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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not that nice to get a head injury and broken facial bones...

I'm assuming this has more to do with the homeless problem in DC than it does with Union Station. They just hang out there because it's out of the elements.

No. They hang out because Amtrak doesn't have a policy of evicting the homeless. It's been that way for a long time.

I don't think "homeless" has to be synonymous with violent and mentally ill or drug addicted.

DMV's weak approach to public safety puts all of us at risk in public spaces.

According to the statistics, a random homeless person is unlikely to attack you. Of course, those statistics ignore the fact that dozens are hanging around the station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you been there today, this weekend, this month? It’s been quite nice when I’ve been there recently.

I was there last weekend. Clean and functional, including the restroom. Not much commerce activities. There are a lot of security standing around in the big hall. Less homeless compared with a year ago. Still big and empty and rundown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not that nice to get a head injury and broken facial bones...

I'm assuming this has more to do with the homeless problem in DC than it does with Union Station. They just hang out there because it's out of the elements.

No. They hang out because Amtrak doesn't have a policy of evicting the homeless. It's been that way for a long time.

I don't think "homeless" has to be synonymous with violent and mentally ill or drug addicted.

DMV's weak approach to public safety puts all of us at risk in public spaces.

Homeless pretty much does equate to mental illness and/or alcoholism and/or drug addiction. Normal functioning individuals do not choose to live on the streets and defecate in public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake up DC you’re about to lose people to flying and none is going to come downtown to eat or shop. Had to go to NYC today and the smell of urine is unbelievable. Barely anyplace to eat. I felt uncomfortable multiple times given the crappy homeless men milling about. Basically it’s a shit hole.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

the old Penn Station did not have places for the public to sit - you had to show your ticket.

and happy to keep the secret entrances secret

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake up DC you’re about to lose people to flying and none is going to come downtown to eat or shop. Had to go to NYC today and the smell of urine is unbelievable. Barely anyplace to eat. I felt uncomfortable multiple times given the crappy homeless men milling about. Basically it’s a shit hole.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

the old Penn Station did not have places for the public to sit - you had to show your ticket.

and happy to keep the secret entrances secret

The old Penn Station was demolished in the early 1960s.

[Anonymous]

I think language matters. If you use the term "homeless" to frame the problem, you end up with the disaster that is Housing First in Ward 3 (and elsewhere). If you frame it as "mentally ill or addicted vagrants who act in threatening and sometimes violent manner" the cued answer is not the one that enriches developers and those they kick money back to, see?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think language matters. If you use the term "homeless" to frame the problem, you end up with the disaster that is Housing First in Ward 3 (and elsewhere). If you frame it as "mentally ill or addicted vagrants who act in threatening and sometimes violent manner" the cued answer is not the one that enriches developers and those they kick money back to, see?

DC likes to throw up their hands and claim they can't fix the homeless issue because everyone in MD and VA will just move to DC to live on their streets. Hotels, landlords, and advocacy groups all benefit from housing the mentally ill but not providing treatment or services.

[Anonymous]

Too few police there, many empty spaces. I was accosted by aggressive panhandler. Bathroom was gross.

[Anonymous]

Today I was at Union Station, it smelled fine, and nobody accosted me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you been there today, this weekend, this month? It’s been quite nice when I’ve been there recently.

I was there last weekend. Clean and functional, including the restroom. Not much commerce activities. There are a lot of security standing around in the big hall. Less homeless compared with a year ago. Still big and empty and rundown.

Please describe the restroom in detail. Because I am heartened, but having trouble believing.

[Anonymous]

Tell visitors to stay alert if renting a car at Union Station, had to be folks around on a Saturday evening.

[twitter]https://twitter.com/alanhenney/status/1705762333023252896[twitter]

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Wise to be extra careful in the garage overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not that nice to get a head injury and broken facial bones...

I'm assuming this has more to do with the homeless problem in DC than it does with Union Station. They just hang out there because it's out of the elements.

No. They hang out because Amtrak doesn't have a policy of evicting the homeless. It's been that way for a long time.

I don't think "homeless" has to be synonymous with violent and mentally ill or drug addicted.

DMV's weak approach to public safety puts all of us at risk in public spaces.

According to the statistics, a random homeless person is unlikely to attack you. Of course, those statistics ignore the fact that dozens are hanging around the station.

My mom's friend was murdered by Union Station in the 70s. She was mentally ill and homeless. Rich and well educated. Thanks closing of mental hospitals. Chronic urban homelessness is pretty synonymous with the things you don't think it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wise to be extra careful in the garage overall.

I am extra vigilant in all garages, including the garage at my job location. I've watched enough movies to know that they are not reliably safe, that's why there are so many disclosures when you park in them.