WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — There have been several high-profile incidents of D.C.’s 911 system going down.
Now, the Office of Unified Communications is getting a much-needed upgrade.
DC’s 911 call center under new leadership, direction
The IT issues are just part of the problem. There are also major staffing issues that some allege have led to errors.
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City officials spoke for the first time publicly since a baby died while the system shut down earlier this month.
Since December of last year, D.C. City Administrator, Kevin Donahue, said there have been 18 incidents of the 911 system going down for a period of time.
“Eight of the 18 had some pretty significant effects. It has more systemic in nature and most of those dealt with dispatch,” Donahue said.
One of those outages on Aug. 2 lasted two hours. Donahue said a contract employee pushed a change to every workstation at the 911 center instead of the planned one or two stations.
“Totally unacceptable. Totally outside of the norm and expectation of what this person should have done,” Donahue said.
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The contractor was fired that day and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating what happened.
“Whether it was a mistake, perhaps lack of training, lack of similarity, or whether it was negligence of a criminal nature is an open question,” Donahue said.
DC 911’s call center to offer $800 bonus to employees who show up for work
During that time a five-month-old died. The family first couldn’t contact 911 and then with pen and paper, dispatchers sent medics who were already on another call to the address.
Donahue said everyone followed protocol.
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“But the protocol wasn’t sufficient to be able to accurately understand that we had a unit that the system showed us available, but in fact wasn’t,” Donahue said.
OUC Director Heather McGaffin said her staff did all they could.
“My condolences to the family. Losing a child is unimaginable. Our call takers did everything that they could in those moments to reassure and offer guidance during that time,” McGaffin said.
Donahue said they have a 22-point plan to address the computer-aided dispatch outages. The most important part is equipment upgrades.
“The equipment we have was not able to keep up with the demands that are being placed on it,” Donahue said.
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DC’s 911 response to shooting worries woman after waiting on hold for nearly 90 seconds
Around $2.5 million of upgrades wasn’t going to start until the new fiscal year on Oct. 1 but because of these incidents, the IT has money now to start doing upgrades.
“We have to learn from that and change how we do things so that there’s not going to be another instance of a family in a similar circumstance,” Donahue said.
Another big component of the problems with 911 is staffing.
Twenty-two call takers are starting at the end of this month. Nineteen vacant dispatcher positions will be filled through promotions from within OUC.
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D.C. handles about 1.8 million calls a year. Call takers and dispatchers handle 70 or 80 calls per 12-hour shift.
DC’s 911 Call Center coming under fire
McGaffin said when they’re fully staffed they’ll look at reducing shift hours from 12 to eight or 10.
“We hold people accountable. We retrain and we separate when we have to,” McGaffin said.
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Jason Lewis, 42, argued that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot 13-year-old Karon Blake
Go Fund Me Karon Blake
A former Washington, D.C. government worker has been found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of an unarmed teenage boy he had accused of breaking into cars in his neighborhood, authorities said.
Jason Lewis, 42, was handed down the guilty verdict by a D.C. Superior Court jury on Friday, Aug. 16, in connection with the 2023 killing of 13-year-old Karon Blake, according to a press release shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The jury acquitted Lewis of a second-degree murder charge.
According to the Associated Press, The Washington Post and a DC News Now, Lewis was a longtime D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation employee and was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 31, 2023, after surrendering to police in connection with the case.
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Lewis argued he acted in self-defense when he shot at two young children — one of whom was Blake — he believed were breaking into cars in his Northeast, D.C., neighborhood at around 4 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2023, according to prosecutors.
D.C., Govt. Worker Accused of Fatally Shooting 13-Year-Old Black Boy He Claimed Was Trying to Break into Cars
Prosecutors said Lewis, who was armed with a fully-loaded registered handgun, was seen on video leaving his house and shooting in the direction of two children, hitting a car that one was driving. Blake then “ran in Lewis’ direction” and Lewis fired two shots at Blake, killing him, according to the release.
“Lewis claimed that he acted in self-defense because the two people that he initially fired at threatened him,” the release states.
Lewis testified during the trial that he went outside his home to investigate after hearing noises and seeing someone he believed was tampering with cars, NBC 4 Washington reports. He claimed in court that he feared for his life and opened fire after seeing Blake run towards him, according to the outlet.
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“I’m sorry! I’m just a kid!” Blake can be heard repeatedly saying in the video footage shown in court, per the AP. The boy was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after the shooting, police previously said.
However, prosecutors denied Lewis’ claim of self-defense, saying that he didn’t wait to see whether Blake was unarmed, DC News Now reports.
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The shooting sparked outrage in the area after misinformation about the suspect’s identity was spread online. At the time, former Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee III cited the ongoing investigation as the reason why the gunman’s identity was not immediately made public.
He mentioned during a January 2023 press conference that the police department became aware of photos that were circulating on social media showing “people who have nothing to do with this case, and people are making allegations centered around race, and it’s wrong.” The former police chief later confirmed that the gunman is Black.
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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also criticized Lewis’ actions and encouraged people to call 911 instead of taking the law into their own hands, according to NBC 4 Washington.
According to a GoFundMe launched in the wake of his death, Blake was remembered as a “quiet and inquisitive scholar who loved fashion and football.” Loved ones also said on the fundraiser that he was a student at Brookland Middle School.
Lewis was found guilty of three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, committed against a minor, prosecutors said.
Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25. According to prosecutors, he faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison.
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Washington, DC, Councilman Trayon White allegedly engaged in a bribery scheme to use his elected position to keep government contracts flowing to two companies, federal prosecutors say, accepting envelopes with thousands of dollars in cash and lucrative kickbacks.
White, who represents southeast DC, was arrested by the FBI Sunday and is set to appear in DC’s federal courthouse Monday afternoon.
As part of the alleged bribery scheme, White would get kickbacks from multimillion-dollar city contracts related to violence intervention services in DC. All told, White agreed to take $156,000 in cash for his work – or 3% percent of the contracts’ value, prosecutors allege.
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The scheme played out in recorded conversations, prosecutors said in court documents. White made the alleged agreements with a local businessman who had contracts with the DC government. That man, unbeknownst to White, had pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges and was working with law enforcement.
White repeatedly indicated to the informant that he needed money, according to recordings cited in court documents, saying that he was “hurting.” The recordings described in court filings also show that the informant offered White thousands of dollars in cash to push city officials toward specific contracts that would benefit his businesses, and to brainstorm additional contracts that they could try to acquire in the future.
In one conversation, White was recorded asking the informant what they needed from him.
“I don’t, I don’t wanna feel like you gotta gimme something to get something. We better than that,” White said, before taking an envelope filled with thousands in cash from the informant.
The councilman allegedly boasted about his influence, telling the informant that “I’m a huge voice when it comes to violent prevention and the Council” and that “I got great weight when it comes to violence” initiatives.
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The two also discussed how White would use his position of power as a councilman to pressure government employees to “support” him, according to court documents. White recounted some of those conversations in recorded conversations with the informant, in one instance saying that he told a government employee: “The only way I’m gonna support you, if you support me.”
A stone’s throw from the White House and across the road from the Treasury Department (where pre-election economic calculations are made) is a bustling restaurant made of mahogany wood, booth seats, and the best steak you’ve ever had.
Old Ebbitt Grill is an institution. One can only imagine the agenda-altering discussions had across its white tablecloths over the decades.
Walk into its warmth on any week night and there’s a queue of suited professionals waiting for a table inside. It pays to book in advance, but if you don’t, it’s worth the wait.
Old Ebbitt does simple food, exceptionally well, with an emphasis on the highest quality produce.
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Beginning with a raw bar, offering oysters from a Massachusetts marina to rivers in Maine, every morsel is tracked to its source and its flavour explained as such.
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As your server may suggest, a mix from all of the above is available and what I went for. With a sour-over-sweet, lemon and honey and cocktail to top it off.
Oysters on ice at the Old Ebbitt Grill.
The list of entrees is extensive. I decided to keep it light to save room for the hearty mains, opting for a beets and burrata salad, topped with perfectly crunchy pistachio nuts.
For the main event, one cannot go past the steak frites, finished with a shallot-Dijon cream sauce. It’s apparently an entree size, but certainly enough for one on its own. With a deep red wine, this was the meal of my trip.
As Washington’s oldest saloon, its founding dates back to 1856. It’s called its current location home since 1983.
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Old Ebbitt is part of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group, which took it over in the 1970s.
Its more relaxed restaurant The Hamilton is popular for its live music and sushi happy hour.
Filomena Ristorante
This underground adobe in Washington’s Georgetown suburb exudes Nonna’s charm with America’s confidence.
The diners on the table next to me put it best, saying: “I’ve never been this impressed with a restaurant before eating”.
It has a small street front for its large personality. Enter Filomena just off the main M street and walk down its steps to a dark but lively restaurant boasting laughter, chatter, and clinks of glasses by groups big and small.
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The menu is embossed with the names of famous people who’ve dined here before, their favourite dishes in bold. I’m told it hasn’t been updated in 10 years – the menu wouldn’t fit in your hands if it included the latest list!
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The hustle and bustle of the underground Filomena Ristorante on a week night.
Founded by JoAnna Filomena, and named after her mother Filomena, this spot serves an extensive list of pasta and saucy mains such as ossobucco and parmigiana, with non-negotiable cheesecake desserts.
The restaurant is decorated with Filomena’s original furniture, antiques, and knick-knacks, with a dining room in the kitchen designated for fame and fortune only (ask for a tour!).
Wines from all over Italy and beyond are on offer. I ordered a glass of house Cabernet, but the waiter, Tom, knew I could do better. He impressed me with a bottle of something full-bodied and Sicilian. Trust Tom.
I had the homemade burrata, slow-cooked ragu pasta and finished with a slice of chocolate caramel cheesecake. The dishes improved in that order. They were all delightful and far too generous for me to finish.
Filomena’s chocolate caramel cheesecake was phenomenal.
Tables are tidied with a tradition. A crystal glass of liquor Sambuca or Amaretto, with three coffee beans dropped in each, representing good luck for health, wealth, and love.
And, because Nonna wouldn’t let you leave without takeaways, everyone exits with a doggie bag in hand.
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Booking is essential. Filomena’s is a phenomenal vibe.
Via Sophia
If you needed another reason to believe DC does Italian as decent as New York City, this osteria underneath the Washington Post is delicious.
I happened upon this Italian restaurant by accident, and returned with the intention of a second time.
The duck ragu rigatoni (gluten-free) and crispy, buttered brussel sprouts with pine nuts and golden sultanas could be contenders to challenge New York’s Italian dining scene.
The location of this incredible osteria made me feel as though I could eavesdrop on important reporters readying for the election result.
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Founding Farmers Fisher and Bakers
If you’re like me and feel like fresh food among the fried while travelling the US, this spot on the Washington Harbour in Georgetown will win your vote.
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Open all day, every day, for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks, this farm-to-table restaurant facing Roosevelt Island serves real food made from scratch.
The cobb salad at farmer-owned restaurant Founding Farmers Fishers and Bakers in Georgetown.
Kettle corn to calamari, cornbread and ceviche, this chain co-owned by more than 50,000 farmers traces ingredients back to their source.
Flour comes from North Dakota farmers, the meat from independently owned American farms and the cocktail spirits from a farmer-owned distillery in DC.
It was too early for me to test the latter, but I can vouch for the sustainably caught seafood and rainbow of vegetables that featured in the mixed cobb salad.
Eat good here while doing good. The business has a charity that funds sustainability efforts and supports neighbouring communities.
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Drinks
Near Old Ebbitt Grill is the Willard InterContinental Hotel. Step into its fabulous and infamous hotel lobby, turn right and you’ll find yourself at the Round Robin Bar.
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Dubbed the “Oval Office bar”, this iconic, circular bar has been a destination on DC’s drinking and dining scene since 1847.
Delivering classic cocktails and its signature Mint Julep, made famous here by former US Senator Henry Clay; try your luck for a seat in this typically crowded, must-see spot.
Best places to eat in Washington DC. Photo / Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash
What I liked most about Washington’s hospitality:
Waiters wear suits. But diners can be as casual as they like.
Staff are typically very attentive to customers’ needs and any dietary requirements.
Tipping is typically priced into the final bill so there’s no need to guess how much is appropriate to tip after every meal.
Meals were not unreasonably large, unlike some other American states.
Checklist
WASHINGTON DC, US
GETTING THERE
Fly from Auckland to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Los Angeles with Delta Airlines.
DETAILS
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washington.org
delta.com
Madison travelled to Washington DC with hospitality from Destination DC, Delta Airlines and dined with hospitality by Destination DC and Old Ebbitt Grill.
To start planning your Washington DC adventure visit washington.org