Bowser Spreads the Wealth opens homeless shelters in each DC ward

[Anonymous]

I guess you would know if you lived anywhere near it, but one-way residential side streets that are already so busy that they have restrictions on them; overcrowded schools, and overcrowded public transportation (and by the way, when I say public transportation, I mean buses--there isn't a Metro station within walking distance). You should see the line to get a Wisconsin Ave bus at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Calvert in the mornings. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess you would know if you lived anywhere near it, but one-way residential side streets that are already so busy that they have restrictions on them; overcrowded schools, and overcrowded public transportation (and by the way, when I say public transportation, I mean buses--there isn't a Metro station within walking distance). You should see the line to get a Wisconsin Ave bus at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Calvert in the mornings. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

Better these families be sent to a motel in PG County than have a few more people wait for the bus or another multi-family housing structure be built fronting Wisconsin Avenue. Out of sight, out of mind. Cathedral Heights is part of a larger city and Stoddert is capable of educating a few more kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess you would know if you lived anywhere near it, but one-way residential side streets that are already so busy that they have restrictions on them; overcrowded schools, and overcrowded public transportation (and by the way, when I say public transportation, I mean buses--there isn't a Metro station within walking distance). You should see the line to get a Wisconsin Ave bus at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Calvert in the mornings. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

Better these families be sent to a motel in PG County than have a few more people wait for the bus or another multi-family housing structure be built fronting Wisconsin Avenue. Out of sight, out of mind. Cathedral Heights is part of a larger city and Stoddert is capable of educating a few more kids.

It doesn't have to be a motel. It could be a shelter in a mess expensive cost effective place where it won't break the zoning laws. This isn't a socialist country and some of these comments have socialist undertones by saying "If you live in a nice expensive neighborhood, everyone should." I wish everyone could live in a nice neighborhood and I support the shelters but I think the ward 4 location is a mistake for a number of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess you would know if you lived anywhere near it, but one-way residential side streets that are already so busy that they have restrictions on them; overcrowded schools, and overcrowded public transportation (and by the way, when I say public transportation, I mean buses--there isn't a Metro station within walking distance). You should see the line to get a Wisconsin Ave bus at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Calvert in the mornings. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

Better these families be sent to a motel in PG County than have a few more people wait for the bus or another multi-family housing structure be built fronting Wisconsin Avenue. Out of sight, out of mind. Cathedral Heights is part of a larger city and Stoddert is capable of educating a few more kids.

It doesn't have to be a motel. It could be a shelter in a mess expensive cost effective place where it won't break the zoning laws. This isn't a socialist country and some of these comments have socialist undertones by saying "If you live in a nice expensive neighborhood, everyone should." I wish everyone could live in a nice neighborhood and I support the shelters but I think the ward 4 location is a mistake for a number of reasons.

Oops meant ward 3 neighborhood is a mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess you would know if you lived anywhere near it, but one-way residential side streets that are already so busy that they have restrictions on them; overcrowded schools, and overcrowded public transportation (and by the way, when I say public transportation, I mean buses--there isn't a Metro station within walking distance). You should see the line to get a Wisconsin Ave bus at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Calvert in the mornings. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

Better these families be sent to a motel in PG County than have a few more people wait for the bus or another multi-family housing structure be built fronting Wisconsin Avenue. Out of sight, out of mind. Cathedral Heights is part of a larger city and Stoddert is capable of educating a few more kids.

The sidewalk at the bus stop is about 4' wide. I don't have a dog in the fight as I don't live in Glover Pk/Cathedral Heights, but it's a terrible place for a homeless shelter because of the lack of Metro access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can those who were at the ward 3 meeting describe how concerns about accommodating children at stoddert were addressed? I'm one of those welcoming glover parkers but I don't know if I trust Bowser and DCPS to find a way to integrate students on what sounds to be a pretty short term basis. My concerns go both ways, for the existing students in an already over crowded school and for the poor children already suffering in difficult conditions and being asked to start fresh multiple times in one school year. Any thoughts?

You may not like hearing the plan, which is "Suck it up, Stoddert."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It started out with people who live miles away in the northern part of ward 3 standing up saying they support it etc then finally the families that life on the same block or nearby got fed up and spoke up. They are not against helpin the homeless but the zoning for that neighborhood is for single homes so it would go against zoning and that is why many people are upset.

Does zoning apply to the DC government?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It started out with people who live miles away in the northern part of ward 3 standing up saying they support it etc then finally the families that life on the same block or nearby got fed up and spoke up. They are not against helpin the homeless but the zoning for that neighborhood is for single homes so it would go against zoning and that is why many people are upset.

Ah, "YIYBYs." "Yes!, in your back yard."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess you would know if you lived anywhere near it, but one-way residential side streets that are already so busy that they have restrictions on them; overcrowded schools, and overcrowded public transportation (and by the way, when I say public transportation, I mean buses--there isn't a Metro station within walking distance). You should see the line to get a Wisconsin Ave bus at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Calvert in the mornings. Zoning laws exist for a reason.

Better these families be sent to a motel in PG County than have a few more people wait for the bus or another multi-family housing structure be built fronting Wisconsin Avenue. Out of sight, out of mind. Cathedral Heights is part of a larger city and Stoddert is capable of educating a few more kids.

The sidewalk at the bus stop is about 4' wide. I don't have a dog in the fight as I don't live in Glover Pk/Cathedral Heights, but it's a terrible place for a homeless shelter because of the lack of Metro access.

FFS. Then widen the f'ing sidewalk. The 30 buses take you across town.

[Anonymous]

Where exactly are the homeless families taking the metro to? If needed, it is a five minute ride up the road to metro.

[Anonymous]

This is what you need to know, America. All that poverty that was "easy" to move out of sight, is now too big to ignore. You want to know what it's going to look like in our big cities in a few years? Go to South America. Go to Buenos Aires. Yeah, lots of pretty places, but drive along any big road, any highway, and you see shit-places to live, slums, folks struggling like you would not believe.

I brought this up in another thread, but it bears repeating. Almost 50% of American children are living at or below the "real" poverty line. Officially, 22% are below the poverty line of something like a family earning $20,000 or less a year. The real poverty line is more like $40,000 for a family of 4 to afford basic expenses, and at that threshold child poverty is at 46%.

Where are all these children living? And if poverty is so high for CHILDREN, what's it going to look like in 10, 20, 30 years when these kids inherit the poverty of their families? I'm telling you. If we do not address this now, we are fucked.

Does reading about the Zika virus freak you out? Well, reading about the reality of poverty in America should freak you out more. And, yes, you need to get your hands dirty with helping out the homeless in your neighborhood. You can help by showing up in person. You can help my making sure the administration treats folks with dignity and respect. You can help by voting for the right thing. Think small and think big. If you turn your backs and avert your eyes to what is going on in America and your neighborhood, shame on you.

To everyone else: good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where exactly are the homeless families taking the metro to? If needed, it is a five minute ride up the road to metro.

You're really this obtuse? Schools. Job interviews. Doctor or social worker appointments. Visiting friends or family members. Social Security. Shopping. Shall I continue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where exactly are the homeless families taking the metro to? If needed, it is a five minute ride up the road to metro.

You're really this obtuse? Schools. Job interviews. Doctor or social worker appointments. Visiting friends or family members. Social Security. Shopping. Shall I continue?

Pretty sure the 30 bus runs both south and north. Tenleytown is a quick trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what you need to know, America. All that poverty that was "easy" to move out of sight, is now too big to ignore. You want to know what it's going to look like in our big cities in a few years? Go to South America. Go to Buenos Aires. Yeah, lots of pretty places, but drive along any big road, any highway, and you see shit-places to live, slums, folks struggling like you would not believe.

I brought this up in another thread, but it bears repeating. Almost 50% of American children are living at or below the "real" poverty line. Officially, 22% are below the poverty line of something like a family earning $20,000 or less a year. The real poverty line is more like $40,000 for a family of 4 to afford basic expenses, and at that threshold child poverty is at 46%.

Where are all these children living? And if poverty is so high for CHILDREN, what's it going to look like in 10, 20, 30 years when these kids inherit the poverty of their families? I'm telling you. If we do not address this now, we are fucked.

Does reading about the Zika virus freak you out? Well, reading about the reality of poverty in America should freak you out more. And, yes, you need to get your hands dirty with helping out the homeless in your neighborhood. You can help by showing up in person. You can help my making sure the administration treats folks with dignity and respect. You can help by voting for the right thing. Think small and think big. If you turn your backs and avert your eyes to what is going on in America and your neighborhood, shame on you.

To everyone else: good job.

Wait..more of the same? Fighting poverty? The problem is only getting worse, is it not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what you need to know, America. All that poverty that was "easy" to move out of sight, is now too big to ignore. You want to know what it's going to look like in our big cities in a few years? Go to South America. Go to Buenos Aires. Yeah, lots of pretty places, but drive along any big road, any highway, and you see shit-places to live, slums, folks struggling like you would not believe.

I brought this up in another thread, but it bears repeating. Almost 50% of American children are living at or below the "real" poverty line. Officially, 22% are below the poverty line of something like a family earning $20,000 or less a year. The real poverty line is more like $40,000 for a family of 4 to afford basic expenses, and at that threshold child poverty is at 46%.

Where are all these children living? And if poverty is so high for CHILDREN, what's it going to look like in 10, 20, 30 years when these kids inherit the poverty of their families? I'm telling you. If we do not address this now, we are fucked.

Does reading about the Zika virus freak you out? Well, reading about the reality of poverty in America should freak you out more. And, yes, you need to get your hands dirty with helping out the homeless in your neighborhood. You can help by showing up in person. You can help my making sure the administration treats folks with dignity and respect. You can help by voting for the right thing. Think small and think big. If you turn your backs and avert your eyes to what is going on in America and your neighborhood, shame on you.

To everyone else: good job.

Wait..more of the same? Fighting poverty? The problem is only getting worse, is it not?

No, "the same" as what we have now is really bad. Our numbers of child welfare and quality of life have dropped. Children are raised in families. Family welfare and quality of life has dropped. Good jobs, living wages, good health care, education, affordable housing, child care & family/work policies, and for lots of families, just laws and law enforcement and a proper safety net. All that has to improve.