Union Station smells like urine, has a homeless problem, and is half deserted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I attended law school in DC ‘97-‘00; during that time Union Station was clean, bustling with people and filled with shops and many eateries including a very swank fine dining restaurant I never got a chance to visit. It had a movie theater that was always busy. The bathrooms were fine. I never felt unsafe there but was usually meeting other people.

I’m sorry to hear it is so different now.

We are too, and apparently we DC residents are powerless to change it because it belongs to Amtrak and Dept of Transport. With that being said, couldn't eleanor holmes norton and Bowser lodge a formal complaint with them? I get tired of the, "it's not ours so we can't do anything" excusism in a city like ours with complicated jurisdictions and oversight.

Like DC politicians have the will or backbone to do something like that.

I mean, go hold a presser in the hideous sewer system that is the public bathroom there. Shame Amtrak and Pete Buttgieg to action.

It honestly makes me think they never take the train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to get the homeless people completely out of union station.

Amtrak and Pete Buttagieg? Who actually manages and administrates this historic property?

The union station redevelopment corporation

https://www.usrcdc.com/about-usrc/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once upon a time, homelessness / vagrancy / unhoused (whatever euphemism one wants to use) was a stigma. It was a state of true destitution.

At some point in the last 10 years, it has become permissible.
When the tents go up, it's a lifestyle.

Next step - protected class status.

Ok Paris Hilton. I’m very curious what kind of person thinks the way you do. I pretty sure I could list 5 or 6 bullet lots that describe you perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once upon a time, homelessness / vagrancy / unhoused (whatever euphemism one wants to use) was a stigma. It was a state of true destitution.

At some point in the last 10 years, it has become permissible.
When the tents go up, it's a lifestyle.

Next step - protected class status.

Ok Paris Hilton. I’m very curious what kind of person thinks the way you do. I pretty sure I could list 5 or 6 bullet lots that describe you perfectly.

The way the PP phrased it was sort of offensive but there is a kernel of truth. Not too long ago homeless advocates would work to get the homeless off the streets. Today a lot of advocates support encampments.

[Anonymous]

Ok, I am not the about PP "Paris Hilton" poster, but there is truth in the statements. At what point did we as a society decide that it was acceptable for people to just pitch a tent on public property and live there? The park at McPherson Square is literally full of tents. What advocates SHOULD be pushing is humane and safe mental health treatment facilities. In the early 80s, the unholy alliance of Reaganite conservatives (who didn't want to spent $$) and ACLU civil libertarians emptied the mental hospitals (which were indeed horrific) and made it much, much more difficult for people to be involuntarily committed. We don't need tent cities and we don't need to overpay commercial apartment and hotel owners to provide unsupervised shelter to those who cannot take care of themselves. Instead, we need to completely rehaul St. Elizabeth's to make it safe (which it isn't now) and humane, and revamp the involuntary commitment laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I am not the about PP "Paris Hilton" poster, but there is truth in the statements. At what point did we as a society decide that it was acceptable for people to just pitch a tent on public property and live there? The park at McPherson Square is literally full of tents. What advocates SHOULD be pushing is humane and safe mental health treatment facilities. In the early 80s, the unholy alliance of Reaganite conservatives (who didn't want to spent $$) and ACLU civil libertarians emptied the mental hospitals (which were indeed horrific) and made it much, much more difficult for people to be involuntarily committed. We don't need tent cities and we don't need to overpay commercial apartment and hotel owners to provide unsupervised shelter to those who cannot take care of themselves. Instead, we need to completely rehaul St. Elizabeth's to make it safe (which it isn't now) and humane, and revamp the involuntary commitment laws.

It was the point at which you voted for politicians who embrace this approach to homeless. Vote in different people and you get different solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I am not the about PP "Paris Hilton" poster, but there is truth in the statements. At what point did we as a society decide that it was acceptable for people to just pitch a tent on public property and live there? The park at McPherson Square is literally full of tents. What advocates SHOULD be pushing is humane and safe mental health treatment facilities. In the early 80s, the unholy alliance of Reaganite conservatives (who didn't want to spent $$) and ACLU civil libertarians emptied the mental hospitals (which were indeed horrific) and made it much, much more difficult for people to be involuntarily committed. We don't need tent cities and we don't need to overpay commercial apartment and hotel owners to provide unsupervised shelter to those who cannot take care of themselves. Instead, we need to completely rehaul St. Elizabeth's to make it safe (which it isn't now) and humane, and revamp the involuntary commitment laws.

It was the point at which you voted for politicians who embrace this approach to homeless. Vote in different people and you get different solutions.

Muriel Bowser has been clearing encampments. I'm not a super fan, but she is doing that..I can't think of a single politician except the senator whose son committed suicide who is advocating for mental health,.more beds for mental health etc. Involuntary commitment is a travesty in that it's impossible for family to get their loved ones help. the only way to get a mentally ill person "care" is to hope they commit a criminal act and are held for a while. Is that good - of course not - but it's literally the only contact they have with institutions if they are unwilling to seek help... And even then so many obstacles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I am not the about PP "Paris Hilton" poster, but there is truth in the statements. At what point did we as a society decide that it was acceptable for people to just pitch a tent on public property and live there? The park at McPherson Square is literally full of tents. What advocates SHOULD be pushing is humane and safe mental health treatment facilities. In the early 80s, the unholy alliance of Reaganite conservatives (who didn't want to spent $$) and ACLU civil libertarians emptied the mental hospitals (which were indeed horrific) and made it much, much more difficult for people to be involuntarily committed. We don't need tent cities and we don't need to overpay commercial apartment and hotel owners to provide unsupervised shelter to those who cannot take care of themselves. Instead, we need to completely rehaul St. Elizabeth's to make it safe (which it isn't now) and humane, and revamp the involuntary commitment laws.

I write on this form about the observances I have had with the mentally ill in the ERs across the DMV. I am severely disabled and have terminal cancer and spend a lot of time in the ER. I'm writing from my hospital room now. A few weeks ago when I was admitted to the hospital via the ER, I overheard a patient in the hall outside my room being interviewed by psychiatry. He was a hard core drug addict and was threatening suicide. When asked how he planned to kill himself he said to run out in front of a car! This man is not only a danger to himself but other innocent citizens. I'm not sure of the outcome with this patient because I was moved upstairs to my room.

Until this man jumps in front of Bowser's car, I'm afraid nothing will be done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once upon a time, homelessness / vagrancy / unhoused (whatever euphemism one wants to use) was a stigma. It was a state of true destitution.

At some point in the last 10 years, it has become permissible.
When the tents go up, it's a lifestyle.

Next step - protected class status.

Ok Paris Hilton. I’m very curious what kind of person thinks the way you do. I pretty sure I could list 5 or 6 bullet lots that describe you perfectly.

The way the PP phrased it was sort of offensive but there is a kernel of truth. Not too long ago homeless advocates would work to get the homeless off the streets. Today a lot of advocates support encampments.

I think exactly this way. Vagrancy used to not only be a stigma, it was illegal. Where I live in Virginia, there are signs everywhere that state panhandling and encampments are illegal. Call this number (listed) if you need assistance. This is how it should be.

[Anonymous]

What a disgraceful entry point to the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I am not the about PP "Paris Hilton" poster, but there is truth in the statements. At what point did we as a society decide that it was acceptable for people to just pitch a tent on public property and live there? The park at McPherson Square is literally full of tents. What advocates SHOULD be pushing is humane and safe mental health treatment facilities. In the early 80s, the unholy alliance of Reaganite conservatives (who didn't want to spent $$) and ACLU civil libertarians emptied the mental hospitals (which were indeed horrific) and made it much, much more difficult for people to be involuntarily committed. We don't need tent cities and we don't need to overpay commercial apartment and hotel owners to provide unsupervised shelter to those who cannot take care of themselves. Instead, we need to completely rehaul St. Elizabeth's to make it safe (which it isn't now) and humane, and revamp the involuntary commitment laws.

It was the point at which you voted for politicians who embrace this approach to homeless. Vote in different people and you get different solutions.

Muriel Bowser has been clearing encampments. I'm not a super fan, but she is doing that..I can't think of a single politician except the senator whose son committed suicide who is advocating for mental health,.more beds for mental health etc. Involuntary commitment is a travesty in that it's impossible for family to get their loved ones help. the only way to get a mentally ill person "care" is to hope they commit a criminal act and are held for a while. Is that good - of course not - but it's literally the only contact they have with institutions if they are unwilling to seek help... And even then so many obstacles.

She's just pushing them around. If she really wanted to she could bust down some barriers to getting them housing, but it's all just optics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I attended law school in DC ‘97-‘00; during that time Union Station was clean, bustling with people and filled with shops and many eateries including a very swank fine dining restaurant I never got a chance to visit. It had a movie theater that was always busy. The bathrooms were fine. I never felt unsafe there but was usually meeting other people.

I’m sorry to hear it is so different now.

My office is right next to Union Station and I used to get lunch every day there pre-pandemic. It was bustling, clean, and fine then. The pandemic is what did it in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I attended law school in DC ‘97-‘00; during that time Union Station was clean, bustling with people and filled with shops and many eateries including a very swank fine dining restaurant I never got a chance to visit. It had a movie theater that was always busy. The bathrooms were fine. I never felt unsafe there but was usually meeting other people.

I’m sorry to hear it is so different now.

My office is right next to Union Station and I used to get lunch every day there pre-pandemic. It was bustling, clean, and fine then. The pandemic is what did it in.

Me too. I am hoping when the workers come back it will come back a bit? I used to go there to get steps when the weather was not good. It was enjoyable to people watch and check out the windows of the shops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I attended law school in DC ‘97-‘00; during that time Union Station was clean, bustling with people and filled with shops and many eateries including a very swank fine dining restaurant I never got a chance to visit. It had a movie theater that was always busy. The bathrooms were fine. I never felt unsafe there but was usually meeting other people.

I’m sorry to hear it is so different now.

My office is right next to Union Station and I used to get lunch every day there pre-pandemic. It was bustling, clean, and fine then. The pandemic is what did it in.

Me too. I am hoping when the workers come back it will come back a bit? I used to go there to get steps when the weather was not good. It was enjoyable to people watch and check out the windows of the shops.

The problem is I don't think a critical mass of workers are coming back to help Union Station return to its pre-pandemic bustle.

[Anonymous]

Tents outside, relentless panhandling inside and out. Maybe it’s ok for those who can scurry into the locked acela lounge. Plenty of law enforcement around. Semi post-apocalyptic seeming. Just plain sad.