quality of life

Girl Hit by Car at 14th and Spring St, NW Sun. Afternoon

By Prince Of Petworth


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“Dear PoPville,

Do you have any info about a car crash at 14th and Spring, NW? I was running by there about 45 minutes ago [Sunday] and saw a crowd gathered around an accident scene. A man was slumped over in the driver’s seat of a car that had crashed into a parked car. A young girl (12 maybe?) was on the ground with a bleeding head injury, and an older woman who did not appear to be injured, was wailing inconsolably nearby. A number of bystanders had gathered and someone was holding the girl while they waited for the ambulance which showed up a few minutes later. It was a really disturbing scene to stumble onto.

It wasn’t clear if all three persons had been in the car that crashed, or if perhaps the man (driving drunk?) had run the light and hit the girl while she was crossing the street with her mother. I fear it might have been the latter. I live a block from that intersection and every single day have sidestep men who are so drunk they piss their pants and pass out on the sidewalk. That kind of drinking seems to be an issue in the community I live in and I wonder about how it affects the families that live around here. Having done volunteer work with Latin American and Mexican communities in the past, I am aware that drinking is a pretty big issue (with men mostly) and often accompanies spousal and child abuse. The problems tend go unreported, perhaps for cultural reasons (it is not as common for women to speak out in some cultures) or perhaps because concerns about immigration status make people reluctant to get police involved .

Anyway, I have nothing against drinking (I definitely do my fair share). I have no idea if the guy involved in this accident was drunk or at even at fault. I wouldn’t normally jump to conclusions about an accident like that. I think I did so in this case because of what I see happening around me day to day. I feel like there is something destructive happening in my neighborhood. Depending on what exactly did happen with this car accident, it might provide an opportunity to start a conversation about what people can do to change things. People should be able to walk to work or to their school bus stop without stepping over passed out drunks. Women shouldn’t have to brace themselves for several blocks of verbal sexual harassment by the guys loitering around the liquor stores and bodegas every time they walk to the metro. Those who suffer abuse behind closed doors because of alcoholic husbands or relatives need to know they can call for help.

I know this is a bit of a rant and pretty random. I felt sort of frantic and helpless stumbling on the scene of that accident and not knowing what to do to help while waiting for the ambulance to come. I guess it got me thinking about some of the other things I see happening in this neighborhood, and made me want to do something proactive, to try to start a conversation at least rather than allow things to continue to decay without doing anything.”

Yesterday the People’s District Danny Harris tweeted to me: “Girl gets hit by a car while on the sidewalk outside of church near 14th and Spring Rd.” Anyone else see what happened?

Dear PoPville – Quality of Life Problems and MPD Priorities After the Earthquake

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user yostinator

“Dear PoPville,

I had a disturbing incident yesterday that may be of interest to your readers in the Mt. Pleasant area. At about 4:30 p.m., while walking my dog down 17th across from Lamont Park, I heard two small children get extremely upset that there was a strange shirtless man passed out in their enclosed front yard. Tired of lowlife deadbeats ruling with impunity over our otherwise beautiful neighborhood, I offered to get him out, and their mother took them inside.

I went in, woke up the guy, pulled him up, and sent him staggering out of the front gate. My rusty high school Spanish was enough to know that he was drunkenly threatening to kill me as he staggered out, but then back in the gate, refusing to leave. The family was still watching and extremely upset, so I got him out a second time and called DC’s finest from down the sidewalk.

The most disturbing part of this incident begins when the 911 operator, having heard this story in detail, seemed amazed that I would want a police officer to respond, asking “what’s the problem besides him being in the yard?” When I enumerated: criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, attempted assault, disturbing the peace, public intoxication, and possession of who-knows-what, the operator shrugged this off as a “low priority incident,” and said something about the “citywide emergency.”

My question for readers is: did you see police officers busy responding to a small, non-destructive earthquake yesterday over two and a half hours after it ended? Having just ridden my bike home 4 miles through the core of the city, I saw not a single MPD officer alleviating gridlock traffic or otherwise responding to anything earthquake-related. There wasn’t even bad traffic in the Third District at all, from what I saw. I’m fairly new in town, but this seems typical of a police force that prioritizes taxi-driver shakedowns for wearing short pants, giving bicyclists stop sign tickets, or other revenue intensive activities. After the failure of MPD to respond, the subject urinated all over the sidewalk in front of the townhome and its occupants, and proceeded to resume his post in Lamont Park, where I’m sure I will again see him passed out in broad daylight, reigning over Mt. Pleasant as before.”

Dear PoPville – Thanks to the Good Samaritan in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user yostinator

“Dear PoPville,

Yesterday morning I as I was walking down Irving Street, just past Acre 121, I accidentally brushed shoulders with someone going the opposite direction. I was zoned out, carrying two bags on that shoulder, and just didn’t judge the distance needed to pass. When it happened I kind of waved back to say I’m sorry, and kept going. I got about two steps further when suddenly the man was in my face screaming and cursing up a storm at me for running into him. I was totally caught off guard, trying to asses whether he was one of the local CoHi crazies or a resident having a rough Monday morning. Needless to say, I was terrified, and was stammering apologies as he continued to scream and curse at me, two inches from my face.

Then from the street I hear “Don’t you dare yell at a girl like that.” A car waiting at the light had seen the altercation and apparently pulled over to come to my rescue. The passenger, a rather large man, got out and got in the guy’s face telling him to back off and that it was an accident, as the guy continued yelling at him. At this point, I bolted. I continued on my way just wanting to get out of the situation, but looking back the rest of the way to the bus to be sure the crazy man wasn’t chasing after me, and literally thinking “this guy is going to stab me.”

Once I was safely on the bus (never thought I’d say that) I felt like a real jerk for taking off and not even acknowledging the two people who came to my aid. It’s probably a long shot, but I just wanted to put a giant thank you out into the world to them, since I know many people (admittedly myself included) probably wouldn’t have done the same.”

Dear PoPville – Crosswalk law

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

“Dear PoPville,

The other day I was trying to use the crosswalk that crosses Florida where it meets R st. NW. Obviously no one was stopping, and I began to get a little annoyed given the seemingly endless stream of traffic. In the distance I saw a cop coming and thought “surely they will allow me to cross and set the example for other drivers.” Instead, they showed no signs of stopping and as they drove by I wagged my finger at them. I eventually crossed and the cops caught up with me me, asking if I needed anything. I told them I was wagging my finger because I thought they of all people should have allowed me to cross. The cops then proceeded to lecture me that I had to actually be in the crosswalk to gain the right of way.

So is that really the law?

DC ranks among the highest in the nation for pedestrian injuries when you take into account the number of pedestrian commuters. In a city where walking is so important I think it is a shame if the law really required people to risk their lives and step onto the crosswalk to get cars to yield to them. I, for one, am tired of being terrified our cities dangerous crosswalks.”

Dear PoPville – Verizon – Property Invasion!

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Verizon came down the alleyway between 16th St and Hertford Place NW this morning. Without getting any permission from any of the homeowners, Verizon’s crew proceeded to invade people’s property and erected a series of poles, saying that they will eventually string FiOS lines along them. (Eventually, as in 6-9 months from now, because of the strike.) Don’t know how readily you can tell from the pix I took and attached, but in some cases their poles straddle the property line between the alley and the private property. In a couple of cases, they actually installed the poles completely within the private property.

For the first pole, Verizon’s crew dumped the concrete they tore up into the man’s yard! The last pole is actually blocking the paved parking space for the home they invaded. And one property owner came out and shooed the Verizon crew away — but not before they had started drilling perilously close to his foundation. And the hole is still there, with torn-up concrete piled up. (Maybe it’s an art installation.)

Is this kind of thing happening elsewhere in the District? I can’t imagine Verizon would possibly try to get away with blatant trespass in Georgetown or even Crestwood, just up the block from us. And if it’s happening elsewhere, where? Verizon clearly needs to be sued for this, and the homeowners must be compensated and made whole.”

Another writes on a Columbia Heights listserv:

“Supposedly they are for Verizon Fios fiber optic lines. Supposedly they can’t run them under the porches like the current phone and cable lines because its a fire hazard, or because someone demanded rent to put a box on their house. Not sure which. Supposedly because of the strike actual wires won’t go up for months.

They were put on people’s property (including mine) without permission, which is bad, but it would be bad if they were blocking the ally too. They should be run underground, but that would involve tearing up our newly paved alley.

That’s the sum total of the gossip I’ve collected so far. Anyone with real info, please chime in and correct or clarify.”

Daily Craps Game Advertised?

By Prince Of Petworth

That’s to PoPville twitter follower @SonnyBunch for sending the above photo from what looks like 14th St, NW in Columbia Heights. He writes simply:

“So, this is pretty brazen.”

Anyone else every see fliers posted for crap games?

Dear PoPville – Getting Public Garbage Cans with ANC Help

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

In continuation of the dialogue around litter control, in attempts to curb ongoing littering in our neighborhood (Fort Totten Metro), my boyfriend and I have tried to contact our ANC commissioner re: installation of more garbage cans. We have been thus far, unsuccessful in reaching her. I was curious if PoPville had any insight as to:

a) how one to reach their ANC commissioner
b) enacting change without the assistance of an ANC Commissioner
c) could a private citizen, in theory set up trash cans on their property for community use?

Thank you!”

You can find your ANC Rep here.

Dear PoP – Are there littering laws in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user District Shots

“Dear PoP,

I recently moved to Washington, DC and am living in Columbia Heights. When I arrived here, I adopted a rescue dog from a shelter. I have noticed that when I walk her around many of the neighborhoods in DC, I constantly find her sniffing out and finding chicken bones that people have thrown out in garden beds, on sidewalks, and around trees on the side of the street. This is a huge problem for all dogs and dog owners, as chicken bones can splinter in dogs’ mouths and throats. This can cause severe bleeding, choking, and other dangerous health problems for dogs. What can we do to raise awareness of this problem? What are the local rules about littering here in DC?”

A new pilot program launched this spring but it is likely to early to tell if it has had any impact. Unfortunately this is a nuisance that we’ve battled for years and are likely to continue to battle for years.

Neighbors Having Serious Problems With Mood Lounge in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader shares a letter and some follow up re: Mood Lounge located at 1318 9th St, NW (in the former Be-Bar space):

Councilmember Evans,

Does the MOOD Lounge have permission to operate on Sunday through Thursday nights? Because their website indicates they are only open on Friday and Saturday nights, and these are the only two nights of the week we as neighbors are subjected to torture on a regular basis…. I know this is not standard for them (as they have not operated on these nights in the past), but tonight is a Thursday night (a work-week night, for those of us in the surrounding neighborhood…) and the music is blasting, the patrons are lined up out front (and I took pictures) and they are operating as any other nightclub that is not in a residential neighborhood.

I’m really beginning to lose my patience with this operation and with the complete inaction by local government officials to address this problem…. I know that in other neighborhoods I have lived in that the City Councilmember wouldn’t put up with this.

Councilmember Evans – HOW WILL YOU FIX THIS??? As a citizen in your ward, I rely on you to handle issues like this in this neighborhood that affect the quality of life for your citizens. PLEASE RESOLVE THIS ISSUE – either by closing this nightclub in a residential neighborhood permanently or by forcing them to abide by the Voluntary Agreement that they accepted when they obtained the rights to this club (which, for the record, as a new operator, should have been renegotiated with the local residents).

Furthermore, I want to encourage you, as a sleepless resident, to introduce legislation (which if you don’t have time to write, I am happy to write on your behalf since I cannot sleep and have nothing better to do with my time…) that invalidates any prior ABRA license and VA for any new owner or lessee of a property which previously held one in the District. Furthermore, I am happy to introduce legislation that bars ABRA from granting CT or CN licenses within 300 feet of a residence, as such licenses are incompatible by definition with a neighboring residential community. I am confident I can validate this concern through a petition of residents in your ward.

Time after time, future owners have presented issues in every Ward that were not anticipated (and therefore legislated against or fought in a prior VA) with prior owners of said license. You may be sleeping soundly when this email is sent, but I am not. And that is a problem. As my City Councilmember, I am asking you why I cannot get a resolution to an ongoing problem with noise complaints, drug sales, prostitution, and loitering from a nuisance bar that is 75 feet away from my home. An answer to myself and all CC’d on this email would be appreciated. If the shortcoming is in the law, I would appreciate a civics lesson in how as a citizen I can improve the relevant laws to increase the quality of life in my own neighborhood. If the shortcomings are in the enforcement of the existing laws, I would appreciate an answer about why the Councilmember we voted to keep in this position cannot resolve a simple ABRA issue relating to REPEATED BLATANT VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.

Why is it every single time I overstay my meter by 60 seconds I get a ticket from the parking authority (and have to pay the fine or get booted) and yet this business repeatedly throws up the middle finger at city hall and gets away with it???? Double Standard???

Responses after the jump. (more…)

Brutal

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

What’s the protocol for traffic stops? This police officer blocked an exit with this traffic stop in Georgetown in front of 2208 wisconsin ave. We had to call 311 to call the district office to ask her to move after the officer refused to move up when we asked her nicely. The 2nd district and 1st district offices could not decide whose jurisdiction it was when we called 311 to ask for assistance!

We were in a Georgetown university GUTS bus and there were 10 cars behind us. It took 30 mins to get through.”

Anyone ever experience a situation like this? Unless there was a fear that the driver was a threat, seems like the right thing to do would’ve been to just have the car move up 5 feet.

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