PoP-Ed.

“It’s shocking that four men could plan a homicide at a busy gas station, visibly put guns into their pants, run an entire block, murder someone, and flee the scene without being caught”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

If anyone who lives along upper 14th Street haven’t already seen this video, it’s worth taking a look.

It’s shocking that four men could plan a homicide at a busy gas station, visibly put guns into their pants, run an entire block, murder someone, and flee the scene without being caught.  We haven’t seen anything this brazen along these few blocks in years, probably since 2010.  I suspect some of your readers may think this sort of incident is common on the 3400-3600 blocks of 14th Street, but it most certainly isn’t.

This incident was a result of less aggressive policing along this stretch, the elimination of undercover vice, and, in my view, a lack of interest among our politicians in upper 14th Street.  I emailed Councilmember Nadeau about this; I explained that I believe the problem is the growing tolerance of the crack cocaine trade and a lack of pressure on MPD to have more of a presence in this area.

I told her that I believe her agenda that so often concerns national progressive issues isn’t going to help us prevent homicides.  Her office’s response to these sorts of emails has often been that the meager money she’s secured for Clean Teams and a Main Street program, or that a federal law closing the gun show loophole, will have the effect of interdicting homicides in Columbia Heights.  Invariably, her office lists her accomplishments or refers us to her newsletter. (more…)

New Series – Move Your Damn Car – Vol. 1

By Prince Of Petworth

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OK, maybe the project took way too long to carry passengers. Maybe it cost way too much money for what we got. Maybe it is beyond comprehension that it doesn’t run on Sundays. We can debate whether or not there should’ve been a dedicated lane but I’m moving beyond that. This is not the fault of the streetcar. This is the fault of the driver of the automobile. Shame on you Scion driver. Shame on you. The world does not revolve around you. You can’t just double park because you’re only going to run into the store “for a second”. No. No sir. NO MORE. Move your damn car and find a spot like everyone else. This nominee was at 4th and H St, NE – the streetcar didn’t catch up to me until 13th Street.

And by the by, this applies to all people double parking on busy streets with or without streetcars, especially during rush hour. I’m talking Georgia Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, you know who you are. I repeat, the world does not revolve around you and your schedule. Move your damn car.

Should you spot a selfish jackwagon double parked in front of a streetcar, or during rush hour please send a photo to [email protected] with a location/time where you saw it. If it turns out there was a life threatening emergency or a baby was being born I promise to offer up a prompt apology.

PoP-Ed. “A peloton in the city” by Christopher Cordingley

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

Christopher Cordingley lives in Penn Quarter.

PoP-Ed. posts may be written about anything related to the District and submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line.

Leaving work last Wednesday, I got on a Capital Bikeshare and headed up to Capitol Hill. Crossing 7th Street NW and turning onto Pennsylvania Avenue something unfamiliar happened on this regular commute. I had to wait to enter the bike lane; there were six solo riders in line heading east. I would expect this kind of traffic on the National Mall a block south, but not on Penn. I prefer riding on Pennsylvania Avenue versus the Mall because it feels more mechanical; it offers a direct comparison to a car and I like it.

When Metro shut down for 24 hours to do inspections on the system, locals griped about riding the bus and surging Uber prices. But there was one system that was working to help the community stay connected, Capital Bikeshare. Since becoming a member, in August of 2013, I have taken 835 trips totaling 1,384 miles, burning an estimated 59,526 calories and saving 57.4 gallons of gas. As a quite dismal and fortunately retired bike racer, it’s not surprising that I would choose to bike over ride a bus, metro, or taxi. A bike has always been an opportunity to turn the aggravating task of commuting into a stimulating chance to work hard, be aware, and breathe fresh air. That is why I commute by bike. You should join me. (more…)

PoP-Ed. – Buzzard Point Marina Closure – “I implore the National Park Service to use this opportunity to invest in the future of ‘upstream’ communities near the Anacostia”

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: PoP-Ed. posts are received unsolicited. If you have an issue you’d like to discuss please email [email protected]

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The following was written by Doug Siglin – Executive Director, Anacostia Waterfront Trust:

“The National Park Service announced last week that it plans to close the Buzzard Point Marina, on the Anacostia River near its confluence with the Potomac. The 58 people who have docked their boats at the marina’s slips, some for many years, are understandably dismayed.

What I found most interesting was the National Park Service’s comment, according to the < a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/buzzard-point-marina-to-close-in-december-after-half-a-century-of-use/2015/09/03/ef35c4c2-5288-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html" target="_Blank">Washington Post story, that it “will study other recreational opportunities on the Anacostia River.” I am cautiously optimistic that this is true, and that because of it, the closing of the marina ultimately might turn out to be a good thing.

In an era of shrinking appropriations from Congress, the National Park Service needs to conserve scarce funds and, the sad truth is, the Buzzard Point Marina is a casualty of these constraints. Fortunately, there is strong demand coming from the community for a new vision for the Anacostia Waterfront and broad support for improving access from the numerous organizations responsible for its administration.

As a person who has spent much of the last 20 years working in and around the Anacostia, I have experienced firsthand the need for kayaking, canoeing, rowing, sailing and other water based recreation on the river. While the loss of the Buzzard Point Marina may reduce these opportunities a little, it could also allow the National Park Service to redirect resources toward expanding water-based recreation upstream as part of the Anacostia Park experience.

I implore the National Park Service to use this opportunity to invest in the future of “upstream” communities near the Anacostia in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8 by providing not only additional water recreation, but additional park-based recreation as well. Anacostia and Kenilworth Parks are huge, and not nearly as well programmed as they should be. Such a pledge could also spur action by others to finally address the lingering environmental problems preventing DC residents from swimming, fishing, boating, and playing in their own public backyard.

Legacy toxins from past industrial use, some carcinogenic, hide untreated in the riverbed, and each fresh rain washes tons of chemicals from roads, parking lots, and other hardscapes into the Anacostia. Unless these sources of pollution are finally addressed, and it will require the efforts of more than the National Park Service, then expanding recreation access will only go so far.

Now that we know Buzzard Point Marina will close in December, all of us who are committed to the future of the Anacostia Waterfront must redouble our efforts to create new ways for the community to engage with the river and complete the important environmental work that remains.”

PoP-Ed. by ANC Rep Denise Krepp – WMATA: Safety Hazards and Security Risks “Shocking gaps were exposed and I left the event with little confidence in WMATA’s ability to fix them”

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: PoP-Ed. posts are received unsolicited. If you have an issue you’d like to discuss please email [email protected]

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WMATA: Safety Hazards and Security Risks

Last Sunday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority hosted a safety exercise at the Stadium Armory metro stop. For three hours, firefighters and WMATA officials tested their communication and evacuation protocols. Shocking gaps were exposed and I left the event with little confidence in WMATA’s ability to fix them.

I’m the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for residents living next to the Stadium Armory stop and I was invited to participate in the exercise because of my ANC position. My participation that day was limited to standing around and taking pictures. I had asked WMATA to include neighbors in the exercise but my request was denied.

After WMATA denied my request, I reminded them of the sarin attack in Tokyo 20 years ago and the more recent attacks in London and Madrid. In a real world attack happens at Stadium Armory, how is WMATA going to communicate with neighbors? No response.

Instead, WMATA hosted a controlled safety exercise and this exercise demonstrated how WMATA staff fail even in a controlled environment. One of the participants in the Sunday exercise was in a wheel chair. Her wheel chair was too large to fit through the doors that are located between each car. WMATA’s solution was to put her in a smaller wheel chair. Slight problem. The lady couldn’t fit in the smaller wheel chair. WMATA’s solution was to put the lady and her large wheelchair in the front car. That made it easier for the firefighters to reach her and carry her out. (more…)

PoP. Ed: Why Pop Ups are Bad for Lanier Heights by Gary Tischler

By Prince Of Petworth

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Last month we talked about this sign “Ugly Pop-Ups: Destroying Family Housing on Lanier Place.”. Following is an attempt to explain from a neighbor, Gary Tischler.

A while back, I had a talk with a neighborhood friend about popups and their implications to the Lanier Heights neighborhood, standing right across the street from one of those popups next to the day care center. He offered up the idea that maybe people should get used to the idea of change, and the popups and the targeting of the neighborhood by developers was one of those change things that might be inevitable.

That may be so, but something’s getting lost in that discussion. I saw it in the cavalier notice given by the developer reps that they had indeed targeted our neighborhood and were indeed seeking to get people to sell their houses in order to convert them to condos, and in the comments on the net that followed Paul’s signs next door to his new neighbors. In most of the comments—most of them from people who don’t live here—the attitude was one of surprise or anger that neighborhood residents—be they homeowners or renters—would object to the presence of the popups, or openly oppose the idea.

Many folks—mostly homeowners—are upset about this wholesale attempt to basically alter our neighborhood. That’s what’s getting lost in the discussions—the consequences to the neighborhood if the developers succeed.

What will happen to put it very simply is that the nature of the neighborhood will be dramatically changed to the point where we will lose most of the things, the characteristics of the neighborhood that we love.

I’m not trying to speak for other people—I’m a renter, and we’ve lived here for well over 15 years now. I found the neighborhood early on to be deceptive—I mean it looks on the surface to be kind of a bucolic place, quiet, a kind of residential, one-family housing island close to but also separate from the street scene on Columbia Road, the traffic on Calvert and the night and day bustle of 18th Street and all that entails, all of which by the way add the special urban flavor that everyone loves.
(more…)

Dear PoPville – 13th St. Residents upset about plans for a 6-Story Condo on Mr. Wash and Jerry Chan’s Carryout lots in Logan Circle

By Prince Of Petworth

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1300 block of 13th Street, Northwest

“Dear PoPville,

Many owners at The Iowa Condominium are not happy about Holladay Corporation’s plans for new condos on the 13th Street lots currently occupied by Mr. Wash and Jerry Chan’s Carry Out (see Dupont Current 11/13/13 article – p. 12). Holladay’s plans will negatively impact the quality of life for Iowa residents as they include constructing a 60-foot high wall that’s 23 feet away from the back of Iowa Condo townhouses. This 60-foot high wall will block direct sunlight from the units on the south side of the Iowa as well as a large portion of the unique Iowa Condo courtyard / fountain area. When an Iowa condo owner spoke with a representative at Holladay about the wall height/closeness, loss of sunlight and privacy concerns, the response included “that’s part of living in the city”. Finally, the proposed 67 condo units will bring more cars and fewer parking options to a neighborhood where parking is already at a premium.

Many Iowa Condo owners would like a lower building height with more of a Blagden Alley/Naylor Court feel to better fit in with this uniquely configured block. There is also strong interest in replacing the existing alley between the Iowa and proposed new condos with a “green alley” (with no vehicle traffic) per the following link: http://greengaragedetroit.com/index.php?title=Green_alley.

It appears that Holladay is not interested in Logan Circle community feedback based on their lack of contact with the LCCA, the ANC and Jack Evans’ office to date. We hope by getting info about Holladay’s current condo plans out to community, we might be able to incent them to work with residents to create a neighborhood asset.”

PoP Opinion

By Prince Of Petworth

Did anyone read Richard Cohen’s Op-ed in the Post yesterday? Well, as I think is obvious from my “tattoo of the week” feature, I am a huge fan of tattoos. I personally don’t have one but damn it I appreciate them for many reasons. Cohen on the other hand is staunchly opposed. He writes:

“Tattoos are the emblems of our age. They bristle from the biceps of men in summer shirts, from the lower backs of women as they ascend stairs, from the shoulders of basketball players as they drive toward the basket, and from every inch of certain celebrities. The tattoo is the battle flag of today in its war with tomorrow. It is carried by sure losers.”

I ask, what is next Mr. Cohen? Are the kids next going to be listening to some crazy rock and roll music? I appreciate the fact that he emphasizes the permanence of tattoos. But people get tattoos for a variety of reasons. I can’t speak for them I can only speak for one who appreciates them. So why do I appreciate tattoos? Some of them are beautiful works of art. Some of them are done to capture an experience or memory whether it be in the military or just from an incredible adventure. Some of them are done as a big fuck you to society and cultural norms. Some have become cultural norms. Hell some people just get drunk and get them. Surely some folks have regrets but this is nothing new to 2008.

What I’d really like to know is why Cohen (who I normally really enjoy and respect) has taken the time to use up an entire column on one’s personal style. Isn’t the world pretty much fucked up right now? And he’s worried about tattoos? Christ, how about the legacy of the Bush presidency, the Middle East, the Rule of Law, the Economy, the cycle of street violence in DC, etc. But tattoos, really? Who gives a shit in the grand scheme of things.

Like I said I can’t speak for why people get tattoos but I surely think there are more important subjects for a respected Washington Post columnist to cover. So what do you guys think? Are tattoos the menace Cohen paints them as? Or, as the old timers say, don’t we have much bigger fish to fry at the moment? I think the only loser here is Mr. Cohen.

My Response to the CityPaper’s Essay on “Notyetworth”

By Prince Of Petworth

Many people have written me asking my response to the CityPaper’s essay on Petworth from last week’s neighborhoods issue. The essay and “arbitrary rankings” were written by Dave McKenna who bought a house in Petworth in 2002. And it seems as though the article was written about the Petworth of 2002, a beautiful place for sure, but neglects much of the massive development/improvements that have taken place in the subsequent six years. McKenna truly seems to like many aspects about Petworth but I think he omits many other positive aspects. From the essay I gather that he seems to enjoy the abundant parking, location, and people. Unfortunately he spends a good half of the article discussing “the racial dynamics”. I’m not saying there aren’t “racial dynamics” at play here but writing over half the essay on this topic seems a bit excessive. Personally I don’t think the racial dynamics play that big a role at all. But like I said, my biggest gripe is that he doesn’t discuss any development that has taken place. How can you write an article about Petworth and not mention the soon to be completed Park Place Condos?

There is a section called arbitrary rankings which rank kid friendliness, eats, nightlife etc. I think McKenna fails miserably in his rankings. Particularly the rankings for eats. While noting the horrible Chinese options, McKenna neglects almost all of the new dining options that have arrived since 2002. I don’t understand how it is possible to mention the Hitching Post and remain silent about the phenomenal El Limeno located right across the street. I’m not saying that Petworth has the dining options of Columbia Heights or U Street but I am equally dumbfounded that he doesn’t mention Domku, Looking Glass Lounge (formerly Temperance Hall), El Torgoraz, Moroni & Brothers, Flip it Bakery, Abol, Red Derby and Sweet Mango Cafe.

Finally, I think the name is ridiculous. I know the authors had to come up with witty neighborhood names but I just don’t get “Notyetworth”. What does that mean? The houses aren’t worth that much money? It is not yet worth living here? Even in 2002 this was a beautiful neighborhood that was certainly “worth” a lot to the many residents living here at the time. Small point but I felt like I had to make it.

Petworth is a huge neighborhood and it is difficult to summarize. McKenna gets it right when he writes: “In these hoods, it’s about family and friends down the block. None of the bad stuff comes to mind when you’re sitting out on the front porch on a nice night, listening to a Nats game on the radio and waving to neighbors and passersby. Then, it’s hard to imagine a finer place to live.” However, when he writes, “there’s nowhere to eat or shop” he is in for a pleasant surprise. So my advice to Mr. McKenna would be take a walk around the neighborhood. He’ll be amazed at how much has changed since 2002.

(For those thinking of moving to the neighborhood you can check out My tips for newcomers.)