quality of life

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…

Dear PoPville – How Can We Stop This Homeless Man From Setting Fires in Columbia Heights?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Alley between the 1400 block of Columbia and Irving St, NW

Dear PoPville,

Since the construction staging site went up in the alleyway between columbia and irving at the 1400 block in late august to early september 2012 there has been a homeless man living under the stairs of the condemned church. He is a hoarder and had managed to amass a huge pile of stuff in and around the stairs. Basically kept to himself, was just an eyesore and made us nervous.

However, the past few weeks he has set 3 fires. The first got out of control and spread into the church, due to all of the hoarded stuff in the alleyway. We cleaned out the alleyway and didn’t come back for a week, when i smelled the second fire. I am writing to you at 2 AM early Thursday, right after the 3rd fire has been put out. I have been told to call 911 immediately when I see him, but since that doesn’t seem to work, I was wondering what else can be done on my part to take care of this problem.

Yes, I am sympathetic to his plight but he is putting our lives at risks by setting these fires. In addition, I have been the one to smell it first due to our proximity to the fires and now I’m fearing for my safety.

Any and all suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

Perhaps the DC Mental Health Mobile Response Team could intervene:

Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES): 202-673-9319 (24hrs, 7 days per week)
Mobile Crisis Services (MCS): 202-673-9300 (9am -1am, 7 days per week)
Homeless Outreach Program (HOP): 202-673-9124 (9am -8pm , M-F)

Post Magazine Profiles Friends of the Soldiers’ Home

By Prince Of Petworth

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The Post Magazine published an interesting article “Can Soldiers’ Home residents and urban gentrifiers overcome barbed wire?”:

Behind James are 272 acres of rolling green pasture, with some of the highest ground in the city. There are park benches that look onto the Capitol, forested pathways of spruce and pin oaks, honking geese wobbling out of fishing ponds, and a members-only nine-hole golf course and driving range.

In front of James, on this day last year, is an iron fence topped with three rows of barbed wire crowned with concertina coils, typically used to lock down prisons.

Read the full article ” target=”_blank”> here.

Dear PoPville – Tons of ATVs and Dirt Bikes in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville,

I saw about 40-60 ATVs and dirt bikes cruising through Columbia heights Sunday afternoon. It was pretty amazing, loud and obnoxious. Kind of like a DC version of Sons of Anarchy. I’m wondering if anyone saw the same “parade” on Sunday, got any pictures and if this is a new kind of DC gang that I am not aware off.

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