“Dear PoPville,
As sure as the sun rises in the east, as soon as the weather gets nice the Ellington Bridge gets showered with horse dung. Just curious if anyone knows the source (and also why there isn’t a fine for not collecting/disposing like with dogs)?”
It’s from the Park Police’s horses.
National Park Service:
“Inspection shows accelerated deterioration, indicates Memorial Bridge may close in 2021 w/o $250 million overhaul.”
Inspection shows accelerated deterioration, indicates Memorial Bridge may close in 2021 w/o $250 million overhaul. pic.twitter.com/UNjuOTJJn5
— Jenny A-S NPS (@JennyASNPS) March 3, 2016
“Dear PoPville,
Was hoping some readers might know what to do about the obstacle course of a sidewalk on 9th Street NW, across from the Convention Center (particularly between L and P). It is literally impossible to walk a straight line down the block without running into a sign or pole, or falling into a cellar. It’s baffled me for a while, but it was only last night, when seeing a man in a wheelchair seriously struggle to wheel himself around the myriad obstacles (one example pictured below) that I realized it wasn’t just absurd, but actually immoral. There are six lanes of traffic on ninth, which the sidewalk could certainly extend out to. Does anyone know if this sidewalk runs afoul of any city zoning or accessibility ordinances? Whom would one contact to do something about this?”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC
This year it is March 7th – May 2nd. Last year DC Water explained:
“The annual switch in water disinfection is part of a routine program to clean and maintain drinking water systems in the District of Columbia, Arlington County and the northeastern portion of Fairfax County. During the temporary switch to chlorine, local water authorities will also conduct system-wide flushing to enhance water quality. This program is a common practice for many U.S. water systems that use chloramine during the majority of the year.
The Washington Aqueduct is the organization responsible for treating and disinfecting drinking water for its wholesale customers: DC Water, Arlington County, and Fairfax Water. Local water authorities are responsible for monitoring drinking water to ensure chlorine levels continue to meet safe target levels.
Individuals and business owners who take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners, should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch to chlorine. Most methods for removing chloramine from tap water are effective in removing chlorine. Individuals with special health concerns should consult a health care provider on the use of tap water.
During this time, individuals may notice a slight change in the taste and smell of their drinking water. Local water authorities recommend running the cold water tap for approximately two minutes and refrigerating tap water to reduce the chlorine taste and odor. Water filters are also effective for reducing chlorine taste and odor.”
via DC Water
Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard
“Dear PoPville,
Just wanted to share a story of a true good Samaritan. I was walking this evening around 6:30pm near Connecticut and M St NW and saw a girl in her 20s stumbling down the sidewalk. I thought she was probably intoxicated, but then realized something else was going on when she started running in and out of traffic on Connecticut and then fell, slamming into the sidewalk. As I got closer I could see she could barely breathe and was clearly panicking, experiencing some sort of drug effects. While my friend and I were trying to figure out what to do, a woman in her 30s walked by, saw what was going on, and approached the girl. She asked her name, crouched down next to her and started rubbing her back and breathing with her, calming the girl down. The girl began vomiting and the woman held back her hair, not flinching a bit. She continued to talk to the girl, breathe with her and reassure her while I called an ambulance. Once the paramedics arrived and had taken control of the situation, she wished the girl well and quietly went on her way.
I know sometimes it seems there’s plenty of bad in the city, but this woman’s utter compassion was a first-hand reminder that people really are pretty amazing. The woman said that she was a med student, and I have no doubt she’ll be an amazing doctor. It was incredible to watch. The girl could have had a far worse outcome if it hadn’t been for someone willing to jump in and help a total stranger.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Nathan Castellanos
Well we were on a roll… however since we are also one of the smartest cities in the USA – go destroy their methodology please!!
From an email:
“Apartment List recently conducted a study of the best US cities for young families, and we are releasing the results today. Here are some of the highlights:
Our report contains data for Washington, DC and 473 other cities in the US (use the search box at the bottom of the article). See below for additional detail on our methodology. (more…)
just a stock photo of a liquor store sign I like because of the contrast with the church
the liquor store- the blight of a NE DC neighborhood
“I live in a row house in an otherwise seemingly quiet part of NE DC near Stadium Armory. The place is great except for the corner of 18th and D St NE where two businesses (the Parks Economy Market and Master Liquor) attract a crowd socializing in and around the outside area for hours into the evening.
Shattered glass, beer cans, food waste and food wrappers litter the sidewalks around the areas surround C St NE and D St NE from 17th St NE to 21st St NE. Cars pull up blasting music almost always with a heavy bass line. Other times men are shouting at each other incoherently about sports or news or whatever else is on their minds. Often this is accompanied by a haze of marijuana. Other times you might find someone slouched over the sidewalk completely drunk and on the ground. On the weekends things turn even more colorful.
Why does this matter? (more…)
1400 block of P Street, NW
“Dear PoPville,
Wanted to see if you or readers have any idea of what goes on in front of the CVS on P Street next to Whole Foods…
There’s always a man there who chants “help me if you can, help me if you can… help me if you can, only if you can… help me if you can, help me if you can… etc”. Oftentimes he’s joined by a group of other people, and they just lounge around. At some point they had a full set up with patio furniture and milk crates set up. I’ve always wondered why CVS hasn’t done anything about it… it’s been going on since I’ve moved to Logan Circle (back in August 2013).
I have one friend who offered to help last year… he asked her if she could buy him a few things at CVS… and she said sure, thinking that he would just get a bag of chips or something. Instead, he came to the register with over $100 worth of Tide detergent, and the friend – not wanting to be awkward – paid for it. I thought the story was funny, and always thought of the group as being pretty innocuous… until last night.
Last night, I was walking down P Street at around 11pm (from Whole Foods). The man is there, and as I approach, begins his standard greeting of “help me if you can young man, help me if you can. It’s cold I need a place to sleep”. I was wearing a Turkish flag tshirt, and he also says “As-Salaam-Alaikum” (standard Muslim Greeting)… and then starts screaming expletives at me about how I’m not a Muslim or a brother and that I shouldn’t be wearing a “Muslim moon”. I continue walking, and a man comes out of the alley adjacent to CVS, and starts following me, asking me why I wasn’t helping that “poor old man” and screaming other expletives at me. Luckily, by the time I got to the Dolcezza corner, there were other people, and he disappeared…
I guess question is, do you know the background behind all of this? It seems like he’s running some sort of an operation – he’s there everyday, and has furniture set up, and has friends who come over. How come CVS hasn’t done anything about it? I’m hoping that the man in the alley wasn’t connected, but it definitely rattled me a bit… especially given that I walk past him multiple times a day.”
Ed. Note: I can’t believe you’re friend paid for the $100 worth of Tide detergent that seems excessive.
“Dear PoPville,
This is an article of affordable housing done right. I wish DC could get in contact with someone like this (or vice versa) to buy out some of their mismanaged public housing. When low-income people live in communities where they feel vested, and the community is properly managed so illegal or bad behavior is punished, then it is a win-win situation for the residents and the community as a whole.”
Both projects keep management teams on site, overseeing the properties, day in, day out. Neither project splurged on design, but in both cases, architecture mattered, to save energy, improve the neighborhood, spread dignity, add joy. They’re clear proof of concept for skeptical tenants — accustomed to betrayal, reluctant to give up parking lots or anything else — that change can be good.
Full story here.
via Ride of Hugs: DC Metro Flash Mob Hug
From Ride of Hugs: DC Metro Flash Mob Hug:
“Sunday
at 11:30 AM – 3 PM
How about celebrating Valentines Day by spreading your love around the District and giving out some hugs. Join the DC Couchsurf community for this spotaneous love fest. (more…)