quality of life

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?

(Special Guest Post) Prince of Petworth: Anti-Terrorist? by Interested Onlooker

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: I feel like an ass posting this because it is a bit overly complimentary. But when your buddy currently serving in the US Special Forces over in Iraq writes something like this, well, you just gotta post it and all I can say is thank you.

The answer is yes. There can be no doubt of it.

We are through the looking glass, readers; test-driving the gray matter of the adversary. We will leave the questions about the numbers of troops in foreign wars to the lightweights and the options for the future of the Patriot Act to the dilettantes. We, the serious, will consider ways to attack the disease of terrorism instead of fretting about its symptoms.

At its root, the act of terrorism is about desperation. It is a simultaneous cry for recognition and an intimidation attempt; a last resort for people that are deeply committed to a cause and believe there is no recourse. In most cases, those that flock to extremist banners of all types are earnest, vulnerable people that are preyed upon by manipulative masters. These terrorists are often simply pawns in the game. They seek a better world for their family, tribe, sect, race or nation and are made to believe that no peaceful means will accomplish that goal. Living in failed states can contribute to a feeling that no functional forum exists to audit grievances.

What do you know anyway, Interested Onlooker?

Nothing for certain. Just a few hypotheses.

I do have the luxury of a front row seat. As a special operator with 20 months of time down-range, I’ve had more than a few moments to cogitate about the nature of the beast. I should point out that persons of my ilk are “counter-terrorists” and by our very nature, we are reactive. We seek to counter what is believed to be an anti-social and illegal behavior. We have the capability to play defense and offense, but can only act on those that have already joined the game.

The Prince, good reader, is an “anti-terrorist” because his modus operandi defeats the conditions that cause people to become terrorists.

How?

Simple: he provides access to local public officials, visibility on area school systems, detailed information about the places we live and ideas for enjoying free time. He provides us with a voice and a portal to connect to the people and the wider world around us. The Beautiful Life. Options. That puts him in a unique position.

The anti-terrorist doesn’t simply play a perpetual game of whack-a-mole as the counter-terrorist does. The anti-terrorist changes the entire nature of the game. Were this same service to exist in Baghdad (as well as the conditions to support it,) fewer and fewer would convert to the violent subculture.

I, the counter-terrorist, will continue to play my role because I know that the garden will not grow unless it’s weeded first (and frequently,) but I will continue to support the Prince because I know the garden also needs watering and fertilizer.

Count on the PoP to make your world safer in 2009.

Dear PoP – Car Alarm Edition

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by yor_ick

“There is either an alarm or some jerk beeping their horn nearly every evening on or around Princeton and Warder. I cannot find the auto or personal culprit. Last night the sound of irregular beeping (Beep, beep beep, Beeeeeep, Beep, beep beep…) went off about six times. I didn’t get any sleep at all. I’ve heard this before on other evenings, but last night and this morning was ridiculous.

IS anyone else hearing this?

Is there anything I can do?”

Well you could take a baseball bat… Seriously, this reminds me of the dog barking discussion we had a couple weeks ago. If it is happening on a daily/nightly basis I’d definitely call 911 (remember 911 and 311 have been sorta combined). But before doing that, perhaps you could also ask a neighbor to see if they recognize the car and know the owner. You may even want to leave a polite note (anonymously if you wish) alerting the owner to the problem. But if that fails I’d consistently call 911.

Have you guys faced an annoying car alarm on a regular basis? How’d you handle the situation?

Dear PoP – What’s Up With St. Gabriel’s Bells?

By Prince Of Petworth

“I wonder if you caught the story on Channel 7 (WJLA) about St. Gabriel’s bells. The church (at Grant Circle) hasn’t rung bells for decades but recently paid $15,000 for some electronic bell machine and now a recording of bells is broadcast throughout the neighborhood every fifteen minutes from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m, the hour and half hour ringing more times than the quarter hours. Some of the neighbors are upset and disturbed by the addition to our urban soundscape. Others say they like the bells. The priest at the Church says something to the effect that to him the bells are a reminder of God and should be taken as a happy sound during these difficult times. Muriel Bowser is apparently looking into whether or not they are being rung within city ordinances. I’m somewhat surprised that they ring so often and also because they don’t ring on time: the quarter hour ring is a few minutes early, the other rings off as well. I also find it somewhat annoying (as a neighbor living nearby) that any entity can just begin making loud noise throughout the day without any consideration to or consultation with neighbors.

But I wonder how you and your readers who live near Grant Circle feel about the bells?”

I didn’t see the story but I have been following some discussion over at Petworth News. Editor Bill Crandall just posted a response from a member on behalf of the Church:

“Bill, thank you for taking the time to contact me on the bells, which are a replacement for the previous set of electronic bells, stolen from the church, which were installed many years ago by the late Bishop McNamara, our founding pastor. According to parish archives, when installed he announced plans to have the Angelus rung Morning, Noon, and Night. Five minutes before Mass, bells were rung to remind parishioners Mass would follow.

Our Masses are 5:30pm on Saturday in English, 7:30am in English, 9am in Spanish, 11am in English, 6pm in Spanish. Daily Masses are said at 8am in the Convent chapel Monday through Saturday at The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary at Convent 519 Varnum St, NW…  

I have forwarded these concerns to Father Mateo and several members of the Parish Council.“

I can hear the bells from my house and for the most part I find them kinda nice. Of course that depends how much I drank the night before… But honestly if I lived closer to the Church I think I’d find the bells a bit too loud. I’m not saying they shouldn’t ring but since they are not real bells but just a recording – I think it would be reasonable if they lowered the volume slightly. What do you guys think?

I Love Street Chess

By Prince Of Petworth

There is something about these scenes. Every time I pass them playing it makes me smile. I’d say it contributes greatly to the beautiful life.

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