It’s all about the neighborhood
Some brazen fellow robbed our local Annie's Ace Hardware store (1240 Upshur St NW) after closing on Wednesday, September 16, around 10pm. Luckily, Annie's has cameras throughout the store and has video of the robber. Watch a video to see if you know the robber, after the break:
Read MoreInspector Vendette Parker poses for a selfie with Drew, June 3, 2015
4D substation commander Inspector Vendette Parker is headed off to be the 7th District's newest Commander. Her promotion is effective Sunday. She's going to have a busy workload.
Inspector Parker has been a great resource for me and has worked hard for the Petworth and Ward 4 community.
I wish her the best of luck!
Inspector Parker's email is below:
It is bittersweet that I must send this email. Effective Sunday I will take command of the Seventh District. I have really enjoyed my time at the Fourth District. The relationships and partnerships are irreplaceable. I hope that in my short time here, I have had as much of a positive impact on you as you all have had on me. This is not goodbye but instead, until I see you again.
Inspector Vendette T. Parker, CPM
Fourth District
Chief Cathy Lanier responded to an email from a resident the other day about the recent surge in violence, and confusion as to the reasons cited by MPD, the Police Union and the media. The Chief followed up today with another email to the MPD listservs with citations for her responses. See her email from August 26th after the break:
Read MoreIf you’re already a member of a listserv, then you know about the plethora of information out there from neighbors, some useful, some not so much. But some people, long-time residents and new comers alike, don’t know all the different options available to stay informed on events and information in the area. To help that, I’ve put together a new page on Petworth News with a list of area listservs that you might find useful. Read more about area listservs...
Read MorePopville posted an interesting email exchange between a resident who lives in MPD's 3rd District and Chief Cathy Lanier. The resident emailed the Chief asking for clarification on a number of items that have been bouncing back and forth in various listservs, police union messages and the news.
In a series of well-written emails to the Chief, the resident asked for clear answers on the reasons for the surge in violence and homicides, and wanted evidence to back up MPD's publicized answers.
Read more after the break...
Read MoreIf you're a fan of the elevator at the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metro station, it's going to be "rehabilitated." (I'm assuming that means a replacement or at least an update to include air fresheners...)
According to an email from Ann Chisholm at WMATA, the elevator will be out of service on August 25th until December 2015.
Shuttle service can be arranged by calling 202-962-1825.
Here's hoping they get all the escalators fixed before August 25th.
(h/t Commissioner Zach Teutsch)
Image courtesy of Raymond Bryson.
WAMU reporter Martin Austermuhle published an article today about Grant Circle residents being sued for $25 million dollars. The developer, Jay Gross, is accusing residents Oscar Beisert, Thomas Woodruff and Stephen Wright of "conspiring to stop him from renovating and expanding" three rowhouses located on Grant Circle (7, 14 & 15 Grant Circle).
Read more about the lawsuit and the developer's complaint:
Read MoreWhile at a community event this evening, I met and spoke with DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo about some resident concerns that I've heard recently, as well as the issue of how DDOT conducts traffic safety analyses.
You may not know this, but Leif Dormjso is new to the job. He's been the Director of the DC Department of Transportation for only six months and already has a full schedule of work and changes identified. "There's a lot to do fix the department and make it more effective than it has been," he said. "I think it's a 2-year process for DDOT to improve."
I brought up the concern outlined in my article that DDOT may not be using the most complete set of traffic collision data possible. Mr Dormjso told me he read the article, "I agree with you," he said. "I don't think we're getting all the information we should be. It's something that I'm working to fix."
Read my full impromptu interview with DDOT's Director:
Read MoreI was watching DPW working in the alley this morning, clearing out the old concrete (they're all about Alleypalooza and what not).
First they used a massive jackhammer to drill holes into the concrete, then they brought in the excavator to dig up said concrete, carting it away in a large dump truck.
All the things I loved when I was a kid. You know, big trucks making a lot of loud rumbling noise, shaking the house and breaking things apart? Yes!
The finished product.
While researching the article about the stop signs needed at Quincy Street and Kansas Avenue, I realized there might be a disconnect with how DDOT determines traffic safety measures for specific areas of the District.
From my interviews with MPD and DDOT as well as my own research, it seems that DDOT may be making traffic safety decisions based on analysis of incomplete crash data. The only way to know for sure is to have DDOT take a closer look at their reporting and analysis methodology.
Read the full article to learn more about my research into DDOT crash reporting and possible analysis issues:
Read MoreWith the Prince of Petworth no longer living in Petworth, I've been repeatedly asked by people, and a couple of DC media outlets, over the past two days if I see this as an opportunity to "take over the Petworth blogging scene." First thing I'll say, as I've always said, is that Dan and I aren't rivals, and I don't believe our blogs compete. Others may disagree.
Read my full thoughts after the break:
Read MoreThere are many ways to help your neighbor, especially if getting a balanced meal for a child is a problem. To help, the DC government has a program called DC Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP) that offers free breakfast and lunch to all persons under age 18 who stop by the Petworth Rec Center (8th & Taylor NW). They serve meals Monday through Friday.
The program runs June through August with most sites opening June 22 and closing August 22. Meal times and dates vary by location.
Hunger doesn’t take a summer break.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), known in Washington, DC as the DC Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP), provides reimbursement for free nutritious meals and snacks served to children 18 and younger. These meals help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.
When school is out, the meals served as a part of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are not available, and due to families' limited budgets, or other circumstances, children will often miss wholesome meals. The FSMP fills this gap and parents benefit from some help in stretching their food dollars and by knowing that their children are receiving healthy meals in a supportive environment.
The Free Summer Meals Program has served over 1 million meals to children and youth in the District of Columbia in the past three summers.
So this is pretty interesting, and frankly, is something that everyone should attend. The USAO's office (United States Attorney's Office) is holding its 5th Annual United States Attorney's Office Youth Summit. The summit focuses on educating youth about understanding their rights and responsibilities when interacting with law enforcement. The goal is to teach kids how to deal with the police so that interactions don't escalate. Read more for details:
Read MoreThere's been a lot of conversation around the neighborhood and recently on area listservs about pedestrian safety conditions at Grant Circle. The most common complaint is that drivers fail to stop for people trying to walk across the circle.
People have told stories about walking across with their kids, have a car stop to wait for them, only to have another car come zipping around the first and almost hitting the pedestrians.
Residents have been asking for DDOT and Ward leadership to made changes to the Circle for years, and there is a plan that might help increase safety for pedestrians... Read the full article and see pictures of a proposed solution after the break:
Read MorePetworth News, a neighborhood blog on local news, information & events about the Petworth area in Washington DC.
Petworth News is a news site about Petworth area neighborhoods in Washington DC, written by Drew Schneider and other amazing contributing writers. It features facts and objective reporting, as well as an occasional subjective point of view and opinion.
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