Comments on: Protesting Social Service Groups in the Name of Economic Development http://dcentric.wamu.org/2012/01/rallying-against-social-services-in-the-name-of-economic-development/ Race, Class, The District. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 03:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ann-Marie Watt http://dcentric.wamu.org/2012/01/rallying-against-social-services-in-the-name-of-economic-development/#comment-1146 Ann-Marie Watt Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:38:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=13219#comment-1146 A couple of years ago, I was volunteering and spoke with a homeless man in McPherson Square park.  He said that he was an advocate for the homeless and operated a blog on homelessness issues.  He was sooo angry at DC and other groups moving their services to Anacostia.  He said that people were trying to get rid of the homeless population by moving them to the other side of the river.  He also said that it would be more difficult to get back to the other side every day.  So, what about that?  Are the women who don't work going to stay in Anacostia all day just hanging out?  What resources are there going to be for them?   Lastly, other services, specifically the methadone clinic, is greatly used by people from across the river.  How do I know this?  Well, when I'm commuting to work in the morning, I see people leaving the clinic and getting into cars going across the river.  So, why are all of these services located here when there definitely is a demand on the other side?  MOVE IT OUT OF HERE!  WE DON'T WANT IT!   Calvary - I have no problem with your mission and work.  HOWEVER, you picked the WORST location to open your shelter.  Yes - it's a shelter.  Forget the pretty flowery wording - call a spade a spade.  There are SOO many vacant lots and buildings in other parts of Anacostia that aren't on the main business corridor.  Why did you pick this one?  Because you got a sweetheart deal?  Please. A couple of years ago, I was volunteering and spoke with a homeless man in McPherson Square park.  He said that he was an advocate for the homeless and operated a blog on homelessness issues.  He was sooo angry at DC and other groups moving their services to Anacostia.  He said that people were trying to get rid of the homeless population by moving them to the other side of the river.  He also said that it would be more difficult to get back to the other side every day.  So, what about that?  Are the women who don’t work going to stay in Anacostia all day just hanging out?  What resources are there going to be for them?  

Lastly, other services, specifically the methadone clinic, is greatly used by people from across the river.  How do I know this?  Well, when I’m commuting to work in the morning, I see people leaving the clinic and getting into cars going across the river.  So, why are all of these services located here when there definitely is a demand on the other side?  MOVE IT OUT OF HERE!  WE DON’T WANT IT!  

Calvary – I have no problem with your mission and work.  HOWEVER, you picked the WORST location to open your shelter.  Yes – it’s a shelter.  Forget the pretty flowery wording – call a spade a spade.  There are SOO many vacant lots and buildings in other parts of Anacostia that aren’t on the main business corridor.  Why did you pick this one?  Because you got a sweetheart deal?  Please.

]]> By: Ann-Marie Watt http://dcentric.wamu.org/2012/01/rallying-against-social-services-in-the-name-of-economic-development/#comment-1145 Ann-Marie Watt Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:27:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=13219#comment-1145 Not necessarily.  Have you been to Anacostia recently, if at all?  There are a lot o f average working folk here, many of which own their own homes.  It's a community of families, not one with an overabundance of homeless people. Not necessarily.  Have you been to Anacostia recently, if at all?  There are a lot o f average working folk here, many of which own their own homes.  It’s a community of families, not one with an overabundance of homeless people.

]]> By: Monipo1 http://dcentric.wamu.org/2012/01/rallying-against-social-services-in-the-name-of-economic-development/#comment-1144 Monipo1 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:01:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=13219#comment-1144 Yeah, but I bet most of those homeless are from that area. I would think it would be more convenient. Where do you suggest? Takoma? Upper Northwest? Yeah, but I bet most of those homeless are from that area. I would think it would be more convenient. Where do you suggest? Takoma? Upper Northwest?

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