Anonymous
Post 02/28/2021 13:47     Subject: DC Government no longer answering phones?
I’d maybe try calling back on Tuesday. I’m sure many CMs have full voicemail boxes after the vaccine registration debacle on Saturday, especially if you’re trying to reach a CM in Ward 4, 5, 7, or 8.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2021 13:44     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


Yes, got a response to my first. My 2nd was disregarded so I tried to phone. While I AM comfortable with email generally, I do find it ironic that the DC has expressed concern since the pandemic began about DC students and elderly on the other side of the digital divide (ie limited computer access), as relates to DL or vaccine sign up. They apparently dont think these same residents are deserving of constituent services...? Wow. That sends quite a message.


Thanks for your detailed response. My thought was that with WFH, maybe email would be more effective and traceable. I quite agree with you re: the importance of being available to constituents, particularly those who lack internet access.


It is WFM 2020/21. The office personnel and responsibilities can easily be replicated at home. When I call a concilmembers phone number that is on their website (same number as before) It should simply ring at the administrative assistant's desk in their home. If I am then presented a phone directory, those selections should ring at home on a home office phone.

Part of me thinks that our DC government is faking it. They are still in April 2020 working on their couches and trying to get stuff done despite the pandemic on their laptops. At some time around last summer, each employee should have had a mini home server delivered with VPN connectivity to their office files a VOIP office phone attached to it. And an ergonomics package with a full sized keyboard and a couple of high def screens. They probably should have migrated from the couch to a dining room table or home office by now.

DC is expecting businesses across the city to do this, however, they apparently have no intention of replicating constituency services beyond Zoom meetings (great but not the end all). Somebody mentions DC whining about the digital divide. It is true. It is the DC Government what is woefully digitally unprepared. When was the last time you visited a DC government website? Have you visited an ANC website recently. Why are they all different and all out of date? It is an absolute unnecessary mess. OCTO should be dismissed by Monday and the entire issue would be run better as an AU/Howard Computer Department class project.


I don't work for DC but I do work for a nearby County. I do feel your pain. But government just isn't that fast with change. (And no, a year is not fast in government time, with all the regulation and budgeting requirements).

I don't want strangers' phone calls coming to my personal cell phone. And the County isn't paying for cell phones or any other technology, save for some laptop purchases for those who don't have computers at home. I have a VPN, but we don't have VOIP. And the VPN sucks. I'm paying for my Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe out of my pocket. So I can work faster without the VPN connection. And I only sign in to the VPN when it's absolutely necessary. For security reasons or file access.

I don't know about DC, but tax revenues have tanked. So it's not like there's additional money to spend on technology upgrades. And if there were, don't get me started on the procurement process. There are some federal grants out there for technology needs. But they are mostly going to first responder type work. The health department too.
Not politicians' offices.

Snail mail still gets through. It gets scanned and sent out by e-mail.


Amazing. So you work for a county that has done zero Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)? Your county has decided that if the county offices, or county courts catch fire and burn down, or the county water tanks become contaminated or the largest fire station in the county gets hit by a tornado that they are simply going to wing it and make things up on the fly? That is amazing. The biggest shock through all of this is the amount of faith residents have in their local government when they are apparently making it up on the fly. Nobody expects a government worker to use their personal mobile phone to conduct work, but I would expect even a local government to have 100 pre programmed mobile phones for immediate distribution and a mobile computer server that can establish connectivity in a school auditorium.

Or maybe your county really does depend on FEMA to swing in and make things right. I keep on hearing that the feds should have planned better, why are the Feds not taking care of this local problem. Shockingly local governments seem to rely upon that probably so that the do not have to spend any money on it. But then you get into situations like this.

No. The DC government should have had the ability to stand up and distribute WFH packages to councilmembers offices by about June and certainly all of the other staffers by September. This is a city that wants to be a state. It needs to start acting like one.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2021 10:50     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


Yes, got a response to my first. My 2nd was disregarded so I tried to phone. While I AM comfortable with email generally, I do find it ironic that the DC has expressed concern since the pandemic began about DC students and elderly on the other side of the digital divide (ie limited computer access), as relates to DL or vaccine sign up. They apparently dont think these same residents are deserving of constituent services...? Wow. That sends quite a message.


Thanks for your detailed response. My thought was that with WFH, maybe email would be more effective and traceable. I quite agree with you re: the importance of being available to constituents, particularly those who lack internet access.


It is WFM 2020/21. The office personnel and responsibilities can easily be replicated at home. When I call a concilmembers phone number that is on their website (same number as before) It should simply ring at the administrative assistant's desk in their home. If I am then presented a phone directory, those selections should ring at home on a home office phone.

Part of me thinks that our DC government is faking it. They are still in April 2020 working on their couches and trying to get stuff done despite the pandemic on their laptops. At some time around last summer, each employee should have had a mini home server delivered with VPN connectivity to their office files a VOIP office phone attached to it. And an ergonomics package with a full sized keyboard and a couple of high def screens. They probably should have migrated from the couch to a dining room table or home office by now.

DC is expecting businesses across the city to do this, however, they apparently have no intention of replicating constituency services beyond Zoom meetings (great but not the end all). Somebody mentions DC whining about the digital divide. It is true. It is the DC Government what is woefully digitally unprepared. When was the last time you visited a DC government website? Have you visited an ANC website recently. Why are they all different and all out of date? It is an absolute unnecessary mess. OCTO should be dismissed by Monday and the entire issue would be run better as an AU/Howard Computer Department class project.


I don't work for DC but I do work for a nearby County. I do feel your pain. But government just isn't that fast with change. (And no, a year is not fast in government time, with all the regulation and budgeting requirements).

I don't want strangers' phone calls coming to my personal cell phone. And the County isn't paying for cell phones or any other technology, save for some laptop purchases for those who don't have computers at home. I have a VPN, but we don't have VOIP. And the VPN sucks. I'm paying for my Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe out of my pocket. So I can work faster without the VPN connection. And I only sign in to the VPN when it's absolutely necessary. For security reasons or file access.

I don't know about DC, but tax revenues have tanked. So it's not like there's additional money to spend on technology upgrades. And if there were, don't get me started on the procurement process. There are some federal grants out there for technology needs. But they are mostly going to first responder type work. The health department too.
Not politicians' offices.

Snail mail still gets through. It gets scanned and sent out by e-mail.


Thank you for this perspective. It sounds like you are doing your very best, thank you. To your points above, to my knowledge DC tax revenue has not tanked. We are doing pretty well. I believe we are also expecting some pandemic relief funds that we may not have received in the first go-round. While on some levels we are a municipal authority like any other, I would argue are somewhat unique compared to nearby counties such as yours--

a) we are small in size, large in logistical resources and relationships to tap (internet capabilty, transport lines etc).
b) We voice concerns frequently about equity.
c) We are positioning ourselves for statehood.
d) We are the Nation's Capitol, and while the Federal Government is responsible for National continuity planning--we do need to undertake some responsibility for keeping the city where it resides 'going' in a crisis, be it terrorism or a 1/6, infrastructure failure, natural disaster, a pandemic etc. It would be good if we could demonstrate that intentionality and abilty.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2021 10:33     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


Yes, got a response to my first. My 2nd was disregarded so I tried to phone. While I AM comfortable with email generally, I do find it ironic that the DC has expressed concern since the pandemic began about DC students and elderly on the other side of the digital divide (ie limited computer access), as relates to DL or vaccine sign up. They apparently dont think these same residents are deserving of constituent services...? Wow. That sends quite a message.


Thanks for your detailed response. My thought was that with WFH, maybe email would be more effective and traceable. I quite agree with you re: the importance of being available to constituents, particularly those who lack internet access.


It is WFM 2020/21. The office personnel and responsibilities can easily be replicated at home. When I call a concilmembers phone number that is on their website (same number as before) It should simply ring at the administrative assistant's desk in their home. If I am then presented a phone directory, those selections should ring at home on a home office phone.

Part of me thinks that our DC government is faking it. They are still in April 2020 working on their couches and trying to get stuff done despite the pandemic on their laptops. At some time around last summer, each employee should have had a mini home server delivered with VPN connectivity to their office files a VOIP office phone attached to it. And an ergonomics package with a full sized keyboard and a couple of high def screens. They probably should have migrated from the couch to a dining room table or home office by now.

DC is expecting businesses across the city to do this, however, they apparently have no intention of replicating constituency services beyond Zoom meetings (great but not the end all). Somebody mentions DC whining about the digital divide. It is true. It is the DC Government what is woefully digitally unprepared. When was the last time you visited a DC government website? Have you visited an ANC website recently. Why are they all different and all out of date? It is an absolute unnecessary mess. OCTO should be dismissed by Monday and the entire issue would be run better as an AU/Howard Computer Department class project.


I don't work for DC but I do work for a nearby County. I do feel your pain. But government just isn't that fast with change. (And no, a year is not fast in government time, with all the regulation and budgeting requirements).

I don't want strangers' phone calls coming to my personal cell phone. And the County isn't paying for cell phones or any other technology, save for some laptop purchases for those who don't have computers at home. I have a VPN, but we don't have VOIP. And the VPN sucks. I'm paying for my Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe out of my pocket. So I can work faster without the VPN connection. And I only sign in to the VPN when it's absolutely necessary. For security reasons or file access.

I don't know about DC, but tax revenues have tanked. So it's not like there's additional money to spend on technology upgrades. And if there were, don't get me started on the procurement process. There are some federal grants out there for technology needs. But they are mostly going to first responder type work. The health department too.
Not politicians' offices.

Snail mail still gets through. It gets scanned and sent out by e-mail.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2021 08:36     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


Yes, got a response to my first. My 2nd was disregarded so I tried to phone. While I AM comfortable with email generally, I do find it ironic that the DC has expressed concern since the pandemic began about DC students and elderly on the other side of the digital divide (ie limited computer access), as relates to DL or vaccine sign up. They apparently dont think these same residents are deserving of constituent services...? Wow. That sends quite a message.


Thanks for your detailed response. My thought was that with WFH, maybe email would be more effective and traceable. I quite agree with you re: the importance of being available to constituents, particularly those who lack internet access.


It is WFM 2020/21. The office personnel and responsibilities can easily be replicated at home. When I call a concilmembers phone number that is on their website (same number as before) It should simply ring at the administrative assistant's desk in their home. If I am then presented a phone directory, those selections should ring at home on a home office phone.

Part of me thinks that our DC government is faking it. They are still in April 2020 working on their couches and trying to get stuff done despite the pandemic on their laptops. At some time around last summer, each employee should have had a mini home server delivered with VPN connectivity to their office files a VOIP office phone attached to it. And an ergonomics package with a full sized keyboard and a couple of high def screens. They probably should have migrated from the couch to a dining room table or home office by now.

DC is expecting businesses across the city to do this, however, they apparently have no intention of replicating constituency services beyond Zoom meetings (great but not the end all). Somebody mentions DC whining about the digital divide. It is true. It is the DC Government what is woefully digitally unprepared. When was the last time you visited a DC government website? Have you visited an ANC website recently. Why are they all different and all out of date? It is an absolute unnecessary mess. OCTO should be dismissed by Monday and the entire issue would be run better as an AU/Howard Computer Department class project.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 20:26     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


Yes, got a response to my first. My 2nd was disregarded so I tried to phone. While I AM comfortable with email generally, I do find it ironic that the DC has expressed concern since the pandemic began about DC students and elderly on the other side of the digital divide (ie limited computer access), as relates to DL or vaccine sign up. They apparently dont think these same residents are deserving of constituent services...? Wow. That sends quite a message.


Thanks for your detailed response. My thought was that with WFH, maybe email would be more effective and traceable. I quite agree with you re: the importance of being available to constituents, particularly those who lack internet access.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 20:18     Subject: DC Government no longer answering phones?
I don't even bother calling anymore. Same experience. I did write an email to every member of the council regarding DCPS reopening plans and Phil Mendolsen and Elissa Silverman are the only 2 member who responded so giving a shout out to both of them for GAF! My brand new Ward 4 Rep Janeese George could not have even been bothered so there's to a wasted vote!
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 19:53     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


Yes, got a response to my first. My 2nd was disregarded so I tried to phone. While I AM comfortable with email generally, I do find it ironic that the DC has expressed concern since the pandemic began about DC students and elderly on the other side of the digital divide (ie limited computer access), as relates to DL or vaccine sign up. They apparently dont think these same residents are deserving of constituent services...? Wow. That sends quite a message.


I totally agree with this and think it’s ridiculous. I also think if any organization, company or government provides a telephone number saying that is a way to communicate with them that they should answer the telephone, clean out voicemail and respond to calls. It’s totally unprofessional and is not serving their clients, in this case DC residents.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 14:06     Subject: DC Government no longer answering phones?
This grinds my gears.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 14:01     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


Yes, got a response to my first. My 2nd was disregarded so I tried to phone. While I AM comfortable with email generally, I do find it ironic that the DC has expressed concern since the pandemic began about DC students and elderly on the other side of the digital divide (ie limited computer access), as relates to DL or vaccine sign up. They apparently dont think these same residents are deserving of constituent services...? Wow. That sends quite a message.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 12:37     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?


The issue with email is that when they don't respond you have no idea whether they ever received it. If OCTO has filtered it out. If they just are not interested. If they are overwhelmed.

Phoning and talking to a Councilmember's staff is a basic expectation of community level government. Let alone a city which thinks it is a state.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 12:19     Subject: Re:DC Government no longer answering phones?
I know that this isn’t quite 2021 level technology, but have you tried email?
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 12:06     Subject: DC Government no longer answering phones?
Anonymous wrote:DC has interpreted work from home to mean stay at home and do not come into the office. They have NOT replicated their office functions to a genuine work from home environment.

DC City Council was so impressed with the capabilities of Zoom that they genuinely thought that having a few Zoom meetings counted as WFH. As far as constituency services. There is zero desire to actually making a working pandemic system (see DMV).

DC Council had a statement before the holidays saying that WFH capability suites were never budgeted and that she was satisfied with using her mobile phone and social media. Glad the council is satisfied.


Wow. I was wondering if there had been layoffs or something.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 10:29     Subject: DC Government no longer answering phones?
DC has interpreted work from home to mean stay at home and do not come into the office. They have NOT replicated their office functions to a genuine work from home environment.

DC City Council was so impressed with the capabilities of Zoom that they genuinely thought that having a few Zoom meetings counted as WFH. As far as constituency services. There is zero desire to actually making a working pandemic system (see DMV).

DC Council had a statement before the holidays saying that WFH capability suites were never budgeted and that she was satisfied with using her mobile phone and social media. Glad the council is satisfied.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2021 09:32     Subject: DC Government no longer answering phones?
I have tried to contact a CouncilMember and the Office of the Mayor with constituent concerns during working hours in recent weeks. The CouncilMember's phone picked up with message that workers are out of office due to the pandemic, and to LM. Then, the message machine is full, providing about 3 seconds before cut off. The Mayor's Office phone rang and rang.

It's 2021? No call forwarding or VOIP? I thought our DC government was concerned about the web/telephone digital divide for residents. Are we simply not answering phones anymore?