communit7-19

COMMUNIT-E
JULY 19, 2000

MORE ON AU STUDENTS

1.) From: Bland@aamc.org (Bette Land)
I suggest that you send a copy of the AU student problem to Ben Ladner,
<Ladner@american.edu>, the President of the university. I believe the Dean
of Students reports to him. He should know that she is ignoring the
neighbors' complaints. He is trying to be a good neighbor, and I suspect
he'll help if he knows the problem exists.

2.) From: RiceO@webtv.net (Rice Odell)
I wonder if John Canon pressed charges against the person who assaulted
him, or is that just asking for more trouble? In any case, he describes
a nightmare that no one should have to endure. At the least, the police
should be obligated to enforce nuisance laws very strictly. A little
bit of REAL enforcement could send a helpful message. That's just one
thought.

3.) From: EJOHNSON@fcc.gov (Elias Johnson)
We live in the 4500 block of Albemarle and the house next to ours is a rental
property that for the past five years or so has been rented by AU
undergraduates. We have been forced to put up with the same kind of behavior
that you have experienced. Lots of loud parties with people getting drunk,
throwing up and relieving themselves in the yard and screaming obscenities.

When we ask the students not to hold large parties, they get belligerent and
go out of their way to wake us up when they return to their house late at
night. The situation is intolerable and like you we have also thought about
moving.

This past year, however, things for us changed. The landlord cleaned up the
house last summer and a family moved in last September. While this past year
has been great, we remain very concerned as to what the coming years will
bring.

When I looked into what could be done about our situation, one of the things
that Kathy Patterson's Office recommended, among others, is calling the
landlord every single time that you are disturbed no matter what the time of
day or night. In addition, her office said that this approach works best if
there is a group of neighbors that do this.

Also, the drinking age in the District is 21 and it is illegal to service
alcohol to minors. It is highly likely that whoever is hosting the parties
on your block is serving beer to minors. When the police arrive at a large
noisy party with lots of AU undergraduates ask that they check and see if
minors are being served alcohol. If so, the individuals serving the beer can
be arrested.

I have talked with a number of people at AU, but have found them not to be
responsive. I think that Kathy Patterson, our ANC representative and the
police need to take this problem much more seriously.

We are not alone. I have talked with other AU residences who have the same
problem in their blocks. Not only does it effect quality of life and
property values, it leads to drunk driving and it could lead to people
getting injured or killed.

We would fully support anything that could be done to end this kind of thing
in our neighborhood. If this means changing the District's landlord tenant
laws, then this should be done. The purpose of these laws is not to protect
the kind of behavior that we and our neighbors have had to put up with over
the years.

I would second Kathy Patterson's suggestion that you call the landlord when
the students keep you awake with late loud parties. If you can't sleep, why
should he? -- KS

VICTIMS ASSISTANCE : Participants Needed for Focus Group on Victim Services

From: owner-d2@this-people.com
The Metropolitan Police Department is committed to providing
high-quality services to victims of crime in the District of
Columbia. In keeping with this commitment, the MPDC is
attempting to identify participants for a focus group on
victim services.

Focus group participants will offer input into the
development of a District-wide infrastructure that will
support a comprehensive approach to providing services to
victims of crime. Specifically, focus group members will be
asked to identify victims' needs and expectations, the
quality of services delivered, and gaps in the current
service delivery system. This project is being conducted by
the MPDC's Office of Organizational Development, in
conjunction with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public
Safety and Justice, other governmental agencies and local
service providers.

A number of focus groups will be conducted for victims of
different types of crimes. For purposes of this particular
focus group:

* The Department is looking for persons who have been the
victim of a burglary, robbery, or assault (other than sexual
assault).

* The victimization must have occurred in the District
during the past 12 months.

* It is not necessary that the crime was reported to the
police.

The focus group will be conducted in early August. If you
are interested in being considered as a participant, please
contact Debra Hoffmaster at 202-727-8726 no later than July
26, 2000.

Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C.
http://www.mpdc.org

METRO TRANSIT POLICE -- WHO TO CALL

From: Heidi.Pasichow@usdoj.gov (Heidi Pasichow)
A very responsible Captain at the Metro Transit Police Department is
John Chumas. He can be reached at 635-6762.

He may be able to assist with the latest panhandling situation at the
Metro and may be able to steer you in a direction to get
assistance with the clean up efforts involving lockers, although I do not
know where the lockers are and who has jurisdiction there.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

*** From: Cellia412
For all pregnant couples: if you haven't signed up for a childbirth class
yet, call Karen van Loon. We attended her Birth Works class and it was simply
very very good. She teaches here in Friendship Heights. You can reach her at
KarenvanL@aol.com or (202) 686 6463.

*** From: CooperJM
We are looking for a nice person to help care for my dear mom, an elderly
lady suffering from dementia. She is entirely good natured, and very
grateful for kindly attention. We need part time help, hours negotiable.
Simple tasks, light housekeeping, personal attention. Live-in a possibility.
Davenport and 41st Street in Tenleytown. Please call me for details-- Jo
Cooper 202 966-3202. Email: CooperJM@aol.com

*** From: gators1@erols.com (Michelle & Ren LeRouzes)
Something worth noting - Our painter, Alex Santos "Alex & Sons, via the
Current" (I recommend him very highly based on his work quality) assisted
a woman in your report who was robbed at knifepoint. He was on his way over
to our house to finish some work. He asked the young woman if she needed
some help and chased the armed guy down the street to his parked car. He
took down the license plate, phoned
police, and stayed with the young girl. The police stopped the occupant of
the vehicle BLOCKS AWAY.
Thanks to him the case is now closed. It is nice to know people care.

*** From: Fmanibog@worldbank.org
We just wanted to report that our two bikes were stolen from our garage. It
seems that people prowl in the alleys looking for quick grabs.

*** From: Lberger728
I'm looking for an electrician for routine/emergency type stuff. Does anyone
have any suggestions? Thank you.

THE NEW N3 BUS ROUTE

From: Bland@aamc.org (Bette Land)
I wanted to mention the return 3 weeks ago of what formerly was the N-1 bus,
though now is called the N-3. It runs only during rush hours (6 times in the
morning, 4 in the evening) from Western Avenue, to Westmoreland Circle, down
Mass. Ave., then South on 22nd (which turns into 23rd Street), around Wash.
Circle, past the State Dept., East on C and ends up ultimately at the Federal
Triangle at 10th and Constitution. The neighbors pleaded for years for the
return of the bus, which had been cancelled about 5 years ago. Now that it
is back, I fear for its continuation. Ridership is terribly low - sometimes
there are only 6 people, never more than 15 on it. Yet the bus is ideal, and
an extraordinary time-saver, for those who want to circumvent the congested
Dupont Circle, Conn. Ave. areas. (My ride to the West End is now only 25
minutes long as opposed to the former one hour with a transfer!) I believe
that the problem is due to the fact that the return of it was not advertised
the usual way by affixing posters in the front of the bus. People seem
confused by its existence. Perhaps if you could mention something about it
in your newsletter, this might increase its ridership.

Busses leave from Friendship Hts. the following times in the mornings:
6:47
7:13
7:35
7:534
8:11
and 8:40

Busses leave from 10th and Constitution (the Federal Triangle):
4:40
5:10
5:30
and 6:02

Finally, the route from Friendship Hts. is:
Western to Mass.
South on Mass. to 22nd
22nd (turning into 23rd) to C Street (State Dept.)
C to Virginia Avenue
to Constitution
Left on 12th Street to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania to 10th and Constitution

Should you be totally confused by the route, pls. consult the N2, 3, 4 and 6
bus route maps on
<wmata.com>

NEW AT THE MPD

From: owner-d2@this-people.com
--Policing for Prevention--
Founded on the building blocks of community policing,
Policing for Prevention succeeds only when the police, the
community, and other government agencies work together to
fight crime and disorder. Learn more about the MPDC's
strategy for preventing crime -- read the new on-line
Policing for Prevention fact sheet at
http://www.mpdc.org/english/about/pfp_factsheet

For more information on services, programs, PSAs, and other
information, please visit the MPDC web site at
http://www.mpdc.org

-- "Smooth Operator" Wave 3 --
Beginning Monday, July 10, and continuing through Sunday,
July 16, the MPDC joined other area law enforcement
agencies for Wave 3 of "Smooth Operator," a concerted effort
to enforce traffic laws against aggressive driving.
Speeding, red-light running, unsafe lane changes and
tailgating were among the offenses officers were on the
lookout for. For more information about Smooth Operator,
including 10 basic rules for safe driving, click on:
http://www.mpdc.org/English/about/smoothop/default.htm

Footnote: To further enhance the MPDC's traffic safety
capacity, the Department recently assigned Lt. Patrick
Burke, formerly of the Second District, as the agency's new
Traffic Safety Coordinator. If you have comments or
suggestions about traffic safety in the District, call Lt.
Burke at 202-727-2201.

-- Internet Fraud Complaint Center --
The FBI, in partnership with the National White Collar Crime
Center (NW3C), has established the Internet Fraud Complaint
Center to address the problem of fraud committed over the
Internet. For victims of Internet fraud, IFCC provides a
convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts
authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation. For
law enforcement and regulatory agencies at all levels, IFCC
offers a central repository for complaints related to
Internet fraud, works to quantify fraud patterns, and
provides timely statistical data of current fraud trends.
To access the new Internet Fraud Complain Center, go to:
http://www.ifccfbi.gov

--Police Establish New Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit--
Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey has announced
the formation of the Metropolitan Police Department's first
Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU), which will promotes
public safety services to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered communities in all seven police districts.
For more information click
http://www.mpdc.org/English/News/0006/000621.htm`