quality of life

Great Question from Greater Greater Washington

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Néstor Sánchez Cordero

Are there enough public restrooms in DC? GGW’s Lynda Laughlin (a friend of mine) wrote a great post titled When you gotta go, where do you go? A brilliant question. She writes:

“We’ve all been there. You’re out and about, and then suddenly, you need a restroom. When I leave home to go on a walk or run an errand, I keep a mental map of the closest available restrooms. I usually rely on restrooms in commercial businesses, largely because it is difficult to find public restrooms in the District.”

Since I start my walks in Petworth I’ve always used busboys and poets (pictured above by Nestum 23) as my safe haven. I don’t know if that actually counts as a public restroom but I’ve never had a problem taking a quick pit stop there. So what do you think – are there enough public restrooms? Do you have any go to spots around town? It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Costanza can name the best public restroom on any block in Manhattan.

On a side note Laughlin also writes:

“The redeveloped public park at 14th and Girard, NW will include two freestanding restrooms.”

Do you think public restrooms in parks are a good idea or will they attract a “bad” element?

Friday Question of the Day – Street Harassment

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by David Farrant

It is clear from a previous discussion that street harassment is a real problem in DC. For obvious reasons, I’m sure it becomes worse in the warmer months. While I definitely advocate self defense classes, I thought for street harassment the best thing to do was to simply walk away, or nod and walk away with your head held high. I guess I’m wondering if folks feel that a self defense class is useful for dealing with catcalls? The class below mentions “prevention”. Sadly, from the stories I’ve heard, it seems impossible to prevent harassment. For those who have dealt with street harassment, would you feel more comfortable dealing with the situation after taking a self defense class?

“Dear PoP,

Thought your reader might be interested.

Get ready for Spring: Dealing with street harassment

With Spring, unfortunately, comes a huge increase in street harassment. Get ready for Spring by expanding your skills for dealing with the “hey babys” that may come your way.

Can you “ignore” street harassment? Of course you can. And you already know how to do that. This class will give you other options, making ignoring it only one in a range of skills to choose from, especially when ignoring it doesn’t seem safe.

The class will cover the range of self defense skills–prevention and awareness, verbal self defense, and physical techniques-that you might need in dealing with street harassment. Most of these skills can also be transferred to other irritating or dangerous situations in the rest of life.

* Saturday, April 18, 1-4 pm
* For women and teen girls ages 16+
* In NW DC near Howard University, Georgia Ave., and the Green Line
* $44.Register with a friend or family member and get $5 off each

www.defendyourself.org“

A Reader Welcomes Spring

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Enjoying today’s gorgeous weather by eating a delicious lunch @ Logan Tavern & watching Logan staff plant their sidewalk flowerboxes. It doesn’t get more springlike than this!”

Every Spring I say it’s my favorite time to live in DC. Then I say the same thing every Autumn…

LIVING [in theory]: A world premiere musical (By 2 bars + 3 stars)

By Prince Of Petworth

April 17-19, 2009

Atlas Performing Arts Center

1333 H Street NE

Washington, DC 20002
Tickets: visit http://www.atlasarts.org/ or call (202) 399-7997
Last week, the PoP community discussed and debated at great length the recent increase in youth violence seen and reported on the streets of Columbia Heights, Petworth, and the surrounding DC neighborhoods. Many potential solutions were offered. But with the DC government’s systemic failures to overcome — not to mention the vast socioeconomic gap between DC’s haves and have-nots — the problem of escalating youth violence can feel hopeless at times. And with the news of an unending parade of violent youth offenders overrunning our outmoded juvenile justice system, it’s easy to forget that most teenagers in DC — whether rich or poor, black or white — are inherently decent, non-violent kids worthy of our support.

An inspiring group of these forgotten teenagers participate in DC’s City at Peace, “a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that empowers teenagers to create safe, peaceful, and productive lives and communities.” Each year, City at Peace organizes DC teenagers as they write and star in their own musical play, based on the tenets of non-violent conflict resolution.

City at Peace’s last two spring performances did much to restore my personal faith in our next generation. Teenagers who, at first glance, appeared as menacing as those I’d cross the street to avoid late at night, sang and danced and acted their way into the audience’s hearts. I don’t know the particulars of this year’s play, LIVING [in theory] (taking the stage at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on April 17, 18, and 19), but I can assure you there’ll be plenty of artistic talent on display. More important, I promise you’ll witness dozens of DC teenagers — most of whom are as economically and socially disadvantaged as their violent counterparts — performing on stage out of a genuine sense of hope and pride and confidence in their generation.   
I’m all in favor of organizing communities for safer neighborhoods, and petitioning the DC government to reform the juvenile justice system, before any more youth offenders are hardened into lifelong, violent criminals. I also believe that, as cliché as it sounds, everyone has the potential to make a difference in a young person’s life, no matter how powerless he or she may feel. But it’s ultimately programs like City at Peace that can, with our support, equip a whole legion of peace-loving young men and women with tools for curbing the increasing violence and nihilism of their generation. So check out the show this weekend — you won’t be disappointed!
~ 2 bars + 3 stars

Taking the War on Squirrels to the Next Level

By Prince Of Petworth

I used to think I was pretty tough on squirrels. I ain’t got nothing on the folks out in Spokane:

“The agency is using a special machine called the Rodenator Pro to detonate some of the estimated 100 to 150 squirrels tearing up the grounds.

The Rodenator Pro pumps propane and oxygen into the tunnels of squirrels, then sends an electric spark that causes an explosion. The shock waves kill the squirrels and collapse their tunnels – but in a humane way, the agency said.”

Even I feel kinda bad about this…

Community Clean Up in CH Sat.

By Prince Of Petworth

I also saw some cops handing out these fliers (both in English and Spanish). The cops were super nice. I’d feel much better with cops like these “walking the beat” regularly meeting with neighbors and the community at large.

Dear PoP – Soundproofing Your House With Insulation To Block Loud Neighbors Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was wondering if you would mind asking your readers if they ever had insulation put in the walls of their homes to soundproof it from the neighbors. we need to do it to one side of our house and were wondering if anyone out there has done this and what their experiences were.”

Well, I hope folks can provide some recommendations for you regarding the specific question. But I think it begs another question for those who live in rowhomes – can you hear your neighbors through the walls? Is this a common experience? How have people approached the issue of hearing your neighbors through the walls (besides insulation)? Any other techniques?

Can We Prioritize Our Outrage?

By Prince Of Petworth

Tonight was the hardest night I’ve ever had putting up posts for the blog. Earlier today I received an email from someone who’s girlfriend was assaulted and robbed earlier this week in Shaw. The reader wrote in order to warn folks particularly women to be vigilant and extra cautious. The email literally brought tears to my eyes. For those that know me personally, I am not one to cry easily. In addition to this horrific incident I received 8 other emails in a 24 hour period related to other crimes and quality of life issues (from all over the city). I don’t intend to post every crime that is related to me but I do think we as a community need to be outraged.

You see I was reading about the outrage of the proposed Tivoli North banners and I’m thinking we really need to rally as a community to fight against the unacceptable level of crime we’ve been seeing. This is not simply, we live in a city and crime exists, suck it up situation. And I’m not saying that other issues aren’t important. But if people can be rallied and outraged over a banner that would go up on one street, ostensibly, to help local businesses, I’d like to think people can get equally if not more outraged over the horrendous crimes we’ve been hearing about.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can rally as a group and put some pressure on our Councilmembers.  I honestly feel that it is important to see more police walking and/or biking the streets.  Remember “community policing”?  What happened to that?  We have power in numbers and there a lot of us in PoPville.  So what should do?

Becoming “That Guy” by Eric Nuzum

By Prince Of Petworth

PoP contributor Eric Nuzum doesn’t want to be “that guy”. Ed. Note: I will happily accept someone mowing my yard…

I think one of my goals in life is to never be “That Guy”: the person who does things so stomach-turningly earnest that you are unsure whether to nominate him for a mayoral citation or kick him in the nuts.

Good deeds are great things, and should be encouraged. However, there is a category of good deeds that really aren’t that good at all: things like mowing a neighbor’s yard or trimming their bushes when they didn’t ask you to, arranging everyone’s trash cans in the alley, taking down someone’s holiday decorations, or offering unsolicited advice on how to fix a sagging gutter. They are usually activities that seem well-intentioned, but you quickly realize “That Guy” isn’t doing these things to be nice. “That Guy” is doing these things because he passive/aggressively wants them done his way and on his timetable. In other words, it’s all about him.

Why do I fear becoming one of these people? Because every Sunday morning I sneak off to secretly do my own borderline version of this: pick up trash.

Chances are that if you happen to be hanging around on the corner of 3rd and Emerson NW, you are probably there to do something terrible. And, of course, by “something terrible” I mean you are there to litter.

Even though many of my neighbors suspect that the loiterers who congregate on that corner are attempting to buy or sell drugs, newborn puppies, or sex, I know the truth. People travel to the corner of 3rd and Emerson to eat food and drink beverages, then drop the empty containers and wrappers on the ground. Given the amount of trash on the corner, I’m left to assume that a McNugget combo somehow must taste better when consumed on my corner, leaving the eater so deliriously content that they drop the packaging where they stand and then skip blissfully to their day’s next adventure. Continues after the jump. (more…)

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