WaPo: H Street birth to death

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I voted to decriminalize out of sympathy and support for people personal choices..instead of following the law (no public smoking) you and your ilk are selfishly shitt* up the city, blowing pot in little kids faces. Repeal we will .

Same. Now when I'm sitting at a kids' soccer game, the smell of pot from nearby houses wafts over the players. It's disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I voted to decriminalize out of sympathy and support for people personal choices..instead of following the law (no public smoking) you and your ilk are selfishly shitt* up the city, blowing pot in little kids faces. Repeal we will .

Same. Now when I'm sitting at a kids' soccer game, the smell of pot from nearby houses wafts over the players. It's disgusting.

That's the smell of rich progressive virtue signaling.

[Anonymous]

Driving down 395 now you can smell it just pouring out of cars. Its amazing how pungent that odor is. Disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for legalizing marijuana, but 20 quasi-legal weed shops in a 13-block stretch is overkill. And I'm not sure what, if anything, can be done about the intersection of 8th and H, because of the two major bus lines that intersect there. It's been an issue for decades, even during times when crime was comparatively low. I though tearing down that janky strip mall and replacing it with mixed-use would change things for the better, but it's only gotten worse.

Very much agree with both of these comments. I'm at the point where I actually regret legalizing marijuana in DC and normally I'm very "live and let live" on that issue. But head shops on H street combined with the near constant smell of marijuana in the corridor have changed my mind. I have lived in other place with legalized weed and it's not like this. I think people like Eleanor Holmes Norton who opposed the legalization have been proven right -- the existing substance abuse and mental health issues in the District have made legal weed a huge problem, and I'd support an initiative to shut it down at this point.

But short of that, addressing the loophole that allows all these businesses to "give away" marijuana to people who buy other items would help. People line up outside these business day and night, congregate and drink and smoke, get in fights, etc. It's a massive problem.

8th and H Street needs a full time police presence and some kind of disruption event. I actually think they should streetscape, but have the construction take forever, and then while that's happening neighborhood groups come and take it over. Those people need to go somewhere else. Shelters, the unemployment office, home -- there is absolutely no reason for 40-50 people (many of whom do not appear to be homeless) to be congregate on those corners daily. Not to transform myself into a stereotype, but: Get a job.

The smell of weed is now evident in my kids elem school, so much that the school is now concerned about kids with asthma being impacted. The school is next to a large public housing site which may be part of the issue but also a lot of weed smoking on the playing fields in the evening. Its disgusting and even the kids complain.

I feel bad for states just now legalizing pot. They don't know what they're in for. It sucks.

I hope MD and VA do it so people won't come into DC for it... Why don't we repeal? The law as written isn't being followed or enforced .

It is strange that some “progressive” cities that have effectively banned cigarette smoking in public places (even on public space) have moved in the opposite direction on smoking marijuana. Both present personal as well as public health issues. I don’t want to breath your second hand pot smoke anymore than cigarette smoke. Share the carcinogens? No thanks!

^^this^^

I may have to stop shopping at Whole Foods in Tenley because it reeks of pot in garage and stairwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for legalizing marijuana, but 20 quasi-legal weed shops in a 13-block stretch is overkill. And I'm not sure what, if anything, can be done about the intersection of 8th and H, because of the two major bus lines that intersect there. It's been an issue for decades, even during times when crime was comparatively low. I though tearing down that janky strip mall and replacing it with mixed-use would change things for the better, but it's only gotten worse.

Very much agree with both of these comments. I'm at the point where I actually regret legalizing marijuana in DC and normally I'm very "live and let live" on that issue. But head shops on H street combined with the near constant smell of marijuana in the corridor have changed my mind. I have lived in other place with legalized weed and it's not like this. I think people like Eleanor Holmes Norton who opposed the legalization have been proven right -- the existing substance abuse and mental health issues in the District have made legal weed a huge problem, and I'd support an initiative to shut it down at this point.

But short of that, addressing the loophole that allows all these businesses to "give away" marijuana to people who buy other items would help. People line up outside these business day and night, congregate and drink and smoke, get in fights, etc. It's a massive problem.

8th and H Street needs a full time police presence and some kind of disruption event. I actually think they should streetscape, but have the construction take forever, and then while that's happening neighborhood groups come and take it over. Those people need to go somewhere else. Shelters, the unemployment office, home -- there is absolutely no reason for 40-50 people (many of whom do not appear to be homeless) to be congregate on those corners daily. Not to transform myself into a stereotype, but: Get a job.

The smell of weed is now evident in my kids elem school, so much that the school is now concerned about kids with asthma being impacted. The school is next to a large public housing site which may be part of the issue but also a lot of weed smoking on the playing fields in the evening. Its disgusting and even the kids complain.

I feel bad for states just now legalizing pot. They don't know what they're in for. It sucks.

I hope MD and VA do it so people won't come into DC for it... Why don't we repeal? The law as written isn't being followed or enforced .

It is strange that some “progressive” cities that have effectively banned cigarette smoking in public places (even on public space) have moved in the opposite direction on smoking marijuana. Both present personal as well as public health issues. I don’t want to breath your second hand pot smoke anymore than cigarette smoke. Share the carcinogens? No thanks!

^^this^^

I may have to stop shopping at Whole Foods in Tenley because it reeks of pot in garage and stairwell.

Between the homeless and some Wilson-Jackson-Read kids, that whole block is going to, well, pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for legalizing marijuana, but 20 quasi-legal weed shops in a 13-block stretch is overkill. And I'm not sure what, if anything, can be done about the intersection of 8th and H, because of the two major bus lines that intersect there. It's been an issue for decades, even during times when crime was comparatively low. I though tearing down that janky strip mall and replacing it with mixed-use would change things for the better, but it's only gotten worse.

Very much agree with both of these comments. I'm at the point where I actually regret legalizing marijuana in DC and normally I'm very "live and let live" on that issue. But head shops on H street combined with the near constant smell of marijuana in the corridor have changed my mind. I have lived in other place with legalized weed and it's not like this. I think people like Eleanor Holmes Norton who opposed the legalization have been proven right -- the existing substance abuse and mental health issues in the District have made legal weed a huge problem, and I'd support an initiative to shut it down at this point.

But short of that, addressing the loophole that allows all these businesses to "give away" marijuana to people who buy other items would help. People line up outside these business day and night, congregate and drink and smoke, get in fights, etc. It's a massive problem.

8th and H Street needs a full time police presence and some kind of disruption event. I actually think they should streetscape, but have the construction take forever, and then while that's happening neighborhood groups come and take it over. Those people need to go somewhere else. Shelters, the unemployment office, home -- there is absolutely no reason for 40-50 people (many of whom do not appear to be homeless) to be congregate on those corners daily. Not to transform myself into a stereotype, but: Get a job.

The smell of weed is now evident in my kids elem school, so much that the school is now concerned about kids with asthma being impacted. The school is next to a large public housing site which may be part of the issue but also a lot of weed smoking on the playing fields in the evening. Its disgusting and even the kids complain.

I feel bad for states just now legalizing pot. They don't know what they're in for. It sucks.

I hope MD and VA do it so people won't come into DC for it... Why don't we repeal? The law as written isn't being followed or enforced .

It is strange that some “progressive” cities that have effectively banned cigarette smoking in public places (even on public space) have moved in the opposite direction on smoking marijuana. Both present personal as well as public health issues. I don’t want to breath your second hand pot smoke anymore than cigarette smoke. Share the carcinogens? No thanks!

^^this^^

I may have to stop shopping at Whole Foods in Tenley because it reeks of pot in garage and stairwell.

Between the homeless and some Wilson-Jackson-Read kids, that whole block is going to, well, pot.

They should close off the back stair well and have security monitor the others. Ridiculous. Have you complained to the manager? Write Jeff Bezos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I voted to decriminalize out of sympathy and support for people personal choices..instead of following the law (no public smoking) you and your ilk are selfishly shitt* up the city, blowing pot in little kids faces. Repeal we will .

Same. Now when I'm sitting at a kids' soccer game, the smell of pot from nearby houses wafts over the players. It's disgusting.

FWIW, I would also vote to re-criminalize. Apparently we can’t have nice things in this city because trash people can’t just smoke their weed in their houses, they have to bring it to the playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Driving down 395 now you can smell it just pouring out of cars. Its amazing how pungent that odor is. Disgusting.

Funny too how driving while stoned out of your mind is no big deal here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near H Street and have for the last 12 years.

It is still much better than it was when I first moved here, but the trend of the last two years is very concerning. I hate seeing longtime businesses like Biergarten Haus closing, I hate all the broken windows. There is a lot of vagrancy and it has an edge to it that it didn't have pre-Covid. There are serious mental health and substance abuse issues. I do find myself uneasy in the area more than I used to a few years ago. Probably still a lot less than I did a decade ago, when a lot of the development on H Street didn't exist. I'd still rather walk past some panhandlers outside Whole Foods than walk down several blocks of shuttered businesses, the old crappy grocery store that used to be there, and a giant storage facility. It is still much better now.

I actually think something good can come from that article though. I don't think H Street has backslid so much it can't be saved, but we need to DO something about it. I'm encouraged by the people in the article organizing to start neighborhood groups and improve the situation. There are many people who own expensive homes along the corridor who have a vested interest in making it a better place to live.

I think it's a bit strange how few public officials were interviewed for that article. Most glaringly, Charles Allen doesn't make any appearance, and only one ANC rep is mentioned. It is unusual for an article like that to appear in WaPo without the council rep for the Ward interviewed. I get Allen doesn't control crime, but it is his ward and the article actually focuses on the impact all of this has on businesses and residents, which is very much within his oversight. He can also be doing liaison work with DCPD. But... crickets.

Biergarten Haus is closing? Probably a combo of rents and crime
It is more profitable in DC for large landlords to have empty property apparently. DC needs to look at this! So tired of empty store storefronts.
High rents and crime, winning combo Bowser and Council!

+1 I never understood how the Argonaut landlord dispute ended up better for the landlord to have that property just sit empty for so long (now a liquor store). So many empty store fronts, how are the owners unwilling to budge on dropping rates? Why is Sala Thai the only thing to have opened at the new development in Hill East thus far?

Empty buildings get tax breaks. They have zero incentive to lower rent. The council and mayor must look at this. WaPo would be helpful too!

No they dont. They pay more in taxes, espeially if its becomes blighted

[Anonymous]

At least MPD is doing foot patrols on H Street. Why not in other shopping areas ?

[Anonymous]

Second homicide of the new year in DC, woman shot to death on H St.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I voted to decriminalize out of sympathy and support for people personal choices..instead of following the law (no public smoking) you and your ilk are selfishly shitt* up the city, blowing pot in little kids faces. Repeal we will .

Same. Now when I'm sitting at a kids' soccer game, the smell of pot from nearby houses wafts over the players. It's disgusting.

FWIW, I would also vote to re-criminalize. Apparently we can’t have nice things in this city because trash people can’t just smoke their weed in their houses, they have to bring it to the playground.

You are willing to lock someone up in a squalid and violent prison just because you don’t like a certain smell? You are far worse and more threatening to our community than any random inconsiderate pot smoker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live near H Street and have for the last 12 years.

It is still much better than it was when I first moved here, but the trend of the last two years is very concerning. I hate seeing longtime businesses like Biergarten Haus closing, I hate all the broken windows. There is a lot of vagrancy and it has an edge to it that it didn't have pre-Covid. There are serious mental health and substance abuse issues. I do find myself uneasy in the area more than I used to a few years ago. Probably still a lot less than I did a decade ago, when a lot of the development on H Street didn't exist. I'd still rather walk past some panhandlers outside Whole Foods than walk down several blocks of shuttered businesses, the old crappy grocery store that used to be there, and a giant storage facility. It is still much better now.

I actually think something good can come from that article though. I don't think H Street has backslid so much it can't be saved, but we need to DO something about it. I'm encouraged by the people in the article organizing to start neighborhood groups and improve the situation. There are many people who own expensive homes along the corridor who have a vested interest in making it a better place to live.

I think it's a bit strange how few public officials were interviewed for that article. Most glaringly, Charles Allen doesn't make any appearance, and only one ANC rep is mentioned. It is unusual for an article like that to appear in WaPo without the council rep for the Ward interviewed. I get Allen doesn't control crime, but it is his ward and the article actually focuses on the impact all of this has on businesses and residents, which is very much within his oversight. He can also be doing liaison work with DCPD. But... crickets.

This has happened in other cities too, it's a direct result of the defund the police crazyness and the violence of 2020, combined with the new generation of "progressive" DAs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I voted to decriminalize out of sympathy and support for people personal choices..instead of following the law (no public smoking) you and your ilk are selfishly shitt* up the city, blowing pot in little kids faces. Repeal we will .

Same. Now when I'm sitting at a kids' soccer game, the smell of pot from nearby houses wafts over the players. It's disgusting.

FWIW, I would also vote to re-criminalize. Apparently we can’t have nice things in this city because trash people can’t just smoke their weed in their houses, they have to bring it to the playground.

You are willing to lock someone up in a squalid and violent prison just because you don’t like a certain smell? You are far worse and more threatening to our community than any random inconsiderate pot smoker.

Very few people ever got locked up in squalid and violent prisons for recreational pot use, and there is little reason to believe that repealing the law or strengthening the anti public smoking measures would result in that. Here's a thought, pot smokers should try being considerate of others, not smoke while operating vehicles etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I voted to decriminalize out of sympathy and support for people personal choices..instead of following the law (no public smoking) you and your ilk are selfishly shitt* up the city, blowing pot in little kids faces. Repeal we will .

Same. Now when I'm sitting at a kids' soccer game, the smell of pot from nearby houses wafts over the players. It's disgusting.

FWIW, I would also vote to re-criminalize. Apparently we can’t have nice things in this city because trash people can’t just smoke their weed in their houses, they have to bring it to the playground.

You are willing to lock someone up in a squalid and violent prison just because you don’t like a certain smell? You are far worse and more threatening to our community than any random inconsiderate pot smoker.

Very few people ever got locked up in squalid and violent prisons for recreational pot use, and there is little reason to believe that repealing the law or strengthening the anti public smoking measures would result in that. Here's a thought, pot smokers should try being considerate of others, not smoke while operating vehicles etc.

If only someone had told us this was a bad idea.