The sound of jackhammers on pavement and shovels hitting dirt will soon be heard in alleys and side streets in all eight of the city’s wards.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and DDOT officials held a press conference in Adams Morgan yesterday to announce the latest round of “AlleyPalooza” repairs.
“We are investing in Washington, D.C.’s alleys at historic levels because they are a key part of our infrastructure and their condition is of vital importance to the health of the District,” Bowser said in a statement. “AlleyPalooza 4.0 builds on a highly successful initiative and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Washington, DC’s infrastructure is safe and reliable.”
The mayor’s office has allocated $15.82 million of the city’s budget this year for for alley maintenance and rehabilitation.
The sound of an alley being prepared. #AlleyPalooza4.0 pic.twitter.com/PHWLBbdyFK
— DDOT DC (@DDOTDC) November 21, 2016
A full list of the alleys slated for repairs, including an interactive map that displays each alley’s status, is available online.
Photo via Twitter / DC MOCRS
Hillary Clinton’s campaign is scheduled to open a new D.C. outpost with some help from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser later this week.
The new office, located in the Whittemore House at 1526 New Hampshire Ave. NW, will officially open its doors this Thursday at 7 p.m. The location will serve as a hub for Clinton campaign staffers and volunteers in the final weeks of the race, according to a Hillary for America spokeswoman.
To celebrate the opening, Clinton staffers are set to host a potluck dinner and meet-and-greet with an appearance from Bowser.
“Come join us and Mayor Bowser this Thursday from 7:00pm – 9:00pm for the grand opening of our new D.C. office,” the campaign said on an event page. “It’s a potluck; so bring a dish and a friend. Connect with others who love Hillary, want to get active, and show the nation that we are truly Stronger Together!”
This isn’t the first time Bowser has stumped for Clinton. Back in May, she proved she was “ready for Hillary” by supporting the candidate during back-to-back primary campaign office openings at 1919 M St. NW and 1227 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
“When I think about somebody who’s going to represent me in the dangerous places in this world, I don’t want to see Donald,” Bowser proclaimed at the M Street office’s grand opening event. “I want to see Hillary Clinton.”
How many D.C. government officials does it take to fix a broken street light? Mayor Bowser and a handful of District employees helped answer that question in Columbia Heights last night.
The mayor visited the neighborhood to launch a week-long project to repair broken street lights in all eight of the city’s wards.
“We have about 70,000 street lights,” Bowser said, pointing to a broken street light at the intersection of 12th and Euclid streets NW. “As you can see, this one should be on, but it’s not on. Across the city, at any given time, we could have scads of these lights out.”
Some locals in Ward 1 have recently written to Borderstan to report street light outages.
“Several of us have contacted DC 311 and also Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, but the street lights are still out,” wrote one reader in August. “This is a critical issue for us — we park our cars there.”
Under the mayor’s new initiative, city employees will repair broken street lights in the areas where locals have most frequently reported them.
Bowser also announced last night a pilot program called “Text to DC311,” where District residents can text the words “street light” to DC311 to report a broken street light.
More information in a press release from the Mayor’s Office:
Mayor Muriel Bowser and other VIPs today helped begin demolition on what is set to become one of the H Street corridor’s largest developments to date, but not without some opposition.
As Bowser and business leaders heralded the redevelopment of the H Street Connection at 901 H St. NE, about a dozen demonstrators stood outside a fence surrounding the property, voicing their frustration about the site’s future to the people inside the gated area.
“If black lives matter, why did you have me escorted from your office?” one woman yelled at Bowser.
Added another protester: “I don’t need a mic to voice my opinion.”
The shouts came soon after the mayor used an excavator to rip into the old strip mall and touted the work the D.C. government and businesses have done to revitalize the H Street corridor.
Today’s primaries in New Jersey and California could give supporters of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton a reason to celebrate.
If all goes well, Clinton will further increase her grip on the the Democratic nomination (though the Associated Press reports that she already has it in the bag).
To help usher in the potentially good news, Mayor Muriel Bowser and local Hillary supporters will hold a primary results watch party at Sign of the Whale (1825 M St. NW) starting at 7 p.m. tonight.
“Everyone will celebrate the hard work supporters, organizers and volunteers have put in across the country to get out the vote for Hillary Clinton and start the one-week countdown to the D.C. primary,” according to a press release.
Mayor Bowser, an ardent Clinton supporter, will “discuss how Hillary Clinton is the right candidate to help break down barriers for families in Washington, DC and build ladders of opportunity,” the release continues.
Those interested in attending the party are asked to RSVP online first.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is #ReadyForHillary.
Bowser, Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans and members of Hillary Clinton’s D.C. campaign staff celebrated last night during the opening of two new Clinton campaign offices located at 1919 M St. NW and 1227 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
During an appearance at the office on M Street, Bowser voiced strong words in support of the presidential candidate and former U.S. Secretary of State.
“She is fighting for everybody,” Bowser exclaimed to a packed room. “The haves, the have-nots and everybody in-between. And that’s exactly what we’re fighting for in Washington D.C., how to give everybody a fair shot in this town. And we need a president who understands that.”
Bowser also took some jabs at presumed GOP nominee Donald Trump.
“When I think about somebody who’s going to represent me in the dangerous places in this world, I don’t want to see Donald,” Bowser said, to cheers from the crowd. “I want to see Hillary Clinton.”
Today, we are awarding $300,000 for the first ever Emerging Business District Demonstration Grants. pic.twitter.com/1fqKjeXU5d
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) April 19, 2016
Some fledgling business improvement district (BID) organizations in Dupont Circle, Shaw and along the 14th and U Street corridors were officially awarded a boost from the Mayor’s Office earlier today.
Mayor Muriel Bowser doled out more than $300,000 across five planned BIDs as part of her office’s first-ever “Emerging BID” demonstration grant program. According to the Mayor’s Office, the purpose of the grants “is to subsidize the organizing operations necessary to establish a Business Improvement District.” In other words, hand out cash to help up-and-coming BIDs fund their operations while they get off the ground.
Though the District is moving forward with plans to build its new Ward 1 transitional housing facility at 10th and V streets NW, that wasn’t the only site it considered.
According to information released by Mayor Bowser’s office yesterday, the city also considered building its new shelter in Park View (625 Park Rd. NW; 3619 Georgia Ave. NW) and Adams Morgan (1724 Kalorama Ave. NW). Additionally, the city also looked at constructing its Ward 2 shelter for women in Dupont Circle (1606 17th St., NW).
Ultimately, those plans fell through due to a variety of reasons that included sites not being large enough and unsuccessful negotiations with developers. (more…)
Dupont residents flocked to last night’s ANC 2B meeting at the Brookings Institution (1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW) to ask questions and share their concerns about local issues.
Bowser attended the meeting as part of a series of community forums held across the city, and began her appearance by briefing the audience about the city’s recent efforts in affordable housing and ending homelessness. Then, the ANC 2B’s commissioners took turns weighing in on topics they felt strongly about.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmembers Jack Evans and Phil Mendelson helped cut the ceremonial ribbon on a newly expanded jeweler in Dupont Circle earlier this morning.
The Tiny Jewel Box, a longtime jewelry and watch business located at 1147 Connecticut Ave. NW, today held a grand opening ceremony to mark the recent opening of its new 8,000 square foot addition next door.
“I love, love, love family-owned businesses,” Bowser said in a speech before the ribbon-cutting. “Small businesses are indeed the engine of our economy … and the Tiny Jewel Box has doubled down on Connecticut Avenue and doubled down on D.C.”
Bowser also praised the local Golden Triangle business improvement district, calling it a “champion” of businesses across the area.
Bowser, Evans and Mendelson then cut the ribbon along with Golden Triangle executive director Leona Agouridis and Tiny Jewel Box CEO Jim Rosenheim and president Matthew Rosenheim.
Attendees were invited inside for pastries, coffee and a tour of the newly expanded jewelry store following the ceremony.
Regardless of whether Hurricane Joaquin visits D.C., the city is bracing for heavy rain and flooding this weekend.
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office said today in a press release that the mayor has been briefed by the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) and city leaders on the forecast for Hurricane Joaquin and the District’s readiness. According to the the release, HSEMA will hold “twice daily briefings” with National Weather Service and agency officials on storm preparation.
The National Weather Service said yesterday that D.C. and the surrounding area could see anywhere from two to five inches of rain between tomorrow and Monday morning.
How can you prepare for the wet weather? Bowser tweeted earlier today that D.C. residents should “take a few mins to clear debris from any storm drains” to avoid basement flooding like the kind seen in Shaw in June.
Likewise, DC Water has urged its customers to prepare for flooding by reporting clogged catch basins near their homes.
Ahead of the #TSJoaquin, help us mitigate flooding by reporting clogged catch basins. https://t.co/rlgNcq96iW pic.twitter.com/vTc2pxwclX
— DC Water (@dcwater) September 30, 2015
While most experts say there’s no need to panic just yet — I’m looking at you, Virginia — the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for D.C. and the surrounding region until Saturday evening.
In other words, if you live in a flood-prone part of town, prepare for leaky basements. But maybe wait a while before going nuts on the toilet paper, bread and milk.
Photo via Flickr/ vlsergey
Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau and other local politicians cut ribbons at 14 Shaw- and U Street-area businesses during a “ribbon cutting roundup” organized by Shaw Main Streets earlier today.
Duffy’s Irish Pub (2106 Vermont Ave. NW) and U Scoot (1949 Vermont Ave. NW) were two of the businesses honored with a ceremony.
“We’ve been open since June, but it feels like it’s official now that they’ve come here and cut a ribbon,” U Scoot owner Andre Esser said.
Bowser was scheduled to cut ribbons during the openings, but had to cancel many appearances — including ones at U Scoot and Duffy’s — at the last minute.
Duffy’s general manager and former owner Andy Duffy laid out dozens wings in anticipation of Bowser’s arrival, but when he cut the large red ribbon, he was joined only by Nadeau, new Duffy’s owner Casey Callister and Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander Padro.
As attendees left the pub with to-go boxes packed with wings, Duffy and Callister said they were just happy to be recognized, even if the mayor herself couldn’t make it.
“We’re very grateful to have that kind of support,” added Callister. “I think it shows that we care about businesses here in D.C. and our politicians care.”
Blocks away at U Scoot, Esser echoed the positivity. “It was a success,” he said. “[The mayor] wasn’t here, but it was still nice.”
Photo of Mayor Bowser via Twitter/MayorBowser
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser joined Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau at an event on Saturday meant to drum up support for a planned mixed-use development near the 9:30 Club.
Developers MRP Realty, Ellis Development and JBG Companies are set to begin construction on the building soon, provided that the D.C. Council gives its approval during a vote tomorrow. If constructed, the building would bring 106 affordable housing units, retail space and a new Whole Foods to a long-debated parcel of land just north of the U Street corridor at 965 Florida Avenue NW.
Dozens of local residents and several ANC 1B and 2F commissioners flocked to the empty lot before noon for free coffee, breakfast sandwiches from Whole Foods and tunes from local band Brass Connection.
Nadeau took the microphone to voice support for the forthcoming development.
“It’s taken a while to get this through the council,” Nadeau said. “You don’t have to write to me and say to vote for it because I’m going to vote for it.”
“This mayor has been fighting for this parcel since she got into office,” Nadeau added. “She took a good deal and she made it better. Because of her, this site is going to have more affordable housing than it did in the original plan.”
Nadeau said that squabbling among councilmembers was to blame for the delay in approval.
“The reason this deal hasn’t moved forward as quickly as we’ve wanted it to is not because of your mayor, it’s not because of your councilmember, it’s because of some other dissent on that council,” Nadeau said.
Mayor Bowser focused on the forthcoming development’s affordable housing units in her speech.
“Because we work very hard, we’re able to make sure that this project will not only include Whole Foods, but it will have 106 units of affordable housing,” Bowser said. “I look forward to not only breaking ground, but also cutting the ribbon on this very exciting project.”
The developers behind a planded building that would house a Whole Foods near the 9:30 Club will preview the forthcoming store with free sandwiches and music from a local brass band this weekend.
MRP Realty, along with Ellis Development and JBG Companies, will host the free event at the proposed future site of a mixed-use development at 965 Florida Avenue NW on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
During the event, which will feature appearances from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Fresh FM’s Tommy McFly, attendees will be able to dine on free breakfast sandwiches from future tenant Whole Foods and listen to live music from local brass band Brass Connection.
Despite the pomp and circumstance slated for Saturday, plans for the new store looked murky as recently as July. An MRP spokesperson said the D.C. Council will vote on whether to approve the plan to build next Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of MRP Realty
A stretch of O Street NW that has been closed since 1977 was opened today as a “green street” at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Muriel Bowser and representatives from the EPA and several district departments.
The street, which runs beside Dunbar High School between 1st and 3rd Streets, was designated a “green street” because it channels stormwater runoff into 33 roadside garden boxes, keeping the water from running into the district’s waterways.
In a brief press conference, Bowser touted the street’s wide walkways and said that it is built to capture thousands of gallons of water during storms.
“We’re here to show people that green streets are livable, this street has wide walkways and they’re sustainable. This street will capture thousands of gallons of stormwater when it rains,” Bowser said.
The project was funded in part by a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The trust’s executive director Jana Davis got the biggest applause of the day when she said that the stretch of O Street was indicative of how D.C. serves as a model for the rest of the region when it comes to building environmentally friendly infrastructure.
Also in attendance were Department of Energy and Environment director Tommy Wells, Department of Transportation director Leif Dormsjo, and regional EPA administrator Shawn Garvin. Bowser also used the press conference as a chance to introduce the incoming director of the Department of General Services Chris Weaver, a retired Rear Admiral in the Navy.
In response to a question a recent report alleging a lack of financial oversight in the department, Bowser said that her new appointee is dedicated to cleaning up the department’s finances without losing focus on the department’s goal of expanding environmentally friendly infrastructure projects.
“We are not backing away from investing in green building for our schools and public facilities,” she said, “but we have to find a way to do it in a cost-effective way.”
After Wells emphasized the need to retrofit other streets in the city to better manage stormwater runoff, Mayor Bowser said that green street projects similar to O Street are planned for Minnesota Avenue and 15th Street NW.
