Public, Private, or Charter School? That is the question. I do not have any children that I know of, nor, despite my mother’s pleas, are any children imminent but I know this is a huge question for young families living in Petworth. Now, I am a product of New York’s public schools. More specifically, I am a product of Long Island’s public schools. I am not a tough guy and fortunately for me, Long Island’s public schools were not too intimidating. Unless you are intimidated by high hair and thick accents. But that is beside the point. The question that I raise to you all is: what are you going to do if or when your children become of school age? Will you send them to public school? I know I am not rich and the thought of sending a future child to a private school seems unrealistic. While my children no doubt will be tougher than I, DC public schools can be dangerous and let’s be frank just downright pretty awful. How can I contemplate sending them to public school? Can I send them to public elementary school or would they still get their asses kicked? What is the alternative? Move to the suburbs? Unacceptable. Send them to a Charter, Catholic or other private school? It really has me baffled. So I ask you: Petworth, Columbia Heights, U Street and Washington DC residents in general – where will have you/will you send your kids to school?


Today’s question is sparked by a comment left a couple of days ago. A commenter suggested that we get behind a particular store/company and lobby for them to come to Petworth. He mentioned that this has been done successfully on other blogs. Well, as I have a huge inferiority complex I will not let that challenge go unanswered. I will happily initiate the lobbying if there is even a remote consensus. So Friday question of the day is: What particular store are you dying to see come to Petworth? Do you think lobbying is an effective way to encourage them to come to Petworth? I will start the ball rolling. I vote for Dunkin Donuts. What is your vote?


I read in the Post that crime traditionally spikes in July. Having lived here for a number of years, I do hear many more gunshots in July but I don’t necessarily think it impacts regular folk or let’s say “civilians”. But do get ready for a sweet fourth of July fireworks display. And I’m not talking down by the monument, I’m talking about on nearly every street corner in Petworth. It is going to be electric. But my Friday question of the week is: Are you concerned about rising crime rates in July? As a result will you be changing your normal routines at all i.e. walking around the neighborhood, walking back from the metro at night etc.? Or is it business as usual, crime rates be damned?


I know we have had the bus/metro debate before but I have recently noticed the prime spots zip car and flex car have on Upshur near Domku. So my question is does anyone use zip car or flex car? Which is better? I saw that zip car was represented by a nice Toyota corolla while flex had a slightly more stylish Toyota matrix. How did they get such a sweet permanent parking spot? I have to admit, as a driver, it upsets me when I’m looking for parking spots and these two prime spots are permanently taken.

Bonus question of the day: Is jaywalking a serious problem in Petworth? Now, I jaywalk like the best of them but the difference between me and other jaywalkers I see in Petworth is that I don’t cross when I see cars, or if I see a car I run to get to the other side. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen people jaywalking, as though they were perfectly in the right, and nonchalantly cross New Hampshire or Georgia Ave, cars be damned. First of all it seems quite dangerous. Second of all it is quite annoying for drivers. Is this behavior related to our notorious double parking problem?


This is a mock up of the what the new condos being built over the Petworth metro are supposed to look like. And I am just having a very difficult time imagining it. Believe me, I hope it looks like this and with the Great Streets Initiative maybe it will but it just seems so foreign. I’m crossing my fingers.

So my question to you is: Do you really think the new condos being built over the metro are going to look like this?

Bonus question: I know there is a Mocha Hut coffee shop going in (which is sweet) but what other retail is going in or what other retail would you like to see go in?


Does neighborhood drug dealing affect your quality of life? Obviously, there is drug dealing in Petworth and obviously it affects us when there is a shooting. But I’m asking about day to day quality of life. I know there is an open air drug market blocks from my house and I’m not happy about it. But it is usually in the evening and I don’t really see anything. So how does it affect us day to day. Are these the culprits who throw trash on the ground? I’ve even heard rumors that drug dealers help keep neighborhoods safe because they don’t want any trouble attracting the cops. Kind of like old school Italian neighborhoods filled with mafia were largely safe of street crime. Do we have the same correlation here?


What the heck happened at Grant Circle last night? I can report a big bang, a copter, lots of yelling and sirens etc.?


Have you decided who you are going to vote for in the special election? You don’t have to tell me for whom, I’m just interested if people have made up their minds yet. I know I haven’t. Part 2: Have you been influenced by the Post’s endorsement or any other endorsements for that matter?


If you won a million dollars would you still live in Petworth? Remember we are talking a million dollars not 50 million.


So I’ve recently been bombarded with Michael Brown and Muriel Bowser campaign materials. Have you guys? Have they persuaded anyone? Or do they go straight in the trash?


View More Stories