quality of life

Gotta Give Props to those who take Fireworks Clean Up Seriously

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was jogging by Sherman Circle at 10:30 on Monday the 5th and came across no less than three piles of firework boxes – all stacked very neatly by garbage cans. I’m pretty impressed at the clean up – Petworth knows how to party but also how to clean up, fireworks at least!”

I had noticed a few folks who were just as fastidious about their cleanups as well. I have a neighbor who for years has cleaned up the street immediately after the fireworks were completed. Props definitely warranted for those who did a great job cleaning up.

Sensing the Frustration From Both Sides – Plus Requesting Reader Questions for the Mayoral Candidates?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user dullshick

On the MPD-4D listserv a resident writes about a situation at 7th and Kennedy Streets, NW:

“I wanted to let you know that this activity is only getting worse. 7 people basically sitting on my lawn distributing money at the end of a hard day’s work dealing all around the street and neighborhood.

I call 911, but all the police ever really do is drive my them slowly. These people aren’t intimidated by that and they wont’ move. Basically the front of my house is a drug dealer office from about 7:30 pm to well past midnight – unless MPD cars are literally parked on the street. I can’t do anything about this without risking the safety of myself or my family.

Getting pretty frustrated.”

After a few more messages back and forth from residents and Captain Anderson, Capt. Anderson writes:

“We do have a system that also documents by officers run log for assignments. So our patrol officers are out of the scout car walking as well, from time to time during their tour in this area. This is along with the assigned foot patrol officers. So every level is performing policing as was noted by some citizens. They see the officers and acknowledge that we are locking lots of these guys back out there. So let’s be clear we are out with a presence and lock up perpetrators of crimes. The cat and mouse game is what I’m told frustrates citizens NOT the lack of policing at any level.

Last, I will ensure this presence continues after 730pm . Thanks to all who commented.”

I think this is a great example of how difficult this problem is in many of our neighborhoods. While I am a huge supporter of more visible foot patrols by MPD, it does make me realize that it looks like policing alone will not solve this problem. I feel bad for the resident and the Captain. You can’t blame either of them for feeling frustrated.

At the suggestion of a reader I have the opportunity to gather some reader submitted questions to pose to the mayoral candidates (via email) – current Council Chairman Vince Gray and current Mayor Adrian Fenty. So if you’d like to know what the candidates would recommend to resolve this situation or any other questions please place them in the comments and I will select five to be answered by the candidates.

Holy Cow It’s Hot – Metro Melts but at least Pools Open Early/Close Late

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

When I cried from the heat a couple weeks ago I stopped, splashed some water on myself and looked at myself in the mirror and said, “I will not cry from the heat again”. Today, I cried from the heat again. Damn you worthless ceiling fans…

But it’s not just me who’s crying. WMATA reports:

The excessive heat, forecast to reach record-setting temperatures in the region the remainder of this week, is impacting Metrorail service. A kink in the rail on the Red Line has resulted in speed restrictions through one stretch of track between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations.

Excessive heat sometimes forces Metro to take a precautionary safety measure to reduce speeds on the above-ground portions of the rail system. High temperatures can sometimes cause “heat kinks” on the rails. Heat kinks form when overheated tracks expand and cannot be constrained by the cross ties and ballast support the track. Metro track inspectors are closely monitoring rail conditions throughout the heat wave. If heat kinks are discovered, Metro will need to slow train speeds through the area to ensure safety.

Officials will continue to monitor conditions should other areas of track become impacted by the heat.

The record-breaking heat also may make rail stations and trains uncomfortable for passengers. Rail cars may feel overly warm due to more passengers on trains and the regular opening of doors at each station stop. When the doors open to let passengers in and out of the rail cars, cool air goes out the door and warm air enters the car. However, if riders find themselves on a rail car with no air conditioning, they should note the rail car number found on the exterior of the cars or on the bulkhead doors at either end of the car, and report the condition to Metro’s customer complaint phone line at 202-637-1328.

Underground rail stations also may seem warmer than usual during the heat wave. Warm air flows in through the open-air, street-level station entrances. In addition, trains entering underground stations from above ground stations pull in hot air from the outside as well. There is a misperception that Metrorail stations are air conditioned. Underground stations have chilled water air handling units, or chillers, not air conditioners, to cool the air. The Metrorail cooling system was developed in the 1970s to reflect energy conservation standards of the time. Temperatures in stations were designed to be up to 20 degrees cooler than outside temperatures.

At least we get more pool hours:

“All Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) outdoor pools are opening two hours early at 11 am and closing one hour later, by 9 pm. The following pools are operating on extended hours:

* Anacostia, 1800 Anacostia Drive, SE, (202) 724-1441
* Banneker, 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW, (202) 673-2121
* Benning Park, Southern Avenue and Fable Street, SE, (202) 645- 5044
* Douglass, Frederick Douglass Court and Stanton Terrace, SE, (202) 645- 5045
* Fort Dupont, Ridge Road and Burns Street, SE, (202) 645-5046
* Fort Stanton, 1800 Erie Street, SE, (202) 645- 5047
* Harry Thomas Sr., 1743 Lincoln Road, NE, (202) 541-7499
* Oxon Run, 4th Street and Mississippi Avenue, SE, (202) 645-5042
* Theodore R. Hagans Jr., 3201 Fort Lincoln Drive, NE, (202) 576-6389
* Volta Park (formerly Georgetown), 3400 Volta Place, NW, (202) 282-0381”

A Quick Rave from a Reader

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Wake Up The Giant

“Dear PoP,

Since many of your readers live in areas where graffiti continues to be a problem, just wanted to send you a quick note about my experience with using 311 to get it removed. Our wooden fence got tagged last week, so I put in a request for removal online to the mayor’s 311 center. To be honest I didn’t really have high hopes that anything would come of it. However, two days later a ‘homeowner waiver’ appeared in our mailbox, I guess to release the city from liability since they would be removing the graffiti from our private property? At any rate, I filled it out and faxed it back the next day. Two days after that (today!) the city showed up and started powerwashing my fence! It took them all of 10 minutes, and it got almost everything off except for the vague trace of an outline that I’m hoping will fade with time.

Anyway, isn’t it nice when something actually works like it is supposed to in DC? Just thought I’d let folks know how quick and easy this all was.”

Get Ready for the Fireworks!

By Prince Of Petworth

There are a few constants every Summer: it’ll be hot and there’ll be lots of fireworks. You can see a map of licensed stands here. Licensed or unlicensed there are always tons of fireworks starting around this week and lasting a week or so after the 4th. Some people love ’em, some people hate ’em. All I’m saying is get ready for ’em…

PoP PSA: Screw the Heat, Mosquitos are Coming!

By Prince Of Petworth

Every year I warn folks new to the city to get ready – our mosquitos are brutal. So I was delighted to see a message from the owner of Pfeiffer’s Hardware, in Mt. Pleasant, on steps that can be taken to lessen the damage:

Three steps to a holding on to your red blood cells this summer:

1. Prevent Mosquito Breeding

The Asian Tiger Mosquito can breed in as little as a capful of water. So, take some time now to rid your yard, your neighbor’s yard, and your neighbor’s neighbor’s yard of anything that collects water after a rain. ESPECIALLY, fix gutters that don’t drain properly. Seriously, talk to and work with your neighbors – the range of the tiger mosquito from their breeding ground is at least a 100 yards.

2. Get the Larvae before they get to Biting Age

Then, for anything you can’t remove or fix, treat with Mosquito Dunks or Mosquito Bits, the safe and effective way to prevent tiny larvae from reaching biting adulthood. The active ingredient is a bacteria that targets mosquitoes without targeting other wildlife, such as birds and fish. Treat fish ponds, bird baths, rain barrels, storm drains at the front and rear of your house, areas of the yard that get soggy after a rain, etc. Check out http://www.pfeiffershardware.com for details and safety reassurances.

3. Encourage our flying mammals: They eat the Adults

For all those of you who have been requesting bat houses to attract bats, THEY ARE FINALLY IN (starting Wednesday afternoon). A single bat can eat 500-1000 mosquitoes an hour, given the right conditions. Check out our homepage for more information on bats: the myths and the facts, and how to build your own bat house.

Sweet, I say we all adopt bats!!!!

Dear PoP – How to Deal with an Elderly Neighbor?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

My partner and I rent an apartment (it’s technically a condo, and we rent from an individual owner) in a 101-year-old building in Mt. Pleasant. Aside from wishing it were bigger for the same price (we can all dream, no?), we had very few problems with the unit until yesterday when we found out that we had cockroaches. We are, as you can imagine, thoroughly disgusted. We’ve been going through the whole boric acid routine all evening, and we’re pissed that these little suckers seem to have so much power over us. I mean, if they can survive the nuclear holocaust, how can we expect them to eradicate them from our tiny dwelling?

Anyway, this all leads back to how we believe we contracted the cockroaches: a frail neighbor who lives across the hall. The trash rooms/chutes in our building have been closed since 2007, due to what we understand to be a horrific pest problem. The chutes have remained closed since, but somehow our frail neighbor has gotten a key to the room, and continues to place her refuse down the chute, or alternatively, will leave it in the hallway. This has led to a significant pest problem for her closest neighbor, but until now, we have remained untouched by her inability to properly dispose of of her trash.

We have considered taking out her trash for her, but we think that is just the tip of the iceberg. From what we understand, her unit is hopelessly infested with all manner of vermin and insects. We know that we can’t control what she does in her own apartment, but when it comes to the health and sanity of others in the building, is there anything that can be done? We would like to help, but we’ve seen her many times both in and outside of our building and she doesn’t even acknowledge us, even though she lives across the hall and we know that she knows us. Is it acceptable to go over and tell her that we’ll take her trash out? How can we deal with this situation in a delicate manner?”

I know this is many people’s nightmare. I think cockroaches and pests in general are not confined to one apartment though. Of course one’s cleanliness or lack thereof can contribute to the problem. But I think you probably need to speak with the building management or condo board to schedule a regular exterminator appointment. What do you guys think?

Regarding the elderly neighbor, I think it is very kind of you to offer to take out their trash. I wonder if it would be possible to strike a friendship first and then you could offer to take out the trash (and perhaps carry heavy groceries)? I had an elderly neighbor who I helped carry heavy groceries and it developed into a genuine friendship.

Pushed Over the Edge

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I agree with the intent of this neighborhood activist. I had a passing thought that it would be nice to clean up this particular block while walking my dogs the other day. This person at least acted on their thought by going to trouble of cleaning it up and I appreciate that. I think your blog is a nice place to “re-purpose” this public service announcement and toss out the idea that maybe neighborhood dog owners could do some kind of “poop removal” days on a regular basis.

I would much rather do whatever it takes to minimize the animosity between neighborhood dog owners vs. non-dog owners. It already sucks. Dogs poop and dogs bark. I pick up my poop. I will start cleaning up the poop in that area from now on. I try to keep my dogs from barking but they do and I am glad they do. Some of my neighbors are glad they do and some of my neighbors hate it.

As a single woman who lives alone, I have a big scary dog for a reason. I get that some people don’t like dogs and I don’t like stepping in poop either. I try not to even read all the flaming that goes on about dogs because it is typically repetitive and depressing. But, at least for now, DC residents are allowed to own dogs and it would be better to just figure out how to quit all of the hating because it makes living here suck.”

I think in life there are always going to be some jerks. Some are irresponsible dog owners, some litter, some harass people and some do a lot worse. I hope we can give the benefit of the doubt to our neighbors and only judge the guilty and deal with those instances in less passive aggressive ways. I do however feel the frustration on both sides of this situation. Any suggestions on how to bridge the gap here?

Dear PoP – Unfortunate encounter with MPD

By Prince Of Petworth


Photos from PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

Last night, Sunday, I went to the bus station at midnight to pick up my roommate who was coming in late. I got to the Greyhound bus station behind Union Station, and pulled off to the side of the street. I called her to find out where she was, only to find out she goofed and told me the wrong bus station. (She came in on MegaBus at Metro Center.) I was trying to calm her down and tell her it wasn’t a big deal and I would be there in a few minutes. I put the car in drive and began to hang up my phone, when a cop car pulled in behind me. I didn’t move, and the cop car flashed his lights, then proceeded to pull along side me. The cop then slid to his passenger seat, rolled down his window and knocked on my window. I rolled down my window, and the officer said (and I quote) ” Get off the F***ing phone.” I said, ” I’m sorry Officer, I’m a little turned around and I was trying to figure out where I need to go.”

I’m not sure what disturbs me more, the fact that the police officer dropped the F bomb on me, didn’t get out of his car, or when I admitted I was a little lost, he didn’t even ask if I needed help. And the area I was in is not well populated, and not that safe late at night. I also have to admit I look like I’m about 18 when I’m actually 26.

I can’t help but think this officer violated his duties of an officer of the law a few times during my brief encounter. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this type of experience before of an member of the MPD.”

I agree that this is completely unacceptable behavior. I know this is not a life or death example but small examples like this, I think, can lead to larger problems. I will make sure that this note is forwarded to the commander of this police district. Have others experienced behavior like this before?

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