Monday, March 06, 2006
Roll Call: Police Changes on H Street?
You may recall the recent news of a stepped-up evening police presence on H Street. You may have noticed that there just seem to be more police doing more things in the area recently (or so it seems to me & to some of my neighbors). You have probably also heard the talk that some would like to see a new police service station set up on H Street. It's my understanding that even if the 1st District might be considering setting up a new service station, it would not necessarily be located on H Street. Now, here's an article from Roll Call (subscription required) on the overall issue of police presence on H Street. Basically, the article just talks about how the police, the residents & the ANC are all committed to working together to try to solve the persistent crime problems in and around the H Street Corridor.
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7 comments:
I'll believe it when I see it.
Give it a couple of weeks, then it will go back to the police invisibility again..
We need a dining places like Marty's or Sizzling Express to attract the police to H street... I hear donuts works too
I have noticed quite a bit of activity near H, maybe its because I am near the rec center so there is more activity there.
What a thought--police patrolling where there is a clear need for order and enforcement...hmmm Why didn't I think of that?
Seriously, I hope is is not yet another appeasement move, but rather a long-term dedication to cleaning up the H Street corridor.
One thing I rarely see discussed is the huge numbers of jaywalkers all along H Street. They are every bit as much a hazard as speeders. I mean, come on people, walking 1/2 block to a crosswalk and waiting for a light just isn't that hard. I'm sometimes hesitant to drive (at speedlimit) down H Street when it is busy, becuase at any moment a jaywalker could dart out in front of me, and neither of our lives would ever be the same.
I know it's not the largest problem we are facing, but it contributes to the impression that we residents just don't care what happens to H Street, which creates the mentality that allow the drug trades to flourish.
I agree with the jay walker comment. I too have almost hit people wandering across the street between cars - often in the dark.
Excellent point about the jaywalking. Perhaps on top of encouraging enforcement, we can do something to address this issue in the new streetscape improvements. I will bring it up with the newly-formed ANC 6A Transportation Committee and our DDOT representatives. One idea would be a pedestrian only cross walk midway between 13th/14th and 6th/7th where the city blocks and distances between cross walks are particularly long. I can't remember off the top of my head if something like this has already been included in the improvement plans for those blocks, but I'll definitely follow up and check.
Obviously, something like this won't eliminate jaywalking on H Street altogether, but I believe it will at least eliminate one of the conditions that contribute to it on the corridor. In addition, this idea may help the businesses on those blocks as shoppers will have an easier time getting from one side of the street to the other.
Pedestrian safety in the District has received extra attention from the Washington Post after several pedestrian fatalities early in 2006.
The H Street rememdy will need public education to change habits, as well DDOT recommendations.
I'll broach the topic at the March 14 PSA 102 meeting, 7-8:30 p.m., Sherwood Rec Center to see what folks think.
In the meantime, here's what DDOT offers on pedestrian safety:
http://www.ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1253,q,630892.asp
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