Public Safety
Southeast has as many neighborhoods as Northwest
Congress Heights On the Rise reader Ambergris wrote this "Open letter to DC media."In light of the recent shootings at 4000 South Capitol Street SE and 1300 Congress Place SE, it seems like the rest of the city is once more going to be given the impression that all of Southeast is the Wild West. One of the ways this idea is perpetuated is by referring to the entire area as "Southeast," compounded, in this instance, by insisting that it is less than a mile between these two incidents.
Image from Ork Posters.
This is plain wrong. Its 1.6 miles from 4000 South Capitol Street, SE, in the Washington Highlands neighborhood, to 1300 Congress Place, SE, in the Congress Heights neighborhood.
For those who need a Northwest orientation, this is about the same distance from the corner of 17th and U to Metro Center. If two incidents had occurred in those two locations, would the media be referring to all of Northwest as a free-fire zone? I don't think so.
As someone who grew up in Northwest and now lives in Southeast, I shared the Northwest misapprehension that all of Southeast was also called "Anacostia," and that one was taking one's life into one's hands crossing the eponymous river.
Now that I live here, I'm occasionally the neighborhood ambassador for taxi drivers who have to overcome their apprehension to give me a lift home. To make sure I don't get put out of the cab, I usually direct them only to South Capitol Street by the stadium, and then gently guide them over the Douglass Bridge to my home. They are inevitably stunned at the new Giant, the IHOP, the houses Taxi drivers should know the neighborhoods of the city they're licensed to drive in. Journalists should know the same about the city they're reporting on. So my gentle suggestion to DC journalists is to print out a Google map of Southeast DC, which helpfully names the neighborhoods, and take advantage of the lovely weather we're having to take a drive around, familiarize yourself with which area is called what, until it is as familiar to you as the distinction between Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights, Woodley Park and Cleveland Park, and then start using those names in your reporting. At the least, it will lend accuracy to your reporting. It might even make it easier for me and the residents of Southeast to get a taxi home.
Cross-posted at Congress Heights On the Rise.
Nikki Peele writes about issues east of the Anacostia River, especially her neighborhood of Congress Heights, at Congress Heights On the Rise. 
Comments
@ggwash
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Makes me wonder if I should do a renaming map of the Metro, if the news media was in charge of station naming:
"This is Northwest Washington Station. Doors opening left side. This is Northwest Washington. Attention passengers, the elevator at Northwest Washington is out of service. Shuttle service is being provided from Northwest Washington. The next stop will be Northwest Washington. This is a Yellow Line train to Northeast Washington."
by Matt Johnson on Apr 2, 2010 2:07 pm • link • report
by Steve S on Apr 2, 2010 2:14 pm • link • report
A while back I believe it was NBC that said that they would stop attaching neighborhood names to their reporting after a headline that claimed a shooting in Columbia Heights, despite the actual location being a mile away from what anyone would consider to be Columbia Heights.
by Adam L on Apr 2, 2010 2:16 pm • link • report
The Advoc8te
Resident of the Congress Heights neighborhood in Ward 8
by The Advoc8te on Apr 2, 2010 2:16 pm • link • report
I think most people unsestand that there are different neighborhoods East of the River, but since they are residential in nature, most people never have a reason to visit and therefore don't bother to make distinctions. I went to AU and lived in that are for 7 years (and I'm not sure I really know the distinction between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park). When people asked me where I lived I'd usually say some selection of by AU, near Tenleytown, or Upper Northwest. I never said AU Park, or Spring Valley or whatever neighborhood I actually lived in.
So I don't think this is just an issue with SE, with so many neighborhoods and so many borders it can be hard to distinguish.
by Steven Yates on Apr 2, 2010 2:30 pm • link • report
There are actually many misappropriated neighborhood names. Using my area as an example, it comes from the fact that there are differences between "official" neighborhoods (Dupont Circle), colloquial neighborhoods (Greater U Street), historic neighborhoods (Striver's Section), and ANC boundaries (which people forget are variable).
by Adam L on Apr 2, 2010 2:32 pm • link • report
by JTS on Apr 2, 2010 2:46 pm • link • report
by lou on Apr 2, 2010 4:08 pm • link • report
by Rich on Apr 2, 2010 4:31 pm • link • report
I agree with you. I think it's curious because they have Logan Circle as a neighborhood when it's technically a part of Shaw yet include U Street even though most people there would think of Shaw as down by the Convention Center and the eponymous metro station.
by Steve S on Apr 2, 2010 5:07 pm • link • report
@Steve Y that's a good point, but I think if people referred to their specific neighborhoods more then others would start to understand.
by Martin on Apr 2, 2010 5:10 pm • link • report
Is geography taught in schools or college anymore; I always see this happening and its not just a DC thing. There have been cases where there has been no stating of where something occurred in Alexandria & PG County.
If they can not name the area in which something occuried they should just say the streets and let people who know geography figure it out.
Don't even get started on SW; every seems to think SW is by the Potomac Park, Jefferson JHS, Waterfront Metro while there is a portion by Bolling AFB, Eastover and in general east of the river.
by kk on Apr 2, 2010 6:36 pm • link • report
I do agree that the media is very sloppy with geography. But the problem is more that the media is very sloppy in general, than that they are sloppy with just geography. Or that it is only sloppy with DC SE. Most DC-based media identify DC quadrants, Arlington and Alexandria. Fairfax, Loundoun, MoCo and PG are distant points on the map, despite each being about seven times the size of DC and having way more people. And beyond those counties might as well be another planet.
A secondary problem is that many neighborhoods are ambiguously defined. the renaming and rebranding of neighborhoods does not help.
by Jasper on Apr 3, 2010 9:42 am • link • report
In any case the comparison seems an unwise point.
NW is over twice the size. money, power, land mass, and cultural activities are hugely weighted toward NW. DC would still be a fantastic city if it was just NW, but not so much if it were just SE.
to me the focus of the River East bloggers should be showcasing what it is they are, not "we're just as good".
the River East folk should SHOW us how cool the neighborhoods are, not just talk it. Hold a River East chili cookoff. Sponsor a paintings of the landscapes of river east competition/show. Have a battle of the bands for local musicians. hold a River East Festival to get throngs of people visiting. Offer guided tours showcasing its history both pleasant and not-so-pleasant. Post music videos shot in River East. always included maps and photos when talking about neighborhoods. do river east fireworks on NYE. have a regatta focusing on the waterfront of river east.
there is a lot that they themselves can do. there is no reason for minds to change their prejudice just because they are told to do so. you must show them.
by holdout on Apr 3, 2010 9:45 am • link • report
the River East folk should SHOW us how cool the neighborhoods are, not just talk it."
@holdout
With all due respect what makes you think us River East bloggers aren't doing just that? How familiar are you with our blogs? As the blogger for Congress Heights on the Rise I've done 1,775 posts on my community since I created the blog in the Summer of 2008, of those 1,775 posts, 2 (including this one) have been cross-posted here on GGW which I think fall under your "we are just as good" premise.
The fact of the matter is that we (not just the EotR bloggers but the entire EotR community) do so very much to educate and inform those that don't live, work or visit here on all things that make life EotR so great. Its a whole new debate on why we should have to "prove" that we are just as good or great in the first place. I think the writer of this post explained very well how this assumption that all of "Southeast" is dangerous came about in the first place.
Just because you don't see those type of "we are already great" posts featured on GGW (which I like) or the City Paper (which has picked up a lot of our posts), the WashPo, etc. doesn't mean they don't exist. In fact we are constantly pitching a lot of our "look at the great things in our community" posts with no response. Speaking for me I get about 4 or 5 requests for interviews a week and they always surround the same three things: Barry, Crime and Poverty. No one really wants to cover or pick up on these "feel good stories" that write about. There are exceptions,Prince of Petworth has this great Flip't feature that documents And Now,Anacostia's process in renovating a house in the Historic Anacostia neighborhood.
The fact of the matter is that unless you live EotR or you have a connection here you probably aren't reading our blogs, especailly not daily. Most people who don't live EotR discover them after they see a crosspost(like this one) or when one of the major outlets pick up on one of our stories (usually not a feel-good one). I would love it if more of the other city blogs, news medias picked up more of our positive "why are neighborhood is already great" posts but the fact of the matter is they don't - why I don't know but I can't let that stop me from doing what I do every day - promote my community and hope to bring more attention, understanding and cooperation from within and outside of Congress Heights, Ward 8 and River East.
I invite you and anyone else to check out some of the over 20 River East blogs that are available. I think you would be surprised what you would find. The art galleries, the walking tours, the museums, the chili cook-offs, the fashion shows, the park clean-ups, the BBQs, the festivals, etc.
Just because you hadn't heard or read about them doesn't mean they don't exist.
Anacostia Diaries
http://anacostiadiaries.blogspot.com/
Anacostia Que
http://anacostiaque.blogspot.com/
Anacostia Yogi
http://anacostiayogi.blogspot.com/
ANC Single Member District 8C01
http://anc8c01.blogspot.com/
ANC Single Member District 8C02
http://anc8c02.blogspot.com/
And Now, Anacostia
http://anacostianow.blogspot.com/
Barry Farm (re)Mixed
http://barryfarmremixed.blogspot.com/
Big Chair Coffee n' Grill
http://bigchaircoffee.blogspot.com/
Congress Heights on the Rise
http://www.congressheightsontherise.com/
Deanwood Denizen
http://deanwooddenizen.blogspot.com/
East River Heights Community
http://eastriverheights.blogspot.com/
Fred Joiner's Weblog
http://fredjoiner.wordpress.com/
Hill East Blues
http://hilleastblues.blogspot.com/
Life in the Village
http://fairfaxvillage.blogspot.com/
Penn Brangler
http://pennbranch.blogspot.com/
River East Idealist
http://rivereastidealist.blogspot.com/
Runin DC
http://www.runindc.com/
Say What, Now?
http://alicemthornton.wordpress.com/
Southeast Socialite
http://southeastsocialite.blogspot.com/
SouthwestÂ…The Little Quadrant That Could
http://southwestquadrant.blogspot.com/
Ward 7 Connections
http://ward7.wordpress.com/
by The Advoc8te on Apr 3, 2010 10:42 am • link • report
The link to the segment can be found here: http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2009-08-31
by The Advoc8te on Apr 3, 2010 10:54 am • link • report
Fun fact: If you live in Naylor Court, between 9th and 10th & N and O, you are officially within the boundaries of three community associations: Shaw, Blagden Alley/Naylor Court, and Logan Circle. Take your pick, or volunteer with all three!
by Tim Christensen on Apr 3, 2010 3:19 pm • link • report
the things i mentioned are not things that i have generally seen on those blogs, nor are they events that are currently held. if i am wrong,if my suggestions were insulting, or if i came across as offensive, i apologize.
But looking at the past 12 pages or so on your blog i see nothing that gives me a sense of orientation. no useful maps but the one associated with this post. and i can't even find where exactly Capitol Heights is on your blog. personally, this is something i would like to see. maybe that is beside the point and i am not your target audiences since i live in River West.
by holdout on Apr 4, 2010 4:06 pm • link • report
It's "Congress Heights" not "Capital Heights" and just for you I put up two new neighborhood maps - you can also click the "neighborhood maps" label on those post to see prior put but I will admit I don't spend a whole lot of time reposting neighborhood maps because my target audience is from Ward 8 so they tend to know where they live. :) But I think you bring up a great point and I will try my best to try and include a weekly map for those folks who aren'tfamiliar with our neighborhoods - although a quick search on google for "Congress Heights" or "Ward 8 DC neighborhoods" could provide a wealth of information.
While we are on the subject this is a comment left on this very post on my blog by one of my readers. I think it hits home to the type of misinformation we are constantly trying to correct:
LaTanya - born, raised & still living in Ward 8 said...
Take a look at today's Sunday Post. They just proved your point. The article's headline: "Obama celebrates Easter near site of DC shootings" I thought it would have been Covenant Baptist, very near the shooting on So Cap Street. Nope. You had to read the article to realize the church the President visited was Allen Chapel on Alabama Ave. Two different neighborhoods. Using your example, if the shootings were at Metro Center, then the church Obama visited is near Howard University! Totally different neighborhoods!!
by The Advoc8te on Apr 4, 2010 11:02 pm • link • report
I have lived in DC for 25+ years and was always told that SE was a place that you didn't want to live in or drive through. When I was house hunting, SE was within my price range (Twining) and I believe that the homes in Hillcrest would rival ANY that I've seen in Silver Spring. So even with all of the educating being done, there is still more to do.
Thank you, Advoc8te for those list of blogs! I knew about some of them but not all.
by B Ford on Apr 5, 2010 7:35 am • link • report
by Neil Flanagan on Apr 5, 2010 10:05 am • link • report
Exactly. We see this type of stuff all the time. The boarders of the Anacostia neighborhood must be made of rubber because we so many articles that will include other neighborhoods like Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, Bellevue within it's boarders. It's not rare at all to see the entire Ward referred to as "Anacostia" by news reporters.
by The Advoc8te on Apr 5, 2010 11:24 am • link • report
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