Anyone familiar with the Trinidad neighborhood ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else think the OP could be a troll?

This person is likely legitimate. They have not responded like trolls do.

I would rather be duped by a troll than to be insensitive to someone from out of town who is probably freaked out by what they are reading now and in need of some support. I reiterate my desire to find creative ways to help this person. She has the warnings. Now, is there something else we can offer to help pick her up off the floor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I almost wrote on my response "are you for real?". For one thing, who would lock into moving somewhere and THEN do the research into the area? If she had just googled Trinidad, she would have learned some of this stuff.

Whatever, though. We in good faith answered in case its a real post. I almost wish it were fake rather than thinking that some out of towner is going to move to Trinidad with small kids...

If it is not a Troll, then I would guess by how the original post was written that they did not buy or rent without looking first, but rather they are moving in to someone else's home (maybe a relative or close friend?). I get that feeling because she said "The home we are moving to" rather than using the word "house." Maybe its just me, but I don't think most people would refer to a new place they were moving to as a home unless it was someone else's home.

[Anonymous]

I don't know that many people answered the question.

Pros: Strong neighborhood presence (I've lived in the 'burbs, and never knew as many neighbors as I do in DC). Diversity. Easy access to the Smithsonians/national mall and gallery place/chinatown (spy museum, MLK library, portrait gallery, movie theatre, concerts/games at the verizon center). Look up neighborhood recreation centers on dc.gov - there are some great, free public pools and parks. The Arboretum is wonderful. You don't have to worry about cops looking to meet their quota with speeding tickets and/or traffic violations (a big problem in the burbs) - though watch for cameras. There is a HUGE Goodwill on South Dakota Avenue north of NY Ave (for buying or dropping off!). The Atlas district is nearby - there's a kids' spa (http://www.spoiledrottenboutiqueandspa.com/) and a dance center for kids and adults (www.joyofmotion.org), not to mention nightlife.

Cons: Crime - yes it's a city, and yes it's DC - don't leave so much as a CD case or phone charger in your car, or spare change for that matter; don't carry a large purse or cash, don't walk by yourself at night, get to know which blocks the dealers live on or hang out. If you have an american car, especially if it's an automatic, get the Club; consider getting a foreign car with a stick shift if you can drive one. Unlike other cities, you do need a car. Parking may or may not be an issue - insurance rates are higher. Grocery stores aren't as nice in DC (though the giant in the brentwood shopping center isn't so bad). There's not too much in the way of restaurants or shops (Union station is good for that, parking is a dollar with validation).

There is an MPD listserve that's highly recommended. Also, many neighborhoods have list serves that announce meetings, report on neighborhood events, politics, etc. - these are a fabulous tool for learning about your neighborhood and connecting with people.

[Anonymous]

OP Here
No, I am not a "troll" whatever that means. I didn't receive any immediate responses to my post, and I haven't been sitting by my computer, as I am moving with a young child in three weeks ! Thanks to all who participated by responding. This move has come on suddenly, so no, my husband and I didn't have the time or know the resources to investigate as throughly as possible (although, to the poster that commented on I could have googled it, as a matter of fact , I did and I was aware of the summer checkpoints) The information I was looking for from this forum was more about what to DO in the neighborhood with kids, and your PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, not what you've heard about neighborhood crime. Of course I want my family to be safe, but honestly, where are you 100% safe anymore(hello, columbine) ? Again, I asked for all replies both neg and positive, so thanks and keep them coming (and yes, we are still moving there, now will we stay ? we shall see....

[Anonymous]

you may not be 100% safe anywhere anymore. but trinidad is particularly notorious for its crime. it's not overblown media. you can't make up the spates of homicides.

i actually feel more accepting of property crime than homicides. i live in an area with a lot of property crime, and it's not great, but there are things you can do to help your odds. it's just not really the case when there are bullets flying around.

[Anonymous]

I think the OP is kidding. Knew about checkpoints and wanted to move to this warzone anyway and then get on here to find out about children's activities in the area. Bizzaro. Must be fake. Where are you 100% safe Nowhere. Where are you 100% unsafe? Trinidad. Stay inside and avoid all activities if you are a real person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you may not be 100% safe anywhere anymore. but trinidad is particularly notorious for its crime. it's not overblown media. you can't make up the spates of homicides.

i actually feel more accepting of property crime than homicides. i live in an area with a lot of property crime, and it's not great, but there are things you can do to help your odds. it's just not really the case when there are bullets flying around.

Actually before my neighborhood gentrified there were fewer muggings (no people with money living there) and more drug dealing and homicides (fights over drug turf). To be honest, I'm more nervous about the muggings and feel less safe now that they have increased. I was nervous about the homicides but frankly it wasn't aimed at me. That's awful to say on two counts: 1) stray bullets kill just as much as the ones that find their targets and 2) it's terrible when anyone, I don't care who they are, is murdered. But, all the same, while I used to just worry about staying out of the way of the turf battles, now I'm worried about people coming after me. And in DC, the muggers have started beating people up for the fun of it, not just pulling a gun on them.

I understand your fears -- they're quite legitimate, but, believe it or not, I'd take the homicides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP is kidding. Knew about checkpoints and wanted to move to this warzone anyway and then get on here to find out about children's activities in the area. Bizzaro. Must be fake. Where are you 100% safe Nowhere. Where are you 100% unsafe? Trinidad. Stay inside and avoid all activities if you are a real person.

lol

[Anonymous]

I'm the pp who questioned the OP's veracity and made the Google comment.

I accept that you are a real person, but two of your comments are odd. You had 7 people respond in less than an hour (one only 3 minutes after you posted), so the statement that "you didn't receive any immediate responses" is strange. You received some pretty immediate responses and some strong ones, so its surprising you didn't come back on to respond to them. That's one reason people questioned if you were for real.

Your comment that no one is "100% safe anywhere" is a pretty bold one to make when you are talking about your family's safety. Yes, that's true, but obviously some areas are a LOT safer than others. No one is perfectly safe ever, but you can greatly reduce your risk. Your risk of being a victim (either intended or collateral) of crime in Trinidad is high. Its not a "columbine" type of aberrant situation, its a daily reality. You had better be mentally prepared to greatly curtail your behavior or activities in order to stay safe (i.e., do not leave the house after nightfall).

You asked for personal experiences, so here is mine: My close friends bought and renovated a house on Holbrook street. They were the one "gentrified" family on the block and were quite obvious to all around. They made a huge effort to befriend their neighbors, who were friendly and helped look out for them. They also had three big dogs for protection. They still moved out after about a year and a half because of the crime. There were several drug-related shootings in their neighborhood. If you Googled Trinidad you would have found this article and here's a mention of their street:

"Since taking over as chief in December 2006, Lanier has struggled with the issue of violent crime...Last weekend, officers were close enough in one case that they heard the barrage of gunfire coming from a triple homicide on Holbrook Street in Trinidad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/04/AR2008060402205.html

One reason they moved was because they wanted to have children.

That's the negative side. On the positive, they knew their neighbors and were friendly. I think you MUST befriend your neighbors if you move there because blocks need to stick together, so make an effort to be outgoing. The more involved you are, the better. Here's a website to check out: http://trinidad-dc.org/joomla/. If you are religious, go to a local church. I think the more that your neighbors know you and your family, the more they will look out for you.

Good luck! I hope your family (and all families in Trinidad) stay safe.

[Anonymous]

OP here again,
No I am NOT kidding, however I can see by 13:22's response that I am wasting my valuable time. I can't imagine why I would log onto a PARENTING forum and ask about activities in a particular area. And I DO happen to know enough about the area to know the "warzone" comment was a bit melodramatic. Let me guess, you live in Chevy Chase, right ? If I am to believe all the "bashing" that has taken place against a whole neighborhood, then I have to believe what I've also heard about the snobs on this board who reside in the burbs. Thanks to the posters that replied with helpful REAL INFORMATION such as the trinidad yahoo group, and the MDP website.

[Anonymous]

OP Here again,
Thank you 14:05. While I may have been impatient (as you stated, one reply was received three min after I posted) this post has turned into something much different than I expected. I wasn't (and am not) asking for people's opinion on whether we SHOULD move, therefore, the urgency to keep checking this board was not there. I've already re-iterated what the intention of my post was, I don't feel the need to keep re-visiting that. You provided an actual scenario, I am sorry for your friend's experience and thank you for sharing it with me. What I find most interesting is everyone's "safety advice" would be the same thing I would tell people to do in mayberry (watch your back, don't walk alone at night, have an alarm system) I grew up a city kid (Harlem,NY) I have to be honest, most of the responses sound racial, especially the comment about the neighborhood being gentrified. That really makes me sad.

[Anonymous]

I think everything that needs to be said about trinidad has been said, and no one has been flamed for it (b/c the truth is the truth: trinidad is dangerous). i've lived on capitol hill for 20+ years. i love DC. i wouldn't step foot in trinidad, esp. with a small child! it's the randomness of it all that freaks me out. children getting killed by stray bullets? no, thank you!

shame on you for not doing more homework BEFORE you committed to a home.

[Anonymous]

you want to bring race into it? the people getting killed in trinidad are black.

[Anonymous]

ummm OP?

You got quite a number of responses from people who live in the DC inner city neighborhoods east of Rock Creek Park (---neighborhoods like Columbia Heights, or the northern end of Capitol Hill---which have their fair share of crime and are hardly Chevy Chase or the burbs)---all of whom gave you their honest opinion------like it or not.

You wanted to hear positives and negatives. Unfortunately, right now there are a lot more negatives than positives about Trinidad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again,
No I am NOT kidding, however I can see by 13:22's response that I am wasting my valuable time. I can't imagine why I would log onto a PARENTING forum and ask about activities in a particular area. And I DO happen to know enough about the area to know the "warzone" comment was a bit melodramatic. Let me guess, you live in Chevy Chase, right ? If I am to believe all the "bashing" that has taken place against a whole neighborhood, then I have to believe what I've also heard about the snobs on this board who reside in the burbs. Thanks to the posters that replied with helpful REAL INFORMATION such as the trinidad yahoo group, and the MDP website.

OP, you are a woman after my own heart! You rock! Welcome to DC!