quality of life

The Great Trash Can War of 2013

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ewilfong

Dear PoPville,

These are all actual emails sent in the past few months. The only changes I have made are to delete names, addresses and other identifiers.

March 1, 2013, 11:20:34 PM

From: Neighbor 1

Hello to all –

I have purchased the condo parking space next to the church. (Neighbor) has purchased the space next to me. As existing contracts on condo units close, the additional five spaces will be assigned new residents and more cars will begin parking there.

I will be cleaning the spilled garbage and debris from the parking area next to my space and under the church stairs in the next week but would appreciate your removing any trash or recycling cans you might have in that area immediately. (I don’t think I saw many there this evening.)

Your trash and recycling cans must be placed in front of your homes on (Address) since I don’t believe trash collection will agree to collect it from the rear of your properties. It should not be placed in the alley either behind my house and the church or the condos.

I appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Mar 2, 2013, at 3:13 PM

From Neighbor 2

DPW has been collecting from the rear of (address) since I moved in 10 years ago. Initially there was a problem with DPW trash collectors, but we met with reps from our city council member and DPW and got agreement that alley collection would be accepted.

I frequently have to move cans associated with our neighbors directly to the east, as they are blocking the alley, but have never complained, in the interest of being neighborly. However, in keeping with the thoughts of this email from (neighbor 1), perhaps their cans should be placed in front of their houses on (street), where they will not block the alley.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Meridian Hill Park Fountains Filled Yesterday!

By Prince Of Petworth

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Great news on the fountain front – Meridian Hill Park fountains have been filled “early”! Thanks to everyone who sent word yesterday. In early April a reader was told the fountains wouldn’t be filled until Memorial Day due to budget constraints. Super psyched to see they are already filled:

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Dear PoPville – Advice on Keeping my Alley clean?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Dear PoPville,

I’ve a got a problem and I would appreciate PoPville’s advice. I live in a row house near the corner of a major street in Columbia Heights. The problem is that me and my neighbor’s alley fence seem to be a preferred spot for inebriated individuals and the homeless to relive themselves – No. 1 and 2. In addition to using our fence as a toilet, the alley is also a preferred place to down some brews and bum wine based on the trash I pick up there almost weekly.

It’s vile – I can’t even spend time in my backyard the smell is so bad.

Is there anything I can do to make the area less attractive to guys looking for relief?

Dear PoPville – Dealing with Overflowing Dumpsters

By Prince Of Petworth

07-09-12 Garbage Overflow Barak

Dear PoPville,

I’m desperate! An apartment building that adjoins our property keeps a garbage bin right next to our property. Every few days it overflows, and trash is thrown next to the dumpster by residents even when it is not full- I’ve even seen them throw it down (and miss) from the fourth story window!

This has been going on for many months and I’ve contacted the management company multiple times, suggesting that they take measures to control the rats (I’ve seen them climbing out of the dumpster!) and the amount of garbage and overflow: more frequent pick ups, add an extra dumpster, etc.

The dumpster is located on private property near Logan Circle. I have documented the overflows with pictures- probably more than 20 over the past year (some of which I have sent to the management company). I’m at my whits end! Who in the city government (or elsewhere) can help?

Dear PoPville – Getting People to Curb Their Dogs

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user sophiagrrl

Dear PoPville,

I’ve lived on my street in lower Shaw for seven years, not that it should matter. Our building has a small patch of grass with no fencing. We’re really the only non-wrought iron fenced lawn on the block. We’re also the crappiest building on the block, but again, that shouldn’t matter. I’m writing because recently I’ve started politely asking people not to curb their dog on our lawn. I’m a tenant, it is private property and the many children in the building play on this space. Dogs are not permitted in the building so it’s not an issue with the tenants who share the property. I’ve encountered everything from “I’ve lived in this neighborhood for X years!!” to anger and people flinging curses at me to the weirdest “Go back to Norther Virginia (bleep bleep)!” I’m working with the landlord to put up those no-pooping signs, but in the meantime I just wanted to see if anyone out there in PoPville can tell me why my neighbors feel so entitled to let their dog feces be, even if temporarily, plotzed upon private property? Would it be okay if I curbed a dog on your fenced lawn even if I cleaned it up? I’m frustrated and pretty sure the next time someone reacts with anything but “Oh, no problem” I’m going to scream like a crazy person.

Open to Suggestions

Dear PoPville – Something’s Different…

By Prince Of Petworth

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Dear PoPville,

Everyday on my walk to the Columbia Heights metro, I cross 16th street on Park road, but yesterday I noticed that there are no longer men lingering outside the Hermano Pedro Day Shelter / Shrine of Sacred Heart Church.

Having had several scary experiences with men blocking my way on the sidewalk, shouting profanities, spitting in my face, and then banging on the windows of cars stopped at the stoplight on Park, I can’t say that I’m not pleased. Just curious about whether this is part of some larger change in the neighborhood.


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Dear PoPville – I’m Tired of All the Horseshit, Literally

By Prince Of Petworth

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Dear PoPville,

I’m tired of the horseshit, literally.

I understand there are a lot of double standards in this city, but one I just can’t wrap my head around is that of the mounted police. I live near the MPD stables and have found that when they are exercising or employing their mounted force, the police officers don’t clean up after their equine companions.

If the police horse is considered an animal, then it should have to be cleaned up after just like any other domesticated pet. If I allowed my dog to defecate in public, and didn’t clean up after her, I would be subject to a hefty fine.

Why the double standard? Why can’t the horses be cleaned up after? I’ve contacted Mayor Vincent’s office, but heard no response.

The first photo is of horse waste on the Ellington Bridge near the stables. The second photo is at the Cherry Blossom Festival near the Jefferson Monument.

Ed. Note: I believe those horses are Park Police and not MPD.

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“To prevent the notoriously unpleasant odor of female ginkgo fruit” Spraying Starts Monday

By Prince Of Petworth

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From DDOT:

To prevent the notoriously unpleasant odor of female ginkgo fruit from overtaking city streets, the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will start spraying these fruits starting Monday, April 29.

Spraying will begin in Wards 1, 2 and 6, where female ginkgo trees are most prevalent, and continue through Wards 4, 3, 7, 8 and 5. Spraying will occur overnight for several nights and there is no need to move vehicles parked on streets. If you have any questions, please contact UFA at 202-671-5133 or visit ddot.dc.gov/trees for more information

We’ve previously discussed this unpleasantness a couple of years ago. Anyone starting to notice the smell this year?

Dear PoPville – Advice on Helping the Homeless?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Dear PoPville,

I live on U Street between 14th and 13th and regularly walk past a homeless woman whom has made the stoop for the former Republic Gardens nightclub her hangout spot morning, noon and night where she congregates with other homeless, boozes, and asks for change. She also uses the alcove next to “her” stoop as her personal restroom, resulting in a constant and nauseating scent whenever you walk past. On occasion the walk from the stoop to the alcove is too much and she will just urinate where she sits. In recent weeks she has been an even more frequent fixture at this locations.

While I realize that homelessness and public urination (among other things) isn’t a new problem or even one unique to this location, it is without question disgusting.

Apart from notifying the police, which has proven useless in the past (I once informed a nearby officer that she was hammered and vomiting all over the stoop and sidewalk and he said “oh you mean [Susan], not much we can do about that”), is there anything else that can be done? This has to be a public health issue…right? She disappears for a few days from time to time, which I assume is when she either finds a new spot temporarily or is admitted somewhere but I suppose the allure of U Street keeps calling her back. Is there something that can be done as a more permanent solution?

Has anyone had success with DC’s Homeless Services?

And You Though You Had a Bad Mosquito Situation

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user quemac

I don’t mean to make light of this – the mosquito situation in DC is seriously awful. From the Brookland listserv:

I have a neighbor with no running water so all his drinking and bathing is done with water captured in lots of trash cans in his back yard. The city seems to have given up on him, so no amount of calls do anything. His yard also harbors a lifetime supply of rats which are already bad this year.

I’m pretty sure I got bit by my first mosquito of the season last night. I thought we would’ve had at least until late May. Time to break out the deet…

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