Oh boy - there is only one seat for someone from ICCA on the group. Can we please make sure Patricia is not our rep? We really need someone to advocate for us and she does not have most people's confidence.
Members: 1. Planning Commission (Chair) 2. Parker-Gray BAR member 3. Public Housing Resident 4,5. ARHA Representatives 6. Inner City Representative 7. BraddockLofts/Townhouse Representative 8. Northeast Representative 9. Business Representative from Inner City or Northeast
Since when does Braddock Lofts get a representative, and since when is Northeast adjacent to the Metro?
Sure looks stacked from where this Parker-Gray resident sits. Not that it matters, the selection of individuals is/was scheduled for '07. You better believe the committee members know who they are.
More evidence that the only education City officials have is a PHD - Piled Higher and Deeper.
Too bad the document does not ask for information on crimes committed by residents or in the immediate vicinity of ARHA residences. Unfortunately, that is not irrelevant to this discussion.
"Since when does Braddock Lofts get a representative?"
I'd bet the Lofts has a rep, even though they are small, because they are better organized, more vocal, and more respected than ICCA. Thank god for the Lofts rep, though. Even though I don't live there, that will be the one person who will likely share the interests of those of us who unfortunately must live in close proximity of those awful projects.
"Since when does Braddock Lofts get a representative"
I would say that since the majority of the proposed development is right next door to them, they should at least get a voice, if ARHA is getting 3 voices.
Frankly, none of the people listed makes a lot of sense. Sounds like it will be 3 (public housing) against 2 (bureaucrats) against 4 (association representatives)
600 block of North West Street. 09/11 between 10:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. The victim, a 49 year-old Alexandria woman, reports that a known suspect exposed himself to her from his parked vehicle
Why can't we send Sarah Becker or someone like her as our ICCA rep? There's an ICCA meeting tonight and we could bring up the question of who we'd like to see on that Committee.
Personally, I'm glad there is a Lofts rep and a rep from Northeast. Both of those groups have a big interest in doing away with Res 830 and FINALLY fairly dispersing the residents of Bland and Adkins to the other parts of the City. These Lofts and Northeast types have done more than their fair share already of dealing with ARHA mess.
The ICCA rep SHOULD speak in concert with these two. Unless, of course, it's someone who is incapable of representing our views adequately...
"OT post - fyi, the mayor's walk scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. Apparently, he's just realized its Rosh Hashana. "
As if anyone expected him to show up...
Still waiting for the Mayors visit at 11 PM on a Saturday. Plenty of good trash at Adkins right now...just ask the birds and squirrels.
Maybe we can have one of the squirrles show up at the P&Z meeting to let the Mayor know he doesnt want the projects torn down because he might lost his food supply.
Wow! With comments like the ones above this blog is becoming irrelevant really fast. where are the people with solutions? Where are the people who understand that the political process is based on compromise?
"I believe Becker would support them, as she is no fan of 830."
To my knowledge she has never expressed an opinion. I sometimes see her dog walking and Becker is usually careful when stating her point of view. I remember her from the old days and she is good!
"where are the people with solutions? Where are the people who understand that the political process is based on compromise?"
Wait just a cotton pickin' minute. The Braddock plan is based on an agenda the City has been pushing, much of which has been hidden from ordinary residents.
Despite all the controversy, the City has never returned to the neighborhood with a compromise solution, not ONCE in the two and a half years this process has dragged on. And most people are not expecting Kramer to present one on 9/24.
So explain why should it rest on our backs to do all the heavy lifting?
You go, GRRROWLER, well said! And Kramer? He and his people were Kings of disinformation in my "interview," telling me some things and "forgetting" to mentioning others that anyone with Internet access can find out. Between that experience and his obvious manipulation of the last community meeting (so few residents, so many "stakeholders")I've seen enough of his so-called conclusions.
Although if he concludes that residents are royally PO'd about the City's attempt to shove all these plans (including its Transportation Plan, which STILL includes Route 1)down our throats he's got that completely right.
"where are the people with solutions? Where are the people who understand that the political process is based on compromise?"
Maybe the blogger can explain how you compromise when people use rhetoric like this..... (from the Alexandria Times)
Your Views - Airing our laundry September 13, 2007
My thanks to The Alexandria Times for the recent article on the public housing crisis here in Alexandria. But I take objection to one of the photographs accompanying the article — the photo showing laundry drying on a clothes line. There’s actually nothing wrong with the photo. Hanging wet clothing outside to dry is a facet of warm weather months. The problem lies with the photo’s caption and the poor judgment of the editor at The Alexandria Times to include in the photo’s caption a reference to “new market-priced home buyers” objecting to “laundry drying on a line.” Now, one could interpret the caption in one of two ways. That the new market-priced home buyers do not like living next to low-income families (elitist at best, racist at worse), or that the new market-priced home buyers simply do not like the sight of laundry drying in the open air. My guess is that some version of the former is what’s behind the photo’s caption. In which case, I would encourage The Alexandria Times to practice a little journalistic license and remind readers that the lower income housing in the north end of Old Town and the families who live there were there long before the near-million dollar townhomes nearby started sprouting in recent years. Let’s not inadvertently cater to more affluent homebuyers by maligning the families who live in Section 8 housing.
Stephanie Cabell Alexandria
Can someone explain to anyone what the heck Cabell is talking about and why anyone who objects to anything related to public housing is automatcially hit with one of the following:
1. They were here first 2. You are racist 3. You are elitist 4. Where do you want them to go?
Its all the same with these clowns...how can you solve problems with people in charge who dont listen to logic or facts, but prefer to hit you with emotion and rhetoric.
"Despite all the controversy, the City has never returned to the neighborhood with a compromise solution, not ONCE in the two and a half years this process has dragged on. And most people are not expecting Kramer to present one on 9/24. "
Wait till u get a whiff of their new angle, Growler.
Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding.
So what the City will state is either accept the Plan or accept ARHA
Love how Council finally gets down to racebaiting politics. I have been waiting for them to pull out the card.....
"Can someone explain to anyone what the heck Cabell is talking about and why anyone who objects to anything related to public housing is automatcially hit with one of the following"
You will not be surprised to learn that Stephanie Cabell lives in Del Ray. Wonder what she'd say if they dispersed public housing across from her house??
"Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding."
"Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding."
You can bet the city is up to something ugly. My guess is, based on the interviews, Kramer has told them how to play their nasty politics. Why else would a proposed adisory group meet frequently through the Fall then leisurely throughout 2008? Bet you the Plan is a New Year's docket item with public housing the candy lure. Until an adequate amount of new land is purchased there is no deal. The Plan is held in abeyance. Staff is like the salesman who tells the naive one she can only get a little bit pregnant.
The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has one vacancy for a citizen member due to an expiring term. The Board meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Approximately six hours per month are required of Board members.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: ROSE WILLIAMS BOYD OR KATHRYN MENDENHALL 703.838-4691
u"The author of that Alexandria Times letter lives in Del Ray. Stop congratulating yourself about your "liberalism at a distance" and come live with the beer cans and the flying bullets."
This is about the saddest comment I have seen so far and its underlying logic plagues this blog like a highly contagious virus. The supposition is that only those who live within a few blocks of the projects have any right to comment on and be involved in the process of improving/removing them. That notion is hogwash. That's like saying I have no right to comment on the Iraq fiasco because I'm not in the army. Just silly. We are all taxpayers and we all should be heard on this important city issue. To demonize someone who lives in Del Ray just because they have an opinion on an issue in this neighborhood really lowers the level of debate.
It is instructive to note that none of the comments that seek to slam Ms. Cabell actually take issue with the substance of her post, that air drying your laundry is a perfectly acceptable activity. Instead they just angrily denounce her as a liberal; As if that were a bad thing in itself.
May the Growler inject a note of common sense and make this observation?
Public housing residents are probably hanging out laundry because they don't have dryers in each unit. There's no longer any coin-operated laundries located in our area, and getting to one of the establishments over on Mt. Vernon Avenue is a big chore, particularly without wheels.
Amenities like dryers in each unit as well as central air conditioning could be available with redevelopment of these aging properties. That would be a meaningful change in the quality of life for residents.
The most likely reason there are so many people outside on hotter days than cooler ones is because there isn't central air in Bland, Adkins or the Burg.
Anyone can see when they walk or drive by that each unit may have two A/C Units, maybe three in the larger units if they're lucky.
It probably gets so hot in those houses, that people feel cooler outside in the breeze and shade.
As for the drying of laundry?
Well the units do have washing machines, but again, even if they had dryers, have we come to a stage in society that says, "Do not try to save money on electricity, because others may not like the way it looks".
Had a washer and dryer since I was a young lad. Mom loved air drying the sheets in the backyard anyway.
If we're going to complain about the projects, complain about things that can and should be changed. Litter, loiterers, foul mouths, lack of parental supervision for children at all hours of the night, ARHA not even caring about the quality of life for the decent residents that do reside there.
"If we're going to complain about the projects, complain about things that can and should be changed. Litter, loiterers, foul mouths, lack of parental supervision for children at all hours of the night, ARHA not even caring about the quality of life for the decent residents that do reside there."
This is a good point, and one that we should focus on moving forward if we want to influence the city's decisions related to ARHA. The current approach to Public Housing causes these problems and, in my opinion, contributes to a permanent underclass, isolated from economic and educational opportunities (e.g., Jefferson-Houston School and AYP results), and consigned to long-term reliance on the City. There must be a reason why other cities have turned from concentrated Public Housing Compounds, and shifted to a scattered site approach, and have built school enrollment plans that do not have the majority of the children from Public Housing attending a single school
With respect to the Letter to the Editor from a resident of Del Ray: I suspect we will see more along these lines from folks in other areas. It will be in their interest to maintain the status quo - isolated Projects in someone else's neighborhood. An argument such as that used by the author is easy to assemble and, on it's surface, makes a point.
But the issues are not hanging laundry and million-dollar home-owners. They surround economic development, social justice, and quality of life issues such as those mentioned by the prior poster.
"It is instructive to note that none of the comments that seek to slam Ms. Cabell actually take issue with the substance of her post, that air drying your laundry is a perfectly acceptable activity. Instead they just angrily denounce her as a liberal; As if that were a bad thing in itself. "
The reason we dont "slam her post" is because, frankly, I have no idea what she is talking about.
There is no Lofts resident who complains about the laundry on the line. Where did Mrs. Cabell's quote come from? I didnt even see an article in the Alexandria Times about public housing or laundry on the line.
Her letter sounds rotten because she uses class warfare to demonize "affluent" homeowners, who havent said a word about the laundry on the line.
When someone find the quote from an actual person where this complaint about laundry was stated, then I will take Mrs. Cabell seriously.
"The supposition is that only those who live within a few blocks of the projects have any right to comment on and be involved in the process of improving/removing them. "
The supposition of many on this blog is that people in Delray and Rosemont have no interest in taking on their fair share of the very resolution/policy they so strongly support.
I have no problem with laundry lines; I have problems with people from Delray lecturing others about what they should think, when I know for a fact there are no bricks and mortar public housing in their neighborhood.
Lectures by hypocrites add nothing of value to the debate. Come talk public housing when the Delray civic association grants ARHA the right to put some Res. 830 units in their neighborhood.
Its not bad to be a liberal; its bad to be a liberal hypocrite that talks about social justice but wants none of it near there house and seems to think that trapping people in a prison of poverty (like Frances Thomas) is somehow a "good" thing.
Funny though, I dont see a single quote from anyone in the area about "laundry" at all. It looks like the Times editor just inserted that caption under the picture and made up the quote.
Although Mrs. Cabell sounds hysterical in her response, she is correct on that point; no one said anything about laundry.
""Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding."
Wow, where'd you hear this?"
Apparently this is what came out of the executive session meeting of Council....they were told that with Plan approval, ARHA can make a better application for HOPE VI funding.
"The most likely reason there are so many people outside on hotter days than cooler ones is because there isn't central air in Bland, Adkins or the Burg. "
Uh nice try, but there are also a lot of people outside on cooler days.
The cops just came last night at 10:30 to break up a large fight on Fayette as it leads into the Adkins courtyard. Seemed pretty frosty last night. They have been here all weekend for domestic violence and other issues.
Again, NO ONE COMPLAINS ABOUT LAUNDRY. Please find a named and quotable source for such an assertion before going off on a rant about how million dollar homeowners dont care. Most of the people in the Lofts care more about the Adkins residents than all of the people in Delray combined.
"Apparently this is what came out of the executive session meeting of Council....they were told that with Plan approval, ARHA can make a better application for HOPE VI funding."
Executive Sessions are typically closed sessions so how is it that you are in the know?
39 comments:
I dont believe I read these words in a City document:
"Re-examine Resolution 830 and examine alternative ways of providing housing for the population currently served by Resolution 830 units."
THE LIGHTBULB MIGHT FINALLY HAVE GONE OFF!
This is my FAVORITE quote from the ARHA analysis:
"Re-examine Resolution 830 and examine alternative ways of providing housing for the population currently served by Resolution 830 units."
Yay!! If you support this rational approach, please email the City Council supporting this initiative.
Oh boy - there is only one seat for someone from ICCA on the group. Can we please make sure Patricia is not our rep? We really need someone to advocate for us and she does not have most people's confidence.
I love how ARHA gets 3 seats (since essentially a housing advocate is just going to be one of their shills)
3 of 9 in the group represent the interests of the problem that the neighborhood has.
And the City wonders why a vocal contingent of folks finds this whole process corrupt and underhanded.
Guess #1 for ARHA representative; the same guy who wants to keep this whole mess going.
The group needs to include Sarah Becker but the City doesn't have the cohones to make it happen.
Members:
1. Planning Commission (Chair)
2. Parker-Gray BAR member
3. Public Housing Resident
4,5. ARHA Representatives
6. Inner City Representative
7. BraddockLofts/Townhouse Representative
8. Northeast Representative
9. Business Representative from Inner City or Northeast
Since when does Braddock Lofts get a representative, and since when is Northeast adjacent to the Metro?
Sure looks stacked from where this Parker-Gray resident sits. Not that it matters, the selection of individuals is/was scheduled for '07. You better believe the committee members know who they are.
More evidence that the only education City officials have is a PHD - Piled Higher and Deeper.
More Community Meetings:
City of Alexandria Transportation Master Plan.
All meetings: 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Sep 26 Lyles Crouch Elementary School, 530 S. St. Asaph Street
Oct 3 Minnie Howard School, 3801 West Braddock Road
Oct 4 George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Wonder why Tom Culpepper doesn't schedule a meeting closer to Patrick or Henry Streets.
Tom Culpepper at 703-838-4966
Copies of the draft plan for public comment can be obtained at:
http://alexandriava.gov/tes/policy_and_program/draft_master_plan.html
Too bad the document does not ask for information on crimes committed by residents or in the immediate vicinity of ARHA residences. Unfortunately, that is not irrelevant to this discussion.
"Since when does Braddock Lofts get a representative?"
I'd bet the Lofts has a rep, even though they are small, because they are better organized, more vocal, and more respected than ICCA. Thank god for the Lofts rep, though. Even though I don't live there, that will be the one person who will likely share the interests of those of us who unfortunately must live in close proximity of those awful projects.
"Since when does Braddock Lofts get a representative"
I would say that since the majority of the proposed development is right next door to them, they should at least get a voice, if ARHA is getting 3 voices.
Frankly, none of the people listed makes a lot of sense. Sounds like it will be 3 (public housing) against 2 (bureaucrats) against 4 (association representatives)
Maybe we can add this thug to the Task Force:
600 block of North West Street. 09/11 between 10:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. The victim, a 49 year-old Alexandria woman, reports that a known suspect exposed himself to her from his parked vehicle
"but the City doesn't have the cohones to make it happen."
Probably because she's fair.
"Frankly, none of the people listed makes a lot of sense."
If Northeast sends either Hertel or Grossman our goose is cooked. Hertel is overexposed and Grossman lives in a time warp.
Why can't we send Sarah Becker or someone like her as our ICCA rep? There's an ICCA meeting tonight and we could bring up the question of who we'd like to see on that Committee.
Personally, I'm glad there is a Lofts rep and a rep from Northeast. Both of those groups have a big interest in doing away with Res 830 and FINALLY fairly dispersing the residents of Bland and Adkins to the other parts of the City. These Lofts and Northeast types have done more than their fair share already of dealing with ARHA mess.
The ICCA rep SHOULD speak in concert with these two. Unless, of course, it's someone who is incapable of representing our views adequately...
OT post - fyi, the mayor's walk scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. Apparently, he's just realized its Rosh Hashana.
"OT post - fyi, the mayor's walk scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. Apparently, he's just realized its Rosh Hashana. "
As if anyone expected him to show up...
Still waiting for the Mayors visit at 11 PM on a Saturday. Plenty of good trash at Adkins right now...just ask the birds and squirrels.
Maybe we can have one of the squirrles show up at the P&Z meeting to let the Mayor know he doesnt want the projects torn down because he might lost his food supply.
"The ICCA rep SHOULD speak in concert with these two. Unless, of course, it's someone who is incapable of representing our views adequately... "
I believe Becker would support them, as she is no fan of 830.
Schubert, I dont know. She doesnt seem to support 830, but she also is a big fan of density and believes that trash cans will save the day.
Wow! With comments like the ones above this blog is becoming irrelevant really fast. where are the people with solutions? Where are the people who understand that the political process is based on compromise?
"I believe Becker would support them, as she is no fan of 830."
To my knowledge she has never expressed an opinion. I sometimes see her dog walking and Becker is usually careful when stating her point of view. I remember her from the old days and she is good!
"where are the people with solutions? Where are the people who understand that the political process is based on compromise?"
Wait just a cotton pickin' minute. The Braddock plan is based on an agenda the City has been pushing, much of which has been hidden from ordinary residents.
Despite all the controversy, the City has never returned to the neighborhood with a compromise solution, not ONCE in the two and a half years this process has dragged on. And most people are not expecting Kramer to present one on 9/24.
So explain why should it rest on our backs to do all the heavy lifting?
You go, GRRROWLER, well said! And Kramer? He and his people were Kings of disinformation in my "interview," telling me some things and "forgetting" to mentioning others that anyone with Internet access can find out. Between that experience and his obvious manipulation of the last community meeting (so few residents, so many "stakeholders")I've seen enough of his so-called conclusions.
Although if he concludes that residents are royally PO'd about the City's attempt to shove all these plans (including its Transportation Plan, which STILL includes Route 1)down our throats he's got that completely right.
"where are the people with solutions? Where are the people who understand that the political process is based on compromise?"
Maybe the blogger can explain how you compromise when people use rhetoric like this..... (from the Alexandria Times)
Your Views - Airing our laundry
September 13, 2007
My thanks to The Alexandria Times for the recent article on the public housing crisis here in Alexandria. But I take objection to one of the photographs accompanying the article — the photo showing laundry drying on a clothes line. There’s actually nothing wrong with the photo. Hanging wet clothing outside to dry is a facet of warm weather months. The problem lies with the photo’s caption and the poor judgment of the editor at The Alexandria Times to include in the photo’s caption a reference to “new market-priced home buyers” objecting to “laundry drying on a line.” Now, one could interpret the caption in one of two ways. That the new market-priced home buyers do not like living next to low-income families (elitist at best, racist at worse), or that the new market-priced home buyers simply do not like the sight of laundry drying in the open air. My guess is that some version of the former is what’s behind the photo’s caption. In which case, I would encourage The Alexandria Times to practice a little journalistic license and remind readers that the lower income housing in the north end of Old Town and the families who live there were there long before the near-million dollar townhomes nearby started sprouting in recent years. Let’s not inadvertently cater to more affluent homebuyers by maligning the families who live in Section 8 housing.
Stephanie Cabell
Alexandria
Can someone explain to anyone what the heck Cabell is talking about and why anyone who objects to anything related to public housing is automatcially hit with one of the following:
1. They were here first
2. You are racist
3. You are elitist
4. Where do you want them to go?
Its all the same with these clowns...how can you solve problems with people in charge who dont listen to logic or facts, but prefer to hit you with emotion and rhetoric.
"Despite all the controversy, the City has never returned to the neighborhood with a compromise solution, not ONCE in the two and a half years this process has dragged on. And most people are not expecting Kramer to present one on 9/24. "
Wait till u get a whiff of their new angle, Growler.
Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding.
So what the City will state is either accept the Plan or accept ARHA
Love how Council finally gets down to racebaiting politics. I have been waiting for them to pull out the card.....
The author of that Alexandria Times letter lives in Del Ray.
Stop congratulating yourself about your "liberalism at a distance" and come live with the beer cans and the flying bullets.
"Can someone explain to anyone what the heck Cabell is talking about and why anyone who objects to anything related to public housing is automatcially hit with one of the following"
You will not be surprised to learn that Stephanie Cabell lives in Del Ray. Wonder what she'd say if they dispersed public housing across from her house??
"Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding."
Wow, where'd you hear this?
"Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding."
You can bet the city is up to something ugly. My guess is, based on the interviews, Kramer has told them how to play their nasty politics. Why else would a proposed adisory group meet frequently through the Fall then leisurely throughout 2008? Bet you the Plan is a New Year's docket item with public housing the candy lure. Until an adequate amount of new land is purchased there is no deal. The Plan is held in abeyance. Staff is like the salesman who tells the naive one she can only get a little bit pregnant.
In case anyone's interested:
The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has one vacancy for a citizen member due to an expiring term. The Board meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Approximately six hours per month are required of Board members.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE
CONTACT: ROSE WILLIAMS BOYD OR
KATHRYN MENDENHALL 703.838-4691
u"The author of that Alexandria Times letter lives in Del Ray.
Stop congratulating yourself about your "liberalism at a distance" and come live with the beer cans and the flying bullets."
This is about the saddest comment I have seen so far and its underlying logic plagues this blog like a highly contagious virus. The supposition is that only those who live within a few blocks of the projects have any right to comment on and be involved in the process of improving/removing them. That notion is hogwash. That's like saying I have no right to comment on the Iraq fiasco because I'm not in the army. Just silly. We are all taxpayers and we all should be heard on this important city issue. To demonize someone who lives in Del Ray just because they have an opinion on an issue in this neighborhood really lowers the level of debate.
It is instructive to note that none of the comments that seek to slam Ms. Cabell actually take issue with the substance of her post, that air drying your laundry is a perfectly acceptable activity. Instead they just angrily denounce her as a liberal; As if that were a bad thing in itself.
May the Growler inject a note of common sense and make this observation?
Public housing residents are probably hanging out laundry because they don't have dryers in each unit. There's no longer any coin-operated laundries located in our area, and getting to one of the establishments over on Mt. Vernon Avenue is a big chore, particularly without wheels.
Amenities like dryers in each unit as well as central air conditioning could be available with redevelopment of these aging properties. That would be a meaningful change in the quality of life for residents.
Excellent points Growler.
The most likely reason there are so many people outside on hotter days than cooler ones is because there isn't central air in Bland, Adkins or the Burg.
Anyone can see when they walk or drive by that each unit may have two A/C Units, maybe three in the larger units if they're lucky.
It probably gets so hot in those houses, that people feel cooler outside in the breeze and shade.
As for the drying of laundry?
Well the units do have washing machines, but again, even if they had dryers, have we come to a stage in society that says, "Do not try to save money on electricity, because others may not like the way it looks".
Had a washer and dryer since I was a young lad. Mom loved air drying the sheets in the backyard anyway.
If we're going to complain about the projects, complain about things that can and should be changed. Litter, loiterers, foul mouths, lack of parental supervision for children at all hours of the night, ARHA not even caring about the quality of life for the decent residents that do reside there.
"If we're going to complain about the projects, complain about things that can and should be changed. Litter, loiterers, foul mouths, lack of parental supervision for children at all hours of the night, ARHA not even caring about the quality of life for the decent residents that do reside there."
This is a good point, and one that we should focus on moving forward if we want to influence the city's decisions related to ARHA. The current approach to Public Housing causes these problems and, in my opinion, contributes to a permanent underclass, isolated from economic and educational opportunities (e.g., Jefferson-Houston School and AYP results), and consigned to long-term reliance on the City. There must be a reason why other cities have turned from concentrated Public Housing Compounds, and shifted to a scattered site approach, and have built school enrollment plans that do not have the majority of the children from Public Housing attending a single school
With respect to the Letter to the Editor from a resident of Del Ray: I suspect we will see more along these lines from folks in other areas. It will be in their interest to maintain the status quo - isolated Projects in someone else's neighborhood. An argument such as that used by the author is easy to assemble and, on it's surface, makes a point.
But the issues are not hanging laundry and million-dollar home-owners. They surround economic development, social justice, and quality of life issues such as those mentioned by the prior poster.
"It is instructive to note that none of the comments that seek to slam Ms. Cabell actually take issue with the substance of her post, that air drying your laundry is a perfectly acceptable activity. Instead they just angrily denounce her as a liberal; As if that were a bad thing in itself.
"
The reason we dont "slam her post" is because, frankly, I have no idea what she is talking about.
There is no Lofts resident who complains about the laundry on the line. Where did Mrs. Cabell's quote come from? I didnt even see an article in the Alexandria Times about public housing or laundry on the line.
Her letter sounds rotten because she uses class warfare to demonize "affluent" homeowners, who havent said a word about the laundry on the line.
When someone find the quote from an actual person where this complaint about laundry was stated, then I will take Mrs. Cabell seriously.
"The supposition is that only those who live within a few blocks of the projects have any right to comment on and be involved in the process of improving/removing them. "
The supposition of many on this blog is that people in Delray and Rosemont have no interest in taking on their fair share of the very resolution/policy they so strongly support.
I have no problem with laundry lines; I have problems with people from Delray lecturing others about what they should think, when I know for a fact there are no bricks and mortar public housing in their neighborhood.
Lectures by hypocrites add nothing of value to the debate. Come talk public housing when the Delray civic association grants ARHA the right to put some Res. 830 units in their neighborhood.
Its not bad to be a liberal; its bad to be a liberal hypocrite that talks about social justice but wants none of it near there house and seems to think that trapping people in a prison of poverty (like Frances Thomas) is somehow a "good" thing.
Cabell is writing about this article:
http://www.alextimes.com/article.asp?article=7335&paper=1&cat=149
Funny though, I dont see a single quote from anyone in the area about "laundry" at all. It looks like the Times editor just inserted that caption under the picture and made up the quote.
Although Mrs. Cabell sounds hysterical in her response, she is correct on that point; no one said anything about laundry.
""Apparently now they are going to use ARHA and its plight to push through speedy plan approval, by essentially tying Plan approval to ARHA's "bid" for Hope IV funding...i.e. ARHA needs Plan approval to make their bid for the funding."
Wow, where'd you hear this?"
Apparently this is what came out of the executive session meeting of Council....they were told that with Plan approval, ARHA can make a better application for HOPE VI funding.
"The most likely reason there are so many people outside on hotter days than cooler ones is because there isn't central air in Bland, Adkins or the Burg. "
Uh nice try, but there are also a lot of people outside on cooler days.
The cops just came last night at 10:30 to break up a large fight on Fayette as it leads into the Adkins courtyard. Seemed pretty frosty last night. They have been here all weekend for domestic violence and other issues.
Again, NO ONE COMPLAINS ABOUT LAUNDRY. Please find a named and quotable source for such an assertion before going off on a rant about how million dollar homeowners dont care. Most of the people in the Lofts care more about the Adkins residents than all of the people in Delray combined.
"Apparently this is what came out of the executive session meeting of Council....they were told that with Plan approval, ARHA can make a better application for HOPE VI funding."
Executive Sessions are typically closed sessions so how is it that you are in the know?
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