. “DCRA Director Melinda Bolling and her staff are working hard to improve the permitting and inspections systems to ensure renovated homes are safe and up to code when they’re sold. Still, bad actors find ways to slip through the cracks. This bill will create a safety net for homebuyers when that happens.”

A Stop Work Order indicates that a DCRA inspector found the renovation of a property to be substandard, or otherwise in violation of issued permits. Read More

Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown

Congrats to primary winners Hillary Clinton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Robert White (At Large Council), Jack Evans (Ward 2), Brandon Todd (Ward 4), Vincent C. Gray (Ward 7), Trayon “Ward Eight” White (Ward 8).

You can see all the results including number of votes and percentages here.