Dupont circle deteriorating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that when people were locked out of shelters during the day they'd hang in public spaces like the public libraries. I'm assuming they can't do that right now, hence more people on the street.

Yes, this. there are almost no places for people to hang out inside anymore--no libraries, no museums, no coffee shops, nothing. It's awful people are defecatng in the street, but what other options do they have?

Last spring a few weeks into the shut down, I was driving near Dupont Circle. Absolutely no one on the streets, until I turned a corner and came upon a massive number of homeless people queuing up for food. Really sad.

We should definitely have public bathrooms. Why can other countries do this and we can't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that when people were locked out of shelters during the day they'd hang in public spaces like the public libraries. I'm assuming they can't do that right now, hence more people on the street.

Yes, this. there are almost no places for people to hang out inside anymore--no libraries, no museums, no coffee shops, nothing. It's awful people are defecatng in the street, but what other options do they have?

Last spring a few weeks into the shut down, I was driving near Dupont Circle. Absolutely no one on the streets, until I turned a corner and came upon a massive number of homeless people queuing up for food. Really sad.

We should definitely have public bathrooms. Why can other countries do this and we can't?

We should. And if DC wants to be the be all and end all for homeless people. build daytime service stations with coffee, donuts, computers and splashbaths. That's what the homeless are currently using the libraries for, and in other times Starbucks and Whole Foods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that when people were locked out of shelters during the day they'd hang in public spaces like the public libraries. I'm assuming they can't do that right now, hence more people on the street.

Yes, this. there are almost no places for people to hang out inside anymore--no libraries, no museums, no coffee shops, nothing. It's awful people are defecatng in the street, but what other options do they have?

Last spring a few weeks into the shut down, I was driving near Dupont Circle. Absolutely no one on the streets, until I turned a corner and came upon a massive number of homeless people queuing up for food. Really sad.

We should definitely have public bathrooms. Why can other countries do this and we can't?

We should. And if DC wants to be the be all and end all for homeless people. build daytime service stations with coffee, donuts, computers and splashbaths. That's what the homeless are currently using the libraries for, and in other times Starbucks and Whole Foods.

I'd recommend healthier food than just doughnuts, but sure. Don't forget laundry services too. This sounds really good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all keep insisting you're not pearl clutchers. Newsflash: yes, you are.

Because I don’t want to walk my 3 year old to school past sh*t-laden alleyways and a couple that is obviously nodding out on opioids? Okay. You can have dupont then because I’m leaving.

DC welcomes public defecation and vagrancy so maybe it's the parents of toddlers that don't belong there. I believe people started getting those diseases from inhaling defecation up there in NOMA which finally got Bowser to clear out an encampment.

Oh I WISH the NOMA encampments would be cleared out. Instead, we've decided to cede public space to hundreds of tents, effectively cutting off the neighborhood east of the underpass/tracks from the Metro Station and everything west of the tracks. And you can't say anything about it without people shaming you for talking about "unhoused neighbors" who are also "residents" of the community. Whatever.

I think the city should designate a plot of industrial land as an official encampment zone. Put toilet facilities there, and staff it with a permanent presence of social workers, janitors, and police to keep cleanliness and peace. It would be the ONLY place in the city people are allowed to live in tents. Every other street encampment would be removed, daily, without exception.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Huh, I live in the area and the only places that I see this are outside the Safeway and the McDonalds. They're annoying but I've never once been harassed (except for by that awful women who rides around on her scooter harassing people about giving her money. She got me outside of the Trader Joe's once and I see her walking up and down 17th sometimes.) I've never seen feces on the street.. except from dogs whose owners do not clean up after them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I live in the area and the only places that I see this are outside the Safeway and the McDonalds. They're annoying but I've never once been harassed (except for by that awful women who rides around on her scooter harassing people about giving her money. She got me outside of the Trader Joe's once and I see her walking up and down 17th sometimes.) I've never seen feces on the street.. except from dogs whose owners do not clean up after them.

There's a huge tent on the corner of 17 and Q now, outside Java House. And there's always human poo in the alley behind Safeway and the elementary school. A route which, in regular times, kids took to get to school in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that when people were locked out of shelters during the day they'd hang in public spaces like the public libraries. I'm assuming they can't do that right now, hence more people on the street.

Yes, this. there are almost no places for people to hang out inside anymore--no libraries, no museums, no coffee shops, nothing. It's awful people are defecatng in the street, but what other options do they have?

Last spring a few weeks into the shut down, I was driving near Dupont Circle. Absolutely no one on the streets, until I turned a corner and came upon a massive number of homeless people queuing up for food. Really sad.

We should definitely have public bathrooms. Why can other countries do this and we can't?

Sure thing. Just send your address and we'll put one outside your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that when people were locked out of shelters during the day they'd hang in public spaces like the public libraries. I'm assuming they can't do that right now, hence more people on the street.

Yes, this. there are almost no places for people to hang out inside anymore--no libraries, no museums, no coffee shops, nothing. It's awful people are defecatng in the street, but what other options do they have?

Last spring a few weeks into the shut down, I was driving near Dupont Circle. Absolutely no one on the streets, until I turned a corner and came upon a massive number of homeless people queuing up for food. Really sad.

We should definitely have public bathrooms. Why can other countries do this and we can't?

Sure thing. Just send your address and we'll put one outside your home.

There was a port-o-potty across the street during some road construction work, she's it was unlocked. Never found a turd in the alley while it was there.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry to hear this. As former Washingtonian who used to live in Dupont and now lives in Los Angeles, don’t let it get worse. Do what you can to stop this now. These encampments have a way of spreading. Do not listen to ignorant fools who call you “privileged.” It is the height of stupidity to allow the poor to live on sidewalks. It is dangerous for the homeless and it is dangerous for everyone else as well. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DuPont circle has always been sketchy/dangerous. Lots of muggings. I used to hang out there a lot 20 years ago and it got really unsettling after dark really fast. Even during the day, crossing the circle with all the homeless/mentally ill people...not the greatest. A lot nicer than adams Morgan used to be but that is not saying much. I am really sad about kramerbooks closing.

I agree that 20 years ago it was so-so, but 10 years ago it was very nice, incredibly safe, and basically not run over with tents on the sidewalk. It has changed and I’m shocked the community isn’t fighting for it.

+1

I worked there about 20 years ago and it was always sketch. If you look around DC, the tents are no longer confined to Tent City, the tents are now EVERYWHERE. Something needs to be done. Not sure what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It used to be that when people were locked out of shelters during the day they'd hang in public spaces like the public libraries. I'm assuming they can't do that right now, hence more people on the street.

Yes, this. there are almost no places for people to hang out inside anymore--no libraries, no museums, no coffee shops, nothing. It's awful people are defecatng in the street, but what other options do they have?

Last spring a few weeks into the shut down, I was driving near Dupont Circle. Absolutely no one on the streets, until I turned a corner and came upon a massive number of homeless people queuing up for food. Really sad.

We should definitely have public bathrooms. Why can other countries do this and we can't?

Sure thing. Just send your address and we'll put one outside your home.

Other countries have timers on the bathrooms so that there aren't homeless or sex acts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DuPont circle has always been sketchy/dangerous. Lots of muggings. I used to hang out there a lot 20 years ago and it got really unsettling after dark really fast. Even during the day, crossing the circle with all the homeless/mentally ill people...not the greatest. A lot nicer than adams Morgan used to be but that is not saying much. I am really sad about kramerbooks closing.

I agree that 20 years ago it was so-so, but 10 years ago it was very nice, incredibly safe, and basically not run over with tents on the sidewalk. It has changed and I’m shocked the community isn’t fighting for it.

+1

I worked there about 20 years ago and it was always sketch. If you look around DC, the tents are no longer confined to Tent City, the tents are now EVERYWHERE. Something needs to be done. Not sure what.

Well, we can go full gestapo on them, tear down their tents, throw away their few belongings, beat them, and tell them to just figure it out or something.

Or, as a city we can ask them what a better alternative would be for them and fund it. Why aren't the shelters working for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DuPont circle has always been sketchy/dangerous. Lots of muggings. I used to hang out there a lot 20 years ago and it got really unsettling after dark really fast. Even during the day, crossing the circle with all the homeless/mentally ill people...not the greatest. A lot nicer than adams Morgan used to be but that is not saying much. I am really sad about kramerbooks closing.

I agree that 20 years ago it was so-so, but 10 years ago it was very nice, incredibly safe, and basically not run over with tents on the sidewalk. It has changed and I’m shocked the community isn’t fighting for it.

+1

I worked there about 20 years ago and it was always sketch. If you look around DC, the tents are no longer confined to Tent City, the tents are now EVERYWHERE. Something needs to be done. Not sure what.

Well, we can go full gestapo on them, tear down their tents, throw away their few belongings, beat them, and tell them to just figure it out or something.

Or, as a city we can ask them what a better alternative would be for them and fund it. Why aren't the shelters working for you?

Shelters turn homeless our during the day. There should be day shelters/service centers. The city uses libraries for this which is a travesty.

[Anonymous]

^ they literally have buses pick homeless up from shelters and carry them to libraries sometimes. Just sad.