Friday Question of the Day

Friday Question of the Day – Time to Reform the ANC Structure?

By Prince Of Petworth

We’ve spoken about the DC Government’s ANC structure in the past but I received an email from Rob Goodspeed of the Goodspeed Update that is worth reading. He suggests four avenues of reform:

“1. Modify the structure of Single Member Districts,
2. City government should enforce greater transparency and consistency in operations,
3. Reduce the number of ANCs or enlarge SMD sizes, and
4. Term Limits for ANC Commissioners.”

Read his full post here.

I feel pretty lucky in that my ANC is pretty active and has (mostly) good, responsible, engaged representatives. For the FQoTD – do you think the ANC structure should be reformed? Also, what are your experiences with your ANC representatives? Do they help solve problems you have in your neighborhood? Do you support the way they spend ANC money? And I’m just curious with this one – do you know who your ANC Representative is?

Reader Request – Friday Question of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I want to know what your readers feel on the gay marriage issues popping up in dc…could we do a poll on what level of recognition to give to gay couples? And also how does the community feel about the pro and anti sides of the argument (it seems like a lot of anti movement is coming from md and va)…”

For the record I think gay marriage should be legal in DC and the entire country for that matter. I am going to Toronto in September for a friend of mine who is getting married there because she couldn’t in DC. And I hate Toronto… Ed. Note: I don’t really hate Toronto.

Friday Question of the Day – Street Harassment Part 2

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by JUDGE DREDD76

Back in April we had a FQoTD about street harassment. Now I don’t mean to be insensitive but I have to follow up on this question. You see, today as I was walking home from the metro I saw a woman wearing very similar shorts to the one from flickr above. And it got me thinking about this issue again. Let me just say I don’t mean to imply that anyone deserves harassment based on the clothes that they wear. I’m just wondering if it’s a smart choice in certain sections of the city where street harassment is a known problem. God knows, I hope women will be able to wear whatever they want to wear in any neighborhood of the city.

But it reminded me of when I was a kid going into NYC before NYC became much safer. When I would travel to the City I would always put my wallet in my front pocket. And I even remember school trips where they would tell those who wore jewelry to leave it at home. (There were lots of jewelry snatchings back then.) Of course nobody deserved to get there jewelery stolen but it was considered a prudent choice to leave it at home or put your wallet in your front pocket.

Anyway, my question is that maybe it’s not a good idea to wear shorts like this on certain streets, particularly if you are by yourself. Again, I’m totally disgusted and appalled by the street harassment stories we have heard. But isn’t it a good idea to dress slightly more modestly to avoid such unpleasantness? Or is that kind of like letting the terrorists win? I’m totally sincere with this query. I don’t know what the “right” answer is. I’m guessing there might be a slippery slope argument here. And I know there are harassers who would happily torment a woman regardless of what she is wearing. Like I said, I’m conflicted on this one.

So I thought I’d throw it out there for a FQoTD – in known street harassment areas should one choose their dress more cautiously?

Friday Question of the Day – What’s Been The Most Amazing Change in DC Since You’ve Been Here?

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Otavio

It’s really wild how much DC has changed in the 12 years I’ve lived here. So I thought it might make for a fun FQoTD. No matter how long you’ve lived here there has most definitely been some change. I’m just wondering what’s been the most amazing in your opinion. Things that pop into my head are the U Street transformation, Verizon Center/Gallery Place transformation, H Street, NE, Barrack’s Row, Columbia Heights/Target etc., Anacostia, Nats. Stadium…

So in your time in DC – what has been the most incredible transformation?

Dear PoP/Friday Question of the Day – “Tell Metro “NO” To Food Kiosks”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’m not sure about you, but I am really hopeful that Metro does not make a decision to allow food to be sold and consumed in the system. One of the key differentiating factors of our System (in relation to others in the country, and, across the world) is its cleanliness. I fear that allowing food to be consumed will lead to a rapid degradation of its cleanliness and, in fact, may actually lead to HIGHER costs for Metro to keep it clean (as opposed to improving their cash flows as they are actually hoping for).

To email a comment directly to Metro management:
http://wmata.com/about_metro/contact_us/ridercomment.cfm”

From Fox 5 News.

Hmm, I think I’m gonna have to agree with you. If everyone was responsible and took their garbage with them I don’t think it’d matter. Sadly, I don’t think that would be the case. I’d rather keep the metro clean than be able to eat on it.

What do you guys think – should eating be allowed on the metro?

Friday Question of the Day – What is Sketchy?

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by queued

This is gonna be a tough one. But I got to thinking after some recent “Good Deal or Not” posts. It seems lots of folks like to call blocks “sketchy”. The most recent one was most humorous to me, not for the accusation but for the reaction. You know I feel them. The defenders that is. It’s like you can’t call my family crazy only I can call my family crazy. I have the same exact reaction whenever anyone has anything bad to say about Petworth. There are positive and negative aspects of nearly every neighborhood.

But like I said, it got me thinking about the term “sketchy”. I think Reuben was the first to raise the question of what the hell is sketchy? You know when I first moved to Petworth, and I hate to open this can of worms, but I think lots of people called the area sketchy just because it was predominantly black. And I don’t think that is fair. What I have found after talking to lots of folks is that those who call areas sketchy have never actually spent anytime in these areas. They base their definition only on second hand reports and rumors.

For me, I define sketchy as dangerous. Yes there are many blocks in particular neighborhoods that I wouldn’t want to walk down alone in the late hours of the morning. But I don’t think that should define a whole neighborhood as sketchy. For God’s sake I saw a guy shot on my own block and I’d never call my block sketchy. People are very cavalier in how they throw that word around. I suggest folks actual spend some time in the areas that they so carelessly throw the term around.

Like I’ve said many times before, individual folks have their own comfort level. And that’s cool. So you can just say, “I don’t feel comfortable there” rather than throwing around a blanket statement about the whole block/neighborhood.

So my FQoTD is – how do you define the term sketchy?

Friday Question of the Day – Graduate Degrees, Worth It?

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Matt Billings

This week’s FQoTD is gonna be of the purely random variety. I happened to be at a conference earlier this week near American University. I got a Masters in International Affairs at AU and it got me thinking. Obviously as an aspiring full time blogger my graduate degree is not going to be too useful. Even for my “regular” jobs I think learned more from internships and my own reading than I did from class work. Don’t get me wrong I had some great professors, took some interesting classes, met great folks but, as you know, grad school ain’t cheap.

A few of my friends are lawyers who hated their law jobs and are now very content working in different capacities. Many of my younger colleagues are thinking of going to grad school and I’ve been wondering if it’s really worth it. I mean if you know you want to practice law or become a doctor then of course it makes sense. But I’m wondering about your experiences. Do you think your graduate degree was worth the money? Has it helped you in your career?

Dear PoP – Friday Question of the Day – Cost of Fences?

By Prince Of Petworth

A little over two years ago I asked if good fences make good neighbors? This week a reader wrote:

“Dear PoP,

When some of our friends heard we were putting up a fence, they asked us whether we had asked our neighbors to “chip” in for it, since, in theory, they would benefit from the addition. This hadn’t occurred to us at all, but our friends told us that it was what people did when they put up fences….Well, we ended up dancing around the subject with one of the neighbors before giving up, and with the other one, we didn’t even bother. So what are your thoughts on this? Should neighbors offer to pitch in for their neighbor’s fences when they benefit from it? Should neighbors expect to be asked to chip in? Also, with something like a privacy (wooden) fence, are you supposed to put the “nice” side out, or in?”

It’s an interesting question. My neighbors, with whom I have a very good relationship, are currently putting up a fence. As for whether I would chip in the answer is – absolutely not. Quality privacy fences are rather expensive. While I will ostensibly benefit from the fence, I didn’t ask for it. Because I have a good relationship with my neighbors, if they asked me to chip in, I’m sure we would have had a very civil conversation about it. In this case they did not ask me. Do you guys think the neighbors should chip in?

As for where does the good side go? I’d say, since I’m (the neighbor) is not paying for it, the “nice” side should go wherever the one paying for it wants it.

Like I said, I have a great relationship with my neighbors. Not only are they super nice, but they have shoveled my walk, mowed my yard, brought in my garbage cans… I swear I’m not that lazy! One of my finest memories was when another neighbor and I were sitting on the porch and this neighbor said, “hey would you guys like a glass of whiskey?”. She then brought us out two glasses of whiskey and went back inside. Truly a beautiful neighbor. I preface this because I’d like to revisit the message that a privacy fence sends. In this case my neighbors have two dogs and it’s clearly not an insult to me or the neighbor on the other side. But in general, I’m curious what you think the message of a privacy fence sends, if it’s not just facing the alley but in between homes as well?

Friday Question of the Day – Street Harassment

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by David Farrant

It is clear from a previous discussion that street harassment is a real problem in DC. For obvious reasons, I’m sure it becomes worse in the warmer months. While I definitely advocate self defense classes, I thought for street harassment the best thing to do was to simply walk away, or nod and walk away with your head held high. I guess I’m wondering if folks feel that a self defense class is useful for dealing with catcalls? The class below mentions “prevention”. Sadly, from the stories I’ve heard, it seems impossible to prevent harassment. For those who have dealt with street harassment, would you feel more comfortable dealing with the situation after taking a self defense class?

“Dear PoP,

Thought your reader might be interested.

Get ready for Spring: Dealing with street harassment

With Spring, unfortunately, comes a huge increase in street harassment. Get ready for Spring by expanding your skills for dealing with the “hey babys” that may come your way.

Can you “ignore” street harassment? Of course you can. And you already know how to do that. This class will give you other options, making ignoring it only one in a range of skills to choose from, especially when ignoring it doesn’t seem safe.

The class will cover the range of self defense skills–prevention and awareness, verbal self defense, and physical techniques-that you might need in dealing with street harassment. Most of these skills can also be transferred to other irritating or dangerous situations in the rest of life.

* Saturday, April 18, 1-4 pm
* For women and teen girls ages 16+
* In NW DC near Howard University, Georgia Ave., and the Green Line
* $44.Register with a friend or family member and get $5 off each

www.defendyourself.org“

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