anyone else dislike Greater Greater Washington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here, I’m 62 staring down not being able to drive or park near enough to my destination with some age-related disability, so I really want transit to get more market share so it gets better and more available. If they support transit, I’m for it!

Yup. My parents are in their 80s, and they still drive, but they don't drive much, and I wish they wouldn't drive at all. They need more transit, more places to accomplish their errands in transit/walking distance, and more and safer sidewalks and ways to cross the street. GGW generally supports all of those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here, I’m 62 staring down not being able to drive or park near enough to my destination with some age-related disability, so I really want transit to get more market share so it gets better and more available. If they support transit, I’m for it!

Yup. My parents are in their 80s, and they still drive, but they don't drive much, and I wish they wouldn't drive at all. They need more transit, more places to accomplish their errands in transit/walking distance, and more and safer sidewalks and ways to cross the street. GGW generally supports all of those things.

So then why does GGW support certain proposed amendments to the DC comprehensive plan that would deemphasize existing considerations of vehicle traffic impact for new large projects and restrict traffic calming on residential streets? That doesn’t seem very pedestrian friendly, but it does seem developer friendly.

[Anonymous]

No idea what you are referring to. Can you post the article or tell us the particulars?

[Anonymous]

GGWash cannot be trusted for their candidate endorsements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the head of GGW speak. He has a raging Napoleon complex.

David Alpert is a rude asshole. I was at an event and sporting a campaign pin for another candidate. He interrupted my conversation to ask why I wasn't supporting the Incumbent (who GGWash is endorsing). I said I didn't think she was effect. He gave me a weird look and then walked away without saying anything. Note that he did not introduce himself or give a reply whatsoever! RUDE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here, I’m 62 staring down not being able to drive or park near enough to my destination with some age-related disability, so I really want transit to get more market share so it gets better and more available. If they support transit, I’m for it!

Yup. My parents are in their 80s, and they still drive, but they don't drive much, and I wish they wouldn't drive at all. They need more transit, more places to accomplish their errands in transit/walking distance, and more and safer sidewalks and ways to cross the street. GGW generally supports all of those things.

So then why does GGW support certain proposed amendments to the DC comprehensive plan that would deemphasize existing considerations of vehicle traffic impact for new large projects and restrict traffic calming on residential streets? That doesn’t seem very pedestrian friendly, but it does seem developer friendly.

Restricting development does not mak it easier for people to use transit and walk, it makes it more difficult. Density (esp the well designed urbanist density GGW supports) is complementary with walking and transit.

What traffic calming do you claim they are against - they support things like pedestrian bulb outs, and other traffic calming measures. Do you mean cutting streets off and turning them into cul de sacs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the head of GGW speak. He has a raging Napoleon complex.

David Alpert is a rude asshole. I was at an event and sporting a campaign pin for another candidate. He interrupted my conversation to ask why I wasn't supporting the Incumbent (who GGWash is endorsing). I said I didn't think she was effect. He gave me a weird look and then walked away without saying anything. Note that he did not introduce himself or give a reply whatsoever! RUDE!

He's not like that all the time.

He's quite polite with and attentive to his major funders in the development community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the head of GGW speak. He has a raging Napoleon complex.

David Alpert is a rude asshole. I was at an event and sporting a campaign pin for another candidate. He interrupted my conversation to ask why I wasn't supporting the Incumbent (who GGWash is endorsing). I said I didn't think she was effect. He gave me a weird look and then walked away without saying anything. Note that he did not introduce himself or give a reply whatsoever! RUDE!

He's not like that all the time.

He's quite polite with and attentive to his major funders in the development community.

Attacking someone personally this way on an anonymous forum strikes me as rude. DA has the courage to put his opinions out there, and has created a valuable forum. These kind of potshots only confirm my view of the character of his attackers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the head of GGW speak. He has a raging Napoleon complex.

David Alpert is a rude asshole. I was at an event and sporting a campaign pin for another candidate. He interrupted my conversation to ask why I wasn't supporting the Incumbent (who GGWash is endorsing). I said I didn't think she was effect. He gave me a weird look and then walked away without saying anything. Note that he did not introduce himself or give a reply whatsoever! RUDE!

He's not like that all the time.

He's quite polite with and attentive to his major funders in the development community.

Attacking someone personally this way on an anonymous forum strikes me as rude. DA has the courage to put his opinions out there, and has created a valuable forum. These kind of potshots only confirm my view of the character of his attackers.

If Dave Alpert wants to apologize to me for his rudeness, he can leave his contact info here and I will gladly send him an email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the head of GGW speak. He has a raging Napoleon complex.

David Alpert is a rude asshole. I was at an event and sporting a campaign pin for another candidate. He interrupted my conversation to ask why I wasn't supporting the Incumbent (who GGWash is endorsing). I said I didn't think she was effect. He gave me a weird look and then walked away without saying anything. Note that he did not introduce himself or give a reply whatsoever! RUDE!

He's not like that all the time.

He's quite polite with and attentive to his major funders in the development community.

Attacking someone personally this way on an anonymous forum strikes me as rude. DA has the courage to put his opinions out there, and has created a valuable forum. These kind of potshots only confirm my view of the character of his attackers.

If Dave Alpert wants to apologize to me for his rudeness, he can leave his contact info here and I will gladly send him an email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GGW pretends to be a volunteer blog, but it's an "astroturf" organization (faux grass roots), that is funded by big development companies, law firms dependent on a zoning practice, etc. One of GGW's more absurd moments came when they threw a developer-funded happy hour down the street from Judiciary Square the night of the marathon hearing on the mayor's proposed sweeping changes to the Comp Plan, which are sought by big development interests. GGW tried to use free drinks to attract Millennials to go over and testify in favor.

Wow, that's nuts!! No wonder it's so skewed towards "urbanism" that really just makes pretty amenities for people who can afford to live in Dupont ....

Are there any transportation/growth/development websites that are actually geared towards helping the region as a whole?

GGW is geared toward the issues you identify region wide - please go read the blog since apparently you have not.

And "urbanism" is something available to, and utilized by, people throughout our region, not just those in Dupont. And Dupont is a dumb reference point to drop as very little development has happened there in the last 50 years but I get that it is threatening to you for some odd reason.

I'd like to see more writers of color, women, working people, represented on the blog. If you live in Dupont and work from home while your wife takes care of your kid, you have VERY little perspective on what kind of transit and development would be helpful to everyone else in the region. Hint: it's not bike lanes.

I'd like to see some elders, and some Republicans, and some immigrants, and some billionaires, and some hunters, and some pastors represented in the blog too.

And some clowns too -- why do we always forget about clowns?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GGW pretends to be a volunteer blog, but it's an "astroturf" organization (faux grass roots), that is funded by big development companies, law firms dependent on a zoning practice, etc. One of GGW's more absurd moments came when they threw a developer-funded happy hour down the street from Judiciary Square the night of the marathon hearing on the mayor's proposed sweeping changes to the Comp Plan, which are sought by big development interests. GGW tried to use free drinks to attract Millennials to go over and testify in favor.

Wow, that's nuts!! No wonder it's so skewed towards "urbanism" that really just makes pretty amenities for people who can afford to live in Dupont ....

Are there any transportation/growth/development websites that are actually geared towards helping the region as a whole?

GGW is geared toward the issues you identify region wide - please go read the blog since apparently you have not.

And "urbanism" is something available to, and utilized by, people throughout our region, not just those in Dupont. And Dupont is a dumb reference point to drop as very little development has happened there in the last 50 years but I get that it is threatening to you for some odd reason.

I'd like to see more writers of color, women, working people, represented on the blog. If you live in Dupont and work from home while your wife takes care of your kid, you have VERY little perspective on what kind of transit and development would be helpful to everyone else in the region. Hint: it's not bike lanes.

I'd like to see some elders, and some Republicans, and some immigrants, and some billionaires, and some hunters, and some pastors represented in the blog too.

And some clowns too -- why do we always forget about clowns?

I want pastors of color who ride electric scooters. They are central to transportation solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the head of GGW speak. He has a raging Napoleon complex.

David Alpert is a rude asshole. I was at an event and sporting a campaign pin for another candidate. He interrupted my conversation to ask why I wasn't supporting the Incumbent (who GGWash is endorsing). I said I didn't think she was effect. He gave me a weird look and then walked away without saying anything. Note that he did not introduce himself or give a reply whatsoever! RUDE!

He's not like that all the time.

He's quite polite with and attentive to his major funders in the development community.

Attacking someone personally this way on an anonymous forum strikes me as rude. DA has the courage to put his opinions out there, and has created a valuable forum. These kind of potshots only confirm my view of the character of his attackers.

Retelling a story is not a a rude "attack". It happened and it was told truthfully. That's like saying that people who report crimes are being rude by "attacking" the offender. Along the same line, you could say that whenever GGWash disagrees with an issue, they are being rude "attacking" their opponents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GGW pretends to be a volunteer blog, but it's an "astroturf" organization (faux grass roots), that is funded by big development companies, law firms dependent on a zoning practice, etc. One of GGW's more absurd moments came when they threw a developer-funded happy hour down the street from Judiciary Square the night of the marathon hearing on the mayor's proposed sweeping changes to the Comp Plan, which are sought by big development interests. GGW tried to use free drinks to attract Millennials to go over and testify in favor.

Wow, that's nuts!! No wonder it's so skewed towards "urbanism" that really just makes pretty amenities for people who can afford to live in Dupont ....

Are there any transportation/growth/development websites that are actually geared towards helping the region as a whole?

GGW is geared toward the issues you identify region wide - please go read the blog since apparently you have not.

And "urbanism" is something available to, and utilized by, people throughout our region, not just those in Dupont. And Dupont is a dumb reference point to drop as very little development has happened there in the last 50 years but I get that it is threatening to you for some odd reason.

I'd like to see more writers of color, women, working people, represented on the blog. If you live in Dupont and work from home while your wife takes care of your kid, you have VERY little perspective on what kind of transit and development would be helpful to everyone else in the region. Hint: it's not bike lanes.

I'd like to see some elders, and some Republicans, and some immigrants, and some billionaires, and some hunters, and some pastors represented in the blog too.

And some clowns too -- why do we always forget about clowns?

I want pastors of color who ride electric scooters. They are central to transportation solutions.

Yes, they are very important.

But what about clowns?

Specifically, what about hard-working, blue-nosed clowns?

Their views have been marginalized for centuries. Even today, no one knows about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard the head of GGW speak. He has a raging Napoleon complex.

David Alpert is a rude asshole. I was at an event and sporting a campaign pin for another candidate. He interrupted my conversation to ask why I wasn't supporting the Incumbent (who GGWash is endorsing). I said I didn't think she was effect. He gave me a weird look and then walked away without saying anything. Note that he did not introduce himself or give a reply whatsoever! RUDE!

He's not like that all the time.

He's quite polite with and attentive to his major funders in the development community.

Attacking someone personally this way on an anonymous forum strikes me as rude. DA has the courage to put his opinions out there, and has created a valuable forum. These kind of potshots only confirm my view of the character of his attackers.

Retelling a story is not a a rude "attack". It happened and it was told truthfully. That's like saying that people who report crimes are being rude by "attacking" the offender. Along the same line, you could say that whenever GGWash disagrees with an issue, they are being rude "attacking" their opponents.

You are raising a personal issue about a named person. GGW does not discuss the personal traits of named inviduals, AFAICT. They discuss policy positions. When they discuss named individuals, it is almost always govt officials or candidates for office, and its about their policy positions. Sorry, I just don't think its useful in a politics forum to talk about your personal issues with the personality of a blogger. Go to Off topic and discuss it without names, and they will give you advice.

We don't know if this happened as you described, if it happened at all. Only other peson who knows what happened is DA, and he cannot be expected to read every blog and forum in this region to respond to personal accusations.

And its irrelevant to the quality of GGW as a blog.