Considering Seaton, but concerned about the homeless encampment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seaton parents have started bringing this to the press to hopefully put some pressure on the city to take action.

The encampment has disturbed many of us this year, and I think the recent arrest and news of the gun was a tipping point that is pushing people to act. so that is something. As the email said, everyone kind of accepted it as the status quo. At the last ANC 6E meeting, the commissioners brought it up as a "maybe let's remove this before the fall? " kind of issue. But many kids are attending Seaton in person now (including my child).

Ross parents should pay attention. Active drug users and ongoing domestic disputes half a block from school but everyone keeps thinking passive compassion will keep their kids safe.

[Anonymous]

DC needs to pass an ordinance outlawing encampments withing certain proximity of schools, metros, and on heavily trafficked sidewalks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We won't be re-enrolling in Seaton for Fall.
The homeless camp was part of that decision. My DH was more disturbed by the camp than I was. But this news just re-enforces our decision.

Mayor Bowser is not afraid of clearing camps. She's done it before. What parents need to do is provide her political cover when the camp is moved.

If you are under the impression that it can be done in a nice manner. It can't. When our family had to deal with a hoarding family member, they fought and screamed and was in serious denial as we tried to get them to clean up their space (failure to do so meant they'd be homeless) and when we started hauling junk out, it wasn't pretty. When they move the camp, it won't be pretty. This needs to be done before Fall.

Can I ask the other reasons why? We were considering our daughter for Pre K! Now I do not know!

There are a lot of personal reasons why we are not re-enrolling. Some that I'm willing to share relate to our on foot commute. In winter, we know the quickest way there includes routes where the people who live on those blocks don't shovel. That's fine if it doesn't snow that much or ice over. Yes, that's a really petty reason and I should have thought of that but Seaton is our IB school. Another is the feeder school. Shaw Middle School could have been something. Alas it is not. Cardozo is a solid no for us. We have options and only one kid. But our main reasons are super personal regarding values and where we are willing to put our time and treasure in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We won't be re-enrolling in Seaton for Fall.
The homeless camp was part of that decision. My DH was more disturbed by the camp than I was. But this news just re-enforces our decision.

Mayor Bowser is not afraid of clearing camps. She's done it before. What parents need to do is provide her political cover when the camp is moved.

If you are under the impression that it can be done in a nice manner. It can't. When our family had to deal with a hoarding family member, they fought and screamed and was in serious denial as we tried to get them to clean up their space (failure to do so meant they'd be homeless) and when we started hauling junk out, it wasn't pretty. When they move the camp, it won't be pretty. This needs to be done before Fall.

Can I ask the other reasons why? We were considering our daughter for Pre K! Now I do not know!

There are a lot of personal reasons why we are not re-enrolling. Some that I'm willing to share relate to our on foot commute. In winter, we know the quickest way there includes routes where the people who live on those blocks don't shovel. That's fine if it doesn't snow that much or ice over. Yes, that's a really petty reason and I should have thought of that but Seaton is our IB school. Another is the feeder school. Shaw Middle School could have been something. Alas it is not. Cardozo is a solid no for us. We have options and only one kid. But our main reasons are super personal regarding values and where we are willing to put our time and treasure in.

What kind of school are you moving to?

[Anonymous]

We live in the neighborhood and pass by often with our late elementary and middle school kids, who attend different schools. This is alarming to say the least. We would join any effort to help Seaton parents. I wonder if sprinklers could help, or the installation of street features like metal bike racks, a bike pump, outdoor exercise equipment (nautilus), planter boxes with trees, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi!

We are a Seaton family. The encampment has really grown during the pandemic (before that there was just one woman there and it was a non issue).

we haven't been directly impacted by it, and we play there many times a week... But the parent community has just recently gotten more concerned about it and there are people pushing the issue with the ANC/council/city. The city isn't removing encampments right now due to the pandemic, but all of these unhoused have been offered housing, and they have refused it. It's a little unclear what the options are...

This is an issue in bigger cities in US in general, it’s odd that so many get offered housing and refuse. Why won’t cities do anything about it? This isn’t the ‘explorer days’ where people can just live anywhere.

For one, they don't allow drugs in the shelter, so they'd rather stay on the streets to get high.

[Anonymous]

update -- Councilmember Allen said he is taking action, and reached out of the Mayor's office. the Deputy Mayor and City Administrator are meeting today and coming up with a plan of action.

I am a Seaton parent with two kids in the school. We were not considering pulling our kids out for this reason, but I am hugely relieved -- this feels like it will be resolved now.

To the person considering the school -- the academics and school culture are really wonderful. we don't know what we will do for middle school yet, but are happily keeping our kids there for the duration of elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We won't be re-enrolling in Seaton for Fall.
The homeless camp was part of that decision. My DH was more disturbed by the camp than I was. But this news just re-enforces our decision.

Mayor Bowser is not afraid of clearing camps. She's done it before. What parents need to do is provide her political cover when the camp is moved.

If you are under the impression that it can be done in a nice manner. It can't. When our family had to deal with a hoarding family member, they fought and screamed and was in serious denial as we tried to get them to clean up their space (failure to do so meant they'd be homeless) and when we started hauling junk out, it wasn't pretty. When they move the camp, it won't be pretty. This needs to be done before Fall.

Can I ask the other reasons why? We were considering our daughter for Pre K! Now I do not know!

There are a lot of personal reasons why we are not re-enrolling. Some that I'm willing to share relate to our on foot commute. In winter, we know the quickest way there includes routes where the people who live on those blocks don't shovel. That's fine if it doesn't snow that much or ice over. Yes, that's a really petty reason and I should have thought of that but Seaton is our IB school. Another is the feeder school. Shaw Middle School could have been something. Alas it is not. Cardozo is a solid no for us. We have options and only one kid. But our main reasons are super personal regarding values and where we are willing to put our time and treasure in.

What kind of school are you moving to?

Catholic and if that doesn't work out, DH will homeschool. We're seriously considering just moving out of the city. The homeless camps are getting bigger not just near Seaton but in other parts. The park on O Street and New Jersey Avenue is a tent city with a tent McMansion. Guys have taken over the bus stop at P and 7th with two Capital bike shares and blankets. If this keeps up and the camps aren't dealt with it's going to be like San Francisco with human feces on the sidewalk. I just want to get out before that happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We won't be re-enrolling in Seaton for Fall.
The homeless camp was part of that decision. My DH was more disturbed by the camp than I was. But this news just re-enforces our decision.

Mayor Bowser is not afraid of clearing camps. She's done it before. What parents need to do is provide her political cover when the camp is moved.

If you are under the impression that it can be done in a nice manner. It can't. When our family had to deal with a hoarding family member, they fought and screamed and was in serious denial as we tried to get them to clean up their space (failure to do so meant they'd be homeless) and when we started hauling junk out, it wasn't pretty. When they move the camp, it won't be pretty. This needs to be done before Fall.

Can I ask the other reasons why? We were considering our daughter for Pre K! Now I do not know!

There are a lot of personal reasons why we are not re-enrolling. Some that I'm willing to share relate to our on foot commute. In winter, we know the quickest way there includes routes where the people who live on those blocks don't shovel. That's fine if it doesn't snow that much or ice over. Yes, that's a really petty reason and I should have thought of that but Seaton is our IB school. Another is the feeder school. Shaw Middle School could have been something. Alas it is not. Cardozo is a solid no for us. We have options and only one kid. But our main reasons are super personal regarding values and where we are willing to put our time and treasure in.

What kind of school are you moving to?

Catholic and if that doesn't work out, DH will homeschool. We're seriously considering just moving out of the city. The homeless camps are getting bigger not just near Seaton but in other parts. The park on O Street and New Jersey Avenue is a tent city with a tent McMansion. Guys have taken over the bus stop at P and 7th with two Capital bike shares and blankets. If this keeps up and the camps aren't dealt with it's going to be like San Francisco with human feces on the sidewalk. I just want to get out before that happens.

The park at New Jersey and O is getting a $1.3 million renovation this year, so that encampment is going to be removed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seaton parents have started bringing this to the press to hopefully put some pressure on the city to take action.

The encampment has disturbed many of us this year, and I think the recent arrest and news of the gun was a tipping point that is pushing people to act. so that is something. As the email said, everyone kind of accepted it as the status quo. At the last ANC 6E meeting, the commissioners brought it up as a "maybe let's remove this before the fall? " kind of issue. But many kids are attending Seaton in person now (including my child).

Ross parents should pay attention. Active drug users and ongoing domestic disputes half a block from school but everyone keeps thinking passive compassion will keep their kids safe.

Yes, those people living outside of the safeway are the worst. Also, someone also just opened up a vape shop/weed shop 2 doors down from Ross. How is that allowed? Aren't there rules about the types of businesses that can be so close to schools?

[Anonymous]

Those concerned, use twitter to let the mayor and others who have allowed this to go on know how you feel about the armed and drug-infested encampments at Seaton - @MayorBowser @councilofdc @charlesallen @DMEforDC @DCSBOE. Please use #DCKidsCount

This is not a anti-homeless, affordable housing, or us vs. them issue. This is a child and citizen safety issue - the core purpose of all government.

Also, Seaton is not the only school dealing with some version of this. Reach out to Thomson and Brent parents. Complaint without action is meaningless - ACT NOW!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those concerned, use twitter to let the mayor and others who have allowed this to go on know how you feel about the armed and drug-infested encampments at Seaton - @MayorBowser @councilofdc @charlesallen @DMEforDC @DCSBOE. Please use #DCKidsCount

This is not a anti-homeless, affordable housing, or us vs. them issue. This is a child and citizen safety issue - the core purpose of all government.

Also, Seaton is not the only school dealing with some version of this. Reach out to Thomson and Brent parents. Complaint without action is meaningless - ACT NOW!

where is there an encampment near Brent?

I mentioned this before, but legislation that banned encampment within certain proximity to schools, libraries, metros, and on heavily trafficked sidewalks, seems to make sense.

[Anonymous]

btw: one clever way to approach this would be to get a public space permit to set up a physical obstacle to encampment around the school perimeter. Like giant planters, tables, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:btw: one clever way to approach this would be to get a public space permit to set up a physical obstacle to encampment around the school perimeter. Like giant planters, tables, etc.

Yes!! This is what the McDonalds did on 17th across from Safeway. There was an encampment there, the people abandoned it or it was otherwise cleaned up and McDonald's promptly installed huge planters so that people couldn't camp there in the future.

[Anonymous]

Update: apparently the solution is that DCPS is moving the school fence out to the sidewalk to take away the strip of grass that they put their tents on. Pretty good solution. Now the DC Council needs to pass a law prohibiting encampments within a certain distance of schools, libraries, metros, and heavily trafficked sidewalks.

https://twitter.com/RemoraHouse_DC/status/1385647882833965060