quality of life

Friday Question of the Day – Panhandling a Problem in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

Over the holidays there was an interesting discussion on the MPD-1D listserv that started off with the following request:

“Please resolve the issue of panhandlers sitting in front of SW New Safeway!”

MPD responded:

First District members will use some of their persuasive talents to encourage these folks to go elsewhere; however, “panhandling” and loitering are not illegal in the District of Columbia. Aggressive Panhandling is a violation of the law, but this would involve an activity like using tactics that are meant to intimidate people. The City Council purposely did not make the mere act of panhandling a violation, so while it may not be conducive to the promotion of the area, we are limited in what action we can take. If the law was to change and panhandling did become illegal, we would enforce.

In addition to our persuasive tactics, it would help if the community not give money to these panhandlers. I stopped at Safeway myself the other night on my way home and saw at least 3 people give money to a subject panhandling. As long as people continue to give money to the panhandlers, they will keep coming back. The community could urge people that want to help the homeless to give money to organization that provide services to the homeless rather than to panhandlers.

A resident included this secton from DC Code for reference:

D.C. Code s.22-2301-2306 (Panhandling Control Act of 1993), specifically s.2302(a)-(h) which states:

(a) No person may ask, beg, or solicit alms, including money and other things of value, in an aggressive manner in any place open to the general public, including sidewalks, streets, alleys, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas, buildings, doorways and entrances to buildings, and gasoline service stations, and the grounds enclosing buildings.

As stated the key words in the above code are “in an aggressive manner”. The Downtown BID shares a primer on aggressive panhandling here.

When I was in San Fransisco over the holidays I happened to notice the following plaque in front of a downtown building (see photo above as well):

So for the Friday Question of the Day – do you think DC Code/laws need to be updated to deal with panhandling? Do you think panhandling in DC is a significant problem in general? Do you think an MPD officer responding “First District members will use some of their persuasive talents to encourage these folks to go elsewhere” is a satisfactory way to deal with this problem (if you do consider it a problem)?

Black and Orange Burger Joint Applies for 40 Seat Outdoor Cafe at 14th and U St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Last night a PoPville twitter follower wrote:

“New burger joint at intersection of 14&U wants a 40-seat sidewalk cafe??? Umm… No.”

I asked @AdamLDC what he thought was a reasonable number and he replied:

“Zero would be a reasonable at one of the most crowded intersections in the city.”

A liquor license application posted out front of Black and Orange coming to 14th and U St, NW [1931 14th St, NW] says:

“New restaurant specializing in hamburgers & Latin food. Occupancy load is 79. Sidewalk café has 40 seats.”

Do you guys agree that 40 seats is not reasonable for a sidewalk cafe at this location? Perhaps they could negotiate a way to use the parking lot next door? If they are only talking about the sidewalk itself – do you think any number of cafe seating would be appropriate?

Dear PoPville – Be Careful Running With Headphones

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user yostinator

Dear PoPville,

I am 23 years old and moved to Columbia Heights about a year and a half ago. Like a lot of people in this city, I love running. Sometimes I run towards Logan Circle, but often times I’m running in the neighborhoods of Park View and Petworth. Unfortunately, about a month ago my friend’s roommate was attacked near Irving and Sherman at 7pm. Her face was beaten and her things were stolen. Not only was she running at night, but she also was listening to music. Although I feel like it’s common sense not to run, or even walk, at night with headphones in your ears, I see people doing it EVERYDAY. I’m concerned about everyone, but when I see young women, like myself, running around Columbia Heights, Park View and Petworth at night it worries me. Of course, I’d like to tap them on the shoulder and say, “Hello?! Do you know that you’re putting yourself in danger?”…but I don’t.

It’s my hope that you could post something about this on your blog so that readers may think twice before running at night while listening to music. In a city that is so exercise-focused, I think it’s important that people know how unsafe it is to be unaware and alone at night in these areas.

Dear PoPville – What can I do about non-stop car alarms?

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville,

I’m writing in because I’m at my wit’s end and I’m hoping that your readers will be able to help. I live in Woodley Park, about 2 blocks south of the zoo on Connecticut, and for the last 3 hours, a car alarm on the street in front of my building has been going off every few seconds. It’s a blaring car alarm, that will go off for a few minutes, then stop, then go off again within seconds when another car drives by it. Ordinarily, I’d just leave my apartment, but I work from home, and I’ve got a ton of work to do today. I’m using ear plugs so I can at least concentrate enough to get my work done, but I’ve got two business calls to take today, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to crawl into the closet to keep the other people on the call from hearing it.

I’ve lived here for three years, and I’ve had this happen before, but never for this long. Unfortunately, since it’s a car on the street and not in our building’s lot, I’m pretty sure it’s not a neighbor’s car. I’ve looked on various forums, but the consensus seems to be that DC police won’t be able to do anything. Short of leaving a note on the windshield and waiting until they come back, is there anything I can do?

Most Unusual Business Improvement District (BID) Service?

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a commenter for bringing this to my attention. From the NoMa BID:

“Ambassador Escort Service – Upon request, NoMa BID Ambassadors will escort people to their vehicle or transit stop within NoMa BID boundaries. The program is offered seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. To request an escort, please dial 202-421-5090 at least 15 minutes prior to departure.”

Bringing out the Worst and Best in People

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user sssdc1

Ever since last week I can’t get this one rant/revel out of my head:

“Rave: I bought a house!

Rave 2: Neighbor on the left is awesome – very welcoming and an expert on the neighborhood. Her kids go to my old high school and are very sweet.

Rant: Neighbor on the right shut the door in my face when I went to introduce myself after muttering “should have stayed in your neighborhoods, you’re messing up my f****** property taxes”.

Rant 2: Although I’ve lived here 21 years (born in Italy), went through DCPS, worked for the city gov and volunteer in the school system, I am still considered an “outsider” by most of my neighbors. I just wanted to be a homeowner and was priced out of most of the city :(

Rave 3: I have developed a master plan to win everyone over by inviting them to my house and cooking them delicious Southern Italian food :) “

The first rant is sad and frustrating to read but Rave 3 gives me incredible hope for our city. If I ever feel frustrated in the future I’m gonna think of this amazing PoPville resident. I hope you will too.

Bus Bench/Shelter Removed from 14th St, NW in front of Domino’s Pizza

By Prince Of Petworth


Nov. 2011

“Dear PoPville,

A while ago when you mentioned the opening of Domino’s Pizza on 14th St. [2701 14th St, NW] I was one of it’s supporters. Recently I noticed that by coincidence (?), the canopy and seat of the bus stop that was on the sidewalk in front of Domino’s Pizza, disappeared when the pizza place was built. While the Pizza place gets a lot more visibility from 14th Street, old people (and today a pregnant lady) have no choice but to sit on a fire connection while waiting for the bus. You can see the pregnant lady sitting on the connection and the difference in color of the sidewalk where the canopy was removed (by the man’s umbrella). I think this is unfair.”


June 2010 (You can see the Bench/shelter behind the bicyclist in the photo above

Dear PoPville – Recycling Bin Wars

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ewilfong

“Dear PoPville,

I live in a Columbia Heights row house with an alleyway that runs behind the house down the middle of the block. All summer and fall I kept finding my recycling bin at other neighbors’ houses (at least 4 or 5 different houses). My roommates and I have tried using markers and etchings to make sure people know the bin is not theirs, yet the problem kept reoccurring. Finally last week one bin was stolen entirely and nowhere to be found.

Is there a shortage of garbage/recycling bins in this city that I’m not aware of? Does anyone want to donate a new recycling bin to me?”

Unfortunately recycling bin wars have been going since at least aught nine. And before that garbage can wars raged in our alleys. Back in April trash can and recycling bins were no longer freee and replacement costs were set at $45 and $62.50 for a Supercan.

There was speculation that this could lead to an increase in thefts but I hadn’t heard about an increase in thefts. Anyone else experiencing problems?

Dear PoPville – My Morning with the Opossum of Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I’ve had a strange morning over here in Shaw. I went out for my run and the neighbor next door told me he saw some “big raccoon” try to get into my front door and then it felt down into a window well where the basement windows are (I have no idea what that’s called). Thinking it couldn’t get out from there (it was a four foot climb – stupid me, I forgot opossums are pretty tactile little things), I called animal control. Well, within 20 minutes this thing is back on the street. My neighbor managed to lasso this thing with a little bit of clothesline. I called animal control back and they told me I should just let it go. I told them we weren’t really near Rock Creek Park or anywhere where a opossum should actually be, but she told me that raccoons and opossum have learned to adapt to an urban environment and I should let it go and that’s what they would do if they came there.

So my neighbor walked this thing down a nearby alley and let it go near an abandoned lot with some grass. What does PoPville think? Should animal control have taken this thing and set it free in a more appropriate environment? Or were my neighbors and I foolish to interfere with this majestic creature’s Monday to begin with? It mostly just amazed me that animal control said to let it go and offered no more advice than that. I’m also sorry in advance for whoever walks down that alley next and loses their shit when this thing scampers around.”

Dear PoPville – Soundproofing Windows?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

“Dear PoPville,

I live right on 18th St. in Adams Morgan. While the noise that comes with the neighborhood in the evenings is something that I have become accostmed to, the jackhammering and general construction noise that now begins directly outside my window at 7:30 each morning is not exactly the way that I like to start my day. My bedroom has 4 extremely large windows that look right over the street, and they arent particularly well sealed.

About a month ago I bought some sound-deadening curtains to help with the noise (before I just had wooden blinds), and that was fine when the works was down the street a bit, but now that the constuction has made its way to directly outside my front door, not so much. I am wondering if anyone knows of anything I can do myself to help reduce the sound making its way through the windows, or better yet, knows of a contractor that might have experience doing this kind of work. I have gotten the thumbs up from my landlord that she will cover the costs of any reasonable installations (my idea to install all new triple-pane windows is not quiet reasonable it appears). The windows are recessed from the wall, so there is plenty of room is put in some layers of protection – I was thinking maybe some large plexiglass sheets cut to size with insulation/foam around the edges might work well. I don’t think that I will be opening any of my bedroom windows until the spring, so removing that access isnt a big deal.

Thanks for the help!”

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