Mount Pleasant DC Forum

jl · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 45

I fully agree that the ban works only in pushing the problem out of our neighborhood. And if I were here 8 years ago we might have teamed up to propose a real solution instead of a cosmetic one.

But the ban IS in effect, drunks (potentially dangerous) are out of the way of my wife and baby, and lifting the ban produces no gains towards fixing the real problem.

Frankly, the fight towards lifting the ban seems to be just as symbolic as the initial imposing of it. As if to show who is the real social thinker and who are the callous NIMBYs. The only difference is that the former produced (selfish?) results while the latter only potentially alleviates guilt.

A realistic view might accept that folks are always going to support something that immediately keeps them safe and brightens their daily lives. But that doesn't have to be the end of it. It doesn't mean they won't support efforts to EXPAND upon a singles ban to fight systemic problems if given a choice.

Bringing 'bad' things into peoples lives to prove a point isn't a real choice - it does nothing to help the indigent problem.

admin · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

From DC Watch:

Single Sales Ban Matt Forman, (Adams Morgan resident and Kalorama Citizens Association Board Member)

Jack McKay, in the last issue of themail [September 13] repeats his argument that single sales of alcoholic drinks should not be banned in Mt. Pleasant because doing so might push the problem of public intoxication to neighboring areas. But Mr. McKay was elected to the ANC by his Mt. Pleasant constituents to represent their interests, not those of neighboring areas. Should the neighboring areas wish to address the problem, they are free to do so. Indeed, in this case, a friend of mine informs me that many neighboring Columbia Heights residents are also in favor of the ban. The other solution to Mr. McKay’s concerns is to simply make the ban city wide.