Starting Tuesday, September 1, MPD will use their new Twitter account @DCPoliceTraffic to share real-time traffic information. If you want all traffic all the time, follow the new Twitter account.
Twitter handle updated August 31, 11p.
Interested in public policy, the DC budget, research and information to inform and improve the caliber of public policy discussions or advocacy? This is the place for you: information and intelligence that improves advocacy is the stock in trade of this blog.
Starting Tuesday, September 1, MPD will use their new Twitter account @DCPoliceTraffic to share real-time traffic information. If you want all traffic all the time, follow the new Twitter account.
Twitter handle updated August 31, 11p.
Achieving Financial Wisdom in the Fall w/CAAB's Financial Education 1-Day Money Management 101 Workshop http://t.co/Fgfa9sEpgA @susiecambria
— CAAB (@CAAB_GreaterDC) August 31, 2015
Good afternoon all ....sorry it took me a while to compile this information but I want to send further information on how the Patrol Districts combat violent crime such as robberies, felony assaults, shootings and also citizen complaints that are brought to the attention of the commander...this is in addition to the support that the Chief of Police has provided via specialized units and the patrol support teams.....Each district has an established Crime Suppression Team composed of ten to sixteen uniformed officers that address specific issues that the commander focuses on .... Since June these units have been able to
Make 788 arrests
Recovered 79 GUNS
Executed 43 search warrants
Recovered 23 ATVS
Seized/Recovered hundreds of grams of Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin and PCP
I would like to remind all that each District holds a monthly Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) meeting at their district and at these meetings it is your opportunity to discuss your concerns directly with your Commander and their team.... Also each district has PSA Lieutenants that hold regular community/PSA meetings that can address the concerns in a particular PSA and hold problem solving sessions with those in attendance by involving other agencies and entities for long term issues such as nuisance properties and systemic disorder and crime problems
The schedules and Points of Contact for each are available on our WEBSITE ... also you may inquire through the listserve any additional information you may have
Thank you
And yes, I really was that bored.
Questions? Contact the council by phone, (202) 505-4309, or via email, ward5coe@gmail.com.
Learn more about Fisher and the division in the release.
Nonprofits are encouraged to sign on as a partner. Join the effort by September 1 and you will receive by mail a toolkit including posters, stickers, and other materials so you can make the most of your efforts to help DC residents register to vote.
Sponsored by Capital Area Asset Builders, CNHED and others, the event will consider how banking status impacts low- and moderate-income individuals and families and considers ways to reduce the number of unbanked residents in DC. According the invitation, "Participants can expect a robust discussion about cross-sector strategies that can contribute significantly to a more inclusive, equitable DC economy."
Speakers will include:
Attendance is free, but registration is required.
In her highly anticipated new novel, In the Unlikely Event, Judy Blume creates a moving story of three generations of families, friends and strangers, whose lives are profoundly changed by unexpected events. The beloved author of Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and Summer Sisters discusses her new book and extraordinary career with moderator Samantha Bee.
I favor Bee's intro: "I have to say I'm so thrilled to be here. You know I don't often get starstruck. But tonight is the most profound exception to that rule."
I venture to say I would be squealing like a tween if I were to meet Blume. I loved her books when I was growing up and almost got suspended from middle school for sharing Forever with my friends. My parents prevailed over other parents arguing that at least we were reading. Anyway. Watch the Blume/Bee 92Y Talk. Enjoy.
Ready for #dcfy17 budget development? Word is budget instructions for DC gov agencies to be out in a week or so.
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) August 27, 2015
If you are strapped for time, read TL;DR. This sections briefly covers the most important subjects.
An important word from MailChimp about use of their guide:
If you work at another organization We invite you to use and adapt this style guide as you see fit. It’s completely public and available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. All we ask is that you credit MailChimp.
Thanks to the fine folks on PCDC for sharing this and other valuable information.
Tune in to NewsChannel 8 streaming here, http://news8.net/, to see the conversation.
If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email (newstalk@news8.net) the show.
The event takes place at the Kellogg Conference Center.
Direct questions to DCPCA via email.
The image below shows some of what you will see in the reports; this is only one part of a Ward 8 walk. One improvement to the report would be for MOCRS added a date to the status column.
Post 1 presents an overview of migration in the region, by area and overall. Stone concludes with what many of us know: That the population in the metro area is migratory and transient. His description of the population of the District is easy to understand:
We might think of this in life cycle terms: young students and interns move to DC, get married and move to the suburbs, then, when their kids hit school age, maybe they move somewhere closer to family and affordable education. But it’s very clear that the migration dynamo driving the DC metro area isn’t Virginia or Maryland: it's the District of Columbia itself.
Part 2 examines the patterns of migration by things such as class and family status. As was the case in Part 1, Stone explains the data. And he includes easy-to-understand graphs such as the one below which shows in and out migration by age group and jurisdiction.
Stone considers which states gain people from and lose people to DC in Part 3.
It is Stone's summary of the series that offers food for thought for those interested in community, public policy, and the like:
These trends imply that the DC metro area may provide amenities that serve mobile, low-family-commitment individuals very well. For those without large families and who are comfortable moving frequently and not putting down deep roots, the DC metro area will work well. In other words, high-performing, long-hour professionals are likely to thrive. But on the other hand, the metro area does not appear to provide the right benefits to attract and retain families and older people. The reality is that families and older people aren’t sticking around. Maybe the amenities aren’t good, or maybe the prices are too high, but these groups are in fact valuable for promoting the formation of social capital in a locality. Family ties, and especially multi-generational family ties, encourage people to make social (and financial) investments in their communities and their neighbors that they might not otherwise make. Parents with kids care about the local schools and parks more than 20-somethings. By alienating these essential social builders, the DC metro area makes for itself a situation of ongoing social disconnection, high and persistent inequality, contentious gentrification debates, and perpetual transiency.
Sursum Corda Co-Op would be demolished, redeveloped to 6 times current density under new proposal... http://t.co/WievQlMmDS
— Michael Neibauer (@WBJNeibs) August 19, 2015
A1: No. Bad or inconsistent blogging is worse than no blogging. If there isn't the commitment, don't do it. #socialcentschat
— emilymanahan (@EmilyManahan) August 18, 2015
Every blog post you write has to be high quality, otherwise, don't blog! #socialcentschat
— Ian Cleary (@IanCleary) August 18, 2015
In response to the question "What are three ways people should be driving traffic to their blogs?",
A2: Write Long content. @searchmetrics report showed that long content appears higher in search results #socialcentschat
— Ian Cleary (@IanCleary) August 18, 2015
Important caveats to the long post rec by @RizoltSEO and @ScribblerKris.
A2 Being present on the right social channels. You have to be reaching the RIGHT audience #SocialCentsChat
— Jade Phillips (@lifeofaworkgirl) August 18, 2015
always have your readers in mind when creating #blog content. Think, "what would they be looking for answers to?" #socialcentschat
— INNOVEX (@INNOVEXco) August 18, 2015
And this final thought: Your website is also important. Don't let your website languish in favor of your blog or, in fact, social media in general. Apply the lessons you learn from the chat to your website also.
OAPIA explains the group:
This group was created so that community members can have a space to connect with fellow like-minded individuals interested in all things AAPI. Members are encouraged to share their own news or events that are happening in DC (whether it be an upcoming happy hour, film screening, workshop, etc). MOAPIA will occasionally post updates on current and upcoming events/initiatives.This space is also a way for members to get their questions answered regarding government programs and services. Have a question about sidewalk repairs, small business support, safety, language access, or any other topic? Post your questions here! Or if you just want to voice a concern you have or concerns about your neighborhood, post it here and we will be sure to follow-up.
We look forward to hearing from you and finding ways to better serve you.
I've long been a fan of evaluation and using information―good information―to make decisions. The test and the results (published on Vox) are interesting. If the test results hold true in DC, there is much work to be done to education elected and appointed officials, providers, and the community about what works and what doesn't work.
Test designers Benjamin Todd and William MacAskill (of 80,000 Hours) reach a similar conclusion, not about DC, but about the public and electeds in general. They wrote about it on Vox:
What can we learn from this? Sadly, it isn't possible for the public to know ahead of time whether a nice-sounding idea will actually help people or hurt them. Whether it’s a politician proposing a new social program for young people or a charity fundraiser describing how they are going to help the homeless, neither your head nor your gut can consistently tell you if their approach is going to work. A lot of things that sound good don’t do good, and vice versa.Instead, you have to get experimental evidence. What trials have been run? How did the people who didn’t get the program compare with those who did? Were they comparable groups? What do experts who conduct reviews of the field’s research conclude?
Reactions on Hacker News are also quite interesting. While the readers may not be social science and human services experts, they do have an interest in science and order. I am particularly enamored with the comment by NateLawson. He suggests all legislation include A/B testing; it is a twist on sunsetting provisions.
Thoughts?
Is an urban agricultural renaissance afoot in DC? These farmers say you betcha. http://t.co/QL0QyPsPfI @wamu885news @OberandOut
— Metro Connection (@wamumetro) August 18, 2015
Attendees will hear from experts and engage in conversations about juvenile justice, women and girls in the justice system, and re-entry risks and opportunities, just to name a few topics.
I overhauled my website, for the maybe 0-1 people who care about that http://t.co/AglhnNSwnG
— Ally Schweitzer (@allyschweitzer) August 13, 2015
Connect with Schweitzer about music and more. All of her contact info is on her revamped website, along with links to her recent work. Check it out.
Learn about additional free webinars.
None of this is surprising. And while the report does not offer policy and practice fixes, WalletHub does include the section "Ask the Experts." Advocates and policymakers can use the experts' answers to three questions to make improvements in DC. The questions are:
Hooray for King County, WA (@kcnews)! Their style guide includes a table of simpler alternatives to pompous words: http://t.co/EejuPcwPd4
— bradley fields (@bradleyfields) August 11, 2015
Pleased to announce retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Christopher E. Weaver as new @DCDGS. pic.twitter.com/Uj9rA3TluL
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) August 14, 2015
According to the release, "Georgetown President John J. DeGioia says Murphy will help strengthen the university’s relationships with governmental and community leaders throughout the Washington area and actively support policies and partnerships that advance the university’s mission and vision." In addition, Murphy "will have oversight of the Office of Federal Relations, the primary liaison to the federal government that advocates on behalf of the university on higher education issues affecting students, faculty, and staff."
Congrats Chris!!!
Car Free Day is September 22 according to an August 13 press release from COG.
Those who commit to participating (take the pledge here) may also choose to join a team―#teamwalk, #teamrail, #teambus, #teampool, #teamtelework, or #teambike. Team members are eligible for prizes. Participants are also encouraged to show or write about benefits of alternatives to driving alone.
Car Free Day should resonate with many across the city. Consider, for example, FitDC, Mayor Bowser's challenge to the city to walk one billion steps. And then there's Sustainable DC, the plan to "guide the District to be the healthiest, greenest, most livable city in the nation!" Or, think about Age-Friendly DC and their strategic plan.
Learn more on the Car Free Metro DC website and then decide how you want to roll on September 22.
Listen to the special sounds of street ball in the summer in Southeast D.C.'s Goodman League http://t.co/yVBxzkxdO1 pic.twitter.com/bmWL2c2sod
— WAMU 88.5 News (@wamu885news) August 13, 2015
.@MayorBowser and @TommyWells announce that DDOE is now @DOEE_DC! #energy #environment #dc pic.twitter.com/k4R0CSlB7Z
— Julia RobeyChristian (@capitolhilldc) August 12, 2015
In the book, Wilson, according to Harvard,
takes a look at the social transformation of inner city ghettos, offering a sharp evaluation of the convergence of race and poverty. Rejecting both conservative and liberal interpretations of life in the inner city, Wilson offers essential information and a number of solutions to policymakers. The Truly Disadvantaged is a wide-ranging examination, looking at the relationship between race, employment, and education from the 1950s onwards, with surprising and provocative findings. This second edition also includes a new afterword from Wilson himself that brings the book up to date and offers fresh insight into its findings.
The 2012 event featured five panels:
The first segment, starting with an opening by Wilson and followed by the first panel, is below. The remaining segments are on the event page.
If you have not read the book and would like to, it is available at DC Public Library.
Many of you may know that DC Campaign's Policy Director, the late AJ Cooper III, was instrumental in the creation of "The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Fund Establishment Act of 2014," legislation that is the source of funding for many local organizations working to reduce the incidence of teen pregnancy in Washington, DC.Jay was deeply committed to the health and well-being of his hometown and viewed teen pregnancy as an obstacle that kept boys and girls from achieving their dreams.
In recognition of his advocacy and dedication to all the residents of the District of Columbia, the City Council passed a resolution making Jay’s 35th birthday the AJ Cooper III Day of Service in Washington, DC.
Jay believed that even the smallest act of kindness could change the world.
I hope you will join me in honoring my son’s memory by doing something good for someone else on August 17, 2015. For more information www.ajcooperdc.org.
You can help out at the BBQ; deets are here. Public policy and practice more your thing? There's a housing event Monday, August 17; info in the Tweet below.
Want to talk #housing with #DC #government leaders? Free event Aug 17 7pm, John Wilson Bldg #GiveLikeAJCIII @dcra pic.twitter.com/80eA9npNne
— David Sheon (@ANC_4D04) August 12, 2015
It's official. I'm no longer covering local news at @WashTimes. On the national law enforcement beat instead. Follow or unfollow accordingly
— Andrea Noble (@anobleDC) August 7, 2015
Thanks to @cuneytdil for the info.
Do you have a favorite formatting/other text cleaner? Share in a comment, please.
Thanks to @CapHillStyle for sharing.
Hat's off to Cuneyt Dil for creating the local news aggregator newsletter District Links (subscription link). Read the archives. Send tips, links, events, things to via email, cdil@currentnewspapers.com.
Learn more about this up-and-coming journo: Twitter, @cuneytdil, LinkedIn.
Thanks to Dil for sharing on Reddit.
Viewers learn in the first several minutes of the program that David Axelrod has been involved with 150 campaigns at all levels of government. And in all that time, he has believed in democracy and "in the power of stories to unite diverse communities and ignite transformative political change."
Sit back and watch the video.
Interested in reading the book? DC Public Library has it.
In the first film, "join a courageous mother as she struggles to protect and raise her daughter in one of D.C.'s most infamous and inhospitable shelters." In the second, "journey alongside a survivor of homelessness and sexual assault as she reflects on her past trauma and present path to recovery." Following the documentaries will be a Q&A with directors moderated by renowned activist Marita Golden.
Learn more about and make reservations for Cinema from the Street, Part 2.
These are perfect for interns and summer employees!
@ggwash is looking for FT #EastofTheRiver communications managers/directors based in #Ward7 + #Ward8 http://t.co/MlnzMl7T40
— DCBridgePark (@DCBridgePark) August 5, 2015
Attend the Wednesday, August 19 Stop Police Terror Project DC general body meeting and learn about the organization and the campaigns and actions that are have planned.
Meeting deets: 7:00 pm start time and the location is The Justice Center (617 Florida Ave NW).
Have family, friends, clients, customers, or neighbors who don't speak English and need access to children's literature? The International Children's Digital Library Foundation makes books available free of charge and registration is not required. Presently, literature is available in 20 languages:
English
Arabic
SimChi
Traditional Chinese
Croatian
Dari
Filipino/Tagalog
French
German
Hebrew
Italian
Korean
Pashto
Persian/Farsi
Polish
Portuguese
Mongolian
Russian
Spanish
Thai
2028 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, 2nd Floor (Across from the Big Chair, above Mama’s Kitchen)
Washington, DC 20020
Phone: (202) 889-0655
Email: studio@projectcreatedc.org
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday Noon - 7:30 pm
The tool has a ton of already-loaded photos with search capacity, or you can upload your own. Type in what you want to say, select a typeface (there are presently nine), and move the text around in the image. The final step is to download, post to Facebook, or Tweet. Oh, and before you post, you get a preview.
And all for free with no sign-up or log-in required. (This may actually be the best part!)
The blog will do all the work for you, finding media and social media links so you can learn more about the candidates for the Council of the District of Columbia in 2016.
Want your local news about candidates delivered to your inbox every day? Subscribe to the just-launched #DCision16 blog by yours truly.
What you won't find: promotional and fundraising information; I will leave that to the campaigns.
Do good, replenish, rejoice, and return!
Filmmakers Ellie Walton and Sam Wild consider gentrification, public housing, poverty, public policy, and yes race, in this 2003 documentary. Walton's website describes the film this way:
In 2003, over 400 families from the Arthur Capper's housing project in South East Washington DC were forced from their homes as part of a massive nation-wide redevelopment programme. "Chocolate City"” explores the rapid gentrification of Washington DC through the eyes of a group of local women who are fighting to return to their neighbourhood. Although living in the shadows of power, their story celebrates the strength of communities and the capacity of art to inspire change.
Wild describes the film this way:
Through the experiences of a number of largely black residents the film explores how the city is being altered as property prices rise and local communities are forced out of the world's most famous capital.Two brief media reviews: D.C. Locals' Long Wait For Hope: 'Chocolate City' and Chocolate City Takes on Gentrification.
How have Americans defined success, prosperity and contentment? How have they carried out their pursuit of those ends? And how does the course of history square with their lofty goals? Brian, Ed and Peter mull these questions over in stories across the centuries — from a mesmerist who urged his followers to think happy thoughts to an early hit in the recording industry that will just crack you up.
When the guys say they will "just crack you up," they are referring to what I think is a terribly odd segment―Laugh It Up, Fuzzball. The other segments are outstanding. They are: Comma Chameleon, So Happy Together, Single Serving, Don’t Worry — Be Happy!, and Chasing The Brass Ring.
I'm excited to announce that today I'm launching my campaign for DC Council At-Large (D) for 2016. Here's why: https://t.co/IA4q7GL9em
— David Garber (@GarberDC) August 5, 2015
“Why We Can’t Wait: Empowering Males of Color Through Mentoring & Literacy” Panel Discussion, 8/5 http://t.co/6HmTpHIryc via @TeamupCalendar
— Ward7Outreach (@Ward7Outreach) August 5, 2015
There is now an official "great weight" form for ANC commissioners to fill out when they have something to say... http://t.co/WYcYQhbNCi
— Michael Neibauer (@WBJNeibs) August 3, 2015
Wondering if other agencies can/should use this form. Also, is there a better way to do this than a PDF form? Like a hard-copy form and an online form?
Dear city tech/internet friends: Sign up for the #DigitalInclusion Webinar on 8/6 w/ @leagueofcities @NextCentCit http://t.co/0Iwkmrkwzm
— Denise Linn (@DKLinn) August 4, 2015
Why: Well, neither are as common as the other methods and so hold promise for something special.
What do you think? Tell us in a comment.
@MacFarlaneNews dear sweet baby J NOOOOOO! #wmata is a terrible subway system -> it won't be able to handle Olympic size crowds @MayorBowser
— janny frimpong (@pronouncedjenny) August 3, 2015
While the entire segment is worthwhile, I most love the song (starting at 15m17s).
Some fab organizations came together to create The Next MacGyver, a competition to answer the question "Could television be the secret weapon that gets more girls into science?"
The National Academy of Engineering, The USC Viterbi School of Engineering, MacGyver Foundation, Lee Zlotoff, and The Paley Center for Media have selected five finalists and runners up. Each finalist received $5,000 and was paired with a successful Hollywood producer as a mentor who will help them develop their original pilot screenplay.
Watch the top 12 pitches and panel discussion in the YouTube video below.
Read Here Are 5 Contenders For A New, Female Macgyver—will One Help Drive Girls To Engineering? for a summary of the competition and the need for girls and women in STEM.
The first day of D.C. Public Schools is less than a month away, but before the school year can start, there are two big issues to deal with: a controversial, embattled food contract, and behind-schedule construction. D.C. Council Member and Chair of the Committee on Education David Grosso joins us to discuss the challenges facing D.C. Public Schools and other local public policy issues.
Get in touch to congratulate Calhoun on her new gig:
No RSVP is required.
The 2015 plan updates the the 2005 plan, providing direction for the city to comply with federal requirements and meet the very real needs of the District's wildlife and habitats.
With the city moving toward circulating a Request for Proposals for the development of the historic Alexander Crummell School, this edition of Taking Action is focused on the future of the school. Empower DC’s Parisa Norouzi talks with two current residents, Andria Swanson and Belinda Taylor, as well as an alumna of the Crummell School, Ms. Remetter Freeman, about their vision for the site, the history of the school, and why Crummell is so important to their community.
All responses are confidential.
The organizations will make the report of the findings available this fall.
Crummell School is a nationally designated historic landmark. Learn more about the school and its namesake Alexander Crummell.
Also on the website is information about friends group:
The mission of Friends of Crummell School is to achieve the restoration and reuse of the historic Alexander Crummell School, the heart of the Ivy City community, in a manner that serves, protects and uplifts area residents and their environment.Members of Friends of Crummell School include area residents, Crummell alumni, clergy, advocates, historic preservation professionals, architects, planners and community development experts.