Overheard at the Farmer’s Market

We had this discussion a few weeks ago… Gallery Place has the worst homeless problem I have seen in my life. Again, having grown up in Brooklyn, I have never experienced panhandling, harrassment, and pervasive homeless like we have here in PQ. Not only are there many homeless people, but they are extremely aggressive and talk a lot crap. Somehow I come off looking like the bad guy when I yell back at them to go find a place to sleep other than underneath the tree in the mount vernon triangle park off Mass Ave. I couldn’t help but notice a couple weeks back walking to the GP metro station when I saw a Mount Vernon BID employee in a red uniform cleaning the sidewalks and emptying trash on H Street between 6th and 7th who was missing his left arm. It got me realizing how those people who want to work and make a decent living can do so, there are many opportunities to make a contribution to our society, instead these people would rather be lazy, beg for money, sleep in the streets, and yell at you as walk home from work.

I’ve had to deal with many panhandlers in the area but never a panderer. Have others had to deal with people approaching them to provide prostitutes? That’s a new development I have yet to hear about.

I think it has gotten worse in recent months in PQ near the farmers market. I’ve notices quite a few more vagrants in the area. That is generally what happens when it gets warmer in our neighborhood. It should die down when it gets colder.

On the other hand, I have seen a huge decline in panhandlers near Judiciary square metro station and 4th and H CVS. The property owners have been aggressively removing them from their property and it has worked well.

One thing that alarms me is the growing tent cities under the bridges of DC. There is a particularly interesting one under the bridges on 395. Nothing like that third world feel while driving into town from VA.

I have never been approached by panderers, and I’m a young guy who walks through PQ in business casual every evening, which I would think would make me a good target. I can also add that when I used to work in the local courthouse, I never came across a prostitution case involving our neighborhood — they all involved Georgia Ave.

That said — the giant, loud HVAC duct on D Street NW between 7th and 8th seems to serve as a pretty strong deterrent to the residents of the Lexington and the Lansburgh milling about on the street. Once Cafe Atlantico closes, I never see anyone hanging around outside who looks like they actually live there. (Then again, they have the Navy Memorial to hang out at, so why would they hang out in front of an HVAC duct anyway?)

Sorry guys, I meant to say panhandlers, not panderers.

It’s fixed now.

“This used to be a nice neighborhood”? They must have a very short frame of reference–they surely aren’t referring to 10, or even 5, years ago.

Even so, if people are being harassed something needs to be done about it.

I think that some of the PQ area has declined within the last year or so. It was on an upward swing for years, but now it feels different. I don’t know if it’s related, but I have noticed a major uptick in sketchy characters hanging around the area. This is especially true near the McDonald’s. The kids are loud and aggressive in that area and the panhandlers are confrontational and demanding. In order for the area to thrive, people need to feel safe and if they don’t, they’ll return to their old haunts in other areas of the city, such as Georgetown. This is a critical period, because when an area loses it’s upward momentum, it’s very hard to get it back. I hope this doesn’t turn into a U St. scenario, where there was so much buzz and development for a couple of years and then the excitement just dropped off, leaving a less than spectacular area with many abandoned storefronts and a few cool restaurants.

I have lived in the Avalon for 4 years and there has been a definite decline in panhandling over that time. With multiple homeless shelters within a several block radius it must be expected that there will be some situations where you will be asked for change etc. Mostly it is the same group of people.

Dave, I guess you grew up in Park Slope and never rode the subway because prior to the Giuliani years there were more panhandlers in new york than traders. Every car had one.

Start with telling your council person about your experiences and pushing for more $$$ for mental health services.

Its really not true that most people on the street are just ‘lazy.’ Most people in my office are lazy. Homelessness in DC and most cities is about unemployment and mental health issues. Solve the mental health issue and throw minimal effort towards a functioning shelter (not Franklin School or CCNV, both near PQ) and we could try to make a dent in this thing.

As for helping out downtown, try First Helping, which does so much work on homelessness and mental heath and The Downtown BID which has some services as well, but I’m not sure how organized they are.

Interesting topic – on reflection i would agree that it has gotten worse but hadn’t really stepped back and thought about that.

The other morning i got up particularly early and went out for a run between 4:30-5:00am and noticed an odd exchange occurring in a parked car. Being somewhat naive and half asleep it took me about 10 minutes to realize i had just seen a prostitute in a car with a guy.

There is also a serious problem on 5th and 6th between G and F with pandhandlers, public urination and harrassment, not to mention the “parties” every night and morning on the lawn of the Building Museum.
I have sent several complaints to the Mayor and Police, but have seen little decline. The Burger King is another famous hangout, although apparently they can’t congregate in large groups anymore. It gets so bad that you can rarely get past them on the sidewalk.
As for the McDonald’s on 7th street, that is even worse. The other day a homeless man was holding the door open for patrons,
along with holding his cup out for spare change.
I fail to understand why the merchants don’t chase these guys aways. Or what do we do about the women that walks up and down the street cussing at everyone and telling them that her father is with the FBI? She scared the daylights out of some of our friends who were visiting, not knowing what she was going to do next.
The problem in this area will stay, because I constantly see people supporting these folks with dollar bills (not coins). I would say they make a very lucrative living with little effort. So why should they go elsewhere?

I agree that the area has become much more problematic in the last year. Recently, the Lafayette has a notice posted about a break-in in the building, and several robberies in the area (including a beating outside the Verizon Center). I have talked to several people over the summer who have either been mugged, or whose roomates have been mugged at or around the Verizon Center, and on 7th around D St. Personally, I have never had any problems. But, apparently many others have recently.

After talking with my g/f about the neighborhood generally and the safety issues, we both decided to look elsewhere when our lease runs out.

The 395 tent city under the eastbound ramp from Lenfant Plaza seems to have migrated across the freeway. Maybe the cops told them to move along? Anyway, the homeless town under the 14th Street Bridge is still there, along with the one under New Jersey Avenue and along the tracks to Union Station. Those “hobo jungles” have been around since I was a kid in DC back in the 1970s.

If she thinks guys peeing in Penn Quarter alleys is bad, she’s obviously never been to Adams Morgan on a Saturday night.

I agree with MVS. I really dislike being on 7th & H in the evenings and weekends. I can hardly cross the street there without my ears being accousted and without being very alert to my surroundings. During the work day there are more business people and the street has a different feel. There are no laws against loitering so I have no idea what can be done.

Smith MBA – I actually grew up in Brooklyn Heights and went to high school in Bay Ridge and rode the subway in and out of the city weekly and I can tell you never once was I harassed the way I’ve been harassed here. I’ve said it before and I will say it again for you newbies… there is an understanding in New York where the homeless are grateful if you give them a penny. Here, if you give them anything (which one never should) its never good enough. The only forward homeless in NY when I grew up were the squeegee men off the Cross Bronx.

Smith MBA – maybe you can tell me more about my upbringing since you know me so well.

I haven’t noticed any change in the aggressiveness of panhandlers. They’ve always been aggressive in DC. I have a funny story I tell friends about how in high school (The Police were still together at the time) I was asked for money at the Dupont Circle Metro. I gave the guy 25 cents. He looked down, looked up and whined, “A hot dog costs 50 cents, man!” I replied, “Then I’ll take that quarter back.” End of conversation. (BTW, I now don’t ever, ever give panhandlers money. I need a service in exchange for money. There are charitable organizations that I give money to that I know aren’t buying 40s.)

I’ve detected a downtick in the quality of characters on 7th Street on weekend nights only and even then my sightings have been spotty. I haven’t reached any conclusions though because the spottees are mostly kids and it is summer when they don’t have anything to keep them busy. When it gets cold, then I’ll get my answer.

What’s the solution? It’s a combination of things – better city services, improved police engagement, letting the city council know and dare I say…tourist education.

I’ll be putting up a post in the next weeks about a recent experience I had walking around the Franklin School at 13th and K (which is a homeless shelter, for those who aren’t aware). The FS is definitely a problem area that needs resolution.

There’s an article on WRC news page about someone getting thrown through a window last night around 6 in the 800 block of 7th st NW.
That’s around H, right?

http://www.nbc4.com/news/14112660/detail.html?dl=headlineclick

I have lived in PQ for 3 years now and have definitely noticed a significant increase in the number of sketchy charaters on and around the stretch between 7th and G and H streets on the weekends, especially the weekend ights. This area around the McDonalds has become a hangout for loud, rude and obnoxious teens whose parent(s) obviously let them roam free. It seems as if the area has increasingly become such a hangout in the last year and has probably gained that reputation in certain areas. Personally, I will not even go near that movie theater anymore as the last time I went to a movie, over half the crowd was talking on their cell phones with no regard for the other patrons.

These males who congregate in the area that are in their late teens are the real danger. They have no money, nothing to do and are full of resentment. They are also still often loitering at 1 and 2 a.m. when the crowds have decreased.

In my opinion, it’s gotten so bad recently that I am afraid to take my mom, who is visiting next week, out to walk around in the neighborhood in the evening. So very sad and unacceptable.

I also live in the Lafayette–the “break-in” referred to above was someone who was let into the building by a resident who then took money out of an unlocked office.

More troubling was a recent weekday mid-afternoon robbery on our block, near a building guarded by DOJ security.

“I’ll be putting up a post in the next weeks about a recent experience I had walking around the Franklin School at 13th and K (which is a homeless shelter, for those who aren’t aware). The FS is definitely a problem area that needs resolution.”

Is it ever. The congregation of people in Franklin Square park across the street, as well as in front of the School itself, is tremendous. My wife and I were walking up 13th street about a month ago, and a homeless guy made a very lewd comment directed at her. Against my better judgment, I responded in kind, and it led to a verbal jousting match all the way up 13th st.

The other issue with the Franklin School is vermin. Good lord, I have never seen so many rats in my life. Living just down the block from the Central Union Mission, I can’t help but draw comparisons between the two shelters. Never once have I had a problem with people hanging out in front of the Mission. It’s clean and well-maintained, security is present (along with security cameras), and the people staying there get locked in for the night. I don’t know that I can say any of that about the Franklin School, which is an absolute mess.

I recently moved to DC and live in the Lafayette. I too will not go to the Gallery Place movie theatre anymore, having the same experience with rude people talking out loud and several who thought it was funny to blurt out the ending of the movie and run out the door. Equally bad is Clyde’s, as I recently took an out of town friend there and was thoroughly embarrassed by people’s harrassing, leering, and being very, very rude to wait staff. She looked at me like, THIS is where you hang out in your neighborhood?

In regards to DOJ security, they seem to be a bit good for nothing as well, as just the other night there was a car parked right in front of the guard stand on D St with its headlights on….of course, the light drew my attention and I glanced over only to get a view of a prostitute servicing her john RIGHT in front of security.

As someone who grew up in the District, I can tell you that the Gallery Place/Chinablock/Penn Quarter neighborhood is far better (and safer) than it was a few years ago.

I don’t think the panhandling is any worse or more agressive than it was 5-10-15-20 years ago; but if there’s been any recent increase in such activity, it’s probably because there are more attractions (restaurants, bars, theaters, shops, galleries, farmers market) that draw more people to the area. This means more people to hit up for change. The same thing happens in Georgetown and Dupont, as well.

That said, I find that the panhandlers here in DC are generally more aggressive than in other cities. I don’t know why this is, or how one remedies the problem (maybe through better mental health services, as mentioned above…), but they’ve always been aggressive here.

I think we should do what Giuliani did which is round them up and drop them off in Randall’s Island. MPD should show up with several large police paddy wagons and take them to PG County.

I believe I am seeing some glimmers of racism creeping into the conversation. The “loud, rude, obnoxious teens” are just kids having a good time. If you go to any suburban mall you will see them same thing except the aggrssive males have lighter skin. Where else should they hang out?

The combination of nightlife and tourism attracts panhandlers, and young people. Many in DC do not understand the good and the bad that goes with living in a city.

Dave, I grew up in Queens and rode the F Train from Jamaica to lower Manhattan everyday for 4 years during rush hour. I did not reverse commute to Fort Hamilton which is probably why you did not encounter the solicitation. I know the sandwich scams, the deaf mute pen scams, the musicians, the dancers, and all of the other characters begging in the cars. If you remember Bernie Goetz you know how the NY subway used to be.

I can count on one hand the number of times in the last 10 years I have been approached on Metro. So we are trading the below ground panhandling for the above ground kind.

I have to respectfully disagree with this statement “If you go to any suburban mall you will see them same thing except the aggrssive males have lighter skin.” I lived out in Tysons before moving back in the City and I have to say never once did I have to tell the kids in front of me to shut up during a movie at the Tysons AMC. I, too, will not see a movie at Gallery Place… thank goodness for On Demand. I mean its a very sad situation that is a lot more complex than pre-adolescent teens just having a good time. It goes back to lack of parental supervision which is how these kids can hang out outside the GP metro station all hours of the night.

I sense a bit of racism in a lot of these posts as well. Now I’m waiting for some blog outside of DC to notice these comments and poke fun at the people living in PQ.
You live in a city people. It was your choice to come to PQ.

Smith – give up trying to throwing racism into this discussion, it’s unwarranted and pathetic.

If those kids are having a “good time,” it’s at others expense and it should not be tolerated, especially when it involves criminal behavior.

As for where they should hang out, how about at home doing homework. Or, enlist in the Army.

I’ve lived in Georgetown, Logan Circle and off Barracks Row, and this is definitely the safest neighborhood in DC that I have lived in. Sure I’ve seen some increase in the number of panhadlers in the two years since we bought in the neighborhood, but I think it correllates with the growth of the neighborhood. You can’t expect to have more residents, more tourists, more businesses, more bars and restaurants, and less homeless/crazy/panhadling people.

Perhaps more of us need to direct these concerns to the mayor and the police. I have reported specific incidents and concerns, but the problems are still here.

If more people give their concerns, more attention may be paid to the problem.

I love living here and I love the diversity of the area. We have given money to the organizations that are suppose to help these people, but apparently there isn’t enough to address the problem.
It is not fun to be harrassed by aggressive people looking for money and/or large groups of kids that need supervision from home.
It is not pleasant to look out my window while eating dinner and seeing someone urnitating in the street or be serviced by the local prostitute.
The police are rarely a visibility in the above mentioned posts. How do we fix this problem? Do we need to organize a neighborhood watch?
We need to take control of our own neighborhood.

I assume none of you have ever been unfortunate enough to attend a movie at the Union Station theaters? Yelling at the screen is pretty much standard operating procedure there, as well as incessant cellphoning. It’s been the case in DC since those theaters opened.

Does living in the city equate to putting up with harassment and crime? If so, are those the reasons you came to PQ? Those aren’t the reasons I came but I will make sure to include those on the marketing flyer for my condo when I go to sell. Come to PQ… close to all amenities which you will never be able to enjoy because others won’t let you.

I agree with the others about the problems directly around the Verizon Center. The movies/McD’s, and Chipotle (also a McD’s product) are the biggest culprits.

Just some of the experiences at the movie theater have been: 1)loud homeless man yelling at the screen throughout an entire film- smelled so bad individuals sitting in the front section of the movie had to go to the back of the theater 2)Parents allowing their 5 year old to play playstation portable throughout Bourne Ultimatum with volume on! 3) People bringing in outside food (loud bags of chips, McD’s also)

The original Chipotle was on the corner of my college campus, and I can not express my level of disgust with the management of the Verizon location management. The outside seating area MUST go.

The last time I went to the McD’s is the LAST time I will go to McD’s. Not only are the employees mostly rude (who can blame them?), I have never been to this location without either A. Being begged for a handout or B. Witnessing a hostile confrontation.

To suggest that these or the other postings have racist undertones is absolutley off base. In my experience, the buildings I have lived in in the neighborhood are extremely diverse, and these are problems that affect all of the residents of the neighborhood.

I agree, it seems like some are trying to turn this into a race issue when it has nothing to do with that. I am a minority myself. Teenagers are teenagers wherever they are and whatever color or race, everyone understands that. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t complain because their parents didn’t teach them any manners, or because “it was our choice to come to PQ”. Our choice to come to PQ also gives us the right to speak our mind about our neighborhood and community without being accused of racism.

while i think that of course there is ALWAYS room for improvement.. i like pq just the way it is.. actually i liked it fine back when it was just gritty old Chinatown / Downtown …i dont think the panhandlers are any worse than the crybabies that move here from suburbia and cant find anything positive to say…ever…
and 98% of the kids..are just that..kids..hanging out…having fun in a happening neighborhood….
so relax people..concentrate on the positive.. there is soooooo much of it!!
xoxo

“Does living in the city equate to putting up with harassment and crime?”

It does not, and it’s a chump argument for anyone to shrug off such concerns with “well, you live in a city.” True; we all live in a city. And I think we’re all pretty much tolerant of the trappings that brings–noise, crime, dirt and–yes–pandhandling. Most of the time strolling through Logan, Shaw and PQ, I can pretty much ignore the panhandlers. But there are times when they seem to be a) excessively large in number, and/or b) excessively aggressive. I don’t care if you live in Dupont or Dumfries, you shouldn’t have to tolerate such things people yelling and cussing at you and vermin-infested shelters. That’s not “city living”, that’s living in a city that is failing to adequately address the problem of homelessness.

No, concentrate on fixing the negative to create more positive.

I have also been to the Union Station Cinemas, it’s a zoo. Is that what we want to happen in PQ? Hopefully not, which is why we need more neighborhood involvement from the people who actually care about the status and future of the area.

I disagree that these are “just kids having a good time” when their activity devolves into assault/battery, stabbings, or even shootings. I think we can all agree that the less of THAT in our neighborhood, the better.

Talking loudly, jumping around and being silly – sure, these can be part of a lively street scene. But when others’ safety is threatened, it’s neither fun nor cute anymore.

The merchants are very much to blame at the Verizon Center complex. We cannot expect the law enforcement alone to handle this problem.

The merchants need to employ qualified and mature people to keep the rowdy and unpleasant from their establishments.

We don’t need to discriminate, but we need to have a balance of law and order for the common good of all.

The establishments at Verizon Center (movie theatre, Chipolte’s, McD’s, and the ice cream place really need to enforce some order and discourage the unpleasantness that we have all encountered. Is there no adult leadership at any of these places?

The above named places don’t even keep their establishments clean. Obviously the management doesn’t care about PQ and are happy to let it run down and look like a slum.
It is apparent that the owners don’t live in the area.

Homeless people in DC have always appeared more “aggressive” than homeless in other cities — but that doesn’t mean they pose a physical threat. Many suffer from mental health issues and can appear loud and harassing. Some people of course will interpret such behavior as a threat.

The only other city where I see more homeless, strangely enough, is Denver. The panhandlers are “friendly” but just as aggressive and pervasive, especially in the downtown walkway area.

Anyway, the reason GP/PQ seems to have more homeless is due to the shelter on D ST NW and other shelters in the neighborhood.

Unless someone can show some hard data, I highly doubt there is an increase in homelessness in the neighborhood — it’s more likely that the newer residents are exaggerating a problem that has always existed.

I live in PQ at 9th and F. I have been flashed, harrassed by drunk homeless people, and my friend was followed to her parking garage one evening and had to seek help from a doorman. It is absolutely awful, and it doesn’t seem as if it is getting better. I do think an organized complaint to the mayor and police is an excellent idea. The late night noise and street violence is another issue to be addressed.

FYI, Mcdonalds no longer owns Chipotle.

I remember the good old 1980s when the 9:30 Club was at its original location. There weren’t any panhandlers because there was no foot traffic. After 10pm, the area was deader than last xmas. There’d be no panhandling if the panhandlers didn’t get paid.

If you think the PQ panhandling and rats are bad — trying walking near the WH between 6 & 7am sometime. The situation is just as dire.

“David Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I think we should do what Giuliani did which is round them up and drop them off in Randall’s Island. MPD should show up with several large police paddy wagons and take them to PG County.”

Not about race? Yeah, ok. Chuckle.

it is rediculous to suggest that anyone chosing to live in a city should be subject to threats–be they verbal, physical or environmental (ie urinating in public). I love DC, and having spent much time in many much more unsavory spots than the vast majority of the district I will say that it isn’t bad but some of this behaviour is enough to warrant complaints to the council, business owners and/or police.

all said…i’ve already noticed with the start of DC schools the presence of kids picking fights be they real or play and yelling at passers-by has already slowed. let’s hope this continues

I don’t believe that we were only talking of the homeless. Many of the other “problems” have come from others.

And some of the homeless are harmless but there are also the ones who do chase after you for money, yelling and screaming and cussing. This happens at the Gallery Place Metro, near the Building Museum, the Burger King and on 6th behind the Verizon.

Many of the people here with comments are not new…I have lived here 2 years. Part of the problem IS growth, because some of these characters are displaced and find a new home to “work”.

I’d like to see numbers/data as well. So much of the emotional, visceral argument I see here is based on conjecture. Which doesn’t invalidate any of it. Everyone’s experience is personal and real.

I’m just not sure its really as bad as this thread really makes it sound.

I really think its a mental health issue.

“MPD should show up with several large police paddy wagons and take them to PG County.”

That would just be a free ride home for many of the offenders as they are arriving in PQ from PG County via the Green Line.

We need to send a petition, signed by the readers of this blog and other PQ residents, to McD’s headquarters and the other businesses in the area explaining the problem they are contributing to and asking them to do something about it.

When was the last time any of these posters volunteered at a homeless shelter on a weekend? Worked with Big Brothers/Big Sisters? Tutored inner-city kids? I know we are all VERY important people with VERY important jobs that rarely have time for such work. So we write a nice check to some fuzzy sounding charity at the end of the year to make up for it. Hell, I’m guilty of it myself.

No one should be harrassed and no one should feel unsafe in their neighborhood, but the tone of these posts make it sound as if many of us would be fine with “these people” so long as they were doing their thing in Georgetown, Shaw, or DuPont, just not while I’M trying to get to Bar Louie for $10 martinis at my law firm happy hour.

I’ve encountered agressive pan handlers, obnoxious teenagers, lousy parents, and rude adults in every city I’ve visited in the world. Yes it’s an urban problem, and it would be wonderful if it could be solved, but the Guiliani “somewhere else” approach will not solve it. Get involved, get engaged, and be part of the solution.

Finally, remember that all these people being complained about are human beings, no matter how obnoxious and profane. It’s been my experience that a simple “Sorry man, not tonight” is enough to put off the most insistent panhandler. At least you acknowledge the person standing in front of you, rather than ignoring them and wishing they didn’t live so close to your PQ loft.

Keep the comments clean, folks. We’ve rejected a few for profanity. Posters are welcome to resubmit their comments with different wording that can be equally strong. Thanks.

anaon 49.. id like to kiss you!! thank you… i think you nailed it… eloquently..
xoxo

I have worked in the GP/Chinatown/PQ area for 6 years now, and have lived here off and on throughout that time as well. This area is A LOT better and A LOT safer than it used to be. I can’t say that I have seen a real change in the number of panhandlers in the neighborhood, or their aggressiveness (they have always been aggressive), and I doubt that you ever will, due to the fact that there are at least four large homeless shelters within a five block radius, and that is not even taking into account the DC Public Housing and other low income housing in the neighborhood. You also need to keep in mind that many of these people have been here a lot longer than any of you have, and have been doing the same thing the whole time. This was not a particularly nice neighborhood before all of the development.

I also cannot fault the panhandlers and homeless for staying in this area. It has become, for better or worse, a “target rich environment”. Before there were very few people who lived in this area, very few people who would go out in this area because there was nothing to do, and even fewer tourists. Now with an influx of literally thousands of affluent residents, and a nightly influx of thousands more affluent dinner/bar/game/theater goers, it has literally become a gold mine for them. These people may be homeless, but they aren’t dumb. We all wanted this area to improve, and it has by leaps and bounds, but this unfortunately is a side affect of incredibly rapid development. For better or worse, we are reaping what we have sown.

That being said, most of these panhandlers are not bad people. In the 6 years I have been here, and dealing with them every day, I can say that I have only felt physically threatened twice. Maybe three times. There are others, who, even though I never gave them any money, would say “hi” to me everyday, and were nothing if not cordial. There are some bad apples, yes, and those need to be dealt with, but for the vast majority, they are harmless.

While I am disturbed by the content/tone of a few of these comments, I think it’s good for us to have this discussion. The trick will be taking the comments, stories and possible solutions suggested here out of “the internets” and into real life.

Like most people in the neighborhood, I get annoyed with the large crowds of teenagers hanging out by the Verizon. I also get really tired of being cussed at by the homeless people sleeping in doorways on 7th.

But it is only when the usual trappings of city life cross the level of tolerability that I complain.

When I see homeless men urinating in the street in full view of morning commuters. When a homeless woman throws a full cup of liquid at my mother. And when the teenagers antics endangers others. Back in June, a shoving match between two boys in front of the mickey d’s turned into a full scale brawl and a neighbor of mine was actually injured trying to avoid the melee.

But I think several of the posters are right in that we need to speak up about these problems to the proper authorities AND we also need to do our part as well. Donate to local shelters, youth centers and the like.

It’s not race it’s economics. My building is very diverse and it’s great. The street folk are not the same socio-ecoomic as the condo owners.

I agree that it has gotten worse. The area around McDonald’s on 7th Street seems to be a dumping ground for young teens with no parental supervision.
I love the downtown feel of Chinatown/Penn Quarter, but if police don’t step up their patrols of the area, I agree, the area will lose its momentum and fewer people will feel safe walking through our neighborhood at night.

From the incidents mentioned here, there clearly is a problem. Ranting about it, calling people names, arguing whether it is better or worse here or there, positing vague sociological
theories, or suggesting one just live with the problem will not solve it. It seems like a matter for the appropriate authorities. Isn’t there a forum where residents, businesses, and the police come together to discuss issues? Why not make this a major item on that agenda. Why not do something other than blog?

“Isn’t there a forum where residents, businesses, and the police come together to discuss issues? ”

Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA)
http://www.dcdna.org

There is a place where people can go to tackle issues like these. It’s called the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the website is http://www.dcdna.org. The DNA is already tackling some tricky problems and some of these seem like good issues to bring up them. There’s a place on their website to report problems.

I love when the race card is so easily thrown down in this city because a certain segment of the population is not willing to take responsibility for itself. It’s a bunch of *&(!, and I think most responsible people are sick of it. You can have a city where sketchiness is the exception and not the rule. Responsible people know this, and we are taking the city back like it or not.

People are asking what can they do to make city life better…if you don’t like the way “it” (whatever you choose “it” to be) is, then civic participation is how “it” changes.

For some issues, you need the neighbors to join in mass which is why the newly formed Downtown Neighborhood Association has monthly meetings at the Navy Memorial (701 Penn Ave) and is getting engaged on issues like these. You can’t sit on your duff and expect someone to read your mind. Go to the meetings! Join the organization! Meet your neighbors!

The DNA has already taken a formal position on two community issues including the Chinatown CVS and the Chinatown bus services. Media coverage on the Chinatown CVS resulted in two stories on WJLA, Channel 7. PQ Living has covered these issues also.

Next DNA meeting: Tuesday, October 9

The DNA website is: http://www.dcdna.org

I agree the DNA is a great way to get involved. I plan to attend one of their meetings in the near future.

I also have to agree with breggaio. Unfortunately, most of the crime and rowdiness in our neighborhood is young African American men such as those hanging out in front of the McDs. I actually find them worse than the vagrants. Most vagrants will thank you or “bless you” if you acknowledge them. The kids on the other hand are pretty disgusting. They’ve harassed me, my wife and many of my neighbors (and i’m a pretty large guy) on occasion. Though a nice kick in the groin by my wife alleviated one of the problems a few weeks ago.

Solving the kid problem will be a lot of work since it stems from huge societal problems that plague DC, though a little help from the police and retailers that their bad behavior is not welcome here would help.

Ten years ago, the same amount of panhandlers existed in this neighboorhood. I would also put money on the fact the same people that complain about the “rise” in homeless people would have never steped foot in PQ back then, before PQ had a nice yuppie name to go with it. You want to get rid of the panhandlers? Get rid of the homeless shelters. But you don’t really want to say that, you want them to quietly go away.

Oh, and by the way, I grew up in The Bronx. I saw Times Square change from drug and sex sesspool to a yuppie paradise to a juvinlle dilinquent hang out. It goes with the territory. The homeless people throughout the whole transition stood firm, even with the cops harassing them at every corner. Chinatown’s just about on the same path, like any other city catering its renovated neighborhoods to potential upper-middle class residents.

This used to be a nice neighborhood?? What timespan are we talking about? Like 6 months?

Hon, this neighborhood used to be a decrepit, dangerous ghost town that looked like a set from Blade Runner only about 10 years ago. Its renaissance from slum to yuppieville is but a recent phenomenon. And for the person who’s complaining about the Chinatown movie theaters, I doubt if its the homeless giving away the plot. People, this is the real city – not the city as conceived on a TV Sitcom. You’re going to find homeless people on the streets, and rowdy teens at the cinema. Call the cops if they’re a real nuisance. DC cops tend to be pretty good about showing up and dealing with any bonafide public menace.

Smith MBA..How is is racism when people are pointing out the obvious here? These kids in PQ and ELSEWHERE in DC are menacing, rude and do not make things enjoyable for a lot of people.

It’s one thing to act like a rowdy teenager and not impose upon others. But when groups of kids behave like out of control maniacs, then it’s a huge problem, and one I and others don’t have to tolerate. These kids have NO home training, class or decency about them. Is that wrong to say that?

I hate to see what kind of parents these teens will make. Scary.

I lived in Manahattan during the Giuliani era and became a bigger Giuliani fan when he got rid of the squeegee men. I don’t really care whose sensitivities get hurt, as long as results happen.

It’s hard for me to not think about racism when I walk by the mob of young African Americans in front of McDonalds and get called every derogatory Asian name in the book.

I will give an unsolicited plug for the DNA (I am not a part of the organization).

I believe they are funded solely by donations from local individuals who are interested in their mission. Financial contributions will help them grown and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.

I see people opining that the number of homeless is the same, but I am recognizing the same people who have been around for the past three years, and a lot of new ones. I dont’ know if they come on the busses, the metro or if they are getting out of jail, but there is no doubt in my mind that the number is going up and will continue to do so while the city, the police and the tourists make this such a great neighborhood for panhandling and drug use.

This is actually an amazing discussion and one I am really happy to see happening within the district. During my 5 years of living in this dysfunctional city, I’ve seen many intelligent people say really stupidly racist and classist statements when it comes to the state of the district.

I want to agree with some of the commenters and say you can not discuss economics in this city without discussing race. Everything that happens in this city has some racism involved. Pump money into a failing school system, find ways to deal with food security, and pay for the health care of the uninsured instead of arresting peaceful anti-war protesters and motorcades and you will see aggressive panhandling go away. It’s not that complicated, as in it is super complicated. Some of the smartest, most well connected and wealthy people live in a very small city, so Why can’t we solve these problems?

I actually think the homeless/panhandling situation has gotten better than it was 2 years ago.

When I first moved here, I couldn’t run 1 errand without a request for money. But now, I can’t remember the last time I’ve been hustled for money.

We have seen a lot of change over the past 15 years in this neighborhood; it is much better than it was when I moved into PQ in 1995. Challenges remain and there are opportunities to garner improvements.

If interested in helping improve our quality of life or learn more about the different influences impacting our neighborhood, come to a DNA meeting and get involved in one of its action oriented committees.

The next neighborhood meeting is on October 9th and the discussion leaders will be Dan Tangherlini, City Administrator and Chapman Todd with Catholic Charities who manages the Franklin School Shelter. Both of these public servants can speak to change in our neighborhood. Check out its site at http://www.dcdna.org.

Thanks DCDNA. I look forward to an interesting, informative and engaging October meeting. I heard Dan Tangherlini speak when he was the Interim Manager of Metro and he is definitely a crowd engagement kind of guy.

We’re going to have to wrap comments now so thanks for everyone’s thoughts.