quality of life

An Update on “Protest Benches” at 14th and Oak Streets, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

You can see the original post and more photos of the benches here. The person behind the benches sends an email of explanation:

“Dear PoP,
I see you posted some photos on your blog about an art project I recently installed at 14th, Oak and Ogden Streets. Contrary to your commentary “I’ve always known there were benches here but I never noticed the writing on them before,” benches have not been a part of the park for the past 2.5-3 years but had been a part of the park for decades before that. I installed these benches early August.

Thank you,
Sarah Tooley

———————————

For the installation Public Dialogues in Public Places, former neighborhood resident and artist Sarah Tooley interviewed 60 community members who live near or own a small business adjacent to the park at the intersections of 14th, Oak and Ogden Streets in Northwest, Washington, DC. She asked about their feelings and thoughts on their relationship to the park and community safety.

With the help of a Small Projects Grant from the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities she worked with a group of volunteers to paint and transcribe selected texts from the interviews onto the slats of seven brightly painted wooden benches. She met with the D.C Department of Parks and Recreation to create a Donation Agreement to allow for the public installation of the benches until renovation of the park begins.

Through the physical manifestation of the text painted on the benches privately expressed opinions are launches into the public realm. The differing views and experiences expressed lay side by side to confront and co-exists with the assumptions, stereotypes and lived realities of the people who choose to spend time in the park, who steer clear of it, or those who have felt pushed out.”

Dear PoP – What can one do About an Annoying Barking Dog?

By Prince Of Petworth


Ed. Note: photo by thrashfall found on Flickr not the dog in question.

“Dear PoP,

I am a dog lover (we have 2) and so while the dog is annoying I am really upset at the owners. This dog is fenced in an empty lot that is over-run with weeds and debris. It stays locked up inside the fence all day and has never been out. It has a big tent with a dog house under it, and the owners come by at least once a day, so it gets adequate shelter and hopefully food and water but little exercise or love. The owner says that the dog is from a long line of military attack dogs and he is training it according to some German military dog school to do God only knows what. (clearly not training it to lick babies faces) The dog barks all day and all night at everything. It has become beyond annoying for everyone in the surrounding houses. Isn’t there noise violation laws?

Also, I just can’t believe that it is legal to keep a dog locked up in an empty lot that you (possibly) own in a neighborhood that you don’t live in. The owner shows up on bike everyday to “train” the dog for a few hours and then takes off. Can you really just buy a lot and put up a fence and house your dog there? The lot isn’t even properly maintained. Finally, if the dog gets out he is going to seriously injure or kill someone. Is it legal to own and train a dog in this manner? There are lots of little kids in the neighborhood and I just feel it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. I have talked to several neighbors and all of us are very upset. Animal Control has been out twice and apparently approves of this and the city has been out twice and apparently approves of the current state of the trash strewn and overgrown weed infested lot. This dog needs a new home and I need help on how to get this done. Any suggestions from the PoP Nation would be most helpful.”

This seems like a very sad situation. We sorta addressed this issue last December when Albemarle, MD was going to pass an ordinance stating if a dog barks for more than 30 minutes it’s owners could be taken to court. At the time folks didn’t think the police would be able to enforce such a law. But what do you guys recommend in this particular instance? I wonder if you could talk to the owner and mention that the barking has become a problem? Or should animal control be called? And, per the reader’s request, does anyone know DC’s laws regarding noise violations?

Does This Work? Mosquito Porch Netting

By Prince Of Petworth

Looks like we may be reaching the end of mosquito season, but I just noticed this spot in Mt. Pleasant last weekend. I’ve never seen mosquito netting on a porch before. I fear that it would just capture mosquitos on the inside. Anyone know if this works? Do you think it is an eyesore? I’m still a supporter of greasing up with Skin So Soft or applying copious amounts of Deet…

Protest Benches at 14th and Oak Streets, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve always known there were benches here but I never noticed the writing on them before. I’m not sure who sponsored the writing but it is certainly thought provoking. It is very interesting to see this perspective. You can see some of the writing on the bench above answering the question: “Why do you think the benches were taken out?”.

Do folks know if these benches were supposed to be removed or is this a preemptive protest?

More benches after the jump. (more…)

Dear PoP/Friday Question of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’m a big fan of free speech – yay soapboxes for whackos – but shouldn’t there be restrictions on pure noise? I know this issue has popped up before – streetcorner idiots with amplifiers that can be heard two blocks away. These guys are particularly ugly, but I don’t really care what the cause is – I shouldn’t have to hear it over a loudspeaker in my neighborhood. Anyone know what the deal is? ”

I remember talking about these guys before. They’re often outside of the Columbia Heights metro. And I know that H Street, NE has dealt with a similar situation. I find them terribly irritating. But here is my serious FQoTD – how far does free speech extend? Can anyone set up outside the metro and spout whatever they want, whenever they want? Where is the balance between tranquility and free speech? Is it just a decibel level? Maybe I should set up next to them and start preaching about the beautiful life? Anyone got my back? Warning, I bruise and bleed easily…

Turf installed at Harriet Tubman – 8 Men Detained by MPD for Trying to Play Soccer

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve been getting a number of emails that the turf has been installed at the Tubman school located off 11th Street between Irving and Kenyon. Here’s what it looked like a month ago. So how do you think it looks? The photo doesn’t show it that well but there is a big DC flag in the middle with Fenty’s name up top.

But I have some more questions.

I received the following on twitter at 6:30ish Tues. evening:

“police detaining 8 latino men trying to use the unfinished Tubman field”

So was anyone at Wonderland at that time and also saw what happened? Were they actually insisting on playing even after MPD showed up? I’m wondering if they were just told that the field wasn’t finished yet. Were they arrested? When the field is properly finished will people be able to play soccer there like before? Is a turf field like this hard to maintain? Will pick up soccer games destroy it?

Summer Scenes – Watermelon Truck

By Prince Of Petworth

This truck was sitting on Florida Ave just west of 14th Street, NW. I spoke with the guy in the truck who said he gets the Watermelons from a farm in Greenville, NC. They are $10 a piece but they are gigantic. I just loved the scene.

Dear PoP – Mayor Fenty’s Youth Job Corps Strikes Again!

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

The morning of Wed. August 5th, I left my Parkview/Petworth house for only a half hour and came home to find the five year old crepe myrtle –which I had planted in memory of my grandmother the week after she passed away – cut clean about five inches above the base and just laying there. The look on my face prompted a neighbor walk up and tell me “those Mayor’s kids in the blue shirts just did that a few minutes ago”. Sure enough – the band of blue shirts was walking aimlessly down the block with branch cutters. Confronting them was to no avail – and so now I have a dead tribute tree that I bought and planted to show for all the great work Fenty’s kids are doing in this city this summer being paid for in part with MY tax dollars!

In the press release (http://www.facebook..com/note.php?note_id=214813510712) that announced the program’s kick-off back in June Mayor Fenty proudly proclaimed, “My Green Summer Job Corps will lead to a cleaner, greener nation’s capital. All summer, the young people in this program will also do meaningful work and learn skills they can use for the rest of their lives.” Um yeah Mayor Fenty — vandalizing neighborhoods – yup – that’s about the only skills most DC kids need to learn to live in this city for the rest of there lives!”

While a different program than the one we discussed last week, it certainly seems that more supervision for both these programs is required. Let me just add, that when I was a youth I was no saint. I did, however, have part time jobs since I was 13 years old (stock boy, lawn mowing, ass’t town handyman) and for all those jobs I was closely supervised to make sure I did the work I was being paid for. I’m not saying I would’ve vandalized shrubs but I may have taken a nap or two without supervision. So I’m not blaming the kids. It seems the program itself needs to be reexamined. I do think the program is a worthy and necessary one. But why can’t we demand closer supervision. It seems like an easy fix. Am I missing something?

Ed. Note: At 11am Monday morning, I will post a response from:
Alan Heymann
Director, Public Information
District Department of the Environment

Dear PoP – National Night Out Casket Display and No DC Litter Laws – Can that be right?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

This ghastly thing was on Columbia Rd. It was a trailer with glass enclosing a casket and the goriest pictures I have seen in my life of gunshot wounds to the face and torso. I asked Marco S., the DCPD liaison who organized the PSA 302 event on Columbia, if he had lined up the hideous casket ‘n’ blood trailer – he said he didn’t know who invited them, they just showed up!”

I actually think that could be a pretty good deterrent. What do you guys think – too graphic?

Also from National Night Out:

“Dear PoP,

Get this. MPD PSA 405 had a Night out event on the unit block of Buchanan St, NE tonight. One of the questions asked was related to littering. Did you know the city does not have a litter law? Yep thats right if you toss trash the street in front of a cop, they can’t do anything! The only law on the books is illegal to through trash from a moving vehicle. Apparently though, you can pull over and shovel trash out of your car on the curb and it is perfectly legal.

I am just stunned This is the national’s capital for goodness sakes.

I am writing my Councilmember.”

Is it possible that DC doesn’t have a litter law? That seems insane to me. I always thought they just weren’t really enforced but surely one has to be on the books – anyone know for sure?

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