July Hearings Scheduled: Voice Your Concerns about DCRA Operations, Fines

Two important DCRA hearings are set this week!  To voice your concerns about either of these DCRA issues, members are encouraged to contact Kirsten Williams, kwilliams@aoba-metro.org.

Council to Review DCRA Operations on Permitting, Housing Inspections
The Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs will hold a public oversight roundtable on July 13 to review DCRA operations pertaining to construction and housing inspections, business licensing, permitting, zoning and access of records to the public. While we usually have to wait for the Council’s annual agency analysis, known as “agency performance oversight hearings,” the Committee will host this rare opportunity for the public to address their concerns.

DCRA Hearing Scheduled on Legislation to Double All Fines
It’s been nearly one year since a media flurry regarding illegal construction and permitting complaints, which sparked the introduction of the “DCRA Infractions Fines Increase Regulations”and increased DCRA’s budget. On July 14, the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs will hold a hearing on the legislation. Initially conceived to increase fines for shoddy home repairs, poor construction, condemnation, and vacant properties, the bill doubles all fines levied by DCRA, and then indexes them to increases in the inflation rate in subsequent years. AOBA contends that not all infractions constitute egregious behavior and, for those that do, the bad behavior of a few does not warrant doubling of fines for the entire universe of DCRA business regulations.