Dear PoPville,

I’m trying to figure out what to do about this annoying Emergency No Parking situation going on in my neighborhood. A couple days ago, neighbors posted Emergency No Parking signs in front of their house, taking up the space about 5 or 6 cars would fit in. Then, a construction debris container was dropped in front of their house. That’s all fine, especially since there’s no back alley access to our back yards. However, they included reserved space for their construction company’s vans, that don’t show up until 10 a.m. or later. They put up traffic cones to reserve the spaces, even though they’re limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The worst part is, the permit is through June 30, 2012, so we have to deal with this for six more months.

The parking restrictions they’ve placed on the block are really excessive, considering it’s hard to find parking there anyway (it’s right behind Penn Ave. SE). I don’t believe you can reserve spaces for anything other than the “roll off debris container” that the parking permit designates the parking restrictions for, but they’re reserving another 3 car-lengths in front of the container. They’ve taken up like 20 percent of the parking spots on that side of the street. I’ve attached pictures to show what I’m talking about.

Any suggestions on who to call on this?

Dear PoPville,

I took this picture last night at 9th and S, NW. I usually see this happen at least once a month at this corner. Is it illegal? Not knowing who is doing it, is there anything to be done? That can is effectively filled until the next garbage day. Shouldn’t people be required to dump this much garbage at their residence?

Does anyone know who this should be reported to 311? DPW?

Dear PoPville,

I really wanted to appeal to all drivers in DC and in the surrounding area who come into the city for work or for fun to please try to be more respectful of posted crosswalks. A few days ago I was almost hit at a crosswalk in front of my house and this was the closest of many near misses over the past year or so. I have taken interest in past postings on this site about crosswalk etiquette for both drivers and pedestrians. based on the discussion in the comments, I realized that drivers may not realize that I was intending to cross when I was waiting on the curb at a crosswalk. I have since begun taking a few steps into the street to about the edge of the parking spots to indicate that I intend to cross. I have noticed that this has absolutely no effect.

Despite clearly waiting to cross, dozens of cars will blow past and I even had one car try to go around a driver that was kind enough to stop for me, almost hitting me. I can sometimes make it halfway across the street but will have to stand in the middle of the street waiting for drivers on the eastbound lane to stop. Usually this means waiting for the light 50 yards down the road to cycle to red and force cars to stop. even so, they often stop in the middle of the crosswalk. The near miss that led me to write this appeal occurred with me standing in the middle of the eastbound lane waiting for a line of westbound traffic to yield or to pass. I stepped into the eastbound lane with no traffic visible coming from that direction and despite being in the middle of the lane, the driver failed to stop.

Having seen other posts, I feel it is important to state the following:

the crosswalk is clearly painted and visible on the street at a T intersection 50 yards from a stop light. It also features a stand up yellow sign on the center line stating that DC law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

No single group of drivers are solely responsible — I have seen DC, MD, VA, NJ, GA, and CA drivers fail to yield. Most strikingly, DCPD also fails to yield. I’m not sure how the rest of the public should be expected to respect the law when the PD doesn’t. The worst, however, are WMATA buses. They really like to stop in the middle of the crosswalk when the light is red.

Really, I just want to ask everyone who drives in the district to try to be aware of pedestrian crosswalks and to respect the pedestrians who are trying to cross.

Not sure if this really happened or is a creative writing assignment but for what it’s worth, here it is.

From Craigslist missed connections:

you hit me with your electric wheelchair so i challenge you to a duel – 29 (Giant in Columbia Heights Washington DC)

Hello sir,

My name is Ben and at about 8pm tonight (1/17/12) you ran directly into me with your electric wheelchair in front of the Giant in Columbia Heights, DC.

Allow me to illustrate what exactly happened that was so be-fuddling and anger inducing that it would inspire me to create a “missed connection” post on Craigslist.

After a long day at work, I entered the aforementioned Giant in our wonderful nation’s capital. All I needed were paper towels. I purchased said paper towels and was on my merry way home only to be caught in a pedestrian traffic jam of sorts at the entrance of the grocery store. After avoiding disaster and taking a sigh of relief, my eyes were suddenly affixed upon an middle-aged gentleman about four to five feet away from me in an electric wheelchair hellbent on taking me out. That gentleman was you, sir. Not only did you run directly into me, but I consequently fell directly onto you, and then off your wheelchair, and then onto the ground.

Now, what for lack of better words “pisses me the f*ck off” is the fact that you threw up your hands like you were just attacked by a pack of rabid penguins. What “pisses me the f*ck off” even more is the fact that all the on-lookers immediately ran to your side to see if you were “okay.” Don’t mind me. It’s all gravy. Getting hit by people in electric wheelchairs is apparently a normally occurring thing in everyday life. Moreover, I get that you are handicapped for whatever reason and need an electric wheelchair to do whatever it is you do, but in my years of living I’ve gathered that by now electric wheelchairs have the ability to stop as well as go.

One more thing. I have a broken toe on my right foot. You managed to not only run over that, but my left foot as well, which now feels like it was just hit by an inconsiderate handicapped guy in an electric wheelchair in front of a Giant in Washington, DC (see what I did there?). Anyway, I am currently working as a day manager and head bartender at a bar/nightclub. This job requires me to constantly be quick on my feet and run up and down stairs daily to make sure things run smoothly. Now pardon my language sir, but how the f*ck am I going to explain to my bosses and fellow employees that I cannot perform up to expectations because I got “hit by a guy in an electric wheelchair.” These kinds of things not only sound made-up, but make me look like a straight up punk b*tch, and I sir, am not a punk b*tch.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT YOUR GUFF AND DOUCHE-BAGGERY, AND CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL.

Judging by the shape of your legs (literally and figuratively), we cannot engage in a cage fight, and sadly duels to the death are no longer considered “legal.” The only fair compromise is that I buy an electric wheelchair myself and we joust. If you accept these terms, I demand we meet in front of the same Giant at the date of your choosing, preferably at sunrise so I can still make it to work after I f*ck your shit up.

I do not care if I miss rent next month, or my cell phone gets cut off. I will use all the money I make to make this happen in order to make things right in this already sad world. The gauntlet has been thrown.

Consider your couch f*cked,
Ben

P.S. – I hate you.

Dear PoPville,

I’ve lived in the same apartment for a number of years with no problems. It’s an older building and the heating system includes large vents on the floor. Recently, the strong smell of marijuana has been coming through the vent on a daily basis. Because it’s coming from the vent, I believe it’s the tenants downstairs. If this was just once in awhile, we’d try to just ignore it; but this is happening every day and sometimes multiple times a day.

I’d really like to get this to stop, but I don’t feel comfortable confronting the tenant in person. Based on past experience, I doubt the office staff will take any meaningful action. So, I feel that I’m left with calling the police – so do I just call 311? Does anyone out there in PoPville have any suggestions?

We discussed a somewhat similar situation back in April ’11 when an elderly neighbor’s pot smoke was also getting into someone’s apartment. Is it possible you could leave a note under the offending resident’s door?

Thanks to everyone who forwarded emails from Vida Fitness:

Dear VIDA Members,
DC City Council will soon consider Bill 19-0517, which would allow enormous full-motion Jumbotron billboards to be placed anywhere on the exterior of the Verizon Center. The bill will exempt these billboards from most of the regulations that apply to all other billboards in the city.

As a VIDA Member, you need to be aware that one of Verizon Center’s planned Jumbotrons would literally cover the vast majority of VIDA’s leased space. One of the important amenities that we offer is floor-to-ceiling glass windows and the natural light is very much a part of what makes VIDA so enjoyable. Many of you value the scenic views of downtown DC you enjoy while utilizing our cardio equipment or simply walking the 3rd Floor during your weight lifting routine. This visual reinforces that this is truly a neighborhood where people work, live and work out.

The proposed bill allows for LED billboards of unlimited size, including signs that could wrap around the Verizon Center and cast light 7 or 8 blocks down G Street, meaning they would be visible from the Treasury Building, which sits right next to the White House. The authorizing legislation allows up to 9 Jumbotrons of any size in any location. The Verizon Center plan does not respect the local community of residences, offices, businesses, museums, theatres, and restaurants.

The billboards may hamper the residential development that the city is actively trying to encourage in the area. A recent study showed that billboards negatively impact the value of neighboring residences and drive down property values. This, combined with a decline in tenants interested in having their bedrooms bathed in glowing LED lights, would ultimately discourage residential development and result in a loss of property taxes collected by the city.
The legislation will be heard before the City Council on Jan. 23 at 2:00 PM. Your input is very important. Please join us by filling out the petition form at www.scenic.org/verizon. You may also call or email the DC City Council directly.

If you want to speak at the hearing, you must sign up before Friday, January 20th.
Contact Melanie Williamson at (202) 741-2112 or email her at mwilliamson@dccouncil.us.

The hearing is Monday, January 23, 2012 at 2:00 PM.
Room 123, John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004

David von Storch
President & Founder
VIDA Fitness

Do you think the Verizon Center should be able to have LED billboards?

From ANC1B:

ANC 1B is surveying residents about the Enhanced Residential Parking Permit program. This program, if the ANC opts into it, will restrict parking on one side of each residential street to residents only during the hours of parking restrictions. Visitors will still be permitted to park on the other side of each residential street for up to two hours.

Think this is a good idea? Take the survey here.

Dear PoPville,

I’m writing to vent about all the litter blowing around Columbia heights. I know the city cut the Green Team but this is ridiculous & I’m wondering what we can do. I took photos near our house and was thinking maybe I can take more & send them to Jim Graham’s office – any other ideas? It’s too much for one or two people to keep up with. Have you noticed more trash? Anyone else?

Have others noticed that litter has increased since some funding for the Green Teams were cut?

Dear PoPville,

My friend and I had just left Room 11 and were walking west on Park, about 2 blocks from the Target, when we saw a group of black teenage girls walking towards us on the sidewalk. They were taking up the entire width of the walk, and didn’t look like they were going to allow us to pass. My friend and I had two choices: let them run us off the sidewalk or keep walking on our half of the sidewalk. We chose the latter. Consequently, we bumped shoulders with a couple of the girls, who proceeded to call us “white bitches.”

We felt that the girls were deliberately trying to intimidate and provoke us, and we chose to stand our ground. However, others may have behaved differently in this situation – some may have yielded the sidewalk to avoid a confrontation; some would have said “excuse me” or politely asked the girls to share the sidewalk; and some may have used stronger terms.

After the girls called us names, we ignored them and kept walking. Again, others may have responded differently.

What would you have done?

Over the holidays there was an interesting discussion on the MPD-1D listserv that started off with the following request:

“Please resolve the issue of panhandlers sitting in front of SW New Safeway!”

MPD responded:

First District members will use some of their persuasive talents to encourage these folks to go elsewhere; however, “panhandling” and loitering are not illegal in the District of Columbia. Aggressive Panhandling is a violation of the law, but this would involve an activity like using tactics that are meant to intimidate people. The City Council purposely did not make the mere act of panhandling a violation, so while it may not be conducive to the promotion of the area, we are limited in what action we can take. If the law was to change and panhandling did become illegal, we would enforce.

In addition to our persuasive tactics, it would help if the community not give money to these panhandlers. I stopped at Safeway myself the other night on my way home and saw at least 3 people give money to a subject panhandling. As long as people continue to give money to the panhandlers, they will keep coming back. The community could urge people that want to help the homeless to give money to organization that provide services to the homeless rather than to panhandlers.

A resident included this secton from DC Code for reference:

D.C. Code s.22-2301-2306 (Panhandling Control Act of 1993), specifically s.2302(a)-(h) which states:

(a) No person may ask, beg, or solicit alms, including money and other things of value, in an aggressive manner in any place open to the general public, including sidewalks, streets, alleys, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas, buildings, doorways and entrances to buildings, and gasoline service stations, and the grounds enclosing buildings.

As stated the key words in the above code are “in an aggressive manner”. The Downtown BID shares a primer on aggressive panhandling here.

When I was in San Fransisco over the holidays I happened to notice the following plaque in front of a downtown building (see photo above as well):

So for the Friday Question of the Day – do you think DC Code/laws need to be updated to deal with panhandling? Do you think panhandling in DC is a significant problem in general? Do you think an MPD officer responding “First District members will use some of their persuasive talents to encourage these folks to go elsewhere” is a satisfactory way to deal with this problem (if you do consider it a problem)?