May 23, 2015

Backward SUV, a helicopter and not acquiescing

May 23, 2015/ Drew

So I see police lights outside, and being the intrepid blogger that I am at 1am, went out to see what was happening. I found a DC Metro Transit Police SUV parked backwards at the bus stop around the 4200 block of New Hampshire Ave. An MPD PSA 407 patrol car rolled up, so I waited for them to talk with MTPD before I approached. Just me with a camera slung across my back, looking casual. At 1am.

A MTPD officer came up onto the sidewalk from the street, so I approached her and asked politely what was going on.

"What's it to you?" she said.

Full story after the break:

May 22, 2015

CM Brandon Todd's first communication (mainly who & whats)

May 22, 2015/ Drew

Newly elected Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd has sent out his first official communication. He shared a quick status update, but mainly a list of contact names and numbers for his office, including his new Director of Constituent Services, Jackson Carnes.

Councilmember Todd's full email and info is after the break:

May 21, 2015

Summer may be hot, but winter should be cool

May 21, 2015/ Drew

Even though we're headed into what will probably be a hot hot summer, there's good news for winter time fun.

The US House of Representatives has passed a measure that would allow sledding at the Capitol grounds again (it basically instructs the Capitol Police to ignore a provision of the law).

From the DCist.com article:

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who lead the charge to allow sledding on Capitol Grounds, is stoked about the provision.

“Today the commonsense non-enforcement of the sledding ban on Capitol Hill, the way it has been for many years, is assured,” Norton said in a statement. “District of Columbia families can also pat themselves on the back for organizing strong community support for non-enforcement of the sledding ban. Now I will be working in the Senate to have them follow suit and ensure that our kids have a ball on America’s front lawn next snowfall.”

Source: DCist

May 13, 2015

Chief Cathy Lanier hosts crime meeting on Kennedy St violence

May 13, 2015/ Drew

I was invited to attend a crime briefing at MPD’s Joint Operations Command Center this morning with Chief Lanier, 4D leadership, Deputy City Administrator Kevin Donahue and about 20 other residents and various DC officials, including Councilmember-Elect Brandon Todd. The topic was recent crimes along the Kennedy Street corridor. Mr. Donahue opened the meeting and said the purpose was...

May 10, 2015

Upshur Pool getting ready for the season

May 10, 2015/ Drew

Looks like Upshur Pool is getting ready to open, as staff were giving the kid's pool a fresh coat of paint and filling up the larger pool.

According to the DPR website, the Upshur pool (4300 Arkansas Ave) should open around May 23nd. Spray parks open on Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks to Colin for the head's up!

May 10, 2015

Happy Mom's Day!

May 10, 2015/ Drew

Happy Mother's Day to all my Petworth neighbors!

Get your own funny Mom Day ecard.

May 08, 2015

Arsenal of Democracy Flyover

May 08, 2015/ Drew

No, it's not World War 2 again... it's a massive flyover of vintage WW2 bombers and fighter.

If you're downtown near the National Mall or along the flightpath, go out around noon to see the "Arsenal of Democracy Flyover" dominate the DC skyline. (They should be over the Lincoln Memorial by 12:10pm, headed over the Mall and then left after the Capitol.)

You can check out the list of formations that you will see coming in over the city. And here is the official Arsenal of Democracy Flyover Fact Sheet (pdf).

And here's a cool Plane-Spotting Guide to help you identify the planes (over 70 are scheduled to participate). Considering these are all prop-planes, it should be LOUD and glorious.

Update -- now with far away pix!

Source: ww2flyover.org

May 07, 2015

Buzzfeed article: "Why cops like me are quiet"

May 07, 2015/ Drew

I wanted to pass along this interesting article about police violence, written by a former NYPD police officer. While it doesn't break a lot of new ground in the message, it does talk to the marginalization of the "80-90% of good officers by the smaller percentage of bad apples" and the media / public response to those bad apples.

Of particular interest to me was the idea of not putting young / inexperienced officers in higher crime / higher poverty areas, but putting more experienced officers and leadership in those areas. Thing is, those aren't areas people aspire to work in. But it's those areas that need the most patient, informed and experienced officers.

He also talks about the divide in media frenzy. A civilian is killed in police custody and there are protests and riots. An officer is gunned down in the street without provocation by a criminal, and it doesn't get much media play. There's no demonstration to protect officer's lives. Why?

Lastly, the police don't interact daily with 95% of residents unless the resident is a victim of crime. Most of their interactions can be negative, dangerous and ultimately, help to create a jaded view. Police are regular people and are impacted by what they experience.

It's a complicated affair.

Source: Buzzfeed.

May 06, 2015

DC loses firefighter Lt. Kevin McRae

May 06, 2015/ Drew

1300 block of Seventh Street NW (Courtesy D.C. Fire) — 1300 block of Seventh Street NW (Courtesy D.C. Fire)

Very saddened to hear about the DC firefighter who died in the line of duty this morning. DCFD was fighting a fire on 7th St NW in Shaw, and Lt. Kevin McRae collapsed while exiting the building.

DC's bravest.

From the Washington Post article:

"The fire was first reported about 8 a.m. in a building in the 1300 block of Seventh Street NW, two blocks north of Mount Vernon Square and the convention center. Tim Wilson, a fire department spokesman, said it was extinguished in less than one hour.

McRae’s unit was one of the first to arrive on the scene to help put out the fire, according to [Mayor] Bowser. He safely exited the building and then collapsed. Paramedics transported him to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead."

Read the full story on the Washington Post website: D.C. firefighter dies after fighting 2-alarm apartment fire in Shaw