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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use Union Station a lot and it looks to me like they have cleared out a fair number of the homeless, at least as compared to last year when it really was like an open air homeless shelter with all kinds of florid psychotic behavior.

Not back to as busy or positive as it was 5-8 years ago though. Contrary to what some in this thread are saying Union Station has not always been like this. It used to be a nice place to go for lunch, even though there was always some homeless presence.

B Smiths was a great place to eat. People would come in to go to the shops downstairs kinda like eastern marker.

[Anonymous]

Its a useful facility and people responsible to maintain safety and cleaning should br held responsible. If any political power makes it difficult, they should get slapped with legal consequences. Go make your political point at your dime, don't inconvenience public.

[Anonymous]

I met a mentally disturbed 50 year old homeless man who said he got a $3,000 voucher from downtown homeless services. He said he plans on getting an apartment on Connecticut Ave.
There is no way humanly possible this man is capable of living on his own. The individual who gave this man the voucher should be fired. What were they thinking? The man clearly needed a permanent mental hospital or group home.

[Anonymous]

I had to wait in Union Station two times over the last three years to catch a train. Once was with my tween daughter. Both times I felt unsafe. Once a guy peed all over himself near the chairs about 10 feet away from us. Both times there were just a whole bunch of homeless people waiting around in the seats by us.

[Anonymous]

Washington Post is on the case. They interview Union Station shop owners, workers and commuters and the story is very consistent: it sucks! Also doesn’t sound like it is going to get any better any time soon.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/11/13/union-station-dc-rail-renovation/

[Anonymous]

I’m back to passing through Union Station twice a day. While many storefronts are closed, the station is not in as dire straits as some in the media and on this thread claim.

[Anonymous]

The problem in Union Station is obvious and the solution is obvious: there is a homeless shelter 2 blocks away that kicks people out at 5 am. Where do you expect all the homesless people to go? Give them somewhere else to spend the day, they won’t be hanging out at Union Station. The end.

[Anonymous]

And they're going to pour millions into this place? For what? so you can be harassed and robbed?

DC is a mess.

[Anonymous]

It was generally a safe place when I moved to DC in 2006. Nice places to eat. Always thought it was neat there was a movie theater. My wife said college kids from UMD would take the metro in to go to the movies. Sad such a beautiful building has gone down hill.

[Anonymous]

It wasn't the best back in 2020 when I worked near there. I can't imagine COVID has improved the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I met a mentally disturbed 50 year old homeless man who said he got a $3,000 voucher from downtown homeless services. He said he plans on getting an apartment on Connecticut Ave.
There is no way humanly possible this man is capable of living on his own. The individual who gave this man the voucher should be fired. What were they thinking? The man clearly needed a permanent mental hospital or group home.

Yep. This is why this people who have lived in those Conn. Ave. apartment buildings for decades, many of them elderly, are being terrorized in their own homes. Most have modest incomes and can't afford to move. It is callous and cruel for the Mayor and City Council to dump this problem on these residents rather than providing the needed services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I met a mentally disturbed 50 year old homeless man who said he got a $3,000 voucher from downtown homeless services. He said he plans on getting an apartment on Connecticut Ave.
There is no way humanly possible this man is capable of living on his own. The individual who gave this man the voucher should be fired. What were they thinking? The man clearly needed a permanent mental hospital or group home.

Yep. This is why this people who have lived in those Conn. Ave. apartment buildings for decades, many of them elderly, are being terrorized in their own homes. Most have modest incomes and can't afford to move. It is callous and cruel for the Mayor and City Council to dump this problem on these residents rather than providing the needed services.

Muriel Bowser now has four more years to continue half-measures that don't really help anyone but make for slogans.

[Anonymous]

DC is a dump now and it’s not going to improve any time soon. Very few workers who can work remotely have any desire to commute downtown again, including via Union Station with its homeless vagrants and empty storefronts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I met a mentally disturbed 50 year old homeless man who said he got a $3,000 voucher from downtown homeless services. He said he plans on getting an apartment on Connecticut Ave.
There is no way humanly possible this man is capable of living on his own. The individual who gave this man the voucher should be fired. What were they thinking? The man clearly needed a permanent mental hospital or group home.

That is your mayor's program, yet you keep reelecting her.

[Anonymous]

Thank the Democrats.