I honestly don't feel that it's an issue of affordability though.

Many of the same ones I see jumping or stepping over the fare gates have on designer clothing and name brand shoes. it's not an issue of poverty it's a matter of having the wrong priorities in place.

It takes money to get those things, a lot more than what it costs to ride the bus and the train.

Exactly.

Yeah I hear you there. Ok instead of expanding out the Silver Line take care of the problems the existing system has first. If people aren't able to get to and from where they need to go efficiently then that needs to have been addressed years ago.

Also, the issue of safety needed to be addressed years ago as well.

As a person born and raised here I honestly don't think the fares for the metro are too expensive as they are.

Frankly, even if it was a dollar flat fee the people that are currently hoping the pay gates would still do it. They aren't doing it because they are impoverished. They are doing it because they can. There is a certain thrill that comes from breaking the rules and that's what a number of these folks are going for.

LOL! Teens and adults alike hop or step over the fare gates ALL the time. White or black it doesn't matter.

Yeah I understand your frustrations and I share them. Please don't take out your frustrations on those here that aren't the actual problem.

With that said I absolutely agree with you but I would say take away their car on the spot and make it illegal to purchase a car ANYWHERE.

The fines can easily be paid by people with plenty of money so there has to be another way to make those people accountable for their actions. Also, people will make the excuse that any of this being enforced would be a danger to poor black people. The way things are today I can absolutely see that happening.

As it is a lot of people have the absolutely racist and absurd belief that black folks simply cannot help being agressive no matter where we are. That due to the awful legacy of slavery that we cannot help being on our phones when folks need to focus on driving instead.

This reminds me that the issue of people on their phones while driving needs to carry charges that can imprison people if they don't comply. We live in a time where Bluetooth and other handsfree devices are inexpensive enough that they should be ubiquitous at this point.

Again, if a person can't conduct themselves properly while driving a motor vehicle then it makes me wonder what other issues of self control they possess. Maybe they simply aren't competent enough to drive.

What I think is that driving school should be absolutely mandatory. With sections where people are actually riding bicycles though the city so they can get a feel for what that experience is actually like. Not some preset track either. Actual city streets and conditions.

What you think about that?

You make a very good point.....

Driving is a privilege not a right. The problem is that so many people make money from people driving and so that makes it in their best interest to NOT take people's cars away or to revoke their licenses.

The truth is that if irresponsible people were held accountable for their own bad decisions then it would make things better for the remaining drivers as well as cyclists and pedestrians as well.

Fatalities would go down and we would all be safer. The fact that this isn't already done shows where the priorities are

Yeah I hear you. It's a real shame that the real issue surrounding why pedestrians and cyclists are considered second class citizens is really about money. The gas and automotive industry is quite powerful politically and have a whole lot of allies.

The fact that they make their money is one thing but they aren't satisfied with that. They want to make sure nothing endangers that meal ticket and they don't care how many bodies get buried in that process.

Oh I know it's common and thats why I gave my personal example. I honestly think that our lifestyles have so much going on that life is pretty much zoomed by. It would be great to just take the time to learn some practical skills and as far as that's concerned I feel it should be taught at home to both males and females.

I had to learn how to do so and I'm glad I did

This is something that can easily be changed. Not like it takes rocket science to prepare a simple meal for oneself.

I used to put a little water in a baking dish add some chicken and veggies cook it in my toaster oven and had enough to feed several people. I could eat for several days for maybe $15. I had a dorm fridge so I could only keep but so much at a time.

Yep.

Yep!

Smart aleck but you arent wrong. I used to get chicken and veggies at a local Latina market for like $12-$15. This would feed me for several days versus a single meal.

Thanks

Oh I see cars in bike lanes all the time in Navy Yard

I agree.

Hit a pedestrian, cyclist, or a person on a scooter and be charged for it pending an ok investigation and if found at fault revoke driving privileges altogether.

That's the thing. People get in arms when anyone talks bad about cars but there are so many folks out here that are reckless when it comes to driving.

This mentality of driving being a right is absolutely foolish and needs to stop. Driving should be seen as a privilege for those who can handle the responsibility of being behind the wheel of a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds.

Aha! I see so they let this monster freely roaming the streets knowing that he was a danger to the community. In that case whoever is involved in that has some accountability for this as well.

Wow! Ok, so what's his story? Why is he like this?

Also, why wasn't he already in prison?

Yeah that does sound like a really good value.

Yeah I am very much aware of that and that issue raises a very important question.....

What if it's someone who is severely mentally handicapped? This raises the question even further of where to draw the line to determine that in the first place.

What I am thinking is that if the problems with the shelters are addressed properly like sanitation, safety where people aren't stealing from one another then it may be that more folks are willing to stay in them. At the very least that would be a move in the right direction.

Another one issue is that many of those parks are places where one isn't supposed to be spending the night legally so that's something to consider. They are public parks that are designed for all to be able to enjoy them but they are much less desirable as such places when there are homeless folks occupying them.

I'm of the opinion that there is little to be done now to change that but that that needs to change in a way that's best for everyone all around.

What are you basing your information on? Not saying that you are wrong but I'm curious.

I'm of the opinion that there are a number of people who are chronically homeless that are damaged mentally to the point that they will never be able to hold down a job and pay for the expenses of life, especially in a place as expensive as DC.

2. Don't want to give up drugs or alcohol

3. Would love to get off the street but just need some help to get the ball rolling.

4. Combination of 1 & 2. They could be in such a situation where they don't want to get off the street but really aren't in a mental state where they can make those kinds of decisions.

5. Don't want to be homeless but they are concerned about the condition and safety of shelters. I've never been in that situation or been inside a shelter myself so I am hardly going to speak on something as an authority that I don't know about.

So first of all how many homeless are in DC in the first place? Out of that number how many can become working individuals that can hold down a place of their own.

Those folks have to be dealt with differently from those that simply can't maintain a place of their own even if they had one as they have a different set of needs.

Ok, so I'm thinking an honest appraisal of the current shelters is in order and bring them all up to a store standard that dignifies people and doesn't tolerate unsanitary conditions or stealing or violence. Where support to break addictions are in place and it would be great to have a large facility in a central location so that folks don't feel a need to be on the bus when they have used the bathroom on themselves and pose a health risk to others. If they have vans that can transport them as needed then you eliminate that issue altogether.

The way the title is it makes it seem that these students are merely entertainment for their new neighbors. Historically that is problematic.

Ok, so what would be a better title and what's a better way to tell this story?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_High_School_(Washington,_D.C.)

Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity 2020-2021 Black 701. Hispanic 21 White 5 Two or more races 5 Asian 2

4 percent is Hispanic. 1 percent white