The shooting took place two blocks from the Braddock Metro Station. Given that we are closing in on the first anniversary of the daylight murder of Michael Horton behind the 600 block of Payne Street -- only a block from Metro -- is it time to start asking why Alexandria leaders continue to tolerate a level of violence that is absent from other Northern Virginia Metro stations?The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred early this morning in the 1200 block of Wythe Street. Friday, around 4:15 A.M. police were called for the report of shots fired in the area of Wythe Street. Officers arrived on the scene and were unable to locate a victim or witnesses. Minutes later a victim was dropped off at a local hospital suffering from a non life-threatening gunshot wound. Further investigation determined the crime scene to be the 1200 block of Wythe Street.
Detectives are on scene and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Section of the Alexandria Police Department at (703) 838-4444 or the Crime Solvers tip line at (703) 838-4858. Detectives would like to remind witnesses that they can remain anonymous
And if in the City has found funds for next fiscal year to restore two of the three community policing positions that were going to be cut, shouldn't one of those reinstated be the resident officer for James Bland?
78 comments:
It's hard to understand. I also don't understand why all of these developers aren't publicly joining the neighborhood's ever growing anger over the City's public housing policies.
The news of (yet another) shooting should add some "vibrancy" to the well publicized grand opening of Old Town Commons tomorrow. I feel like stationing myself outside the sales trailor with a sandwich board sign. Perhaps it could have photos of all the victims who have been mugged or murdered within five blocks of Old Town Commons. But there is probably not enough room on the sign.
Maybe it could have the photos of all the City Council members who voted unanimously to re-concentrate public housing units at their project. Or the ones who voted to increase our taxes so we could pour more money down the ARHA/social services black hole.
I live a couple of blocks from the shooting site (and Bland and Adkins) and we've been hearing gunshots lately. Which, as everyone knows, is not unusual when the weather turns warm. But it's still shocking that the City accepts this state of affairs, given our resources as one of the wealthiest areas in the nation.
Dug up an old email rant I sent to the City Council in 2006 about gunshots in the neighborhood. I received the now well-worn (and still infuriating) response about how crime was down in the neighborhood according to police stats.
So if anyone thinks things will change anytime soon, they're smoking crack. Essentially, the only thing to be done is vote them out at the next election. We got a good start with two new members at the last election. I'd like to see a whole new slate next time.
Instead of the usual discussion about ARHA, let's focus on the leadership issue involved here.
Why are our elected officials not maximizing economic value at one of the City's four Metro stations by taking measures to lower the crime rate around the station?
"Instead of the usual discussion about ARHA, let's focus on the leadership issue involved here."
The rules please. Does the Growler perceive Hamer and Ross to be leaders? Was their handling of the Braddock 7-11 an example of exemplary leadership? They attempted to redevelop the strip without corralling 7-11 management did they not? Is the issue one of leadership or Council perception of individual rights? Endowed, subsidized, or other.
Well i live in that neighbor hood and things like this usually dont happen. Yeah two nights ago we heard shooting and we all were shock about. And this issue also shock us all to. I know so will be on here going to down us all so this and say that about us. But all of us that live there isnt the same. Like i had said things like this dont usually dont happen. But i do have an issue what had happen. We have a police officer that live in the neighborhood [Officer Wilson] and he doesnt do his job. So its just the city fault.
I wonder if this was a carry over from activity going on yesterday afternoon at Atkins. Around 3:30 the noise level in the neighborhood grew dramatically with groups of teens/young adults loitering. Police soon arrived and three to four patrol cars stayed stationed at Madison and Fayette through the evening.
Unfortunately none of this activity is unusual for those of us living here and instead is the norm.
"Police soon arrived and three to four patrol cars stayed stationed at Madison and Fayette through the evening."
I noticed that as well. There have been ongoing problems with teens loitering on Fayette and causing all sorts of problems. This is not the first time cops have been out in force on Fayette this week to deal with problems.
"
Why are our elected officials not maximizing economic value at one of the City's four Metro stations by taking measures to lower the crime rate around the station?"
What could they possibly do? They still seem to believe (and even Englin seems to believe) that public housing has nothing to do with the economic development problems around Braddock?
The stubbornness and lack of common sense is dumbfounding but I am not sure its ever going to change. I think its reached the point where they just accept a certain level of violence and mayhem and only care when that level (whatever it may be) is breached
Maybe we can bring back David Dixon to study the problem of people suspiciously getting shot at near ARHA public housing projects. We can have the Mayor appoint a crack task force to study the issue, chaired by Lenny Harris.
"It's hard to understand. I also don't understand why all of these developers aren't publicly joining the neighborhood's ever growing anger over the City's public housing policies. "
Behind the scenes that anger has been expressed many many times. I think the issue is expressing it without pissing off the powers that be so much that they will stall your projects or slow your business even more than they already do.
"Instead of the usual discussion about ARHA, let's focus on the leadership issue involved here."
I would actually also want to focus on the Harris/Englin issue. They claim that the police are bearing down on Adkins, profiling residents, and generally being too aggressive in their enforcement.
Incidents like this show that their constant ranting and raving against the cops is having exactly the negative effect many feared; if the cops feel like they will constantly be questioned and harassed by "activists" and lawmakers whenever they try to enforce common sense rules and regulations, there will be more incidents like this.
Maybe Shayna and David will introduce a statute requiring notice to be posted that you are not allowed to shoot people between 10 PM and 6 AM.
The Gazette Packet wrote an editorial about the need for police transparency with regards to releasing more information about information on crimes that occur in the City.
So lets see it Gazette. Demand that the City release the victims name, their records, where they live, and when the suspects are apprehended, what their records are, where they live, and the records and names of any accomplices.
I probably share the sentiment of many of my neighbors and bloggers when I ask
HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH MAYOR EUIELLE? How many people have to get shot? How much trash has to be thrown about? How much loitering and trespassing has to occur?
HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?
Do what I did - Move!
Speaking as a victim, let's leave the victims' names out of it. But we should DEFINITELY get every bit of information about the offenders, where they live, work, their sentences, where they are imprisoned, and when they'll be released. I'd also like to know the names of the judge who sentenced them, the name of the prosecutors who accepted plea deals (or undercharged them). Finally, I'd like to see see a website where we can track ALL criminals, not just sex offenders.
I'm sick of people like Englin treating criminals like victims. People like that waste an inordinate amount of time crying about harassment, voting rights of felons, etc.
"The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred early this morning in the 1200 block of Wythe Street. Friday, around 4:15 A.M. police were called for the report of shots fired in the area of Wythe Street"
Forgive me for asking but what in the world is someone doing out at Adkins at 4:15 AM in the morning?
I am reminded of the saying by Doughboy (played by Ice Cube) at the end of the movie Boyz in the Hood
"Either they don't know, don't want to know, or don't care about whats going on in the hood"
Our City Council to a T.....
Growler, you omitted one of the facts from the shooting.
Alexandria Police are looking for a suspect who allegedly shot a 19-year-old D.C. man this morning.
A 19 year old DC man.....I wont even add any more comments as it speaks for itself.
(But for all the screamers who dont get it: WHAT IS A 19 YEAR OLD DC MAN DOING IN THE ADKINS PROJECT AT 4:15 AM ON A THURSDAY?)
"Do what I did - Move!"
The Clarendon visit this past weekend went very well. I am already scoping out a new unit to escape the constant gunshots.
Perhaps it's time we invited our Council members and the ARHA board to a civic association meeting for another tongue lashing. It's not even officially summer yet, and already a shooting. We must keep the pressure up on them if we ever want anything to change.
Speaking of victims, the fact that this latest shooting victim was out at 4:15 am at Adkins and was "dropped off" at the hospital with a gunshot wound makes me think he's not one of our more upstanding citizens.
But, as we all know, that doesn't mean one of us (or our children or spouses, God forbid, isn't next). I still think about the family of the cabdriver who was murdered by Alexandria's taxpayer supported thugs.
My anger is probably unhealthy, but I can't help it...
Growler, what does it say if the victim is a DC man?
http://www.alexandrianews.org/2010/05/alexandria-police-seek-shooting-suspect/
Alexandria Police are looking for a suspect who allegedly shot a 19-year-old D.C. man this morning. The victim has been hospitalized and is expected to recover. At around 4:15 a.m., police went to the 1200 block of Wythe Street to investigate a report of shots fired. Officers arrived on the scene and were unable to locate a victim or witnesses. The victim was dropped off at a local hospital suffering from a non life-threatening gunshot wound.
"Maybe it could have the photos of all the City Council members who voted unanimously to re-concentrate public housing units at their project"
I am sure that if we have another "Summer of Love - Parker Gray Style", that photo will be used as a dartboard cover or as toilet paper. Thats how low the opinion is of most of my neighbors towards most of the City Council members.
Fannon and Hughes get a pass since they havent been in a position of power long enough yet to understand the anger that these constant incidents are cumulatively causing.
"is it time to start asking why Alexandria leaders continue to tolerate a level of violence that is absent from other Northern Virginia Metro stations?"
Its been that time for years.
Lets ask Lenny and the other yellers too.
This ought to make great theater for the Old Town Commons groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow. Will this be included on the EYA website?
"Fannon and Hughes get a pass since they havent been in a position of power long enough yet to understand the anger that these constant incidents are cumulatively causing."
Nor did they (or Donnelly) vote to approve the Bland project, like the rest of them did. I'm telling you, I'm going to be a single issue voter.
"But it's still shocking that the City accepts this state of affairs, given our resources as one of the wealthiest areas in the nation. "
I would expect the usual batch of form letter email responses, feigned outrage, and perhaps even a Mayors Walk since our dear Hizzoner is looking a little hefty these days and could lose a few pounds before he heads to Scotland to regale Dundee with tales of Alexandria's economic development.
Suspiciously, this shooting didn't show up on Shayna Englin's Twitter feed.
Nor has David or Lenny enquired into whether or not the victim (a DC gentleman) was fully aware of his rights regarding trespassing on the property.
"Do what I did - Move!"
Those who remain are glad you're happy but why come back on the blog and advertise the cowardly act? If you're gone you're gone!
"Do what I did - Move!"
The Clarendon visit this past weekend went very well. I am already scoping out a new unit to escape the constant gunshots."
Bye, bye! I don't need to read this kind of crap! Glad you weren't needed when the West was tamed.
"Hughes get a pass"
Be real careful with that one! Only when she truly proves her independence. Afterall she relied on Lenny Harris to help her during the campaign.
"Hughes get a pass"
Be real careful with that one! Only when she truly proves her independence. Afterall she relied on Lenny Harris to help her during the campaign.
"Glad you weren't needed when the West was tamed."
Actually the settlers 1) didn't have a really high survival rate so not much of an incentive there cowboy 2) didn't like where they where they were living and decided to ... you guessed it, move.
Moving somewhere you believe is a better fit for you is an option and perhaps not one our city leaders really want you to entertain. However I agree with your sentiment, Grizzly Adams. If you are going to move or have moved that's great, but perhaps this isn't the forum to trumpet that fact.
Oh joy and its getting hotter and hotter outside....let's hope there is no retaliation from DC if this is drug or gang related
I live very near to where this took place. I heard the gun shots. It was a rapid succession of at least 10 shots. The victim must have been far away from the shooter in order for the victim to have survived with that many shots fired. After last year's murder in Pendleton Park, I thought strongly about mounting camera on the exterior of my house. Now, I am definitely going to. Those cameras would have caught something for both of these incidents.
Things had been improving for some time in terms of crime and now this. sigh.
The problem which inhibits Parker Gray from becoming a friendly, vibrant, walkable community can be summed up in one word...... NIMBYism.
The fact is, this blog has helped our community stay abreast on current neighborhood issues. Long ago are the days when information and facts were only received by citizens through organized community meetings. Yet for some reason we still start each new discussion the Growler posts, with the same old answered questions.
Big developers donate and pay for our elected officials campaigns. In return, they get paid back in various ways. Ask yourselves why didn't the City look deeper into Herb Cooper Levy? The man has powerful friends in high places, "in pocket" politicians. The ineptness of the City's weak moral leadership doesn't help.
ARHA is owned and operated by a non-city organization. How does ARHA keep their hold on the city, by playing the race card. Melvin Miller gets reappointed and how many times has this blog caught him making untruthful statements and made up facts. With the cities old & outdated resolution 830, the city fears voter backlash from changing this. the cities Fair Share policy is a total facade.
City Official realize that most Alexandrian's couldn't get a rats butt who runs the city. But the moderate to wealthy select few who do vote, want to call themselves "caring and charitable people" who have no problem throwing money at more and more social services. Lets try to move 4 public housing houses into the 3500 block of Saylor Place and see what happens then. That wouldn't occur. The majority of voters are friends of friends who sit in high places or have been here forever and vote strictly down party lines. They couldn't tell you one fact about Parker Gray or our communities history.
For a City whose density is in the top 10 list of the country's cities, per square mile, it seems very silly that there is a part time Mayor and part time Council. No Ward system, no single person representing any specific area. No official to have our communities concerns represented in planning processes. We rely on strong, vocal stalwarts like the Ms. Becker and the Growler to speak the truth against the City.
Elected City officials want to be reelected. They know that most of the cities voters vote democrat. It's a democrat city and those who run for office know this. Look at the history of past city officials and tell me when non-democrats were the majority in office and ran our city. As long as the current election system, part time leaders, and ward free rules remain law in our city, NIMBYism will continue to be the guiding force which stops progress in our neighborhood.
How many times must the Growler back up the facts that as of July 2009, nearly 40% of all homicides in Alexandria in the last few years were committed in our small community. Or the fact that 838 or a whopping 73% of the 1,150 public housing units mandated by Resolution 830 are located in less than a square mile of Parker-Gray and Old Town. 1 SQUARE MILE folks!! Thats after the 3 blocks of Tancil / Hopkins became the "award winning" Chatham Square!
Alexandria is run by "bought" politicians. NIMBYist will continue to contain public housing in our neighborhood because the NIMBYists outnumber us in the poles. There is hope though, last election shook the machine and if people really want to see change, they can get as many people as they can to go out and vote. It's the only option I see that has a chance of changing the current system.
I refuse move away from the area I love. I realize others must do what is best for their family. I will never blame them for doing that for their loved ones. I however have the ability to continue to vote and speak.
I will use facts, common sense, logic and fairness against elected politicians who continue to try and keep our neighborhood from progressing into a renewed and desired community.
I feel our police force is a lot more transparent then our neighboring jurisdictions. I love crime reports, which I found a link to on this site.
Yet another in the multiplying reasons for disbursing public housing. But this will never happen with Alexandria City being predominantly run by liberal democrats. So you libs have to decide... Will you vote for the status quo and watch your escalating tax dollars help fund the lives of drug dealers, thugs and folks who feel entitled to live in Alexandria because of their perceived racial backgrounds, while other neighborhoods in the DC area get great schools, economic growth and governments that serve the needs and desires of all? Or will you help Alexandria change and grow by voting the current mayor, and his cronies out for good, even if it means voting Republican? You, the neighborhood of Parker Grey, have the power to change your destiny... If you really want to.
For those criticizing me for writing "Do what I did - Move!" please remember:
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
You know your neighborhood is a dumping ground for the city's problems. Every spring the shooting starts and you all get on here and act outraged. It's an endless cycle. Open your eyes.
To the commenter (apparently a public housing resident) who was concerned that Officer Wilson wasn't "doing his job," can you be more specific? What is he not doing?
"To the commenter (apparently a public housing resident) who was concerned that Officer Wilson wasn't "doing his job," can you be more specific? What is he not doing?"
Growler, I saw this question this morning, and I live right around the area in question.
What they may be referring to is the chronic loitering and trespassing issues that are occurring, with groups of teens out to all hours of the night, specifically loitering on Fayette and in the Adkins courtyard in large groups.
To answer the resident's question though; what would you have Officer Wilson do?
"Bye, bye! I don't need to read this kind of crap! Glad you weren't needed when the West was tamed."
You know people are fed up when we are comparing Adkins to the Wild West
"However I agree with your sentiment, Grizzly Adams. If you are going to move or have moved that's great, but perhaps this isn't the forum to trumpet that fact."
I believe some people check back due to the saddening and dramatic, yet comedic and predictable range of events that occur in Parker Gray.
Its like a theater of the absurd and the tragic all wrapped into one.
Who the hell is out at 4:15 AM at Adkins, especially when they live in DC?
What other place can you think of where you crave late night rain and snow to slow down the inevitable loitering and mischief that occurs in the theater of the absurd that is Alexandria public housing?
"You know your neighborhood is a dumping ground for the city's problems. Every spring the shooting starts and you all get on here and act outraged. It's an endless cycle. Open your eyes."
I have, and I approach it in other ways. Since this isnt all that bad of a place to live, I go out of my way to not let my wife walk around at night anywhere near public housing. We drive to the Metro parking lot if we are going out together. We avoid neighborhood hotspots that everyone knows well by now.
We also limit our shopping and dining in Alexandria as a form of "economic protest" and do our business in neighboring areas. We plunk. We plan to never have children while we live here in Alexandria. And of course, we own a firearm and have an alarm system.
All of these things become second nature after a while. You just learn to live with it.
"To answer the resident's question though; what would you have Officer Wilson do?"
The police cannot solve the chronic problems surrounding ARHA properties (crime, nuisance behavior -- trash, loud music, harassing passersby, and serious social dysfunction).
There are two groups who CAN solve this problem. The ARHA residents themselves and the politicians. We can't force ARHA residents to take responsibility for themselves and their homes, but we CAN influence the politicians.
The police can only mop up behind the mess. Particularly if
ARHA residents fail to cooperate with them by continuing to allow "visitors" and by failing to provide needed information about criminals to the police.
"To answer the resident's question though; what would you have Officer Wilson do?"
Is it not true that No Trespassing perhaps No Loitering laws are more strictly interpreted on federal property? I'd have Wilson post notice of the law(s), especially applicable federal laws, his intended enforcement action(s)and then support his taking action after an appropriate period. In many instances Wilson and Stanton both can get seated folks for blocking the sidewalk. Then again Wilson may know the rules and he's just cautious given Englin's rhetoric Englin and wife's punitive tones.
"This ought to make great theater for the Old Town Commons groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow. Will this be included on the EYA website?"
Maybe the brainless but otherwise politically astute planning director will have to abandon her notion of multi-family buildings on Patrick Street. The problem is the agencies' unwillingness to disperse. Not enough changes.
"You know your neighborhood is a dumping ground for the city's problems. Every spring the shooting starts and you all get on here and act outraged. It's an endless cycle. Open your eyes."
So get on with your life and leave the rest of us alone. You abandoned the "cause" now stay gone. Such lecturing is non-productive.
I see Ofc. Wilson all the time during my walks to and from the Metro. I never see him standing around, doing nothing. He is always engaged with someone. I have nothing but respect this guy. The man lives in the projects and knows he must do his job effectively and at the same time keep an open, two way relationship with the people who live there. I'd bet my next paycheck that the reason people are hanging on the corners of Adkins is because they are banned from the property. I remember being told at an old ICCA meeting that loitering laws are considered unconstitutional and therefore cannot be enforced. If you don't see people on the corners I would be asking myself whose breaking the law and is on the property illegally.
I grew up in Detroit and have a high tolerance for project life. I knew what I was getting into when I bought here. I figured nothing can be as bad as what I observed growing up. I personally would rather dive into a pool filled with razors and rubbing alcohol than do what Ofc. Wilson and Ofc. Ford does and did. This coming from an army MP for three years. I mean other than a roof over your head, what would be the incentive to being a residential cop? A cop cannot be on duty 24/7. He also can't be in two places at one time.
I don't know what the comment was which questioned Ofc. Wilson's work, but from what I've seen of him, he's good to go in my book.
This is all just my opinion though. If others have witnessed otherwise please let me know.
"Is it not true that No Trespassing perhaps No Loitering laws are more strictly interpreted on federal property?"
Ever since the Englin imbroglio I am not so sure there is a willingness by the police to be so strict in enforcing the law.
This is predictable because why deal with the hassle of having to listen to Harris and Englin yelling at you from Delray while you try to do your job of keeping public housing residents and the surrounding neighborhoods safe from the all too prevalent trespassers, "visitors" and other riff raff who cause a disproportionate amount of the trouble.
"It's hard to understand. I also don't understand why all of these developers aren't publicly joining the neighborhood's ever growing anger over the City's public housing policies."
It should be unbelievable, but a decision has been made to take what they recent and current powers that be feel is the path of least resistance. That is, avoid the what they think is the thorny and politically-charged issue of dispersing public housing and not maintaining it brick-and-mortar style for not only Alex residents but those who've come from throughout the local area. This of course is aided by other areas of the city that want as little public housing, dispersed or otherwise, anywhere near them. Add to that the rubber-stamping of development projects that should have many public housing units per city resolution but don't, and the council seems to be able to stomach a few murders and a drug culture just as long as it's not in their backyard.
The thing is that they're actually creating more problems with this attitude and, as has been pointed out consistently in this blog, could follow the examples of Arlington, Fairfax, and others who deal with the same challenges of urban cities yet make the necessary choices for the good of not only those seeking public housing but the taxpayers seeking safe neighborhoods. It's time for candidates from both parties to emerge who won't seek to maintain the status quo and will actually seek to emulate what other local municipalities have done rather than put the band-aid over one murder after another.
"Dug up an old email rant I sent to the City Council in 2006 about gunshots in the neighborhood. I received the now well-worn (and still infuriating) response about how crime was down in the neighborhood according to police stats."
Ah, I remember 2006, when the city had stopped giving full crime reports to the Post and word started to leak about crimes that weren't making onto the city's inconsistently-updated ponline crime report. It'd be nice if more effort came from the PTB to let the police control crime on the street rather than what's reported publicly for the sake of the numbers game.
"Why are our elected officials not maximizing economic value at one of the City's four Metro stations by taking measures to lower the crime rate around the station?"
You mean Metro, the system to which the city is making ever-increasing contributions even as the Tysons-Dulles expansion looms and threatens to cut into the number of trains in service from the southern end of the system; i.e. Alexandria?
But they're working on the problem, if only by trying to get another metro stop in the city that the city's northeastern end gentry can use rather than Braddock, as they dance around this area again!
"So get on with your life and leave the rest of us alone. You abandoned the "cause" now stay gone. Such lecturing is non-productive."
I disagree. City politicians read this blog and should know that their policies are forcing people to leave. And, like a previous poster, to arm themselves and plunk. I would only ask the flee-ers and the plunker with the gun to email the Council and let them know how they feel about the public housing policies.
I have and the more of us wo do so, the better.
But they're working on the problem, if only by trying to get another metro stop in the city that the city's northeastern end gentry can use rather than Braddock, as they dance around this area again!
--and that wont even be ready for 10 years at least.
And will cost 250 - 300 million and blow up our debt burden by 65 percent while they have to hope the area fills in economically (like they hoped Carlyle would)
Add it to the long list to get out of Dodge
Officers Wilson and Ford have been everywhere and anywhere they are needed to keep public housing residents and others safe.
Anyone having beef with them either seems to think that they arent being strict enough (blame Lenny) or dont have enough help (blame Council)
"I also don't understand why all of these developers aren't publicly joining the neighborhood's ever growing anger over the City's public housing policies. "
They along with cops, staff, businessmen, and others have all laid it into Councils ear. Heck, even Council privately will admit they dont like the situation and want it to change.
Its fairly obvious though why the economic value of the Braddock Road Metro is in the dumps. That anger means nothing to certain individuals who dont live here anymore.
Hughes and Pepper voted to restore all of the proposed cuts to the community-oriented policing program. Smedberg and Krupicka voted to restore 2 of the 3 positions. Donley voted to restore 1 and both Euille and Fannon voted to restore none (although the mayor wanted to restore funding for Xmas lights).
The city has laid this problem on the police to clean up and now they diminish their ability to do so. Some issues can be compromised on but public safety isn't one of them.
The Growler wishes to reminder readers who are convinced NIMBYism in other neighborhoods precludes scattered site public housing that (1) Northridge -- an affluent neighborhood -- supported scattered site housing units in their backyard; (2) there are lots of opportunities to site units in "greenfields" developments like Potomac Yard and Eisenhower Avenue where there is no existing community that could possibly object.
"I would only ask the flee-ers and the plunker with the gun to email the Council and let them know how they feel about the public housing policies."
My neighbors and I are constantly doing that, asking the Mayor how much is enough and what will it take...
The form letter responses say it all.
"there are lots of opportunities to site units in "greenfields" developments like Potomac Yard and Eisenhower Avenue where there is no existing community that could possibly object."
I hav emailed on this question before, asking why, if public housing is such a sacred issue to certain council members, why dont they actively look to better the lives of the residents through additional units in these locations that have not been built out yet.
The answer is telling, they say they have no authority to make developers place public housing units onsite and that ARHA doesnt like the complication of that relationship (since they are then one owner among many)
On the question of people posting here who have moved:
The problem isnt whether these types of shootings occur or whether there is the will to disburse public housing. I think most residents by now recognize that the shootings wont stop and the public housing wont be moved.
The problem is the level of confidence and trust people have that things will change in any way, and whether that change will make things better.
People are voting with their feet by moving, because they had no confidence or trust that city leadership would do squat to change things for the better.
The fact that is occurring with Bland 2.0 on the way says a lot.
"People are voting with their feet by moving, because they had no confidence or trust that city leadership would do squat to change things for the better."
Fine so you voted with your feet. If you were a homeowner your house sold presumably within a reasonable timeframe and others have now moved in. Do you really think Council cares that you voted with your feet? No! You're a cluck who exercised free choice nothing more. Because the property sold they will continue to argue the neighborhood as is. The fight must come from within by those whose investment is more than real estate.
"The fight must come from within by those whose investment is more than real estate."
Well said. I get so angry when I hear that we want to get rid of poverty and minorities in our neighboorhood so our property values increase. Really?? That why I bought here 15 years ago? It's a crock. A failing segregated school, 73% of all public housing here and over 40% of homicides all "contained" in our liitle area.
I have way more invested in this fight then real estate which has never once been a thought to me when I speak to council members. I want a good school, less crime, a few decent stores and a walkable community. I could care less how this is accomplushed, yet thd city has done nothing to improve any of what I just mentioned.
Oh, thanks for your stupid trash cans Council. You can have them back since you only slapped our faces with them.
"They along with cops, staff, businessmen, and others have all laid it into Councils ear. Heck, even Council privately will admit they dont like the situation and want it to change."
I have experienced this as well. It could just be people saying what I want to hear, but most cops and city staff in private are not big fans of current public housing concentration policies, and most businessmen express a mixture of amazement and disgust that our area has not made any tremendous economic leaps.
"but most cops and city staff in private are not big fans of current public housing concentration policies,"
Without exception, Alexandria cops I've talked to say our public housing is a disaster and that they would never want to live in this neighborhood because of it.
The P&Z staffers I spoke with also said that the current bricks and mortar concentrated public housing policy was bad, but that it had the support of the Council and mayor so there was nothing they could do about it.
I've only talked to a couple of Council members about this off the record, as well as a former council member. They all claimed to think that the public housing policy was bad and they supported dispersal, a move to vouchers, etc. etc. All the things we've talked about on this blog and supported in the neighborhood.
So if everyone is against our current public housing policy, what gives??
To quote a phrase once uttered on the floor of the House, "You lie!!"
Personally, I think the Council members who express support for dispersal/move to vouchers/etc. are lying to our faces. Otherwise, how do you explain the fact that each and every one of them voted for the Bland redevelopment, which is building 134 new public housing units in our neighborhood, which is already saturated wtih public housing. (And this does not count the number of "market rate" units they'll purchase from EYA to convert to Sec. 8.)
Now, I'll concede that they did move some public housing units out of the neighborhood. Unfortunately, however, they just dumped them on Arlandria - the other City dumping ground for public housing. Really, they only managed to disperse 16 units out of the 234 public housing units from Bland. Which is a whopping 1.9% dispersal rate from the neighborhood's 838 Res 830 units! (And, again, this does even not count the huge number of Sec. 8 projects here, like Tancil Ct.).
It's a disgrace.
I don't find it a big issue at all that people who moved want to comment on here.
It shows they must have cared just a little bit about this neighborhood and made some type of emotional investment in it.
Besides, where else can you go to get a fresh perspective on Alexandria? I am always pinging stuff to my friends in DC from this blog, letting them know the type of s%&^% we put up with.
Where the heck are we with Erkiletian, Jaguar, and Madison?
That would do wonders for economic development around here
Commenter 09:29, some of your facts are wrong.
It is not correct that there are 134 NEW units being built at Bland.
Bland originally had 194 units. Only 134 are being replaced. The other 60 units are being scattered around the City.
The off-siting rate is thus around 30%. This is still not desirable for our community, given that with redevelopment of the Berg into Chatham Square five years ago more than half of the original units were scattered to other locations.
Some 44 units of the 60 Bland units that are being off-sited are going to Arlandria's Glebe Park project. The City is still looking for a site for the 16 remaining units that can't be accommodated at Glebe Park.
"Personally, I think the Council members who express support for dispersal/move to vouchers/etc. are lying to our faces."
My understanding is that both Councilman Donley and Councilman Smedberg are coming to the next Braddock Lofts HOA meeting, so I will make sure to bring this question up to see if they truly are "lying" about it.
Its been hard to pin Councilmembers down but in private, in response to questions, they do not seem to support the current public housing system. Most have reservations and a few oppose it.
"It is not correct that there are 134 NEW units being built at Bland."
Yes, it is! They are demolishing all 194 units. Therefore, the public housing units they are putting back are NEW. They had a golden opportunity to improve the neighborhood and put their money where their mouths are, but they chose to build 134 NEW public housing units in the new project.
They should have offsited ALL of Bland, given how saturated this neighborhood currently is.
Growler, do NOT let them off the hook. They dumped on us AND they dumped on Arlandria. Their promises of dispersal are just lies.
"My understanding is that both Councilman Donley and Councilman Smedberg are coming to the next Braddock Lofts HOA meeting, so I will make sure to bring this question up to see if they truly are "lying" about it."
Hi Loft neighbor - please keep us updated on what happens at the meeting. I've always thought the Lofts, Colecroft, and WOTCA should band together as our interests are aligned when it comes to public housing. Let's keep the pressure up on the politicians. And, soon, we'll have new allies in the homeowners at Old Town Commons.
"And, soon, we'll have new allies in the homeowners at Old Town Commons."
Nope! The Growler doesn't want to talk about ARHA but we have to. Chatham Square residents including ARHA are members of a HOA. Homeowners and ARHA of Old Town Commons likewise will have a HOA. Chatham Square's complaint if I understand the bloggers is Hopkins Tancil a nearby wholly owned ARHA complex. Likewise Adkins is a much discussed, wholly owned ARHA complex. It seems to me Growler the leadership issue does belong to ARHA specifically the management of its several projects. As for Englin, he seems not to attack HOAs only citizens who live near ARHA's wholly owned properties.
" It seems to me Growler the leadership issue does belong to ARHA specifically the management of its several projects."
I don't really understand your post, but what I was trying to say is that the more people who move into this area, the better, because regardless of where they live (Old Town Commons, the Lofts, etc.), they will be in favor of deconcentration, which is the ultimate goal.
"It seems to me Growler the leadership issue does belong to ARHA specifically the management of its several projects."
My point is simple. When ARHA is but one member of a functioning homeowners association things seem to run smoothly. When neighbors are asked to deal with ARHA only we are accused of every race crime known to man including Englin's. ARHA's leadership precludes reasonable dialogue including resident and criminal behavior.
It is interesting that the shooting still doesn't show up on crimereports.com. Could they be hiding the crime to cook the books on the crime statistics?
Lat year my truck got keyed twice within the same week. I called in to file a report and was told that an officer would call me back. The woman that called back asked me repeatedly to not file a report and tried very hard to convince me of what's done is done. I filed the report anyway. So yes, I think that a lot of crime does not get reported.
"So yes, I think that a lot of crime does not get reported."
As an FYI, several police officers who work the Adkins area have expressed this concern.
They have consistently stated that residents, while they may have issues, consistently do not report crimes or make calls for service that are then followed up on.
Their expressed concern is that many crimes are reported "after the fact", as in " I saw a drug buy".
So yes I do agree the crime figures are lower than is reality.
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