quality of life

Dear PoP – Sometimes Life is Beautiful, Sometimes a Little Less So Edition

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Jon

“So, this is a “how to get along” question…I’m new to Petworth (2.5 mos), moved from Virginia and am enjoying learning my way around (thanks to the many contributors). I wasn’t naive when I bought my place (row house on an alley), but I’m having trouble understanding something going on in my alley. I live in a safe-ish area and as the days have gone by, I’m learning the patterns of foot traffic. A number of times (six I’ve witnessed before this weekend), people piss on my house, on my fence, etc. day, night, drunk or not (as far as I can tell). I’ve been pretty appalled, but have said nothing to the offender (as I’m kind of in hidden from view when I’ve seen it happening being behind my fence; also, I’m a woman living alone). This past weekend as the weather was nice and my neighbors had people over to hang on the front porch, I saw that the friends also use the alley as their port-a-john. I have no idea why they are not using the toilet in the house…So, my question is, how do I handle this? As my neighbors’ friends are not the only offenders, not to mention that I DON”T want to have that conversation with them (b/c no one should have to), how do I go about addressing/resolving this situation? Lights won’t make a difference as there are three street lights within arm’s length of my house and in alley. A flood light won’t bring any more light to the offense. Seriously, has anyone else had a problem that wasn’t really a safety issue but more of a (gross) nuisance and how did you resolve?”

Holy cow, what a brutal situation. I’m super curious to hear what the readers think because I’m not sure exactly what I’d do. But this is definitely unacceptable. I’d like to think I’d yell, “Hey, Oh, Don’t Do That There!!!”. I’m afraid you may need to have that uncomfortable conversation with the neighbors. Because, really, it seems like the only other alternative is to call the cops and the cops are not likely to get there in time. Maybe you could put a sign up that says “Not a Toilet”, or something like that. What do you think about this idea – talk to the neighbors but say something like “hey, I need your advice. I’ve been noticing lots of folks pissing in the alley, do you have any suggestions on how we can remedy the situation?”. In a really polite way of course. Yeah, that’s what I’d do. And if it still persists, I’d call the cops if it is a regular occurrence. Any other ideas?

Ed. Note: I found this photo on Flickr which says, “Do not urinate, fine 3,000 francs”.

Dear PoP/FQoTD – Help A Reader Out/Crazy Landlord Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_6932, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

“I’ve told you before about our crazy landlord (didn’t fix the washer for 9 months, outright refuses to fix other things, and is the infamous “artist” of the front yard headboard hose holder that was featured in a past Photo Archives Caption Contest). Well, now she’s evicting us. She’s evicting us because although she hasn’t repaired any other single thing in the building in a timely manner, she’s decided that she must replace the pipes in our kitchen, NOW. I’ve been trying to navigate the various DC rental and legal aid agencies to figure out what our rights are, but in the end, we’re thinking it might be best just to get out, as much as it pains us.

It pains us more because we are hoping to move back to California in the next year, which means signing a 1 year lease elsewhere is not smart. Ideally we would find a month-to-month lease situation or 3 month lease that goes month-to-month thereafter. We have no idea how long it will take to get jobs in this economy, but we would really *like* to be there by summer. I’ve been looking for sublets and lease transfers but there’s really not much out there that meets our needs. I wonder if any PoP readers know of anything that might fit the bill. Ideally, it would be a furnished one bedroom for under $1400, but everything is negotiable. We’d be willing to live anywhere in the PoP readership area that has decent transportation to downtown.”

Wow, what an insane situation. I’d like to think you could fight the eviction if you were willing to go through some headaches. I think if you plan on leaving in the Summer then it may certainly be easiest to fight this. I know DC has some pretty solid tenant laws. Can any readers provide some advice on this front? Do you think this person should try and fight the eviction or would it be least painful to just find a new apartment?

And now for the Friday Question of the Day – what is your craziest landlord story?

I had a landlord not believe me that there were rats in the apartment walls (near the zoo). Finally when I was moving out I was being charged for not cleaning up properly. So I showed the landlord the huge holes the rats had eaten in the wall and said I wasn’t paying a dime. The place was pretty trashed but I got out with my full deposit refunded.

 

New Apartments At Georgia Ave. and New Hampshire Gets Tagged And I Get Intimidated By Street Thugs

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader tipped me off to some graffiti on the back of the new Park Place apartment building. I went by last Friday around 4 pm. I take a series of photos and when I turn around there are two thugs probably around 16-17 years old. They are looking at me with eyes of pure hate. If you’ve seen those eyes before you know what I’m talking about. One of them, looking at me with very hard eyes, says “what you doing taking pictures of that?” I’m caught totally off guard. Even though the area is close to New Hampshire Ave., as I was in the back I was completely cut off from an escape route. Despite the fact that I was 126 pound all campus wrestling champion, Miami Ohio, 1996 in these situations my first instinct is always flight. That was not an option. So in my most casual manner I say, I just like taking photos of art around town. The thugs do not respond. So with my heart pounding I walk very quickly past them so that if necessary I could run. This is wrong on so many levels. I have no doubt that the two thugs were affiliated with one of the crews that tagged the building. But what is this? Are we living in the wild west where I have to fear for my safety at 4pm on a Friday afternoon simply for taking a few photos. Who owns the streets, regular citizens or the thugs? I know MPD has a lot on its plate with the shootings at 13th and Columbia but this behavior is also totally unacceptable. (more…)

I’m Happy and Sad That The City Has Such A Team – Rapid Response Van

By Prince Of Petworth

I saw this team removing graffiti from street signs on 11th Street. It looked like absolutely miserable work. They basically spray some god awful chemical on the graffiti and scrub like hell. I’m going to give props to the folks who perform what could be one of the most thankless jobs in the city.

Dear PoP – DPW Troubles

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Karol Olson

“My 4 roommates and I are relatively new to the area (1 year in Columbia Heights, 2 years in the Columbia Heights/Petworth area) and we have run into a bit of a hurdle that we are hoping others in the area might be able to help us with. We live on the 2800 block of Sherman Avenue and have now gone about 4 months of battling with the Department of Public Works. It is important to note here that we are the only house on the block that receives trash/recycling pick up from the city. Every Tuesday/Friday morning, with the exception of maybe 4 times, DPW has skipped our block for trash and/or recycling. When we come home to find the trash/recycling still there, we call the number they provided to complain, they give us a confirmation number, and they tell us to leave it out it will be picked up in the next 48 hours. They never come. We call again, and they tell us they will make a note for our trash/recycling to be picked up for the next scheduled day. As you might imagine, when they do not come several times in a row, our trash and recycling gets very backed up. We are often reduced to piling it all into the car and driving it around to find a dumpster (recycling included). This has become a weekly ritual and our neighbors have grown so angry at the trash/recycling being left out that they have called the inspector on us and have contacted our own landlord who is now threatening to fine us. Of course, we wish they would have come to us so we could explain the situation before contacting our landlord, but obviously this has escalated and we are lost as to how we can remedy this situation. Anyone else ever have this problem? Any advice on how to deal with our neighbors who have yet to approach us about this issue?”

Wow, that is unbelievably frustrating. First and foremost you should contact your Councilmember (Graham). One thing that made Fenty such a successful Councilmember was his attention to constituent services. Other Councilmembers recognize how important responsiveness to these issues have become. I was also look into your ANC representative, they too can be helpful in resolving city service issues.

As far as approaching neighbors, I think it would be perfectly fair to knock on their doors at a reasonable hour and explain to them the situation. I think if you are respectful and apologetic they will be very understanding. You can also tell them the steps you have already taken as well as the steps you will take (ie contacting the Councilmember). Has anyone else encountered a situation like this? How was it resolved? Any other suggestions?

What Amazing Weekend Weather

By Prince Of Petworth

Hope you got to enjoy this ridiculously Spring-like weekend in February. I liked this scene of folks chilling and reading at Meridian Hill Park by the empty fountain.

I also was psyched to run into some folks playing some porch chess.

How’d you take advantage of the weather?

Press 1 Once and Other Tips for Navigating the Unemployment Process by Raz

By Prince Of Petworth

Now that other PoP contributors have shared their unemployment, I will as well. I ironically was laid off a few weeks after starting my Recessionista series.

If you are unemployed or think your job is in jeopardy, here are some tips based on my experience these past weeks.

  • Fix up your resume and start putting out feelers. Update and polish up your resume, and start talking to people in your field.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask. It never hurts to ask people for things. You’d be surprised at the positive response. When I meet interesting people at networking events, I ask them to meet and tell me more about what they do. I mostly want to better understand what they do, what the skills are, and how they got there, but many of them gave me job leads or introductions to other people.
  • Press 1 Once. At least in Maryland (I worked in Maryland and you file for unemployment where your office is), there are no in-person unemployment offices; everything is done on the phone or online. I had further questions and needed to speak with a person. I had called about 20 times and never received a person on the other end when I followed the prompt. I went to what I thought was the unemployment office in Wheaton (it is actually just a job resources center) and was told that if you only press 1 once, and do not follow the prompt, you will get a person on the line. That was probably the best tip I’ve received so far. After using this strategy, I got a person on the line and had my questions answered and problems resolved.
  • Attend to Your Back-burner To-Do List. Like Tina talked about in her Jolt-n-Bolt review, this is a great time to do all the things you never had time for when you were working. Continues after the jump. (more…)

Dear PoP – Rogue Plow Edition from Odentex

By Prince Of Petworth

Never let it be said that working for DC government has to be boring.

Check out this help wanted ad:

“Are you the kind of fellow that likes to break things, set fires, and knock old ladies over in the snow? You might think there is no career for you in government other than to run for Congress — au contraire mon frere! The DC DDOT is always looking for snow plow drivers who like a little destruction to ‘break up’ the monotony of the gray working day.

Turn that frown upside down Atilla! DDOT wants YOU! Do you think you’d have fun mangling back fences, crushing elderly peoples’ trashcans, and generally making DC alleyways resemble the set of a Mad Max movie? Then drop the matches and gasoline and come on down to DDOT!

Whether you prefer to drive hulking trucks drunker than Cooter Brown or high on PCP we can accommodate your need for giggle-filled afternoons of property destruction. No insurance? NO PROBLEM! No license? FORGETABOUTIT! No scruples or common decency? A-OK!

Check out the fun that Plow Specialist First Class Beel Z. Bubb had just this Tuesday in a Petworth alleyway!

Woohoo!

Those interested in a satisfying career spent wrecking both private and public property should call the DC DDOT career hot line at 202 HIT-N-RUN.”

P.S. PoP: Unluckily for the driver in this particular truck-o-death pictured, several wonderful neighbors caught him in the act and, as you can see, at least one neighbor took photos of part of his reign of destruction in the alleyway Tuesday witch included the murder of several trashcans and the mangling of at least one chain link fence.

The authorities are now on the lookout for a slow moving plow with several garbage cans fused to its blade. They think they might crack this case by 2012 — if only they had something more to go on than crystal clear photos depicting the act in broad daylight and several eye witnesses.

An Extensive List of DC Gangs/Crews?

By Prince Of Petworth

Wow, a reader sent a link from a City-Data Forum listing all(?) of DC’s gangs and crews. I had no idea there were so many. The reader writes:

“Yikes, it’s scary to think there are so many in our midst and the city doesn’t do more to crack down on it.”

I’d like to think the city does a lot to crack down on them but in reality how can you crack down on so many? I’m guessing it’s what we’ve talked about dozens of times – improving schools, improving parental responsibility, etc. It’s obviously a much bigger issue than simply law enforcement. I saw a great documentary on PBS about crews from the south side of Chicago and how the crews really became a substitute for the lack of family structure to a certain degree. I don’t publish this list as a scare tactic, rather I think it’s important to realize just how big this problem is (even if only half of these names are legit.)

Another reader sent in an article from the NY Times discussing how NYPD had successfully cut crime in tough precincts.

Read it here.

A different reader also wrote in suggesting another perspective might be interesting from this article, The Cost of Fearing Strangers:

Read it here.

After the jump find the full list of DC crews taken from the City-Data Forum. I obviously don’t know if they are all legit but some of them I, sadly, recognize. Think this gigantic list is legit?  Does it  even matter or for the most part are these crews harmless? (more…)

Proposed Georgetown Waterfront Park Gonna Be Sweet?

By Prince Of Petworth

While we’re on the topic of Georgetown, I thought I’d ask about the proposed waterfront park. Anyone know when it’s supposed to be completed? One of the few things I miss about living in DC is that we’re kinda far away from the beach. But if we had some sweet waterfront parks I think that would scratch what itches me. Anyone else looking forward to this park being completed?

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