[Mintwood-place] RE. FOIA Request for DCRA Inspection Data

Fri Oct 7 14:29:46 GMT 2005

Dear Debortah Britt and Lennox Douglas, Please let me know when to expect the DCRA inspection data
and if you require an additional 10 working days to respond to my request.  Thanks in advance, 
Eddie Becker

--- "Britt, Deborah (DCRA)" <Deborah.Britt at dc.gov> wrote:

> From: "Britt, Deborah (DCRA)" <Deborah.Britt at dc.gov>
> To: 'Eddie Becker' <eddie_becker at yahoo.com>
> Subject:  FOIA Request
> Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 14:29:42 -0400
> 
> 
> Mr. Becker,
> 
> This acknowledges receipt of the below request for records under the FOIA.
> 
> Deborah Britt, FOIA Officer
> Office of the General Counsel - Suite 9400
> DCRA
> 941 North Capitol Street, NE 
> (202) 442-9544
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eddie Becker [mailto:eddie_becker at yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:56 PM
> To: deborah.britt at dc.gov
> Subject: Fwd: Email from the DCRA (Intranet Quorum IMA00129807)
> 
> Deborah, Do you want me to do any more.  You can just handle my request like
> a FOIA.  Let me know,
> thanks.  Eddie Becker
> 
> --- imailagent <customerservice.dcra at dc.gov> wrote:
> 
> > From: "imailagent" <customerservice.dcra at dc.gov>
> > To: <eddie_becker at yahoo.com>
> > Subject: Email from the DCRA (Intranet Quorum IMA00129807)
> > Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 12:37:40 -0400
> > 
> > September 21, 2005
> > 
> > Dear Mr. Becker:
> > 
> > This is in response to your e-mail of September 9, 2005 addressed to
> Lennox Douglas, Acting
> > Administrator for Building and Land Regulation Administration, requesting
> information on whether
> > DCRA/Building and Land Regulation Administration inspections have ever
> been performed on certain
> > sites, which you provided names and addresses for. You also asked  if we
> could provide a brief
> > description of each inspection with date and the nature of the
> inspections.
> > 
> > Since our last communication, I learned that this type of information can
> only be obtained
> > through a Freedom of Information(FOI) request.  Accordingly, I forwarded a
> copy of your request
> > to the DCRA FOI Officer Deborah Britt on 9/21/05.  Ms. Britt indicated
> that she will research
> > the information you requested and get back with you with her response as
> soon as possible.  Ms.
> > Britt works for the Office of the General Counsel and can be reached at
> (202) 442-9544.
> > 
> > Thank you for your inquiry.
> > 
> > Elizabeth Carter
> > 
> > Special Assistant to
> > 
> > Lennox Douglas, Acting Administrator
> > 
> > Building and Land Regualtion Administration
> > 
> > Department Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
> > 
> > IQ# 195175
-----------------------------------------------

--- Eddie Becker <eddie_becker at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 16:36:55 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Eddie Becker <eddie_becker at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Oversight of substandard work performed by DC contractors
> To: "Douglas, Lennox (DCRA)" <Lennox.Douglas at dc.gov>, 
>     "'dcra at dc.gov'" <dcra at dc.gov>
> CC: "Alston, Joyce (DCRA)" <Joyce.Alston at dc.gov>, 
>     "Monagan, Tikisha (DCRA)" <Tikisha.Monagan at dc.gov>, 
>     "Carter, Elizabeth (DCRA)" <Elizabeth.Carter at dc.gov>, 
>     Nancy Huvendick <NHuvendick at 21csf.org>, aaron at worldkickball.com, 
>     Marisa at worldkickball.com, mmckevitz at yahoo.com, simi.batra at tpl.org, 
>     ahhjlhdc at worldnet.att.net, ps.lyden at wap.org, denisjames at verizon.net, 
>     jcohn at dccouncil.us, ammainstreet at aol.com, dayo.akinsheye at k-12.dc.org, 
>     jecoleman8 at hotmail.com, Mintwood List <mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org>
> 
> Dear Lennox Douglas, Elizabeth Carter suggested that I direct my questions to you.  The City has
> been plagued by faulty work performed by contractors working for some city agencies.  
> 
> We are trying to determine the extent of inspection oversight carried out by the Building and
> Land
> Regulation Administration of the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.
> Elizabeth was kind enough to respond to my question as to whether DCRA/Building and Land
> Regulation Administration ever inspected work done for the Department of Parks and Recreation
> (DCRA).  She stated that if I provided the address, it could be determined what inspections had
> been conducted.  I have expanded this request to include DC Public School sites.
> Would you be kind enough to determine if any DCRA/Building and Land Regulation Administration
> inspections have ever been performed on the following sites and provide a brief description of
> each inspection with date and the nature of the inspection?  Thanks in advance.  Eddie Becker
> 
> 1)  Marie H Reed Learning Center
> 2200 Champlain Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009
> 202-673-7308
> 
> 
> 2)  HD Cooke Elementary School. 
> 2525 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009
> (202) 673-7294
> 
> 3)  Kalorama Park,  1900 Columbia Road, NW Washington, DC 20009. Kalorama Park is located in
> Adams
> Morgan, between Columbia Road, Kalorama Road, and 19th Street.
> 
> 4)  Walter C Pierce Community Park, is located on the 2600 block of Adams Mill Road. 20009
> 
> 
> --- "Carter, Elizabeth (DCRA)" <Elizabeth.Carter at dc.gov> wrote:
> > August 15, 2005
> > Dear Mr. Becker:
> > This is a follow up to your four (4) additional questions listed below
> > regarding the Oversight of Substandard Work Performed by City Contractors:
> >  
> > Question 1.):    When is it expected that the review process for the 2003
> > building code amendments will be completed and the building codes placed on
> > the DCRA website.
> >  
> > Response:  The 2003 Building Code Supplements have been adopted and are
> > currently posted to the DCRA website located at:
> > www.dcra.dc.gov <http://www.dcra.dc.gov/> .  Go to Building/Land
> > Regulations. Then click on Building Codes.  Please ignore the wording
> > 'proposed'.  The codes have been adopted.  DCRA webmaster is in the process
> > of having the wording proposed updated.
> > > 
> > Question 2.):    We have been having trouble with sub-standard work being
> > done for the District Government by private contractors.  We have been
> > tracking work performed for the department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).
> > The work is being done without independent oversight.  Has DCRA ever
> > inspected any project done for the DPR?
> > > 
> > Response:  DCRA/Building and Land Regulation Administration inspects
> > construction performed on account of an issued permit and/or a complaint
> > that presents a safety and life threatening issues to the public.  BLRA also
> > follows up on complaints of 'illegal construction.' Contractors are hired by
> > private entities.  This office addresses the work done as per compliance
> > with current codes and regulations.  Work done in public spaces is enforced
> > by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).  DCRA enforces work
> > conducted on private property.  Research of inspections conducted is based
> > on address, not entity. If you have a specific property address, BLRA would
> > be happy to conduct research regarding any inspections performed.
> > > 
> > Question 3.):    Does DCRA keep records of contractors who fail inspections.
> >  
> > Response:   No, DCRA Permit Service Center does not maintain these type
> > records.  However, you may contact the Office of Compliance, Investigation
> > Division at (202) 442-8558 for information pertaining to contractors who
> > have done inappropriate work in the District of Columbia
> >  
> > Questions 4.): Is this statement true?  DCRA keeps no records 'that
> > identifies contractors or inspections conducted on city projects.'
> >  
> > Response:  Yes, this statement is true.  However, please see last two
> > sentences in response to Question 2.
> >  
> > Thank you for your inquiry.  If you have additional questions, please
> > contact Lennox Douglas at lennox.douglas at dc.gov
> > <mailto:lennox.douglas at dc.gov>  with cc to elizabeth.carter at dc.gov
> > <mailto:elizabeth.carter at dc.gov> .
> >  
> >  Sincerely,
> > > 
> > Elizabeth Carter, Special Assistant to
> > 
> > Lennox Douglas, Acting Administrator
> > 
> > Building and Land Regulation Administration
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > IQ# 194401
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> 
> 