Day: March 9, 2004

Broken Window Syndrome

Okay not like I haven’t tried.

There is a car.

An abandoned car. It has been sitting on the corner since Christmas. Now good citizen that I am, have alert City to said car. City tickets car in January. Car still there. City tickets car in February. Car still there. Now it had been sitting there not really bothering anyone so no big rush to get it moved.

Then they broke the window. I’m blaming the neighborhood teens for this. I have no proof but I’m blaming them anyways. After 2 months of sitting, not bothering anyone, they broke the passenger side window. Why? The car was unlocked. So that meant I had to increase efforts to get car moved.

The next week they (teens) broke the windshield trying to smash it in. I’m wondering at what point will the car be set on fire.

Now people will pass by and see the car and think that we don’t care about the neighborhood because we let an abandoned car sit on the road. We do care, the City apparently doesn’t.

For today only

Neighbors,

This is to remind you that the DC Department of Health’s Mobil Unit

will be located in the parking lot of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, 1st Street and

Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00

p.m., on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, to test DC residents for possible excessive

levels of lead in their blood. The populations that will be primarily

focussed upon during this effort are (1) expectant mothers and (2) children

under six years of age. However, I am told that no one who presents themselves

for testing will be turned away.

A second opportunity to get your blood tested for lead will take place

this coming Friday, March 12, 2004, also between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and

4:00 p.m., at the Harry Thomas Recreation Center, 1743 Lincoln Road, N.E.

Again, expectant mothers and small children are being targeted for this

effort; and, no one is suppose to be turned away who presents himself/herself

for testing.

If you have the slightest concern about your level of exposure to lead,

I hope you will find the time to get your blood tested during one of the

abovementioned time periods.

Best,

Jim Berry

ANC 5C