PoP-Ed.

PoP. Ed – “**Mr. President: Public Golf Should Remain Public**”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Phil

“Dear PoPville,

**Mr. President: Public Golf Should Remain Public**

When East Potomac Golf Links opened in 1921 as Washington’s first public course, it was designed to be “the model public playground”—a place where working people, not just country club members, could play the game. President Warren Harding loved it so much he’d skip his private club at Chevy Chase to play there instead. That’s the tradition President Trump now threatens to dismantle.

On December 31st, the Trump administration terminated the National Links Trust’s 50-year lease to operate Washington’s three historic public golf courses—East Potomac, Langston, and Rock Creek. The administration claims the nonprofit defaulted on capital improvements, yet NLT invested over $8.5 million in upgrades, doubled both rounds played and revenue, and kept greens fees affordable while elite courses nearby charge triple the price. The real default isn’t financial—it’s a failure to recognize that federal land should serve the public, not presidential ambitions.

These aren’t ordinary golf courses. (more…)

“In DC, Trump is itching for a fight. Don’t give it to him”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Victoria Pickering

“Dear PoPville,

Since President Trump federalized the DC police and brought in other law enforcement agencies, he has been hoping for screen-grabbing protests to justify his decision. Residents need to ignore the bait.

Donald J. Trump is a champion of distraction. He cannot stomach bad headlines. So when events are not swinging in his direction, he seeks to change the narrative and blame something else. Epstein files? Claim a criminal conspiracy by Barack Obama. Job numbers not good? The reporting bureau is corrupt and full of leftists.

The decision to federalize Washington D.C.’s police may be just one more choice ‘don’t look here, look over there’, or it may be a vengeful response to one of his DOGE employees being victim of an attempted car jacking in one of the city’s safest neighborhoods. Whatever the reason, Trump’s decision to put additional federal officers on the streets of D.C. stands in the face of all evidence that D.C is the safest it has been for years. The decision was controversial but, as hoped by the White House, it consumed national attention.

President Trump would now like nothing more than images of violent protests to justify his bravery in saving a lawless and corrupt city. (more…)

“NW Druids Make Good Things Happen in Horrible Climate” by Martha M. Ertman

By Prince Of Petworth


Martha and fellow Druids

The following was written by Martha M. Ertman:

“DC is a company town. If you don’t like the company of the Mump Administration, you can still do micro, focused good to keep the embers of democracy or basic respect for the environment alive until the political and cultural winds enable macro changes. A small group of NW women who call ourselves Druids have done just that to fend off the sense that we’re hopeless or helpless to combat climate change.

Being at or near retirement, with kids largely out of the house, we have bandwidth to meet monthly to do what we can. The spark was a 2022 New York Times article on Diana Beresford-Kroeger, a real Druid and genius octogenarian botanist and medical biochemist who for decades has climate-change adapted native trees on her 160 acres in Ontario, Canada. I read a couple of her nine books, and embraced her “bioplan” that every person on earth should plant 6 trees to buy us time to solve the climate crisis.

Neighbors joined: a journalist, educators, a few attorneys, and most importantly, a landscaper. We watched Dr. Diana’s documentary Call of the Forest – made by the people who brought us March of the Penguins — and discovered that Casey Trees was already harnessing volunteer labor and enthusiasm to planting native trees – 6000+ a year – in Washington DC.

We still meet monthly to do be a bit of the change we want to see in the world. Arbor Day dinner complete with gorgeous tree-stump shaped chocolate cake, touring the Arboretum at American University, or donning elbow-length suede gloves to remove invasive weeds from Rock Creek Park. (more…)

“Save the Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle!”

By Prince Of Petworth

The following was written by Rebecca Miller, Executive Director, DC Preservation League 
and member of the Coalition to Save the Trestle!

Washington, DC, has an unparalleled opportunity to hit the Trifecta — save an iconic structure from demolition, create a badly-needed walking and bicycling connection on the west side of Georgetown, and provide a much needed alternative to one of the most dangerous and unpleasant sidewalks in the city.

This opportunity is the rehabilitation of the Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle, a vestige from the days when trolleys transported Washingtonians across the city, and on this particular line, through the Palisades to the famous amusement park in Glen Echo, Maryland. The trolley no longer runs, but the Trestle is hanging on—by a political thread. This is the moment to save it. (more…)

“D.C. Voters Should Eliminate the Subminimum Wage for Tipped Workers (Again)” By Jenny Hunter

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Victoria Pickering

Jenny Hunter is a labor lawyer, policy consultant and freelance writer living in Ward 4.

PoP-Ed. posts may be written about anything related to the District and submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line.

“In 2018, when DC voters last considered an initiative to phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, the restaurant industry unleashed a well-funded campaign of sketchy arguments and fearmongering, dressed up as concern for workers. It didn’t sway voters, who decisively approved Initiative 77. But the industry convinced the DC City Council to thumb its nose at voters and repeal the measure.

This November’s ballot includes Initiative 82, a near-replica of I-77. I-82 would gradually raise the tipped subminimum wage of $5.35 so that by 2027 tipped workers would earn at least the regular minimum wage, now $16.10, with tips on top of that. Yes, that’s right, today tipped workers in DC can be paid $5.35 per hour–just a smidge more than the federal minimum wage in 1997, when DVD players first became available in the US and “SpiceWorld: The Movie” came out.

So, the restaurant industry is dusting off its specious old arguments. (more…)

“DC Council is Considering a Bill of Rights for Domestic Workers” by Francisca Alvarez

By Prince Of Petworth

PoP-Ed. posts may be written about anything related to the District and submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line. No guarantess they’ll be published but I’m always happy to take a look. Thanks.

Francisca writes:

“Earlier this year, Councilmember Elissa Silverman announced the Domestic Worker Employment Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and just this month, the Committee on Labor & Workforce Development held a public hearing on the legislation. I want to share why it is so important for the council to pass this for domestic workers.

In a city like Washington, DC, many people rely on nannies like myself. Nearly from the moment I moved here, I have gotten up every morning and gone to work helping families care for their kids. The work I do is essential. Without it, working moms and dads wouldn’t be able to do their own jobs.

Throughout the pandemic, thousands of nannies in this city did the same work that I do. I was extremely fortunate to have employers that continued to pay me for six months during the lockdown when I could not go into work. However, some either never stopped working or lost their jobs and all income. The types of protections others typically have in their jobs, we don’t and it is time to change that. (more…)

“What we are objecting to is the size, density and scope of the project”

By Prince Of Petworth


4618 14th Street, NW photo by PoPville

“Dear PoPville,

We are writing in response to the Dance Loft on 14/Heleos press release that was circulated on PoPville on April 11, 2022. We represent a group of 16th St Heights neighbors who are opposed to this development as currently proposed. We’re writing this letter to clarify that our objection to this project has been mischaracterized. We are not objecting to affordable housing. What we are objecting to is the size, density and scope of the project: (more…)

“Zoning of the past, housing of the future. By ileana schinder”

By Prince Of Petworth

Ileana Schinder is an architect in Washington, DC. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Universidad Nacional de Cordoba (Argentina, 2000) and a M.A. in Communications from the American University (Washington DC, 2006)

Ileana is the Author of “Housing for Humans: A book to imagine, Create and Design a New Housing Model in America” Ileana was born and raised in Argentina. She lives in Washington, DC with her family and her dog, Cecilia.

As public debates of new zoning rules and livability plans heat up in the region, we wonder: can zoning solve our current housing crisis? Yes, and here is how.

The lack of innovative housing options is the result of an outdated zoning approach to residential design. In the past, homes and every other activity was divided by swaths of land: work, play and life were tied by wide roads and car dependent. Limiting one house per also kept limited offer of housing while population grew at a faster pace.

Also, not only zoning rules limit how many, and which shape the homes will be, they also limit the number families that can occupy a property. So, with today’s zoning code, a homeowner can easily erect a garage, or a storage shed, but it bans the same homeowner in creating an additional dwelling unit of the same shape. Even if the architectural addition were to be identical, the zoning code is clear: you are not allowed to house more humans, but you have permission to create space for more cars and stuff. (more…)

“The 911 Crisis” by Dave Statter

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by fromcaliw/love

Dave Statter covered public safety in the District of Columbia and the region as a reporter for WTOP Radio & WUSA-TV. His website, STATter911.com, focuses on fire, EMS and 911 issues and videos. Dave currently runs STATter911 Communications in Arlington, VA.

PoP-Ed. posts may be written about anything related to the District and submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line.

Between the pandemic and the wave of violence in the District of Columbia, no one wants another reason to fear for their health and safety or for the well-being of their family. But there’s another crisis. One that’s mostly being ignored by political leaders and the news media. DC 911 is in desperate shape.

Handling almost two million calls each year, there’s no other local public safety agency in the region with more impact on our health and safety than DC’s Office of Unified Communications (OUC). Right now, the person in charge of OUC is struggling to get staff to show up for work and making sure those who do, put in a full shift. And with Covid cases rising among the unvaccinated, this 911 staffing problem may soon get much worse. OUC is the DC agency with the lowest percentage of vaccinated workers – less than 35%. (more…)

“THIS MARCH MADNESS: PLACE YOUR BETS ON DC” by Tony Tomeldon

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Lorie Shaull

The following was written by Tony T, “Tony Tomeldon is a DC native, dad of three all-virtual students, husband of a physical therapist and owner of The Pug, Partner at Union Trust and Brookland’s Finest.”

THIS MARCH MADNESS: PLACE YOUR BETS ON DC

It goes without saying that this damn virus has impacted a huge number of businesses in DC. I’ve lost track of the bars and restaurants that have closed, and the friends who have watched their dreams disappear. We say it over and over again, but even in the best of times, our margins are incredibly narrow. The grants and aid packages have been very helpful, but as a friend says, we’re not running P & Ls we’re running L & Ls. Also, don’t forget congress gave us territorial aid, not state aid. We still need help.

Last year, DC legalized sports betting for wagering on games through apps and in-person. I’m too emotionally involved in my teams to bet. My big gamble was getting involved in the hospitality business. Someday, I’ll let you know if that bet paid off. I’m just a bartender, so it may be above my paygrade, but I’m hoping (almost begging) that some of the tax revenue raised on betting in DC can be used to help my industry. (more…)

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