Anonymous wrote:I go there multiple times a week for work or to meet up with friends or family. I have never lived there but have several family members who have been there for multiple generations. Also since I live in NE and have family in southern MD, we drive through regularly to leave town.
Ward 8 is large and varied, some areas are dicy but others are nice, safe, and mostly residential.
I don't care if people in DC spend time in Ward 8 or not but wow would I like people who never go there to stop using it as part of their arguments regarding crime, education, DC culture, etc. Like if you want to make those arguments, you better actually know the Ward.
100% this.
We go to different neighborhoods in both Ward 7 and Ward 8. Some areas are as nice as cleveland Park, but you would never know that from the media or sheltered people who never get out.
Also, the Anacostia River trail is as nice as anything in the region for running, biking etc. and it is easy to rent kayaks and canoes on the Anacostia River, no different than going to Fletcher's on the Potomac. Yes, there are some areas that are not great, but it certainly isn't the hellhole the right wing media would have anyone believe.