quality of life

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?

Dear PoP – aggression towards pedestrians in Dupont/Logan Circles

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Bogotron

“Dear PoP,

I am writing to ask for your help in raising awareness about driver aggression towards pedestrians in the Dupont/Logan area.

In the last six months or so, I have noticed a disturbing trend in our neighborhood. Rather than yielding to pedestrians — as the law requires — drivers sometimes actually speed up when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. This has happened to both my husband and me on separate occasions, to the point that we had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by a car accelerating towards us. I saw it again yesterday, only this time it was a taxicab that floored it towards a pedestrian who was crossing at R and Connecticut — and the pedestrian had both the light and the right of way!

It’s terrifying to see a car accelerating towards you. But once I got over the fright, I became very angry, especially because I feel helpless to fight back in any way. It is also happening to bikers who are obeying traffic rules; I have three different friends who have told me about cars/trucks speeding up towards them and/or running them off the road.

I don’t know what can be done to stop this disturbing trend, but I know I need to raise awareness before another person gets killed.”

We had a very lively Dear PoP, People leisurely walking into speeding traffic, last week from a driver’s perspective. It is interesting to see a pedestrian’s perspective. Is this problem particularly bad in Dupont/Logan Circles or is it a problem all over the city?

Dear PoP – Pepco Problems

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user julianne’s

“Dear PoP,

Can you find out why the power is out on several blocks in NW and NE. Ilive at 15th and Upshur and lost power last night about 8pm. The power came on about 1am and then went out again at 6:30am. Is there a reason for this? I know that a few weeks ago, the building I work in lost power for about 3 or 4 days in a row and we were on back up.”

I’ve definitely seen a few emails and tweets about this. I saw the following on a listserv:

“Seems there are continuous problems w/power outages in this area. For help, contact the Office of the People’s Counsel, your utility attorneys who protect the interests of the ratepayers in DC. 202/727-3071. Herb Jones is the Customer Services Mgr. They will investigate and assist w/getting Pepco to resolve the problem”

Have others been having power problems? Do you think it’s because everyone is putting their Air Conditioning on?

Dear PoP – What do you do when…

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user hellomarkers!

“Random people drinking in the alley behind my apartment? I live on the first floor of my building, at the back, and my windows are literally eye level with the alley. Generally, it’s very quiet, not a lot of activity. The only cars that come through are typically going to the condos behind me as they are the only folks who have parking spots (that I can tell).

For the last three nights in a row, I’ve come home around 7:00 to the sound of really loud music and several individuals (typically young men, yesterday there was a woman) drinking beer either in or outside of a car. It’s been the same car every time and it has MD tags. I know, I know … I can’t say that they don’t live in the area based only on tags but if they are local, why are they drinking, seemingly on the sly in the alley right behind my house?!?! They don’t live in my building, I’m pretty sure of that and I can only assume when they’re done with the 24 pack of Heineken bottles (the drink of choice) they drive off, obviously a very dangerous move.

I’ve contemplated calling the cops … I’m a single woman, living alone and don’t feel comfortable confronting them myself. Other obvious responses would be to close my windows, leave my place, etc. but I pay to live there and it’s hot outside, meaning open windows is a must in my apt!!! I’m pretty sure none of these people are paying to drink in the alley every night.

I’d appreciate any ideas other readers might have!”

I strongly recommend you call 911. You can be anonymous and when they operator asks your name just say, “I’d rather not give it”. If you call 911 everytime a record will be started and MPD can monitor the situation better.

What do you guys think?

Dear PoP – People leisurely walking into speeding traffic

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville Flickr user Blinkofanaye Ed. Note: I love the photo above and don’t mean to imply they were walking into traffic…

“Dear PoP,

Whats the deal with people walking into speeding traffic in dc? I have witnessed and nearly been in many an accident caused by people or groups of people leisurely sauntering across the street with no regard for the traffic. Its as if they just expect people to slam on their brakes or swerve to avoid them… I admit that I j-walk when the coast is clear, but walking into speeding traffic is just ridiculous. I often see the behavior with groups of young high school kids who just walk out into traffic and ignore the cars… if you honk they flick you off and curse at you… I feel like this has gotten more and more prevalent, over the past few months even, as no one is being punished or has been killed by the behavior. Its particularly bad down around u st. Anyone else experiencing this? What can we do about it?”

I have noticed this for years though I’m not sure anything can be done besides a pr campaign by the city. But for full disclosure, I know sometimes when I’m taking photos I sometimes find myself absentmindedly wandering into the middle of the road, I’ve had a few close calls and do need to pay better attention.

There actually is a campaign called Street Smart you know the one with the terrifying posters.

There was a press release back in March ’09.

Can anything else be done besides a PR campaign?

Dear PoP – Boarding House Going Up in Shaw?

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoP,

I recently heard that what I thought was a welcomed new residential building is intended to be a boarding house once the renovation is complete. This is the large gutted red-brick building across from the playground near the corner of P and 6 St: 605 P. St.

Here is a link to the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/605p/587602937/taf. There was a hearing last night with the local council member at the JFK community center at the corner of P and 7th at 7PM.

This could be a huge set back for the Shaw neighborhood and those nearby.”

Wow, they set up a whole Web site about this property.

City Paper’s Housing Complex reports:

“DCRA director Linda Argo—who said that there appeared to be much “confusion” over the process. She dispatched chief building inspector Dan Masoero to last night’s meeting of the Convention Center Community Association, where over the course of a 30-minute sparring session, he firmly told neighbors that the developer was fully within his rights and inspectors had found no problems on the site.”

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