Comments on: Overheard at the Farmer’s Market

By: pqresident

pqresident — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:35:24 +0000

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.

By: DCDNA

DCDNA — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 03:14:14 +0000

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.

By: gpliving

gpliving — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 03:02:29 +0000

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.

By: Renee

Renee — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:06:03 +0000

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?

By: Anon

Anon — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:21:55 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:44:24 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 02:31:58 +0000

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.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:31:14 +0000

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.

By: Jay S

Jay S — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:08:59 +0000

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.

By: Anon

Anon — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:01:58 +0000

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.