Many DC bars have settlement agreements with their ANC, so-called citizens’ associations, or gangs of local NIMBYers. They may restrict hours or other operations. Owners are forced to accept these conditions when starting their business under duress, because they can’t afford a 6-9 month fight without being open for business.
On September 27, 2018 the Senante Judiciary Committee, without a meaningful background fact investigation, conducted an eight (8) hour inquiry into sexual assault allegations brought by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. The Committe did not entertain any testimony from witnesses other than the nominee and his accuser, notwithstanding the emergence of additional alleged victims and fact witnesses in the days leading up to the hearing. This afternoon, the Committee is expected to vote along party lines, 11-10, in favor of the nomination.
I get a lot of phone calls every week about nuisance neighbors. I hear from people whose fence got obliterated by a falling tree, whose upstairs neighbor’s kid is doing gymnastics at 5:00 AM, or whose neighbor’s dog poops all over the shared balcony. Answers: a.) Call your insurance company. b.) Wake up at 4:00 AM and dribble a basketball off the ceiling until they get the message; c.) Fling the turds against their window hard enough to stick.
It’s hot, like really hot. Like sign of the apocalypse, wrath of god, we are finally paying for our sins in a fiery humid eternity. I can’t imagine that anyone can generate the energy it takes to househunt or perform due diligence walkthroughs of un-airconditioned pre-buildout space. But, the Council has been busy with its legislative agenda much of which can impact your real estate business.
This month I wrote two posts about specific types of violations that cause DC Bar owners fits: sale to minors and investigation interference. Learn the anatomy of these issues, what you can do to avoid them, and how to mitigate losses. Additionally, there are a number of reminders and upcoming programs to help you stay on top of your compliance obligations.
“Rich, there is some crazy B[eep], in here and she is acting a fool,” is what the voice on the other end of the phone said to me. It had barely even registered to me who was calling when I heard screaming and cursing in the background, and some thumps, and crashes that I couldn’t identify-but didn’t sound good. “What, you mean right now?! Hang up and call the cops for God’s sake!”
I swear, a lot. I mean really, a lot. If you’ve ever had a conversation with me that has lasted longer than three minutes, chances are I said ‘fuck,’ probably more than once. I swear in casual conversation, in routine business dealings, and in ending arguments before repeatedly slamming the phone down in the cradle hard enough to obliterate the handset and send plastic phone shrapnel flying all over my office.
The District, through it’s tax, vacant, distressed and blighted property laws, owns a number of properties around the city. Over the years, different administrations have handled, and mis-handled these city-owned assets in a variety of ways. There have been sporadic sales, in a number of different forms, supposedly to meet various policy goals.