DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! Forget about Thundersnow, it’s time for links!

UDC says community college at risk of cuts unless it gets $8 million from District “Officials at the University of the District of Columbia say they might have to scale back its recently launched community college unless it immediately receives $8 million from the D.C. government…Since UDC launched a community college two years ago, enrollment has soared: More than 2,500 students attend two-year academic and job training programs at multiple locations in the city. But UDC officials say they have been forced to spend more than $18 million to get the community college off the ground, nearly depleting the flagship four-year college in Northwest of its reserve funds.” (The Washington Post)

D.C. Roads Safest in the Nation “Washington, D.C., roadways are constantly topping lists for the worst congestion in the nation, but according to a new study, they’re also among the safest. A study published by USA Today labels D.C. roads the safest in the nation. The study was based on fatality statistics per 100,000 residents. Washington averaged 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people…A transportation safety official told USA Today, urban roads are simply safer. That’s because more serious crashes tend to happen on high-speed rural roads.” (NBC Washington)

D.C. Forcing Elderly Woman From Her Home Of 50 Years? “A local community is rallying around an elderly woman who, her son alleges, is being removed from her home against her will. He says a guardian appointed by the D.C. Superior Court’s Probate Division has ordered that his mother be taken to an assisted living facility on Friday. “It really hurts me. It really makes me feel terrible. Sometimes, I can’t even sleep!” said Viola Nero. She has spent the last 50 of her 90 years in her comfortable home, filled with family photographs and displays of her embroidery.”I love living here! And I love my backyard. I have my garden,” said Viola.” (WUSA Washington, DC)

D.C. Council Member Calls For Better Traffic-Law Enforcement “Washington is quickly earning a reputation as a city that supports two-wheel transportation. But with more people sharing the roads, one lawmaker says he’s concerned about how traffic laws are being enforced. D.C. Council Member Phil Mendelson says he’s received a number of complaints…about traffic incidents and collisions and how police enforce the laws. Mendelson highlights the case involving Alice Swanson, a bicyclist who was struck and killed by a garbage truck in Dupont Circle in 2008. Mendelson says the police exonerated the driver, despite what he says was a bad driving record.” (wamu.org)

Help, The City Sold My House! “The DC Government stole our Petworth home, 929 Farragut St, just east of Georgia Ave, through a classic screwup. It was an improper sale of the deed through an improper tax sale based on completely incorrect property taxes. Now the house is boarded up and no one is living there. If it happened to us it could happen to anybody! We’d like to get the story out to other DC residents and taxpayers. Our FULLY PAID FOR $450,000. house was sold for $40,000!! I’d like to tell you the whole story.” (Prince Of Pentworth )

Federal Agency Headquarters Leave Lights On In DC “Night after night, year after year, this nightside reporter observed lights left on in federal government buildings. So I decided to see just how much taxpayers were spending to keep empty buildings illuminated…we asked taxpayers to estimate the price of one month in one building…”$5,000 a month?” guessed a young man from New Jersey…The low end is about $200,000 a month. The high end more than a million…”I used to work for the federal government. I know they waste tax dollars. Do it every day,” said a man in DC. ” (WUSA Washington, DC)