quality of life

Another Reminder to Always Lock Your Car Doors

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user Jess J

From MPD 2D Listserv:

“Watch out for the diabetic

About 2:15 pm today [Tuesday], having just returned from some errands, I looked out the back and found a guy opening my car door (I apparently had not locked it). When I asked him what the hell he was doing, his reply was, I’m a diabetic and I need a place to pee. I told him my car was not that place and he headed east in the alley. Since he was clearly casing the area, I called the police as our PSA Officer Zeb said we should. They arrived after about 15 minutes but he was not around. Description: Black man, about 5’8” to 5’10’, shaved head and clean shaven, a few extra pounds, dark slacks, black jacket white shirt.”

Apparently there were a number of incidents around 15th and Caroline and 18th & U NW.

Dear PoP – Terrible Diamond Cab Experience

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by flickr user Snowesq

“Dear PoP,

I had a horrendous experience with Diamond Cab I wanted to share with your readers in hopes I can spare them from a similar experience. Also, I wanted to see if you and/or your readers had recommendations for reliable taxi cab companies and/or car services.

I called Diamond at 1:20am on 3/27 to schedule a pickup for 5:30am that same morning as I was catching the 6:15am Megabus to NYC. I called again at 5:00am to confirm the pickup for 5:30am and was told the cab would be there as scheduled and that they would call at 5:30 when the cab arrived. They did not call back so I called again at 5:35am only to be told that there was no cab scheduled for pickup and that they had no record of my earlier calls. I urged the dispatcher to find a way to get me a cab ASAP so I did not miss my bus or to tell me if they couldn’t so I didn’t waste any more time and could try to figure something else out. The dispatcher said he was able to find a cab and assured me it would be at my house within 10 minutes. I called back at 5:50am when the cab did not arrive in 10 minutes only to be told that they could not get in touch with the cabbie and did not know if he would show. I ultimately missed the bus as I was left with 15 minutes to drive from Petworth to H& 10th, find parking that was not metered & catch the bus.

As a result of their series of failures I had to take a later bus and forfeited the $23 nonrefundable ticket for 6:15am bus I missed. I subsequently called the Diamond Cab office several times to complain and ask that they reimburse me the $23, but they were consistently rude and refused to accept responsibility. I even spoke to someone in the office, not just the dispatchers who are usually rude and incompetent, but they too were unhelpful. Fortunately, I only lost $23 (in addition to 3hrs of my weekend) — it may have been worse if I had missed a flight.

I hope this helps someone.”

I’ve had some bad experiences trying to schedule taxi pickups as well. Can anyone recommend a reliable company for pickups? And since we’re on the subject I remember back in the day some folks (myself included) had trouble getting cabs to take us home from time to time. Do folks still face that problem today (personally I’ve had much better luck with drop offs the last couple of years)?

Dear PoP – Interesting Advice from MPD

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user Wake Up The Giant

“Dear PoP,

Just wanted to relate a (humorous to me) incident that happened on Thursday morning. I was waiting outside the Enterprise Rent-a-Car center on Georgia Ave for a friend around 7:30 in the morning. A MPD officer walked up to me and asked if I was usually out at that time of the morning. I said, “no” and that I was waiting for someone. He then proceeded to give me some very unusual advice. He said that if a black person approached me, I should turn and run away. Any black person. He said I might look crazy and they might wonder what my problem was, but that I would be safe. Apparently, there had been a series of robberies along that stretch of Georgia Avenue that morning. He didn’t say if the robbers were targeting white people in particular, but I guess I looked like easy prey. By the way, the officer was black. I thanked him for the tip and then he walked away. That was the most unusual interaction I’ve ever had with a police officer. Later, when I was telling my friend about it, we both laughed. But, I’m wondering if your readers would think it was funny, sad, racist… or a little bit of everything.”

Personally, I think this is very very sad on many levels.

Crazy Security for Nuclear Security Summit at Convention Center

By Prince Of Petworth

Well I’ve lived in DC coming on 13 years and I’ve never seen security like this before. These fences are crazy. They start at 7th and O Streets, NW and go all the way south to the Convention Center. Last week we spoke about all the road closures.

I swear I’m not trying to be provocative but am honestly curious – do you think they’d start them this far north if these buildings were condominiums and not public housing projects?

Or do you think they are mostly for protesters?

Well, let’s wish all the world leaders in town luck!  And please don’t visit Ben’s Chili Bowl…

Fences Go Back Up at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Looks like park and rec recently put fencing back up around the fields in Malcolm X Park. I imagine this is to let the grass grow back, as “team sports” have torn it up pretty good.

My question is, why don’t they put large plant pots, floor beds, etc at varying areas of the field to prevent team sport activities from happening in the first place? There are signs along the park that say no team sports and park police will enforce the rule if they are around, but otherwise we will just end up at this point again after the fencing is removed. I think there should be a couple areas that allow space for soccer and football, but, in other areas, place items that will prevent them from starting and keep the grass growing.”

In happier news it looks like the new bathrooms look close to opening. As someone who walks a lot, public restrooms can be a lifesaver. Of course I hope that park police will have regular patrols to make sure it stays clean.

Warm Weather Begins Early Gingko Spray

By Prince Of Petworth

Matt lamented this unpleasantness a couple of years ago. I’m all for preventing the “notoriously unpleasant odor”. Think they’ll have better luck this year? And on a related note, I’m getting some emails from readers saying that the pollen is insane – has the big rain last night improved that situation?

Here’s the press release from DDOT:

Unseasonably warm weather has brought the first signs of the unsavory female ginkgo fruit to life much earlier than expected. To prevent the notoriously unpleasant odor of this popular tree from overtaking city streets, the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will start spraying these fruits tomorrow, Thursday, April 8.

Spraying will begin in Wards 1, 2 and 6, where female ginkgo trees are most prevalent, and continue through Wards 4, 3, 7, 8 and 5. The spraying will be conducted at night and there is no need to move vehicles parked on streets.

The specific spraying locations will be sent to the ANC commissioners and are available upon request. If residents have any questions about the spraying, they can contact the Urban Forestry Administration at (202) 671-5133.

Dear PoP – DCRA says no new restaurants on 14th street & U street corridors!

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader sent in a link from the Mid City Business Association. They report:

URGENT: DCRA rules no New Building Permits or C of Os will be issued to eating and drinking establishments in MidCity.

On April 5th, 2010 Matt LaGrant, DC’s Zoning Administrator, issued a ruling that DCRA will no longer grant Building Permits or Certificate of Occupancies for restaurants, bars, diners, coffees shops and carry-outs along 14th and U streets (plus adjacent commercial side streets) because of zoning regulations restricting the availability of space to eating and drinking establishments to 25% of the linear frontage of the greater 14th and U Street area. To see a map of the overlay go here.

What the ruling means

*Anyone seeking to open an eating and drinking establishment (including delis, coffee shops and carry outs) will need to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to seek a special exception.
*Requiring all new projects to go to the BZA will absorb an enormous amount of business, community and government resources as projects seek exemptions to a rule that is widely regarded as outdated and harmful to economic development.
*It will stall new projects and prevent existing ones from expanding
*It will discourage entrepreneurs from investing in the MidCity area, including underdeveloped parts of the district.
*It will send a strong message to local, regional, national investors that DC is business unfriendly

MIdCity Business Association’s Response to the Ruling
We will be sending a letter to CM Jim Graham, CM Jack Evans and other city officials asking for their help in obtaining an urgent text change to the zoning regulations to increase the allowance from 25% to 50% of the total area.

We will be continue to work with our community partners including the Logan Circle Communtiy Association and the U Street Neighborhood Association along with commissioners from ANC1B, ANC2F and ANC2B to develop a constructive and positive response as our community coalition continues to work together to promote positive, balanced economic and community development in MidCity.

We last discussed concerns about development in this area here. Do you think this will hurt the continued revival of the 14th and U Street Corridors?

Dear PoP – How about a perfect spring poem to take us out for the weekend. . .

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo From PoPville flickr user K’s Clicks

O sweet spontaneous
by: e.e. cummings (1894-1962)

sweet spontaneous
earth how often have
the
doting

fingers of
prurient philosophers pinched
and
poked

thee
, has the naughty thumb
of science prodded
thy

beauty, how
often have religions taken
thee upon their scraggy knees
squeezing and

buffeting thee that thou mightest conceive
gods
(but
true

to the incomparable
couch of death thy
rhythmic
lover

thou answerest

them only with

spring)

Dear PoP – Stores Blasting Music

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Have you ever been at the South-East corner of the 7th and Florida NW intersection? The store there has a speaker on the building’s exterior. During rainstorms, they cover it with plastic. They blast music throughout the day, everyday except Sunday (I think). You should check it out.”

and

“Dear PoP,

There is a new boost mobile/check cashing/”metro fast pass” (?) selling place on Georgia Avenue between Jefferson and Kennedy that has been playing loud music outside their store for about the last week now. There is literally a stereo speaker sitting out on the sidewalk. I personally am annoyed by it because I don’t want to hear that particular genre of music at 8:00 in the morning on my way to the bus stop. Also, is this kind of thing even allowed? Am I over-reacting and this is really a good way to help build community on a street where a lot of people were afraid to do so? (This is a door or two down from the La Casa de Morata liquor store shooting this past winter.)”

Well I’ve had some interesting experiences at 7th and Florida. Personally I dig it. Granted I just walk by it from time to time and don’t go too early in the morning. But I honestly think it adds some flavor to the streets. I think it would be annoying if every store did it but just I few I sorta love. I especially enjoy walking up Georgia Ave and hearing Spanish music blaring out of some bodegas. Like I said to me it adds a bit of flavor. What do you guys think?

Dear PoP – More Neighbor Problems

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

We live in a row house as many DCers do and the people in the row house next door are, as I understand, Section 8 tenants. Not to pass judgment on these individuals but I’ve certainly had cleaner, more courteous neighbors. The biggest problem is that they have not bothered to get (or perhaps keep) a trashcan and instead just throw their trash out in bags into the alley behind our house which immediately get torn into by rats. The back of our house has thus developed a pretty nasty rat and garbage problem. Anyways I guess my question is, first and foremost, is there anything we can do about this? Is there some sort of venue to file a complaint? Are there certain requirements that they must meet (besides income) to maintain residence in their subsidized house, such as not turning it and the adjacent properties into complete filth-holes?”

This is a very uncool situation. Ed. Note: I’m sure Section 8, “regular” renters and owners could all be guilty of this unhealthy behavior. Let’s try not to focus on that though and rather address the question itself. What should the reader do? Contact DCRA? Council Member? Call 311? Can they request a trashcan for the neighbor?

And I know it can be awkward an conversation but have you asked the neighbor if they are getting a trashcan or if they want your help in getting them a trashcan?

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