Kids in the hood
Sunday's article in the Post about kids allowed to roam the neighborhood was a pleasant read. Got me thinking about my own childhood and the kids around here. Kids, as in elementary and maybe middle school kids. Not the surly teenagers who roam the city.For the record I don't think these days are more dangerous for kids than when I was growing up. Stranger danger is no more a threat now than it was before. However, I notice there are a lack of PSAs about not talking to strangers (there 's also a lack of PSAs about littering, bring those back!). Yeah, there are more people with cell phones driving, but there are fewer drunk drivers. That whole "designated driver" thing was new and shiny when I was a teen. People still can't drive, sober or cell phoneless, but I digress.
As the summer winds down there are kids out on the sidewalk playing and making a racket. Age ranges from 2 or 3 to teenage-ish (can't tell). The young ones are simply tagging along with the older kids, who more than likely were told to "watch your brother/sister". B. and I had a discussion about that. Being forced to bring your annoying sibling with you everywhere builds character, and keeps you out of trouble because they are such tattle tales. B. thinks it's too much responsibility to place on a child. Anyway the little ones mimic the older ones who keep their games and activities on the sidewalk. Sometimes they filter out into the street when engaging with teenagers, the characters from the corner or the grown men willing to throw around a football.
I'm semi-aware of their approved range. I know some kids are allowed over to Dunbar for the pool, or are limited to the quickie mart and no further. Some other kids have to ask permission to play on the other side of the street. Depends on the parent, the conditions, and the kid.
Update: Comments have been closed. Please direct local political comments to their appropriate posts.
posted by Mari @ 29.8.06
7 Comments:
Amen on the need for PSA's on not littering. I've been astonished so many times to see kids walk down the street and just chuck their trash (usually candy wrappers) in the street.
Bring back Woodsy Owl - Give a Hoot Don't Pollute!
HELP ME PLEASE BEFORE ELECTION DAY!!
Does anyone know anything about Ward 5 councilmember Independent candidate Miriam Moore and her Republican mayoral candidate husband Dennis Moore?
I Googled and found them at www.MooreForPeople.com
Where has the media been on these two? What an interesting pair they would make for family conversation!
Can anyone give me their honest opinion about any one of them? I am really hesitant to vote based on the same old "front-runner" hype this year. - THANKS!!
MichMan,
The City Paper had something on the dozen or so people running for the Ward 5 seat. My belief is if the person isn't making an all out effort to tell you about themselves by showing up at community events and meetings, they don't deserve your vote. As far as I am concerned Rae Zapata, Frank Wilds, & Harry Thomas Jr. are doing the work needed to run. There are others like Smith and oh her name escapes me but she has a great hairstyle, who have smaller campaigns who seem to be making the best effort with what they have.
Thanks T, but I'm going to leave it. Coupled with your comment, I think there is no damage. My sense is beyond something amazing happening it's a toss up between Zapata, Wilds, or Thomas and maybe whatshername who's car was torched (my not remembering her name, probably not a good sign).
Actually Truxtonian, regarding candidates Miriam and Dennis Moore -- I'm just an uncommitted overworked sanitation worker trying to reach out and stay informed about my ward, and beyond Michigan Park. Call me old school, but I still value my vote beyond media hype. Not having a crabs in the barrel plantation mentally keeps me from being an "annoying" "bastard" involved in "viral political marketing." Can a Brother just get some information?? Thanks for not being a candidate!!
Paint us cynical. Which is a lot like cyan, but not really.
Well MichMan, if you truly want to get some information may I direct you to your own civic associations in the Brookland and Edgewood neighborhoods and the ANCs there. Ask your Single Member District Rep about the candidates for Ward 5 and you'll find out who has been really active in the community and not just someone who woke up one day and decided to run for the Ward seat. Being active in the community is worth something to me because good intentions, a warm smile and a desire to make DC better aren't enough. I need proof that someone knows what to do and can hit the ground running.
Anyway, let this be the end or near the end of the off topic posts in the Kids in the Hood post. I have other postings that are about politics. If one needs to refer back to discussions here please find the URL for the desired comment.
Michigan Man--
Dennis Moore is not on the ballot for Republican for mayor, so we can forget about him after primary day. David Kranich, a Republican who IS on the ballot, can't get much media attention himself. The press isn't going to even think about someone like Mr. Moore, who couldn't even get on the ballot.
RE: Miriam Moore-- well there are 15 candidates in the Dem primary --people are spending so much time sorting out that primary that they don't have time to focus on an independent candidate right now. The question is-- where are her signs?
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