Mary Cheh has turned Cleveland Park/Cleveland Park North into her personal political asset

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, I hope that they are expected to do something meaningful and worthwhile during the day, that will advance them from homelessness. Is that part of the 8 new shelter policy? Job, job training, treatment, further education. Planting tree canopy is fine. Has the Mayor hashed out any agreements with Giant etc for job placements? No, i am not looking at Giant as a public service. More, something win-win as everyone has mentioned the families placed there will be hard working folks who have fallen through the cracks.

I wouldn't count on Giant remaining in the immediate area long term. After Wegman's opens, I'd say that the Cathedral Commons Giant's days are numbered, as Wegman's will be highly competitive to attract Giant's current customers. Giant has already closed its store at Friendship Heights, and Wegman's is even more of a direct competitor than Whole Foods. The Ward 3 shelter won't be enough of a customer base for Giant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, I hope that they are expected to do something meaningful and worthwhile during the day, that will advance them from homelessness. Is that part of the 8 new shelter policy? Job, job training, treatment, further education. Planting tree canopy is fine. Has the Mayor hashed out any agreements with Giant etc for job placements? No, i am not looking at Giant as a public service. More, something win-win as everyone has mentioned the families placed there will be hard working folks who have fallen through the cracks.

Sigh - homeless does not equal unemployed.

I presume the PP is a clueless CP resident who has no idea that there are two groups of homeless people - the long term homeless who often have mental health and substance abuse issues and short term homeless who run into monetary or relationship issues that suddenly push them into a precarious situation and out from under their roof.

The vast majority of homeless fall into the latter group and most of them in fact are employed.

And the city has a strong incentive to provide them services so they stay in the latter category but of only a short period which includes staying employed and keeping their kids in school which over the long term benefits these individuals and the city and saves a lot of money.

If you live in CP you probably really have little to no idea how many people in our country and city live paycheck to paycheck and are one unexpected roadblock away from being unable to pay their rent.

But since PP is home during the day you can go check-in on the homeless to make sure they are making good use of their time in-between getting your morning latte and your mani-pedi.

[Anonymous]

It’s pretty rich that folks single out supposed “Cleveland Park residents” whenever it suits them to stand on their soap box. “Cleveland Park” residents are criticized for wanting to protect the trees in Hearst Park, when it’s pretty clear that the DC government doesn’t give a damn about this natural asset. “CP residents” are dismissed to having raised no-process and zoning concerns with the Ward 3 shelter (despite the fact that the shelter is in “Cathedral Commons Heights” or McLean Gardens but not in Cleveland Park. In fact it was the residents of Massachusetts Ave Heights who used their influence with Mary Cheh to kill the original site for the Ward 3 shelter in their neighborhood. And it’s easy to get on your moral high horse about concern for the homeless when you know that the shelter will be miles away from your home in Mass Avenue Heights, Forest Hill or Spring Valley.

[Anonymous]

The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

Tenloytown has both shelters and homeless services, and is a stone's throw from current location so.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, I hope that they are expected to do something meaningful and worthwhile during the day, that will advance them from homelessness. Is that part of the 8 new shelter policy? Job, job training, treatment, further education. Planting tree canopy is fine. Has the Mayor hashed out any agreements with Giant etc for job placements? No, i am not looking at Giant as a public service. More, something win-win as everyone has mentioned the families placed there will be hard working folks who have fallen through the cracks.

Sigh - homeless does not equal unemployed.

I presume the PP is a clueless CP resident who has no idea that there are two groups of homeless people - the long term homeless who often have mental health and substance abuse issues and short term homeless who run into monetary or relationship issues that suddenly push them into a precarious situation and out from under their roof.

The vast majority of homeless fall into the latter group and most of them in fact are employed.

And the city has a strong incentive to provide them services so they stay in the latter category but of only a short period which includes staying employed and keeping their kids in school which over the long term benefits these individuals and the city and saves a lot of money.

If you live in CP you probably really have little to no idea how many people in our country and city live paycheck to paycheck and are one unexpected roadblock away from being unable to pay their rent.

But since PP is home during the day you can go check-in on the homeless to make sure they are making good use of their time in-between getting your morning latte and your mani-pedi.

Well, for one I work.
Second, I have been a working single parent on Medicaid in DC.
Third, don't live in CP.
Fourth, believe in the value of work, school, and/or counseling to get out of the abyss. So on this, we clearly agree. The shelter should have services and requirements for residents.
Glad we could work that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

Tenloytown has both shelters and homeless services, and is a stone's throw from current location so.....

Tenleytown is also much lower density than the Cathedral Commons area (which is definitely in CP) though that really has nothing to do with whether or not it makes sense for a homeless shelter.

But the broader point from the PP is a valid one that TT in fact has some long standing homeless services that most people in the neighborhood are not even aware of.

[Anonymous]

The Cathedral Commons complex is definitely not in Cleveland Park, which is an historic district and starts on the other wise of Wisconsin Ave. Historic protections and zoning restrictions would have precluded a complex of that height and size and would have required extensive architectural review.

[Anonymous]

To return to the earlier question: The DC government, either deliberately (but with no notice) or through gross incompetence, has denuded much of Hearst Park of its trees. The appearance and character of the park have been significantly harmed. What is DC’s plan to restore the tree canopy? What is Mary Cheh doing to fix this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

Tenloytown has both shelters and homeless services, and is a stone's throw from current location so.....

Where does Tenleytown have homeless shelters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

Tenloytown has both shelters and homeless services, and is a stone's throw from current location so.....

Where does Tenleytown have homeless shelters?

They should put more homeless shelters in Tenleytown because that’s where most of the street people in Ward 3 tend to congregate. The other day I saw Someone with a shopping cart sitting on someone’s porch steps on a residential side street close to Wisconsin. If shelters are moved to other neighborhoods the problem will also spread to more areas. Maybe this is what Bowser’s plan is, “to shame Ward 3.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

Tenloytown has both shelters and homeless services, and is a stone's throw from current location so.....

Where does Tenleytown have homeless shelters?

In addition to the Tenley library, Starbucks and WF which operate as de facto day shelters (and the bus stops, metro and doorways) we have Friendship Place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

Tenloytown has both shelters and homeless services, and is a stone's throw from current location so.....

Where does Tenleytown have homeless shelters?

In addition to the Tenley library, Starbucks and WF which operate as de facto day shelters (and the bus stops, metro and doorways) we have Friendship Place.

The upstairs balcony at Whole Foods is another hangout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Shelter should have gone in Tenleytown, where there are higher density residential buildings and metro/transportation right there. But Murial refused to listen to her staff.

Tenloytown has both shelters and homeless services, and is a stone's throw from current location so.....

Where does Tenleytown have homeless shelters?

They should put more homeless shelters in Tenleytown because that’s where most of the street people in Ward 3 tend to congregate. The other day I saw Someone with a shopping cart sitting on someone’s porch steps on a residential side street close to Wisconsin. If shelters are moved to other neighborhoods the problem will also spread to more areas. Maybe this is what Bowser’s plan is, “to shame Ward 3.”

+100

Nailed it, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Cathedral Commons complex is definitely not in Cleveland Park, which is an historic district and starts on the other wise of Wisconsin Ave. Historic protections and zoning restrictions would have precluded a complex of that height and size and would have required extensive architectural review.

The project took 15 years of red tape and neighborhood pushback including an attempt to landmark what had been there. There is nothing about being in a historic district which would have prevented Cathedral Commons. Look no further than the 14th Street corridor for what is allowed in historic districts.