More On Graffiti

Hello Ms. Lyons,
Nothing personal but your responses to my concerns seem rather boiler plate - let alone that they do not address anything specifically except in general about Green Team.
Tourists note these improvements? I don't live where tourists go.
Resources misused? A proactive response might ask why? By whom? How is it avoided? Your sarcasm about every half hour is all you can offer?


--- On Tue, 6/29/10, Lyons, Nancee (DPW) Nancee.Lyons@dc.gov> wrote:

From: Lyons, Nancee (DPW)
Subject: RE: Graffiti and Litter chat questions

Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 11:25 AM

All of your concerns are our concerns and we have made great strides in improving the sanitation of Washington, DC, which is regularly noted by tourists. Keeping a clean city takes more than just one government agency. It takes a variety of different entities, including citizens. DPW services are broad and varied. Yes, overflowing public litter cans are a concern but we would have to empty each these cans every half hour to keep them from overflowing when they are being misused. Having the Green Team or BIDs to help keep litter under control is not indicative of an agency failure, it’s an example of government, the business community and volunteers working in concert to help stretch resources. This is just how it should be. DPW doesn’t have the resources to keep constant watch to ensure there is no litter on the street. The Green Team is in place to help us achieve our goals. But citizens also are urged to join us in the fight to keep their communities clean. We encourage neighborhood clean ups and provide free tools and trash bags to achieve this.

Very few cities have a free graffiti removal service. Up until recent legislation, DPW could only remove graffiti by request by the property owner. The graffiti you see on public spaces (that do not belong to the federal government) can be removed once they are spotted and reported. Typically graffiti is removed within 10 days after a request. Gang-related graffiti is removed sooner.

Litter and graffiti is not unique to Washington, DC. It is something all cities are grappling with and there is no perfect solution. In a perfect world, citizens would pick up after themselves and have too much respect for public property to paint graffiti on structures that do not belong to them. In the absence of this we, like every other sanitation service, are doing the best we can. It will take need more than suggestions and complaints from citizens to help achieve a cleaner DC. It will take their collaboration.

Nancee Lyons

Public Affairs Specialist

DC Department of Public Works

2000 14th Street, NW, 6th Fl.

(Reeves Center)

Washington, DC 20009

(202) 671-2637, 671-0642 (fax)

www.dpw.dc.gov Visit us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 5:58 AM
To: Lyons, Nancee (DPW)
Subject: Graffiti and Litter chat questions

Subject: Re: [columbia_heights] Live, Graffiti and Litter Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 5:57 AM As much as I am bothered about an increase in graffiti in my area, I am very concerned about what appears to me as DPW's inability (refusal?) to deal with it when graffiti is reported. Two patches of graffiti remain in my area after multiple 311 calls and service numbers. Both patches were reported to 311 and service numbers were taken. Patch 1 was partially completed and patch 2 was not touched at all, yet 311 reported the service numbers as completed. A second service number was taken for the patch that was not touched at all - again, some graffiti covered but not all. So now a third service number will be filed..... Lets see - one graffiti item, three service calls, one and a half responses but credit for three - It seems to me to have more to do with inflating numbers than doing anything. It's all documented. I have watched the graffiti truck and trailer slowly cruise through the area - when graffiti is on public space like a lamp post, why can't they just paint it? Litter - on 11th st, the Green Team guys do way more than DPW street sweepers. Any ideas on why DPW can't keep 11th between Florida and Monroe clean and it takes a third party service? Public litter cans overflowing because people put household garbage in them (next to them) - is that a DPW concern? Are these the efficiencies Fenty refers to? My area was cleaner in the early 1990s when there was a DPW person who did the street cleaning (before the mechanical sweepers). --- On Fri, 6/25/10, Twine, Kevin (DPW) wrote: From: Twine, Kevin (DPW) Subject: [columbia_heights] Live, One-Hour Chat with DC Department of Public Works: Graffiti and Litter To: Date: Friday, June 25, 2010, 5:05 PM Does nothing irk you more than seeing someone throw trash on the ground, sometimes just a few steps away from a litter can? Is your block a dumping ground for wrappers and cups due to your proximity to fast food restaurants? Are you concerned about a rise in graffiti in your neighborhood? Help discuss ways to combat litter and graffiti in your neighborhood by joining DPW’s hour-long online chat Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 12:00 pm. DPW staff who collect litter and remove graffiti will discuss daily efforts to keep the city clean and also address concerns about litter and graffiti “hot spot” areas. We also need your feedback on future online discussion topics! Residents can join or follow the discussion at dpw.dc.gov/livechat once the chat session begins. Residents also may submit questions in advance on DPW’s Twitter account (http://twitter. com/DCDPW), Facebook page, or by email to nancee.lyons@ dc.gov. WHAT: Live, One-Hour Chat with DC Department of Public Works WHEN: Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 12:00-1:00 pm WHERE: dpw.dc.gov/livechat Kevin B. Twine Staff Assistant Department of Public Works Office of the Director 2000 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Ph: 202-671-2593 Fx: 202-671-0642 kevin.twine@ dc.gov

Kinda Looks Funny Mistah Fenty

Former drug supplier to Barry now Fenty campaign contributor

By: Alan Suderman
Examiner Staff Writer
June 28, 2010

A restaurateur who testified 20 years ago that he supplied then-Mayor Marion Barry with cocaine, a Caribbean hotel room for his girlfriend, and money in return for political access is tied to $6,000 given to Mayor Adrian Fenty's re-election campaign.

Hassan Mohammadi, his wife, Yasaman Rowhani, and his Delaware-based restaurant each gave the Fenty campaign $2,000 on March 9, campaign records show.

So far, Fenty has declined to say whether he will give back the money.

Mohammadi testified in 1990 that he provided Barry with cocaine more than 30 times, according to published accounts of the former mayor's trial that followed an FBI sting operation at a D.C. hotel. Once, Mohammadi testified, he brought cocaine to Barry at the mayor's office in the District Building.

Mohammadi also testified that that he paid for a hotel room for Barry's girlfriend on a drug-fueled trip to the Bahamas and supplied the current Ward 8 councilman with thousands of dollars in chips for a casino. The value of the chips was not paid back.

"I covered wherever I could," Mohammadi testified in regards to Barry's drug use, according to published accounts. "I was a true friend for Mr. Mayor; I was always there for Mr. Mayor."

Mohammadi, an Iranian immigrant who used to own the Pardis Cafe in Georgetown, won a $195,000 city contract to do publicity work for the D.C. Lottery Board when Barry was mayor, accounts show.

His testimony against Barry was part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors to avoid deportation and a stiffer penalty over a drug charge.

The donations where first reported in April by the Washington City Paper, which also reported at the time that a Fenty campaign aide was unaware of Mohammadi's background.

Fenty's June 10 financial disclosure form showed only one refund, which was not related to Mohammadi's donations.

Fenty has been a prodigious fundraiser and reported in June he had more than $3 million on hand for his battle with D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray. The primary is less than three months away.

Mohammadi could not be reached for comment.

The Fenty campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

Dorothy Brizill, founder of the local government watchdog D.C. Watch, said it's puzzling that the Fenty campaign wouldn't return Mohammadi's funds given his past reputation.

"You give money in essence for access and influence -- what access and influence is he seeking from the Fenty administration?" Brizill said, adding that Fenty is "not that desperate for $6,000 when he's got that much money in the bank."

asuderman@washingtonexaminer.com

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Former-drug-supplier-to-Barry-now-Fenty-campaign-contributor-97269139.html

Good Questions From William Jordan

Various people think William Jordan is goes on too much about too much on the various neighborhood list serves but in my opinion he asks good questions - a recent posting of his from the South Columbia Heights list serve:

Developer Accountability From the Mayor and City Council?

Posted by: "whj@melanet.com" whj@melanet.com whjmela

Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:32 pm (PDT)

Dear Mayor & Council,

According to accounts in the Washington Business Journal (June 11-17, 2010) reporting on finding recently released by the DC Auditor, Donatelli Development's failure to comply with DC First Source Laws has cost District Residents approximately $2,153,568 in wages. As well, may be out of compliance with city Storm Water Management regulations, Highland Park Project, yet during one of the toughest budget years in a decade, the Council & Mayor plan to reward this development company with over $8.0M in property tax relief, with zero strings attached. In fact, if the budget passes as is Donatelli Development will be issued a refund check for approximately $1.5M.

Are there any plans by the Mayor or Council to bring any accountability to this matter. Or does this development company fall under the AIG rule. Can someone explain this.

William Jordan, ANC1A 05



"FISCAL YEAR 2011 BUDGET SUPPORT ACT OF 2010" (page 217).

http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20100413171523.pdf

9 SUBTITLE D. PARK PLACE AT PETWORTH, HIGHLAD PARK, AD
10 HIGHLAD PARK PHASE II ECOOMIC DEVELOPMET ACT OF 2010
11 Sec. 7041. Short title.
12 This subtitle may be cited as the “Park Place at Petworth, Highland Park, and Highland
13 Park Phase II Economic Development Amendment Act of 2010†.
14 Sec. 7042. Section 3 of the Park Place at Petworth, Highland Park, and Highland Park
15 Phase II Economic Development Act of 2010, signed by the Mayor on January 25, 2010 (D.C.
16 Act 18-290; 57 DCR 1186) is repealed.
17 Sec. 7043. Section 47-4624 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended to read
18 as follows:
19 (a) Subsection (b) is amended to read as follows:
20 “(b) Starting on October 1, 2010, the Park Place at Petworth, Highland Park, and
21 Highland Park Phase II Properties shall be exempt from the real property tax imposed by Chapter
8 of this title for 20 years as follows: 10 years at 50% and a 5% increase in years 1 11 through 20
2 until the annual real property taxation equals 100%.†.
3 (b) A new subsection (b-1) is added to read as follows:
4 “(b-1) All interest and penalties associated with real property taxes that have been
5 assessed for the period beginning on October 1, 2008, and ending 45 days after the effective date
6 of the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Act of 2010 against the Park Place at Petworth, Highland
7 Park, or Highland Park Phase II Properties, shall be forgiven, and any payments already made for
8 this period, as of the effective date of this act, shall be refunded or credited against real property
9 taxes owed on the properties.â€

Fiscal Impact Statement - Park Place at Petworth, Highland Park and Highland Park Phase II
Highland [http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/fiscal_impact/pdf/spring09/B18-231_.pdf] http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/fiscal_impact/pdf/spring09/B18-231_.pdf
Auditor’s Review of Environmental Standards Requirements Pursuant to the Compliance Unit Establishment Act of 2008
[http://dcauditor.org/DCA/Reports/DCA052010.pdf] http://dcauditor.org/DCA/Reports/DCA052010.pdf
Auditor's Review of Compliance With the Living Wage Act and First Source Act Requirements Pursuant to the Compliance Unit Establishment Act of 2008
http://dcauditor.org/DCA/Reports/Livg%20Wage%201st%20Srce%20Act_20100607162643.pdf

Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct and resisting arrest have long been charges police use when nothing else is working. Both charges have definitely been overused and often used abusively by police as a harassing tactic. Not withstanding such abuses, the following case makes me wonder. What does it take to be legally disorderly?



D.C. police's search for drugs on D.C. teen is ruled illegal

By Mary Pat Flaherty
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 4, 2010; B01

A few days before Christmas 2005 at nearly midnight, a uniformed District police officer patrolling the Sursum Corda neighborhood in Northwest heard a 16-year-old on a corner call out his name and ask, "What's up?"

That was before the yelling.

And it was the yelling -- not the $974 in cash or the 24 baggies of crack cocaine that police later found on the teenager -- that landed Officer Robert Elliott and the juvenile in a rare but important case before the D.C. Court of Appeals.

The appeals court said Thursday that the teen had been searched unreasonably after a flawed arrest for disorderly conduct. The decision angered the city's police union and overturned a lower court's decision that concluded that the youth had been disorderly and had crack that he intended to distribute.

If prosecutors wanted to retry the teenager, identified in court papers as T.L., for drug possession, they "theoretically" were free to do so, the appeals court said. But prosecutors cannot use the crack they found hidden in T.L.'s pants because they had searched him illegally.

As described in the appeals court opinion:

Elliott was driving in the 1100 block of First Place NW in the neighborhood near Union Station on Dec. 22, 2005, when he saw men on a corner "notorious" for drive-by shootings and drug dealing.

T.L. called out, "Hey, Elliott, what's up?" The group dispersed, but T.L. remained as Elliott asked him, "You got any drugs or guns on [you]?"

T.L. answered, "Yo, Officer Elliott, you know me. I ain't got no drugs or guns. . . . Go ahead and search me."

Elliott did. He found two "wads" of cash totaling $974 in the teen's coat and pants pockets. Elliott seized the cash, telling T.L. that he was taking it because they were in a high drug-trafficking area and it was "a large amount of currency to have on your person."

If T.L. could produce a pay stub, Elliott told him, he "possibly" could get the cash back after it was processed at the police station.

T.L. began calling for his mother and yelling: "They're taking my money. I work at McDonald's. I got that money working for McDonald's."

Between 10 and 15 people came out of their townhouses to see what was happening.

To the officer, the gathering crowd was a potential threat. He testified that the growing number of people could be incited and harm bystanders, officers and the teen. Elliott said he considered it "very dangerous" to draw a crowd, "especially in Sursum Corda." Elliott repeatedly told T.L. to quiet down, and when he didn't, he arrested him for disorderly conduct. A search followed, and police found the bags of crack cocaine in T.L.'s pants, according to court papers.

In explaining the reason for the arrest, the officer and prosecutors pointed to a part of the disorderly conduct statute that covers noise or shouts inside or outside a building during the night that annoy or disturb a "considerable number" of people.

The appeals court rejected that argument, saying T.L. did not urge the peaceful crowd to interfere. T.L. might have been annoying to his neighbors, but "there is no evidence they were hostile or likely to become violent," so the rationale for his arrest was wrong. Because police had no reason to arrest him, the search that followed was illegal, it said.

T.L. was adjudicated as involved -- the juvenile court equivalent of guilty -- on the disorderly conduct and drug charges.

The Public Defender Service appealed. Julie Leighton, spokeswoman for the service, said the office does not comment on appeals cases.

The appeals court's decision outraged the union representing D.C. officers.

"At some point, police have to be allowed to be the police," said Kristopher Baumann, head of the labor committee for the local Fraternal Order of Police. "The District of Columbia is never going to get a handle on crime if appellate judges keep substituting their view of what is safe or unsafe in high-drug areas."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304896.html

More on EPA Stormwater Permit For DC

Action letter about the EPA stormwater permit for DC from DC Greenworks and the DC Environmental Network.

Healthy Rivers Equals Healthy Communities

When I woke up this morning I could hear the rain falling outside my window. It made me
think about the 1.6 billion gallons of polluted stormwater and raw sewage that makes its way into our rivers each year. When it rains, DC's parking lots, streets and rooftops funnel polluted runoff laden with bacteria, trash and toxics into our waters, making them unsafe for fishing and swimming. This is important to me because my work as Executive Director of DC Greenworks involves building green roofs that capture and cleanse rainwater runoff, harvesting it as a resource and creating new, green jobs for our city.

You can join me in taking positive action for clean water and greener, healthier neighborhoods in DC. Let's work together to stem the flow of polluted runoff to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and Rock Creek. The opportunity we have for the next month - between now and June 4, 2010 - is to help establish a clean water program with accountability for the District of Columbia.

Tell the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) you want a strong, effective clean water permit for DC - one that promotes healthy rivers and green, healthy communities.

Like other cities and urban counties nationwide, the District of Columbia is required to address polluted runoff with a clean water act permit issued roughly every five years. The EPA has just issued a new "DRAFT" polluted runoff permit to the District, in April, 2010, for the public to review. This permit can help DC to stem the flow of polluted runoff and restore our waters to full health - if it contains specific pollution reduction requirements, with accountability for meeting cleanup targets and deadlines.

Join me in telling EPA you want a strong stormwater permit that promotes healthy rivers and healthy communities. Green roofs, and other green infrastructure projects, are economic drivers that can create new jobs for residents during these hard times.

I know this because my organization is part of a growing movement that is creating new jobs each day focused on restoring our rivers and creeks. Green infrastructure can also help build a vibrant waterfront that will promote livable, walkable, healthy neighborhoods on both sides of the Anacostia River. Green infrastructure can also help the District be a leading green city and help District of Columbia Mayor Fenty reach his stated goals of 40% green roof and tree canopy coverage.

New jobs and healthy communities make this a win-win situation.

Peter Ensign, Executive Director, DC Greenworks