See this 1/21/2011 post at the Eckington list by Bloomingdale resident Tom Usselman:
The problems at Florida & North Cap NW
For the 9 years I`ve lived in this neighborhood, Everyone in the city government has known about that intersection and what a nightmare it is. And I mean EVERYONE.
I think it is safe to say that every civic, police and business meeting has held special meetings to discussed this topic for as far back as anyone can remember.
Here are the issues:
1. S.O.M.E. ~ So Others Might Eat (www.some.org) feeds 488 people from around the city twice a day. These people are bused in from all over the city. Bused in!
a. So after breakfast they hang out from New York Ave to Florida Ave and drink etc. until it is lunch time. Then hang out till it is time to head for the shelters or just sleep in the parks.
b. Talk to the owners of City Gear and Subway if you want an earful about that.
c. This loitering creates an atmosphere of lawlessness that allows other behavior to exist, drinking in public etc.
2. The bus stop on Florida Avenue is too close to the liquor store.
a. When the police attempt to move the troublemakers on, they claim to be waiting for the bus.
3. Methadone Clinics
a. At one point we had 3 methadone clinics located on New York Ave, I think there is only 1 left? And it may be closing soon which will help.
4. Vacant Properties
a. Property owners need this area to feel safer so they can attract businesses.
b. Talk to Brian Brown and Phyllis Klein. They have told me stories of potential tenants that drive up to check out a location and won`t even get out of their cars. They know they can`t make a business work with 15 homeless guys hanging out in front.
So the solution sounds easy to me, but there is no political will to make it happen.
1. Convince S.O.M.E. that the current feeding program it too large for a residential neighborhood. Encourage them to open smaller sites around the city to serve people where they stay. Why don`t they feed them from Catholic Churches?
a. We have had numerous meetings with them in the past 9 years and Catholic Charities only cares about the homeless they are feeding. They don`t give a crap about the havoc they unleash in our neighborhood.
2. Move the metrobus stop away from the liquor store.
a. Again no political will to make this happen.
3. Get Health and Human service workers out from behind their desks at the peoples building (right next to Wendy`s and out into the streets to help those people that can be helped.
a. I find it ironic that the building that houses Health and Human Services is a gated Campus!!!! So they don`t feel safe with their workplace location and stick a big fence around it, yet we are expected to put up with it.
And BTW these are not just my opinions, but things I have heard in the countless police, business and planning meetings.
The bottom line is that we need to reduce the loitering so we can attract businesses that will increase foot traffic and reduce crime. Seems very simple.
Tom Usselman
27 comments:
Tom, thank you for your post. This is a discussion that absolutely needs to happen.
Due to the serious nature of the current discussions and in order to not disrupt the flow of this information, I will not be posting open house information to the blog this week.
What can I do and where do I sign up? I'm game for whatever needs to be done. I'd picket Sunset Liquors if I thought it'd make the bottom flap of the B section.
I'd be willing to drop opposition to the Cook school plans if the council can promise to clean up the mess the city's made here. Can we leverage our so called "NIMBY" position?
To be frank, I think the council has to be shamed into action. They won't respond until their neglect is made into a public issue.
We moved in about 6 monthes ago and can't believe how awful that intersection is. I have wrote DDOT about have the bus stop moved and received a response from Brooke Fossey that moving it back 20 feet would cause people to walk further resulting in less people taking the bus and reduced revenues..i mean really? Ill picket anywhere, anytime and sign anything to close that liquor store at North Capital and Florida, or close the one at 1st and Florida who sells open container of liquor to the homeless increasing loitering and to get SOME to move to a new location. We as neighbors need to stand together and make the city listen to us once and for all..my house cost over $500K and yet, only a block away I have to deal with a hundreds of drunk homeless people who many are also on drugs that dont contribute to society and dont pay the taxes that i do? We as homeowners cannot continue to let this happen! If we do, nothing will change and businesses will continue to overlook opening up new stores in the area.
Please can we NOT make this about what people paid for their houses, how long they've been in the neighborhood, or whether they own or rent. We all deserve to be safe.
Come to the vigil. Come to the community meeting. Bring your anger. Bring your ideas. Bring your sense of responsibility to help to make things work.
What happened to Bill Mitchell is a tragedy, obviously. But I don't think the answer to this kind of senseless crime is to criminalize poor people. I mean, "...Catholic Charities only cares about the homeless they are feeding." Really? Homeless people are people as well, and it's unfair to paint them all in one broad brush stroke. Who's to even say that it was someone who benefits from SOME programs was the person responsible for Mitchell's death?
These social programs are important and they have to be somewhere. So why not work with the people providing these programs to come to some sort of compromise, rather than criminalizing the people who benefit from those programs and denigrating the people who are running those programs?
Suzanne's point is an important one to remember: "Please can we NOT make this about what people paid for their houses, how long they've been in the neighborhood, or whether they own or rent. We all deserve to be safe."
Please don't use this as an excuse to exercise your privilege and look down upon people who aren't as fortunate to have a roof over their heads. We do all deserve safety, even if not everyone in Bloomingdale/Eckington can afford a $500K house.
When is the vigil scheduled for?
Link to the info about The Vigil and Community Meeting
The real solution to the Florida Ave and North Capital issue is to take votes away from Gray by knocking down his door mandating that he create legislation that requires no social service center be placed within a mile of a liqour store...the Federal code has such requirements about dealing drugs within 500 yards of a school zone..if you really want change, everyone should come out from behind the computers and to picket these issues on the county steps....case closed.
John,
Amen. I live on Bates and that corner is beyond an eyesore. My friend from the UK was visiting, and she could not beleive that the road that lead to the US Capitol looked like N. Capitol does,,,blah, blah,, prob nothing will happen, but you are right. When enough homeowners ( sorry, you have a stake when you own) in the neighborhood complain only THEN will the city take action. Remember, Dupont Circle used to look like our neighborhood at one time,,,,nuff said,,and yes, before I'm lambested , EVERYONE deserves to be safe. But its only when invested people scream the loudest that somehing gets done. Hopefully.
That part of N.Capitol has been awful for years and no one has bothered to do anything about it.I always wondered who would have allowed a liquor store at a spot like that and so close to homeless shelters and places like S.O.M.E. Isn't S.O.M.E. so way responsible for the people that are shipped in and disrupt a neighborhood? The problem with S.O.M.E extends all the way to NY ave going west for about 10 blocks. I think the first step we can take as a community is to find out when the liquor license is up for renewal on that store on the corner. We have to protest it and see what we can do to have it refused or at best get a voluntary agreement. Next thing is to find out who owns the building S.O.M.E. occupies. If they own it then little or no chance of getting them to move. If they don't then there are some options there.
I agree that we need to put pressure on Metro and DDOT to move the bus stop. As for Ms. Brooke Fossey, she needs to look for a new job if the above quote is accurate. Please! Has this admin idiot lost her mind? Move the freaking bus stop to the other side of NY Ave. near the projects because most riders who live there use the service. Second the bus stop at N. Cap and NY needs to move up the block to N. Cap and O St. NW or eliminate the stop and let the stop at P St stand as the stop for that stretch of the route. As for the stop at NY and Fla. in the Park, we need a camera there! The stop at NY and Fl NW needs to move up the black towards 1st. We need move undercover cops dealing with the drug issue there. Let's make it a drug free zone and anyone caught get a year no mater what! Ok Harry let's get on it. I'm ready!
tom,
is the suggestion to move the bus stop that's on the SW corner to the SE corner?
if that is the suggestion, is that even feasible given the curb cuts for the gas station?
Both Sunset Liquor store and the store on N Capital and Florida Ave are Class A stores and their licenses are up at the same time, March 31, 2012. I spoke with the ABRA this morning and was told the community can put in a petition regarding the store's issues and submit it to the ABRA, we just need 5 or move people that 'own' a house in the area. Sunset Liquors apparently has a voluntary agreement already with the ANC established, but Im confused as to what was 'agreed to' since I dont know what could be worse than they way it is now.
As a follow up, SOME does own the 71 O St HQ building it appears from the DC records, the owner is 'S O M E INC FR JOHN ADAMS' and DC property records show its worth $3,059,360...they should sell and contribute the earnings to SOME..then move to a NE location that costs significantly less...how can they afford the taxes, they must be taxed at a lower rate due to being a charitable organization..
OLD CITY II Sub-Neighborhood: A
Use Code: 51 - Commercial-Office-Small Class 3 Exception: No
Tax Type: E3 - Charitable Tax Class: 002 - Commercial
https://www.taxpayerservicecenter.com/RP_Detail.jsp?ssl=0617%20%20%20%200017
I am currently under contract to purchase a home on the unit block of Bates St. NW. I signed the contract on the 17th and then was hit with this reality. Bill Mitchell's murder is terrible and it has really made me concerned about the neighborhood and the culture that exists in it. I wonder if I am pitting my girlfriends(and my own) safety in jeopardy by moving us there. Is it worth it? Is anything going to change? Or will this tragedy and others to come be quickly forgotten?
I will be attending the vigil and meeting tomorrow night. Would really like to meet some people from the community who are also concerned.
While it is petty to think of right now in light of the Mitchell family's great loss, I am strongly considering giving up my $5000 plus already invested and walking away from this neighborhood for good. I am sure that I am not the only one who may be scared away by this and it would be a shame for the community to lose people like myself who were ready to invest their time and some hard earned cash into it. Don't know what the f to think or do.
J
Joshua, If you read other blogs around the city, unfortunately you'll see incidents happening all over. This has been a terrible tragedy, both because it's a step back for the neighborhood and because I personally know the family, but it's a great community. I have no intentions of leaving and am happy to introduce you to some great neighbors on your (hopefully) new block. You can e-mail me directly at hipchickindc (at) yahoo.
Joshua,
It is your investment and personal addition to the neighborhood that will help Bloomingdale/Truxton/Eckington/LDP become a better and safer community. I would hate for this recent incident to change your mind from moving here, but I do understand your concern completely. Unfortunately crime is all over the Metro area, but I think you will find your "risk taking" by moving into the neighborhood will be well worth your while when you see what sort of community we have here.
On another note, I'm also hoping that Harry Thomas starts taking action instead of just rambling off a list of random accomplishments like I've heard him do at a number of neighborhood events. He should be comfortable in his elected seat by now and take responsibility seriously to help improve these problem areas that shouldn't be news to him. I hope he proves himself able to be a community leader...no just be a talker but a walker...
Joshua,
I just bought a house 3 month ago on bates, before this incident I was feeling pretty good about my decision, although what just happened is scary I would do it again. My friends live in Columbia heights and this kind of stuffs happen unfortunately often there too. I guess this is why this neighborhood is still affordable and we have to stick together and make it better.
Suzanne, I haven't had a chance to meet people from my block, maybe you could introduce me to some great neighbor too :)
:-)
Lyane, feel free to e-mail me also. I don't know if you were at the community meeting tonight, but I did get to meet Joshua.
Would have loved to come, but unfortunately I am out of town today,I wonder if I can read a report somewhere or find out what happened there..
btw, watch for my email :) Thanks
Joshua,
My husband and I purchased on the unit block of Bates a little over a year ago. It definitely was and still is a big change from our previous apartment in Cleveland Park. While there are neighborhood challenges, we believe that our being in this neighborhood (along with so many others) will only stand to improve its surroundings. There is a sense of community here - more so than Cleveland Park - and there is so much promise. We'd be happy to talk to you and your girlfriend if you have any questions about the street. Shoot me an email at shannonmenard3@gmail.com. Good luck with your decision!
How many of ya'll are white? Why isn't there this much outrage when a person of color in a neighborhood, that is still, predominately of color is killed?
Just saying..
Someone at the meeting mentioned block walks. I would be happy to be one of the people helping out. Not sure how we get info on when these walks occur. I only ask that the site admins keep us in the loop or point us in the right direction. Thanks!
localtapesfortheapes,
it is very simple, because friends of the victims need to be a leading voice in a call to awareness and requests for help. when that happens, there IS as much outrage. billy mitchell touched the hearts of many people, not because of his skin color, but because he tried to help clean up the neighborhood in his volunteer hours, he has many friends in the neighborhood, and he died trying to help protect a woman.
this is not an unusual situation because billy was white, it is unusual because billy was exceptional. this was not just an innocent bystander, but a man that was actively doing what should be done. and he was killed for that.
your attempt to instill guilt is flaccid.
The problem is that, there a lot of guns in the street. Not because of where it is at, These shootings happens all over dc. Stop pointing finger, find the devil that kill. Mr. Mitchell and make him pay. And yes there homeless people
On the street, they get kick out the shelter 5am where can they goes
They city is not doing enough to help these people.
I THE THING I DONT LIKE IS THAT THIS WHITE GUY WAS KILLED AND NOW YOU ALL WANT POINT THE FINGER AT THE HOMELESS THAT GO TO THE SOM BUT THEY DIDNOT DO IT GROWN UP IN THE SAME NEGIBORHOOD AND NOTHEING EVER HAPPEN TO ME AROUND THERE NOW ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE IS NOW SAY THAT THE NEGIBORHOOD SO BAD BUT THEY JUST MOVED IN THE NEGIBORHOOD WHITE PEOPLE IS ALL BLAMING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLACK
Agreed. That corner is ridiculous. I would gladly sign a petition to revoke the ability to make "single bottle" sales at those liquor stores. From what I have read, this has helped in other neighborhoods with the problems we have.
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