Stop Ticketing Us: Some fed-up parents complain they’ve been ticketed for years; and although the school tried to distribute decals for parents to display on their windshields, the informal agreement did not dissuade parking enforcement administrators. Parent Andrea Brobgins, who has received two tickets, told City Desk: “They should at least have a safety zone. I’m so scared to get a ticket, I stay in my car. Luckily I have a high school student who can go get my kids, otherwise I don’t know what I’d do.”

It's Rush Hour: According to a D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) study on a nearby portion of L Street, “This section is experiencing congestion and numerous parking related problems…the major aggravator is illegal parking.” DDOT spokesman John Lisle says: "If we make an adjustment to the hours, there could be other impacts, like on rush hour traffic. It's something we'd have to look into."

Next Step: Pamela Johnson, another Thomson parent who has repeatedly contacted DDOT and the office of D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray seeking relief, is on a crusade! Petition? Protest? Lisle says DDOT is looking into solutions such as extending the standing-only time until after 6. In the meantime, beware the meter maid.

Photo by Alicegop, Creative Commons Attribution License

In all likelihood, we will spend this evening stuck on the Metro, sardined between a sharp umbrella and a musty-smelling parka, so instead, let’s picture ourselves in Waimea Bay—where hot surfers are grappling with 30-50 foot Pacific waves in the epic Quicksilver surf competition. Feel better? I don’t either.

I bet on the north shore of Oahu, bronzed surfers can bike to their favorite fresh fish taco stand without running into a parking enforcement vehicle.

D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells helped save the H Street NE corridor shuttle this week. While doing so, he tweeted on Monday: “Just spoke with the Mayor re H street shuttle. Very promising.” Can someone please tell me why I am reduced to reading 140 character posts for news? What dimension is this?!

Apparently one in which a former Bethesda honors student decides a good after-graduation plan is to assassinate the president.

And one where the former opinion editor of the Washington Times is suing the paper for—among other reasons—pressure to attend a Unification Church event.

I’m trying to ignore those budding reality TV stars, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, but the 24/7 news cycle keeps vomiting them back up: Apparently they plan to plead the Fifth if subpoenaed.

Okay, reality isn’t always so bad: President Barack Obama is allocating more than $167 million to arts and humanities endowments, there's a rad beer tasting with City Paper's own Beerspotter tomorrow, and there are some great local Indie bands playing at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Friday. And the escalators at the east entrance of the Columbia Heights metro are working! 

Oh wait, no they're not. As of Tuesday, all the escalators are off on both sides. I am in Oahu. I am in Oahu. 

Photo of where I'd rather be by Michael Dawes, Creative Commons Attribution License

The Issue: The latest brush-up in the library turf wars is in Ward 8. In September, City Desk reported that some residents were unhappy with the new Washington Highlands Library’s futuristic pod design. The plan is still to raze the old library on 115 Atlantic St. SW and replace it with the new design in 2011. But some are making a last ditch effort to save the old library. They argue that the D.C. Public Library (DCPL) went ahead and closed it before the neighborhood had a chance to have its say. With Ward 8 having one of the lowest literacy rates in the District and only one full-service library—why are neighbors complaining about a spanking new building?

Save It! Some say that renovation is more eco-friendly and the money saved from renovating the building—about $2 million—could be used to expand services and hours. Last Saturday, about 40 Ward 8 residents rallied in front of the library to save the building, and four out of the five Ward 8 advisory commissions have passed unanimous resolutions for renovation. Ward 1C ANC Commissioner Chris Otten told City Desk: “The library moved quickly to close, even though [DCPL] doesn’t have the raze permit yet, or neighborhood support. The building is going to sit empty for months now.” In the meantime, he says, the neighborhood will lose valuable community meeting space because of the interim library’s small size. Ward 8E Commissioner Karlene Armstead feels DCPL closed the library without community consent: “Everything DCPL told us they were going to do has been lies, trickery, and deceit.”

Raze It! (And We’ll Give You a New One!): The $9.5 million library, designed by renowned British architect David Adjaye, will include a “garden, study rooms, new computers and an outdoor amphitheater." DCPL spokesman George Williams says the neighborhood was notified about the building closure through outreach at that library, media notices, and DCPL’s Web site. As far as the raze permit goes, he says it is up to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) to notify the ANC. He added that there is will be community meeting space opened up at Hadley Hospital and the new library will have a meeting room that accommodates 100.

Next Step: The new interim library will open around the corner at 4035 South Capitol St. SW on Dec. 21; the raze permit is currently sitting with DCRA.

Note: This post initially included a different version of the design rendering; the one above is the most current. Drawing plan courtesy of DCPL.

]]> http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/04/neighborhood-watch-ward-8-gets-new-library-wants-to-give-it-back/feed/ 8 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/03/neighborhood-watch-community-questions-mount-pleasant-library-renovations/ http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/03/neighborhood-watch-community-questions-mount-pleasant-library-renovations/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:48:22 +0000 Dana Liebelson http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=38558

The Issue: Is the new Mt. Pleasant Library plan not taking the neighborhood into account? Renovation of the library on 16th Street NW, near Lamont Street, is part of the citywide library expansion project; construction is slated to begin in 2010. Among other changes, the plan includes renovating the accessibility ramp for disabled and elderly users and expanding the building to the library property line. But some oppose the new ramp, and the District Dynamos, a library oversight group, says the expansion cuts off emergency access to apartment buildings in the back. Advisory neighborhood commissioners believe these issues are part of a larger problem: the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) failing to involve the local communities in the project.

Renovate the Renovations: At least 10 organizations, including the Equal Rights Center and ADAPT, have expressed opposition to the new ramp on the grounds that it’s three times as long as the old one and forces disabled and elderly patrons to enter through the back of the building. Ward 1C ANC Commissioner Chris Otten proposes keeping the old ramp and chopping off part of the expansion to keep the fire lane open. He tells City Desk: “They’re simple suggestions, money-saving suggestions.” Ward 8C ANC Commissioner Theresa Jones adds: “DCPL is persevering without the community. They’re on the fast track to do whatever they want.”

We're Listening!: DCPL says that the ramp complies with guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act and that it is addressing the other concerns. DCPL spokesman George Williams told City Desk: “The experience of those entering on the ramp will not be different than the others. We are moving things in such a way that everyone can access services at the same point.” The jury is still out on the emergency access issue.

Next Step: Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham is organizing a meeting with DCPL, the architect, and seniors and residents with disabilities in the next couple of weeks.

Photo courtesy of DCPL

This morning’s roundup is dedicated to those barking underdogs: the tyrannized standing up to the tyranny, the teens throwing pumpkin pies at the teachers, and, um, the yogis fighting for freedom of speech? Three yoga teachers in Virginia are filing a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of  imposing license requirements on teacher-training programs. They argue that their karmic teaching qualifies as free speech. But the yogis also appear to be up in arms about a more earthly problem: the hefty state-issued $2,500 licensing fee.

Are you a Blade Man or a Metro Weekly Man? Who cares! You beat the man 11-2! Get married!

What? You have a wedding ring and still can’t figure out what kind of man you are? Maybe you are a Brightest Young Gay! The D.C. blog Brightest Young Thing is expanding its LGBT coverage and looking for “writers, photographers, editors, artists, event planners, and fornicators.”

An unlucky dude who T-boned a cop car wrote to Prince of Petworth looking for a shoulder to cry on. Read the comments: Looks like half of D.C. has hit a po-po too. Support group?

Two AIDS activists fed up with the three-year-long wait list for housing for those with HIV/AIDS, tried to stick it to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty yesterday afternoon by squatting outside the bullpen of City Hall. They were arrested on a misdemeanor.

Those sneaky underdogs Michaele and Tareq Salahi—the White House Crashers—said on the Today Show: “We did not party crash…there isn’t anyone who would have the audacity or the poor behavior to do that.” I am so using that line.

And finally, there’s a George Washington University student roaming my campus after spending 10 years in prison and juvenile detention after a first-degree murder conviction—which was overturned after he was proved innocent. This scholarly underdog is now off acing Intro to Criminal Justice.

Photo of yogi on thin ice by Sami Taipale, Creative Commons Attribution License

The Issue: A handful of Dumpsters are wreaking a disproportionate amount of havoc near Logan Circle. The six offenders live near Claridge Towers at 12th and M Streets NW. Neighbors complain not only that the garbage is picked up at ungodly hours but that the Dumpsters are overflowing, forcing residents of the apartment building to walk around—and smell—the resulting mess.

What’s That Smell? Some residents are fed up with the lack of maintenance and are putting together a petition for the building management. Dorothy Settles, who has tried to get city politicians interested in the issue, to no avail, told City Desk: “They dump the trash at four or five in the morning, and leave the Dumpsters uncovered on the sidewalk. Kids and the elderly have to walk in the street, and the odor is horrendous. I’ve been complaining for years. Who wants to live in a trash dump?” According to DPW, trash collection hours are not supposed to start until 6:30 a.m.

Our Trash Runneth Over: Who wants to step up to defend overflowing trash? It’s the apartment building’s responsibility for Dumpster upkeep. But the problem hasn’t exactly become a headliner: The item failed to make the agenda at the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting.

Next Step: Come on, people, take some pride in your Dumpsters.

Photo of non-relevant Dumpster by MBK, Creative Commons Attribution License

Like locusts swarming from above, a new (pink) cupcake truck and New York-based Crumbs Bake Shop are showering the District with more overpriced, nauseatingly cute cupcakes. Does this mean we have to suffer through another dreadful Washington Post war? Matt, commenting on Prince of Petworth, says: “I see sub-prime cupcake crisis coming! Cupcake bailout?”

Undoubtedly the result of the massive cupcake crisis, WTOP reports that federal and retail positions are being inundated with an unprecedented number of job applications—some federal positions that previously attracted 25 applicants are now getting up to 400. Accompanying the article is a photo of a handsome, sneering man who is clearly thinking: “You won't even get a job at a cupcake place! Have fun decorating your cardboard box, intern.”

The city is distributing more than 122,000 plastic reusable bags to low-income residents to prepare them for the 5-cent bag fee that goes into effect Jan. 1. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty says it’s for the “Skip the Bag, Save the River” campaign, but really it’s due to the massive cupcake shortage! Start stockpiling those crumbs!

Americans are rediscovering frugality and spending money only on life’s staples: specifically, canned beans and Sarah Palin's memoir, which was officially released yesterday. Clearly, the cupcake-crazed are already going rogue.

And finally, the New York Daily News offers evidence that Clint Eastwood is not very impressed by the rogue cupcake crisis: He lamented to GQ that “it seems like our country is in kind of a morbid mood because of the recession or whatever…we have a bunch of teenage twits.”

Photo by Bev, Creative Commons Attribution License

The infamous Chevron gas station near the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Malcolm X Avenue SE, which has inspired enough hate-laced prose to fill the Library of Congress, has undergone a makeover. Is it just a fresh coat of paint, or has the station cleaned up its act? According to commentators on the blog Southeast Socialite, problems in the past have included attendants not updating the price of gas, pumps routinely giving free showers to customers, and broken credit card machines. The community recently mobilized through old-fashioned means—writing letters—and more modern methods, such as hounding the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) through Twitter.

As a result, DCRA began an investigation and Chevron de-branded the station—ultimately removing all of its signage  Oct. 26. The station now belongs to Crown Central, which painted the gas pumps white and added new lighting. But the Advoc8te, from the blog Congress Heights on the Rise, is doubtful that changing the brand is going to make much of a difference.

“The problems with safety, customer service, and operations are directly related to the poor management…some business owners have taken advantage of the situation [in Ward 8] and become complacent, if not downright negligent,” she said in an email to City Desk. Although she has yet to speak to anyone who has visited the gas station, she says, the gas station is "going to have to do what every other responsible business is going to have to do. Earn our business.”

Photo by Martin Deutsch, Creative Commons Attribution License

The Issue: In an overhaul of green spaces in the District,  residents in Park View and the surrounding area may be left without a park to view. The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), a rolling 272-acre campus, has not been open to the public since 1968—but the community still considers it the neighborhood’s primary green space, and there have been several proposals over the years to open the land to general use. But now the AFRH is planning to develop the northwest southeast part of the site to increase cash flow and the CapitalSpace Draft Plan, a collaboration of D.C. and federal agencies, has no plans to take the space into consideration. Will residents be left with concrete?

Green Trees! Because the campus has existed since 1851, and was even considered public park space by the McMillan Plan, some say the surrounding area has developed without any green space to speak of: Cliff Valenti, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A chairman, told City Desk: “In other parts of D.C., there are tons of large accessible parks within walking distance… [the plan] really needs to consider equal distribution of park space in our city.” He added that, instead of condos, AFRH should consider leasing the space to the National Park Service to raise revenue.

Green Money! According to the AFRH development plan website, the home was hit with a financial crisis in the 1990s and was permitted by Congress in 2002 to explore a private development option. AFRH says: “New businesses and housing will generate jobs for neighbors, enhance property values and create new tax revenue.” Ross, writing on the blog Prince of Petworth, says, “They are vastly under funded and desperate.”

Next Step: Valenti says the ANC issued a letter of opposition to parts of the plan at its meeting yesterday. In the meantime, tree-lovers have until Dec. 8 to submit comments to CapitalSpace. Jeff Hinkle, a spokesman for the CapitalSpace plan, says, “Our partner agency team is already reviewing comments and discussing responses.”

Photo by Blacknell, Creative Commons Attribution License

The Issue:

Not Good: Besides being peeved about the eyesore factor, locals gave an impassioned presentation at a Ward 6B Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) meeting in October about the potential health concerns of radio  waves. ANC Commissioner David Garrison told City Desk, “For this particular kind of facility, a specific neighborhood notification process does not exist. It certainly would be helpful if it did.” In his time as ANC commissioner, he says, he has never heard of cellular towers being placed on a residential building.

Good (or At Least Not Bad): The towers will help eliminate dropped calls! Also, because they meet DCRA and Federal Communication Commission demands, there may be little the community can do about them: Garrison says, “Even if HPO had been consulted [before the installation]…they do not have jurisdiction over whether or not the towers can be put up.” Terry McDonald, the property manager of the apartments, told Capital Community News: “Our opinion was if it is legal we can have the deal.” (He did not disclose his revenue from renting the rooftop to T-Mobile.) As for the health issue, the American Cancer Society says, “No human studies have focused specifically on cellular phone towers, or even on radio waves more generally.” Animal studies suggest the towers do not pose a cancer risk.

Next Step: According to Garrison, it's not likely the ANC will follow up on this due to the fact that “federal law effectively trumps local concerns.”

Photo by Jeff Kubina, Creative Commons Attribution License

Have you thanked a veteran today? What are you waiting for? Technology is only getting faster! That’s right, soon you will be able to thank a veteran by using a technology chip in your mind! (No, there’s no actual link to that…it's just a theory.)

Can’t remember if the Georgetown Circulator exists? Download the new iPhone app! And while you’re at it, you may soon be able to pay for parking at meters with your cell phone! Isn’t technology great? Oh wait, WUSA has just reported that there is a new virus that downloads child porn onto your computer. Does it call Chris Hansen too?

Do you Twitter? Do you use LinkedIn? This was actually a secret intern test to remember not to trust you (because you are obviously over 30, we don't touch that stuff). Anyway, the two companies announced a new partnership yesterday.

Stop the presses (are there any left to stop?)—commenters on Prince of Petworth universally agree that the new mural on Sherman Avenue and Barry Place NW is awesome.

The Advoc8te bemoans the lack of local news coverage in Ward 8, and argues that bloggers have been picking up most of the slack. Looks like print journalism’s fat lady is singing before I even graduate. At least when I’m unemployed, I’ll still be able to get a haircut.

Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service has reportedly placed an online ad for a new dean. A commenter says, “Let’s also put it on Craigslist. Then people searching for DVD players can also apply.”

And two things technology has yet to solve: death and politics. John Allen Muhammad, the D.C. sniper, was pronounced dead by lethal injection last night at 9:11 p.m. EST.

WTOP also reported on Monday that it caught Mayor Adrian M. Fenty biking in Bethesda in (gasp!) a no-biking zone. Oh right, he also used police officers and their handy sirens to clear traffic—apparently a violation of federal law. Evidence of corruption, or political mud-throwing? You decide. But this has to be evidence that we need more bike lanes. Fix that, iPhone.

Photo by Christopher Chan, Creative Commons Attribution License

Bid adieu to your friendly neighborhood sweeper/undercover spy—it’s winter now, according to the Department of Public Works (DPW). Linda Grant, a DPW spokesperson, confirms that street sweeping ends today, and won’t resume again until the spring. She says, “It’s a little colder this year, and the machine’s spray can ice over the streets and cause accidents….There are also lots of leaves on the ground, so we want to focus on leaf collection.” So stop looking over your shoulder for Sweepercams! Park where you want to park! And, seriously, go frolic in some pretty orange leaves before DPW carts them away!

Photo by Wayan Vota, Creative Commons Attribution License

“I Speak for the Trees, for the Trees Have No Tongues”: Hilloholic, writing on the blog Frozen Tropics, says, “Ginkgoes are awesome! Don’t cut them down. I wouldn’t call their smell a huge problem.” There is also a pesticide spray available that halts the production of the smelly fruit—a tactic the Urban Forestry Administration has utilized in the past.

What is That Smell? No stretch here: Many people wouldn't be sad to see the smelly offenders go. The blog DCist has an entire page of comments dedicated to describing the aroma of the ginkgo fruit: Most include some combination of the words “vomit,” “jizz,” and “Parmesan.” As far as the pesticide option, the city found it difficult to complete the spraying in the short time window available, and has mainly used tree removal as a solution in recent years.

Next Step: If you want trees replanted fast, grab neighbors and mobilize: DDOT spokesman John Lisle told City Desk that the city also “requests an agreement saying the community is going to water the tree and assist nurturing it for the first two years.” A commenter also offers this advice: “You have to call to have the tree removed. You can't use the online system because they don't read those reports.”

Photo by Kew Gardens, Creative Commons Attribution License

The Issue:

Testing, 1, 2, 3: Residents say they only want to protect the peace and quiet of their neighborhood: Miles Groves, a representative for the Downtown Neighborhood Association—most of the buildings neighboring the lounge are DNA members—told City Desk: “There are concerns with noise, early morning crowds, parking congestion, and other issues that accompany a dance club environment. We appreciate the ANC's leadership in providing funding for the noise study. We hope [the recommendations] are adopted.” Other residents say that noise is only the tip of the iceberg: Cary Silverman, writing on the blog Mount Vern0n Triangle, says, “the neighborhood may not want a venue that is shuttered and provides little or no community benefit during the day, and causes headaches (literally) at night.”

Is This a Concert or a Business? When the idea of hiring a sound expert was first proposed in October, some commissioners expressed concern that the ANC was going too far: Commissioner Tom Hamilton told Capital Community News, “What is our role here? What are we actually doing here? I just find this absurd. I’m sorry.” According to the paper, Yousefi had also already contacted a sound engineer independently. He has stressed that he doesn't envision the lounge as a “nightclub," hoping instead it will be a long-term neighborhood fixture.

Next Step: Commissioner Charley Docter says there's a negotiation session with Yousefi today, at which the ANC will present the findings of the sound expert. Groves hopes they will emerge with a voluntary agreement in place. “As long as the crowds and noise are contained within the establishment, everyone wins," he says. "This process gives us all a voice in our neighborhood.” The hearing with the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration is set for Dec. 2.

Photo by Chris Gold, Creative Commons Attribution License

Happy NaBloPoMo! Or for the less tech-savvy: National Blog Posting Month. Apparently, there are bloggers who have vowed to post every day for the month of November! Don’t worry, slacker-bloggers with other responsibilities—City Desk has plenty of posts to go around. That’s what interns are for.

The New York Times is asking readers to look back at the year since President Barack Obama’s election and sum up their mood. As of Tuesday night, Democrats are “hopeful,” “proud,” and “thankful.” Republicans are “suspicious,” “depressed,” and… “unsurprising.” Please assign grammar lessons to those unsurprising Republicans. Also, Republicans can add some new words today after last night's election returns. Bob McDonnell!

At 12:01 a.m., the National Park Service debuted its new online lottery for the National Christmas Tree ceremony tickets. There are some 10,000 tickets available, and the lottery closes Friday. On the plus side: No more fending off tourists and huddling in the cold for hours to see a tree lit. On the downside: Did anyone actually think this through? Thousands upon thousands logging into one government-run Web page? I’d start bundling up the kiddies.  

The Washington Business Journal reported yesterday that D.C. is home to some of the nation’s lowest and highest unemployment rates. In September, unemployment in Ward 8 was at 28.3 percent, while Ward 3 was at 3.2 percent.

But more important, there is apparently a good reason the elevators are always broken in my dorm: All the tuition money went to former George Washington University president Stephen Trachtenberg. The average university head takes home around $359,000 a year. Trachtenberg received $3.7 million a year for his 19 years—$2 million more than any other university president. Unsurprisingly, on Tuesday 66 percent of NBC Washington readers were “furious.” And 6 percent marked their reaction as “thrilled.”

Were these the same 6 percent “furious” Obama is holding babies?

According to the blogger at 14^th and You, someone broke into her car—apparently to steal an ice-scraper and some mid-Atlantic maps. It’s a tough time to be a NaBloPoMo’er.

Prince of Petworth has a post bemoaning a certain dog walker. Apparently, “at 14 dogs at a time, this isn’t attention or exercise for your dog. Just a factory.” Besides doing some intense division concerning poops per minute, commenters also said the following:

“Kudos, dogwalkerman.”

“With the success of “Nanny Cams”, now comes “Dog Walker Cam.”

“I recognize a couple of these dogs…the owners pay $20 a day. Oh are they going to be pissed.”

“Prince of Petworth, you should become a dog walker on the side to supplement your meager blogging funds!”

And that’s the roundup. I'm locking my car and stealing some puppies.

Image: Web shot of New York Times page