Physician, heal thyself
According to Mayor Fenty's latest “FentyFile" e-newsletter and this notice, the District will start fining residents this month for not keeping their lawns and yards nice and neat. From a look at the grounds around the Kennedy Rec Center today, it would seem that the District should tighten up its own stuff before it starts poking its nose into private residents' property looking for profit. Should I even talk about tall grass, overgrown weeds, garbage, dog faeces, homeless neighbors' belongings, broken fences and unlocked gates in District owned parks in Shaw? ... Ok, I wont.
During Shaw Main Streets' Keep Shaw Beautiful Day a few weekends ago, a lot of residents came out to take care of city streets, triangle parks and, yes, even the Kennedy Recreation Center. Maybe the District is fining residents to finance its own needs to pay for maintenance of government property.
“The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs reminds you that uncut grass could cost you $500. Enforcement of seasonal grass-cutting rules runs May 1 to October 31. Grass and weeds that are more than 10 inches tall could lead to fines. During growing season, property owners (commercial and residential) are required to keep their yards free of trash and excessive vegetative growth."
— April 30, 2008 Fenty File e-newsletter
Of course, this is great news for those who live near vacant nuisance properties, in which case folks should report suspected violations to DCRA at (202) 442-4400.
Comments, Pingbacks:
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05/01/08 @ 09:37 However, in some cases, difficulty can arise because reasonable people can disagree over what is objectionable.
For this reason, I would recommend warnings be issued first.
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05/01/08 @ 15:55 Could one of your next CoreTeam projects be the Rec Center?
With 1/3 of the kids at Dunbar and elsewhere in the city adding to the truancy rolls, why can't the District hire some of those citizens without basic education after they reach the appropriate age and give them an opportunity to earn some money, do something constructive and start building a resume that might lead to a better job in the future? Going around documenting derelict properties can't take more than rudimentary writing and math skills and a pen and notepad. Give em a free Metro Pass to get around the City. Most able bodied young people can use a weed whacker and a trash gripper.
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05/01/08 @ 16:15 I spoke with DPR about this and was told the grass should be cut soon. They said the rain delayed the cutting schedule. I've asked when the grass would be cut and will post that information when I find out.
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05/02/08 @ 11:43 As far as weeding the dandelions from around the shrubs goes, might Friends of Kennedy be willing to organize something? I'll help...
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05/03/08 @ 23:49 Leave a comment:
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