Anonymous wrote:How do you expect to perform such a sea change in the city with regards to job accessibility, which is key for the type of economic success and cultural transformation you want to see in COC, without addressing how people can safely travel this city without a car? You single out bike lanes for ridicule when in fact more bike lanes - or more accurately simply closing most streets to vehicles altogether - is the number one thing that would increase access to jobs and reduce crime and violence.

You are totally clueless how to fix this city.

I don't get the "job accessibility" argument. This city is full of jobs, and businesses are hiring Salvadorans who ride in from Falls Church or wherever else yet people try to claim that black kids in DCHA housing can't find a job. That's bullshit. The problem isn't lack of jobs, it's that these kids think jobs are for chumps and that instead they are going to make it by trapping, by rapping, they are living in delusional freecar culture and don't understand regular jobs and hustle. The sea change needs to happen in the community itself. Figures in that community need to step up and be disruptors, it's not going to happen from some bunch of eggheads pontificating in Council chambers.

How about also going to the ÇA approach where the two top vote getters face off in the general election?

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to see the pragmatic progressives go after anyone who violates the decriminalize pot law as it was actually written, or repeal it.

Amen. I’m tired of smelling that noxious pot odor on sidewalks and, even worse, from moving cars (with just a driver).

Anonymous wrote:"Pragmatic progressive" is an oxymoron.

True, just say normal Democrat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you expect to perform such a sea change in the city with regards to job accessibility, which is key for the type of economic success and cultural transformation you want to see in COC, without addressing how people can safely travel this city without a car? You single out bike lanes for ridicule when in fact more bike lanes - or more accurately simply closing most streets to vehicles altogether - is the number one thing that would increase access to jobs and reduce crime and violence.

You are totally clueless how to fix this city.

OP here. The fact that you think bike lanes are "the number one thing" to reduce crime and violence is exactly the kind of idiotic thinking I'm talking about. And I'm not anti-bike lane! I'm just freaking tired of arguing about them and I don't think they are the most important thing the city can do.

You're probably a troll, I don't even know why I'm engaging.

+1 Thread derailed immediately by myopic people with a singular agenda.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Pragmatic progressive" is an oxymoron.

They used to be called traditional liberals. People who espoused liberal ideas but knew you couldn't blow up the world to get what you want. They took an incremental approach that was easier to implement, and generally more successful.

This. It's the Hilary Clinton approach, as compared to Bernie Sanders. Genuinely believe in progressive ideals, but cynical enough about people to know you are never going to convince a majority to choose progressive policy all at once-- you have to walk them into it slowly, convincing them it is in their self-interest as you go.

Anonymous wrote:"Pragmatic progressive" is an oxymoron.

They used to be called traditional liberals. People who espoused liberal ideas but knew you couldn't blow up the world to get what you want. They took an incremental approach that was easier to implement, and generally more successful.

Anonymous wrote:"Pragmatic progressive" is an oxymoron.

I am excited to see any self proclaimed progressives headed in this direction! Signed-someone who has to live with a whole bunch of self proclaimed progressives in DC

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you expect to perform such a sea change in the city with regards to job accessibility, which is key for the type of economic success and cultural transformation you want to see in COC, without addressing how people can safely travel this city without a car? You single out bike lanes for ridicule when in fact more bike lanes - or more accurately simply closing most streets to vehicles altogether - is the number one thing that would increase access to jobs and reduce crime and violence.

You are totally clueless how to fix this city.

OP here. The fact that you think bike lanes are "the number one thing" to reduce crime and violence is exactly the kind of idiotic thinking I'm talking about. And I'm not anti-bike lane! I'm just freaking tired of arguing about them and I don't think they are the most important thing the city can do.

You're probably a troll, I don't even know why I'm engaging.

If you only want to hear people who agree with your foolishness and discard any discussion of genuine solutions, then you’ll just be talking to yourself. Enjoy your company.

One only has to look at other world cities without a car culture where bicycles are an integral part of the individual transportation nexus to understand that literally every single one of these cities has far lower rates of crime than DC.

DP. And you think these other cities have lower crime rates because of… bikes? Seriously? Perhaps they also have higher penalties for committing crimes. Fewer guns. More respect for each other and for their laws. A greater handle on education.

"Pragmatic progressive" is an oxymoron.

I'd like to see the pragmatic progressives go after anyone who violates the decriminalize pot law as it was actually written, or repeal it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you expect to perform such a sea change in the city with regards to job accessibility, which is key for the type of economic success and cultural transformation you want to see in COC, without addressing how people can safely travel this city without a car? You single out bike lanes for ridicule when in fact more bike lanes - or more accurately simply closing most streets to vehicles altogether - is the number one thing that would increase access to jobs and reduce crime and violence.

You are totally clueless how to fix this city.

OP here. The fact that you think bike lanes are "the number one thing" to reduce crime and violence is exactly the kind of idiotic thinking I'm talking about. And I'm not anti-bike lane! I'm just freaking tired of arguing about them and I don't think they are the most important thing the city can do.

You're probably a troll, I don't even know why I'm engaging.

If you only want to hear people who agree with your foolishness and discard any discussion of genuine solutions, then you’ll just be talking to yourself. Enjoy your company.

One only has to look at other world cities without a car culture where bicycles are an integral part of the individual transportation nexus to understand that literally every single one of these cities has far lower rates of crime than DC.

Anonymous wrote:How do you expect to perform such a sea change in the city with regards to job accessibility, which is key for the type of economic success and cultural transformation you want to see in COC, without addressing how people can safely travel this city without a car? You single out bike lanes for ridicule when in fact more bike lanes - or more accurately simply closing most streets to vehicles altogether - is the number one thing that would increase access to jobs and reduce crime and violence.

You are totally clueless how to fix this city.

OP here. The fact that you think bike lanes are "the number one thing" to reduce crime and violence is exactly the kind of idiotic thinking I'm talking about. And I'm not anti-bike lane! I'm just freaking tired of arguing about them and I don't think they are the most important thing the city can do.

You're probably a troll, I don't even know why I'm engaging.

How do you expect to perform such a sea change in the city with regards to job accessibility, which is key for the type of economic success and cultural transformation you want to see in COC, without addressing how people can safely travel this city without a car? You single out bike lanes for ridicule when in fact more bike lanes - or more accurately simply closing most streets to vehicles altogether - is the number one thing that would increase access to jobs and reduce crime and violence.

You are totally clueless how to fix this city.

I just cannot with the progressive wing of the council anymore. Having progressive views does not, and cannot, mean that you simply ignore what is actually happening in order to stay "pure" politically. I am so tired of the mealy-mouthed platitudes from the progressives on crime and education.

I would like progressive council members who actually want to tackle the central issues in DC, and not just talk around them, afraid to actually commit to any ACTION that might address them.

We have major crises in DC concerning juvenile crime, substance abuse, and mental health. These crises are having a major impact on quality of life, viability of businesses, and the overall look and feel of the city. You can separate them from the overall crime rate, the tents cities and unhoused issues, test scores and attendance rates. It's all mixed together. Yes, the pandemic made these all worse. Yes, school closures made these worse. Yes, inflation and economic instability make these worse. Let's just acknowledge all that.

And then DO something. We need a plan on juvenile crime that isn't just catch and release. Who doe that help? We need a total overhaul of DC's approach to truancy and at risk kids -- we simply lost children from schools entirely during the pandemic and we haven't done enough to get them back. And we need real solutions around homelessness -- the current situation cannot be allowed to continue. It is dangerous for the unhoused and employees at businesses that regularly encounter them, and it's a public health issue that also impacts the economy and tourism. We need solutions that address the needs of unhoused people (ESPECIALLY mental health and substance abuse needs, these are critical issues) but also doesn't just accept that we will have hundreds or even thousands of people living in tents without access to running water all over the city.

I don't have faith in Bowser and cronies to ever do anything that is not 100% in their self interest, but I have had it with progressive politicians who do NOTHING while offering vague platitudes about racism and equity to appease activists. We have real problems. We need real solutions.

The only politician in DC I like right now is Christina Henderson. Please not: I am not Henderson, I don't work for her, and I don't know her personally. But she isn't corrupt and she's not lazy, and she doesn't just handcuff herself progressive values and call it a day. We need problem solvers who will DO something. I'm so tired of these progressives who just talk and talk and hope for the best. We cannot afford it!

Please don't turn this into a thread about bike lanes. I truly do not care about bike lanes anymore. It's like #347 on the list of critical issues in DC right now.