Signs of the Apocalypse #239: DC Government

In the last few months, I've had several attempted communications with the DC Government.

1) September 18, Office of Tax and Revenue. My house is not receiving the "Homestead Deduction," despite having filed the proper form when I closed on my mortgage. Letter requests that status be updated, and taxes adjusted retroactively.

2) September 26, Adjudication Services. I write to deny guilt in the matter of my cell phone ticket.

3) October 12, Office of Tax and Revenue. I notice on DCRA's real property database that the homestead status of my house has been corrected. Unfortunately, the taxable assessment has not changed. In addition, the proposed tax for 2008 is about 14% more than the 2007 assessment, which is in violation of the 10% annual increase cap. So I write them, again.

Beyond that, I tried to dump some cinder blocks at the Fort Totten Transfer Station. They said I couldn't dump them and gave me a photocopied sheet explaining that they weren't taking masonry while the transfer station was being renovated, and that the renovation would be complete in late summer 2007. The irony of it being November at the time, was lost on the fellow. Fortunately, the sheet included three other places nearby where I could take such stuff (for a fee, I am sure). Unfortunately, when I called them, each said the same thing: no, actually, we don't take masonry. Nicely done, DPW.

Anyhoo, today is November 27. I have never received any communication from "Adjudication Services" (whatever that is), or OTR on either of these matters. While I understand that OTR has probably been distracted by about 31 million other problems, obviously someone read my first letter since the status changed. Too bad they can't be bothered to actually write me back. Of course calling them is completely useless, since they just tell you to write them a letter.

As for the cell phone ticket, I'm not especially concerned, except to the extent that the silence I am experiencing probably means someone just tossed the letter. Which will result in me getting stern notices of fines and loss of my driver's license. I should have sent that one by registered mail...

Anyway, methinks the time has come to write letter #3 to DCRA, since this one actually will cost me a lot of money if one of those crooks doesn't deal with it. Not sure about the cell phone one, though. Maybe no news is good news.

In fact, the only communication I have received from DC in the last few months in response to my contact with them, is from the Department of Motor Vehicles. I registered for a vanity plate online, and got a letter about two weeks later saying that it had been approved. More on that soon.

But seriously. When DMV is the only moderately functioning agency in the DC government, the apocalypse must be near.

Jamie 1, Zealots 0

The zealot parked below has been harassing people in front of the clinic next door to my Silver Spring office building from time to time. The crappy cell phone picture doesn't really do justice, but you can see the unpleasant abortion pictures on the placard on top of her car. As one who has received many parking tickets here for letting my meter expire by, say, three minutes, I have to say, I'm pretty annoyed that she's been getting away with the obviously illegal parking spot for hours at a time. Moreover, this is meter maid central. Half the time you actually see one of the damn meter maids parked in the same spot you see her there.



When I walked by the old crank today, she tried to push some crackpot literature on me. I observed that she was parked illegally, and explained to her that in fact that spot is quite a dangerous place to park illegally, because it blocks the view of oncoming traffic from people trying to turn into Spring Street at the intersection. I casually suggested that it is rather hypocritical to be promoting an agenda of supposedly saving lives, while potentially putting others at risk by parking in a manner than creates a safety hazard for traffic.

She responded: "Hh, I know I'm parked illegally, but I pay. I'll move as soon as a spot opens up". As if the lack of a legal spot excuses her action. I observed that there was a legal spot on the other side of the street. Perhaps not as convenient for her agenda of bullying people, but quite close and quite legal. She assured me that she always paid and would move. She kept saying that: I will pay. I thought to myself: Yes, I think you will. You just wait.

I went to the post office and on my way back 10 minutes later, she was still there. So I snapped this picture and called the pleasant folks at the Montgomery County non-emergency police hotline: 301 279-8000. When I returned again a half hour later, she was gone, and the parking police pickup truck was in her spot. The system works. I just hope she actually got a ticket and not a simple brush-off.

Of course, the safety hazard still exists, since the damn parking police truck was parked in the same spot. But there's probably not a lot I can do about that. At least I foiled one freak for today.