Dateline: Washington, D.C.

:: CENTER FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ::

February 6, 2016 • 10:25 1

Vince Gray! Back in action?

Last Thursday, Vincent Gray announced that he will run for the D.C. Council, effectively beginning his political comeback. Gray lost his attempt to be re-elected, to current Mayor Muriel Bowser, after a federal prosecutor accused him of having an illegal slush fund that helped him get elected in 2010. Six of Gray’s campaign workers eventually pled guilty to felonies; however, Gray maintains he did not know his aides were breaking any laws.

Mark Plotkin, political commentator and longtime friend of Gray said…

“I think his plan, although he won’t admit to it, is exactly similar to Barry: to serve two years in office and then run for mayor. Vincent is definitely not the president of the Muriel Bowser fan club, and she is not the president of his. They really detest each other.”

Will concerned citizens in the District support Gray for mayor again, what do you think DC?

Filed under: Around Town

February 4, 2016 • 19:54 1

Two firefighters under investigation.

Watch this video report from, Paul Wagner Fox 5. | Then consider this. What happened to the old days when Firemen fought fire and left the medical stuff to EMT’s and Paramedics, are Dual Role Providers really the answer in DC?

Filed under: Public Service

February 2, 2016 • 07:16 5

911 Director Speaks Out!

The Concerned Citizen is happy to announce that Office of Unified Communications Director, Karima Holmes, spoke out yesterday with some encouraging news, in a reply to Jillian A. Cohen’s commentary; entitled,

“911” … Is it a joke in this town?.

We are pleased to share her response with the dedicated dispatchers, radio operators, and call takers who work tirelessly at the DC 911 center.

Always remember, no matter what you may be told, your right to free speech is protected by the 1st amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

KHolmes says: February 1, 2016 at 18:43

Hello All. This is Karima Holmes the acting Director of OUC. Thanks for the comments and bringing this to my attention. I take these things very serious. As you may know this is just my third week in the district (the first week was during the Blizzard, eek!). But rest assured, I am absorbing all the information I’m receiving; particularly, info I can use to develop and maintain a proper functioning PSAP for our nation’s capital. I have had a career in public safety communications for over 15 years now and have had the misfortune of working in a mismanaged, uncomfortable work environment. I will not allow that to happen under my watch. As a leader, I assure you I will seek out the toxicity, correct or eliminate it. I have dedicated myself to evaluate this center from the personnel to the procedures and filter whatever/whomever proves to be counter productive to the ultimate goal of providing emergency communications and customer service(s) to the District’s citizens, responders and visitors. Lastly, I ask that you allow me grace to do my due diligence and fully investigate the root. Thanks

Filed under: Public Service

February 1, 2016 • 23:07 1

Police involved shooting leaves a man dead.

Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said an officer, just months out of the academy, attempted to stop a man, just after 2 a.m., who was acting suspiciously near the intersection of 53rd Street and Clay Terrace. The man started to run but stumbled and fell to the ground losing his weapon. Chief Lanier stated that the officer told the man to leave the gun on the ground, but the man ignored the officer’s commands and was shot once and later died at Prince George’s Hospital Center.

Police involved shooting, Black man – White officer, is this racial? The concerned citizen thinks not. Listen folks we’ve heard the rumblings out there, but when a police officer tells you not to go for the gun on the ground that you just dropped, you’d be well advised not to move an inch. And the fact that the gun in question was later discovered to be a BB gun means absolutely nothing.

It’s unfortunate that this man died, and you guys know that the Concerned Citizen would be the first to point out injustice by any government agency or official; however, racism, abuse of police powers, none of these injustices seem to rear their ugly head in this case. So lets tell it like it is, this guy was just WRONG and the officer involved is JUSTIFIED.

Filed under: The Watch Desk

January 30, 2016 • 13:33 11

“Ingrid Bucksell” Where do you stand?

The Concerned Citizen has written many articles in reference to City Officials and Government Agencies over the years, but none more prevalent then the Office of Unified Communications (DC 911), and the abuse demonstrated by a certain supervisor by the name of Ingrid Bucksell. In a recent comment, one follower disclosed that the OUC recently hired her cousin as the Human Resource Director, and that he helps her to perpetrate the abuse by creating and promoting a Fear Mentality among union employees throughout the agency. The 2 mentioned above make employee’s afraid to speak up for fear of losing their job through some trumped up charge like “AWOL”, just because some employees couldn’t report for duty after the record snowfall. You two cousins knew the snow was coming and should have known there would be a very high probability staffing shortages due to same. It sounds to us like the Operations Manager failed to plan accordingly.

We just don’t get it! Oh, well here’s a few thoughts for ya… People were snowed in, people first had to dig out of their homes, people couldn’t drive even if they did dig out their car because a city plow didn’t get to their street yet. It’s hard for a man to dig out much less a woman, did you hear that over 25 people died trying dig out this year. It would be Ridiculous and Foolish to punish employees for not getting to work. Our tax dollars served by hiring competent Managers to run the OUC.

_______________________

The Concerned Citizen has decided to create an anonymous Poll to show Director Holmes and the Mayor just where OUC employee’s stand on the approval or disapproval of the Operations Manager, Ms. Bucksell.

Make your recommendation on the Pop-up… > > > >

Filed under: Public Service

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