Let's join forces to scrap the current homeless shelter plan and start over

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are myriad reasons a family with children might become homeless other than bad decisionmaking. The fact is that there is a severe affordable housing crisis in DC and until solutions to this are found, and a significant number of transitional housing units constructed, the City will need to find solutions other than DC General and remotely-located hotels. The fact a few privileged families living in NW are pissed off and irrationally fearful isn't a reason to derail an otherwise rational approach. It is fair to question whether the size of the facility is in accordance with best practices and hold feet to the fire in terms of accountability when it comes to.maintaining and operating the shelter but let's not pretend this motivated is anything other than good old fashioned NIMBYism.

N. Arlington Resident here. Sure there are "myriad reasons why a family with children might become homeless," e.g., their house could have been hit by a meteor, etc., but don't pretend that the primary reason people find themselves homeless is atrocious decision making. And more than a few families are pissed off about the shelter -- I know many that are irate and none that are happy. I must say that I would be livid if I lived in CP. But everything else you say, I agree with.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My favorite was the hearings on the bill where homeless testified how they would prefer to be in ward 3 bc of the amenities and safety. They stopped just short of asking for the granite counters, stainless steel appliances and open kitchen concept.

Please. You sound vile. Poor people are entitled to safety, transit, and a placet O buy groceries and toiletries just like rich people. Surely you can distinguish between those needs and granite counters.

So the poor and the rich are entitled to safety and amenities but those of us in between are shit out of luck...

You have the same entitlements. And if you are not receiving them where you live, you have the freedom to vote out your elected officials or move.

Alternatively, if you think poor people have it so great, I'm sure there is a family in DC General that will trade places with you.

There - you just said it. I "have to move" but the poor and the rich don't. There's the problem. That's the entitlement we don't all have. I can't afford to live wherever I want. So why should the poor be given the right and the ability to live in a city or neighborhood that the rest of us can't afford?

If you impoverish yourself and your family or commit a violent felony, then you may get an apartment in ward 3.

"violent felony"? You know these are homeless families with children, right? That many of them have jobs, right? That they are being given temporary housing while they work towards a permanent place to live?

Being homeless doesn't mean someone is a violent felon. It doesn't mean they are lazy. It sure as hell does not mean they are any less of a human being then me, or you, or any of the people around us. For pete's sake, have this many of you lost this much control over your humanity and your sense of decency towards your common man?

Not the PP. Stop hand-wringing. PP knows that the shelters will not be properly policed. She knows it means that a lot of homeless folk are homeless due to bad decision-making and that doesn't stop once those folk are moved to Ward 3. There is nothing in this provision that helps change the behavior of those moving in - where are the provisions for the counselors of all kinds that should be intensively helping these folk? Where is the extra policing that will keep away undesirables that some of these women might have chosen for a partner, or the drug dealers that will inevitably start trolling? What investment in labor will these people in the shelter have to make, in order to keep the place looking nice?

You can't live in your ward 3 bubble all your life. This will expose people there to what happens in the real world- beyond NCS and congressional cc.

Go tell that to all the condo owners and renters living in McLean Gardens. Also, please explain to me why you have any moral right to explain to me, based on where I live, whether society needs for me to be out of what you presume is a "bubble." My kids aren't at the cathedral schools and I don't belong to congressional or Chevy, but I'm not sure how that differentiates me from my neighbors who do. In your vindictive attempt to stick it to people about whom you make unfounded assumptions.., all you're doing is reminding us that MD and VA might be much better options.

It was long ago a point of pride to remain in DC, but not really any longer. I used to scoff inwardly at friends moving to MD and VA, but now see it as a perfectly viable option. And many of us with the very high dollar incomes, and resulting DC tax dollars, are together in this. Yes, it would be disappointing to leave our neighborhood, but it's doable, and becoming much more attractive. And does DC really think that the newcomers will be better for the city? That they will generate more taxes? That they will for some reason support believe the crap about their needing to get out of their "bubbles." Do people in DC have any sense of how much the city operations rely on the finances/taxes of relatively few neighborhoods, or that crapping on these taxpayers based on unfounded assumptions is not in the city's best interests?

And as for NY and Chicago being different, it sounds like you never spent much fun in those cities if you think there aren't suburb-ish communities close in that people say over pay for (and are way overtaxed for) to be less urban in feel, whether for single family homes, less dense residences, restrictive architectural review boards, etc.

So judgmental.

[Anonymous]

All the people in CP need to get over it. The shelter is coming and people are already beginning to compete to see who can get themselves one of the deluxe apartments in the sky.

[Anonymous]

Hey, I wanna build a big toxic factory in your neighborhood. We gonna bang and clank and spew toxic ash and gases into the air and pollute your water.

Since it's new and different, it's diversity and that's good, right?

Again, what about diversity is beneficial? Diversity in and of itself isn't beneficial. Having the Crips move into your neighborhood to start selling drugs brings ethnic diversity but isn't beneficial. Then having some MS-13 bangers move in to start a turf war with the Crips brings even more ethnic diversity. But that isn't beneficial either.

Mere fact of diversity isn't beneficial. Again, what specifically about having homeless people is beneficial? That there will now be black people in my Ward 6 neighborhood? Sorry, I already live in a 70% black neighborhood. Black? So what. Try again. That there will be poor people in my neighborhood? I already have Greenleaf Gardens and other DCHA public housing full of poor people in my neighborhood. Sorry, try again. That I will see homeless people regardless of race in my neighborhood? Sorry, I already see plenty of homeless people, panhandlers et cetera every day. And, by the way, before you write me off as some callous and heartless bastard I give a good bit of money to the food bank and other charities for the homeless. I've also volunteered hours at food kitchens, donated supplies and have done a lot of other things for the homeless. Yeah, I agree we need to look after the homeless, and I certainly do my part - and having lived in far more diverse places than most people, don't presume to blow some smoke up my ass about "diversity" and how I "benefit" from having "diversity" and in particular how it's somehow beneficial to have even more concentrated poverty nearby than we already currently do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, I wanna build a big toxic factory in your neighborhood. We gonna bang and clank and spew toxic ash and gases into the air and pollute your water.

Since it's new and different, it's diversity and that's good, right?

Again, what about diversity is beneficial? Diversity in and of itself isn't beneficial. Having the Crips move into your neighborhood to start selling drugs brings ethnic diversity but isn't beneficial. Then having some MS-13 bangers move in to start a turf war with the Crips brings even more ethnic diversity. But that isn't beneficial either.

Mere fact of diversity isn't beneficial. Again, what specifically about having homeless people is beneficial? That there will now be black people in my Ward 6 neighborhood? Sorry, I already live in a 70% black neighborhood. Black? So what. Try again. That there will be poor people in my neighborhood? I already have Greenleaf Gardens and other DCHA public housing full of poor people in my neighborhood. Sorry, try again. That I will see homeless people regardless of race in my neighborhood? Sorry, I already see plenty of homeless people, panhandlers et cetera every day. And, by the way, before you write me off as some callous and heartless bastard I give a good bit of money to the food bank and other charities for the homeless. I've also volunteered hours at food kitchens, donated supplies and have done a lot of other things for the homeless. Yeah, I agree we need to look after the homeless, and I certainly do my part - and having lived in far more diverse places than most people, don't presume to blow some smoke up my ass about "diversity" and how I "benefit" from having "diversity" and in particular how it's somehow beneficial to have even more concentrated poverty nearby than we already currently do.

Oh my God, you are so profoundly stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, I wanna build a big toxic factory in your neighborhood. We gonna bang and clank and spew toxic ash and gases into the air and pollute your water.

Since it's new and different, it's diversity and that's good, right?

Again, what about diversity is beneficial? Diversity in and of itself isn't beneficial. Having the Crips move into your neighborhood to start selling drugs brings ethnic diversity but isn't beneficial. Then having some MS-13 bangers move in to start a turf war with the Crips brings even more ethnic diversity. But that isn't beneficial either.

Mere fact of diversity isn't beneficial. Again, what specifically about having homeless people is beneficial? That there will now be black people in my Ward 6 neighborhood? Sorry, I already live in a 70% black neighborhood. Black? So what. Try again. That there will be poor people in my neighborhood? I already have Greenleaf Gardens and other DCHA public housing full of poor people in my neighborhood. Sorry, try again. That I will see homeless people regardless of race in my neighborhood? Sorry, I already see plenty of homeless people, panhandlers et cetera every day. And, by the way, before you write me off as some callous and heartless bastard I give a good bit of money to the food bank and other charities for the homeless. I've also volunteered hours at food kitchens, donated supplies and have done a lot of other things for the homeless. Yeah, I agree we need to look after the homeless, and I certainly do my part - and having lived in far more diverse places than most people, don't presume to blow some smoke up my ass about "diversity" and how I "benefit" from having "diversity" and in particular how it's somehow beneficial to have even more concentrated poverty nearby than we already currently do.

if you really don't know what's good about diversity, I feel sorry for you. Diversity brings varied life experiences and viewpoints in solving problems that are otherwise absent. It gives you a chance to see other cultures and to learn from them. It spurs community growth and prosperity for everyone, not just the privileged few. It also helps everyone to grow to their potential and makes life richer for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Can you imagine the first time a CP resident sees a homeless person sleeping in Rosedale Conservancy? It's going to sound like a 4 alarm fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey, I wanna build a big toxic factory in your neighborhood. We gonna bang and clank and spew toxic ash and gases into the air and pollute your water.

Since it's new and different, it's diversity and that's good, right?

Again, what about diversity is beneficial? Diversity in and of itself isn't beneficial. Having the Crips move into your neighborhood to start selling drugs brings ethnic diversity but isn't beneficial. Then having some MS-13 bangers move in to start a turf war with the Crips brings even more ethnic diversity. But that isn't beneficial either.

Mere fact of diversity isn't beneficial. Again, what specifically about having homeless people is beneficial? That there will now be black people in my Ward 6 neighborhood? Sorry, I already live in a 70% black neighborhood. Black? So what. Try again. That there will be poor people in my neighborhood? I already have Greenleaf Gardens and other DCHA public housing full of poor people in my neighborhood. Sorry, try again. That I will see homeless people regardless of race in my neighborhood? Sorry, I already see plenty of homeless people, panhandlers et cetera every day. And, by the way, before you write me off as some callous and heartless bastard I give a good bit of money to the food bank and other charities for the homeless. I've also volunteered hours at food kitchens, donated supplies and have done a lot of other things for the homeless. Yeah, I agree we need to look after the homeless, and I certainly do my part - and having lived in far more diverse places than most people, don't presume to blow some smoke up my ass about "diversity" and how I "benefit" from having "diversity" and in particular how it's somehow beneficial to have even more concentrated poverty nearby than we already currently do.

if you really don't know what's good about diversity, I feel sorry for you. Diversity brings varied life experiences and viewpoints in solving problems that are otherwise absent. It gives you a chance to see other cultures and to learn from them. It spurs community growth and prosperity for everyone, not just the privileged few. It also helps everyone to grow to their potential and makes life richer for everyone.

That's about how the homeless benefit. But it doesn't answer the actual question being asked about how everyone else benefits. How does the community they are being moved into benefit? Many of us already have plenty of varied life experiences and viewpoints so we don't gain anything there and it's awfully arrogant and presumptuous of you to assume we've all led cloistered and sheltered lives. I've probably lived more different places and experienced far more diversity that you ever have or ever will.

[Anonymous]

^ PP managed to call someone "profoundly stupid" but then the answer to the totally wrong question is given.

Mastery of the obvious about how the poor are being helped. Mastery of the obvious about how some people live sheltered lives could stand from different perspectives.

Now how about telling us something we didn't already know?

How about answering the question that was actually asked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, I wanna build a big toxic factory in your neighborhood. We gonna bang and clank and spew toxic ash and gases into the air and pollute your water.

Since it's new and different, it's diversity and that's good, right?

Again, what about diversity is beneficial? Diversity in and of itself isn't beneficial. Having the Crips move into your neighborhood to start selling drugs brings ethnic diversity but isn't beneficial. Then having some MS-13 bangers move in to start a turf war with the Crips brings even more ethnic diversity. But that isn't beneficial either.

Mere fact of diversity isn't beneficial. Again, what specifically about having homeless people is beneficial? That there will now be black people in my Ward 6 neighborhood? Sorry, I already live in a 70% black neighborhood. Black? So what. Try again. That there will be poor people in my neighborhood? I already have Greenleaf Gardens and other DCHA public housing full of poor people in my neighborhood. Sorry, try again. That I will see homeless people regardless of race in my neighborhood? Sorry, I already see plenty of homeless people, panhandlers et cetera every day. And, by the way, before you write me off as some callous and heartless bastard I give a good bit of money to the food bank and other charities for the homeless. I've also volunteered hours at food kitchens, donated supplies and have done a lot of other things for the homeless. Yeah, I agree we need to look after the homeless, and I certainly do my part - and having lived in far more diverse places than most people, don't presume to blow some smoke up my ass about "diversity" and how I "benefit" from having "diversity" and in particular how it's somehow beneficial to have even more concentrated poverty nearby than we already currently do.

Agree. It's mind boggling to try and suggest that the typical person in DC doesn't know diversity. More than half of the people living in DC came from elsewhere - whether from all corners of the country or other countries. I have friends and neighbors and coworkers from Nigeria, the Caribbean, Korea, Peru, you name it. I have friends and neighbors and coworkers who are black, latino, asian, native American, they are from the west coast, from NYC, from the midwest, from Alaska, from the southwest, you name it. I have friends and neighbors and coworkers who came from poverty, who came from money, friends and neighbors and coworkers who served overseas in the military, in the peace corps, in any number of NGOs and aid organizations. And my own background isn't all that different, I lived for years overseas and was involved in projects in Latin America, Africa and elsewhere. Yet to have someone who probably spent most of their life in a comfortable largely homogenous suburb presume to lecture us about diversity and how I need more diversity in my life and that's why I need a homeless shelter two or three blocks away just has me shaking my head in amazement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ PP managed to call someone "profoundly stupid" but then the answer to the totally wrong question is given.

Mastery of the obvious about how the poor are being helped. Mastery of the obvious about how some people live sheltered lives could stand from different perspectives.

Now how about telling us something we didn't already know?

How about answering the question that was actually asked?

I did tell you but you pretend not to understand. Diversity makes us all stronger and promotes different views. We are stronger when we take into account t all races and nationalities. Some CP residents will be exposed to different ways of thinking and acting and communicating. And that we all have different points of view and that there is right way and wrong way to approach a situation. I think many CP residents are looking forward to divergent views. If you would have listened to Cheh talk about this at the hearing, you wouldn't be so upset. I

[Anonymous]

Don't discount the benefit the homeless get by having access to nice amenities like neighborhood parks and stores, as well as transport. They don't have that at DC general. Some of this is just about providing access and restorative justice model which has proven results in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ PP managed to call someone "profoundly stupid" but then the answer to the totally wrong question is given.

Mastery of the obvious about how the poor are being helped. Mastery of the obvious about how some people live sheltered lives could stand from different perspectives.

Now how about telling us something we didn't already know?

How about answering the question that was actually asked?

I did tell you but you pretend not to understand. Diversity makes us all stronger and promotes different views. We are stronger when we take into account t all races and nationalities. Some CP residents will be exposed to different ways of thinking and acting and communicating. And that we all have different points of view and that there is right way and wrong way to approach a situation. I think many CP residents are looking forward to divergent views. If you would have listened to Cheh talk about this at the hearing, you wouldn't be so upset. I

Again, most of us in DC have already grown up with far more diversity than the average American ever has or ever will.

But I guess now we're instead talking about Cheh's own "white guilt" issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't discount the benefit the homeless get by having access to nice amenities like neighborhood parks and stores, as well as transport. They don't have that at DC general. Some of this is just about providing access and restorative justice model which has proven results in DCPS.

They won't have that at many of the new proposed locations either. So again, that's not a compelling or well thought out argument in favor of the plan either.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's reasonable or appropriate for Cheh or anyone else to project whatever angst or guilt they are feeling on the rest of us.

I also don't think it's reasonable or appropriate for posters to project (what are essentially racist) notions of everyone opposed to the plan as having come from well off families in lily white Iowa either.