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

[Anonymous]

I miss the days when Republican staffers all lived in Virginia ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the PP. However, if you are charging all D.C. Residents with culture change and breaking the cycles of dysfunction (a worthy goal but a little paternalistic to suggest that Ward 3"is responsible for Ward XYZ) my question is where is the money best spent. Yes, I think most homeless families in DC live in deep dysfunction. I think they need basic, well managed services that meet the needs of as many as possible, not lattes. And if we have money left over it should go to the schools (including charters like KIPP) and mixed income housing in new developments (like the waterfront) that will help lift these families out of poverty. The fact that Bowsers original plan was rushed though, 600 million over 30 years, left the city with nothing, and would reach a fraction of people who need it -shows me she is not serious about deploying city resources (my tax dollars) well. Tweaking and revising a ridiculous plan does not satisfy me. The plan should be scrapped and start over.

"Not lattes???"

Sorry but all you want scrapped is the proposed locations. I am quite certain your conversion to advocacy for the homeless is about as recent as the announcement of Bowser's plan. Come to think of it, if putting a homeless shelter in your neighborhood causes you to be concerned about solving the larger problem, then it is a brilliant move. You care when you have to live next to them.

I worked for five years, compassionately, with low income crisis teens in DC, long hours, very low pay. You? I know the familes, the hope, and the entrenched problems very well. This bloated plan is not the solution from the service , neighbor/taxpayer or client end. And I agree with you about needed attention: the city needs a better solution than dilapidated DC general (fix it up !) and paying MD hotels. I've always thought that. But not this solution. But thank you Judgy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that the proposal doesn't actually fix anything. It's like putting a bandaid on a broken leg. The people applying the bandaid will pat themselves on the back for doing something even though they didn't actually do anything to solve the problem. But someone made money selling bandaids and I guess that's all that matters?

Council needs to slam the brakes on. Council needs to look at DC's social services and look there first. There are reasons why DC General got as horrifically bad as it did and Council needs to look into that and solve that BEFORE just going ahead and replicating DC General in smaller form across 8 wards.

Why the urgency? If it's because there's a deadline because of deals already made, that's too bad, they are deals that should not have been made.

The scary part is that the same people who brought us DC general are bringing us this. If you hated DC General you are really going to hate this shelter plan. Btw, has anyone figured out how much the local scum bag Doug Jamal is going to make of this shelter deal?

[Anonymous]

I live near the proposed location on Idaho and we and are neighbors are all on the phones with our realtors. It's great to talk about the theory of why this is good for diversity purposes and to aid the homeless, but when you have a front row seat, it's not so great. Promise property values down by 10% in immediately surrounding areas.

[Anonymous]

I believe meeting details are posted on Cleveland Park list serve. Please check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live near the proposed location on Idaho and we and are neighbors are all on the phones with our realtors. It's great to talk about the theory of why this is good for diversity purposes and to aid the homeless, but when you have a front row seat, it's not so great. Promise property values down by 10% in immediately surrounding areas.

And these pissed off neighbors will also redirect their large charitable contributions away from charities servicing the DC population. Where does the DC government think these private service providers who support the city's less fortunate get a big chunk of their money? The council and mayor seem almost gleeful to shove this crazy plan through regardless of whether it has a real chance of success, and is alienating some of the DC residents who, through taxes, high donations and service do a great deal for the city. Bethesda and Arlington are looking better and better.

[Anonymous]

And our next meeting should be how to field a serious independent, libertarian or Republican candidate for ward 3. It's time for Mary Cheh to go. She does not fight hard enough for the issues that affect her constituents - rising crime, transport/parking woes- she may be making these worse, this plan, schools. She spends too much time on her pet projects. I have respect for her, I think she's consistent, but she does not consistently represent me which is what I need in a local councilmember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And our next meeting should be how to field a serious independent, libertarian or Republican candidate for ward 3. It's time for Mary Cheh to go. She does not fight hard enough for the issues that affect her constituents - rising crime, transport/parking woes- she may be making these worse, this plan, schools. She spends too much time on her pet projects. I have respect for her, I think she's consistent, but she does not consistently represent me which is what I need in a local councilmember.

Cheh is an abject disaster. And I say that as a D. Why can't we have someone like Catania or Evans- a pragmatic liberal who is unafflicted by the fact that he happens to be white. Btw, Cheh's house is far away from the shelter, but I'm sure everyone knows that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that the proposal doesn't actually fix anything. It's like putting a bandaid on a broken leg. The people applying the bandaid will pat themselves on the back for doing something even though they didn't actually do anything to solve the problem. But someone made money selling bandaids and I guess that's all that matters?

Council needs to slam the brakes on. Council needs to look at DC's social services and look there first. There are reasons why DC General got as horrifically bad as it did and Council needs to look into that and solve that BEFORE just going ahead and replicating DC General in smaller form across 8 wards.

Why the urgency? If it's because there's a deadline because of deals already made, that's too bad, they are deals that should not have been made.

The scary part is that the same people who brought us DC general are bringing us this. If you hated DC General you are really going to hate this shelter plan. Btw, has anyone figured out how much the local scum bag Doug Jamal is going to make of this shelter deal?

+1.

The solution to one mismanaged facility?

To have 8 of them.

Brilliant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live near the proposed location on Idaho and we and are neighbors are all on the phones with our realtors. It's great to talk about the theory of why this is good for diversity purposes and to aid the homeless, but when you have a front row seat, it's not so great. Promise property values down by 10% in immediately surrounding areas.

The best part about watching real estate values skyrocket all over town is reading petulant homeowners threaten to "take their ball and go home" over one issue or another. School boundaries, Ward redistricting, and now this.

Please go! And post your MRIS number, I'm always looking to pick up homes at a discount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near the proposed location on Idaho and we and are neighbors are all on the phones with our realtors. It's great to talk about the theory of why this is good for diversity purposes and to aid the homeless, but when you have a front row seat, it's not so great. Promise property values down by 10% in immediately surrounding areas.

The best part about watching real estate values skyrocket all over town is reading petulant homeowners threaten to "take their ball and go home" over one issue or another. School boundaries, Ward redistricting, and now this.

Please go! And post your MRIS number, I'm always looking to pick up homes at a discount.

Detroit is calling you.

[Anonymous]

I think thats massively unfair to people who have invested in the city. These are the people responsible for a wider tax base and school improvement. A backslide is a slap in the face (crime, school plateau, metro, full on socialism).why don't you move to san Francisco and enjoy homeless galore and crap schools?

[Anonymous]

I live near one of the proposed Ward 5 sites on Rhode Isand ave. McDuffie held a community meeting on the Friday evening of labor day weekend. Bad timing but residents were told it had to be scheduled then due to the time sensitive nature of the plan.

My concern with the site in ward 5 is that there are few amenities nearby that may be needed for families. There is a tiny grocery market, a public library and a park nearby but that's pretty much it. A few bus lines but nowhere near a metro station. Also, situated on a busy street (rhode island).

There's nothing quite like rushing a bad plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live near the proposed location on Idaho and we and are neighbors are all on the phones with our realtors. It's great to talk about the theory of why this is good for diversity purposes and to aid the homeless, but when you have a front row seat, it's not so great. Promise property values down by 10% in immediately surrounding areas.

Put your house on the market right now for less than 10% of immediately surrounding areas and you will be swamped by buyers.

[Anonymous]

The reason to rush this plan is to do as much as possible as quickly as possible to get families out of the hellish conditions at DC General.