Okay, This is going to hurt but somebody had to say it.
At last night's meeting we learned that a) DC government gave the Peaceoholics $480,000.00 to purchase the building from a known Marion Barry crony (which may explain why DC agencies are not meeting with the community and refuse to enforce the current law on the books) b) that the Peaceoholics are currently renovating the property c) they hope to finalize a contract with the City where they will be paid anywhere from $50 - $250 a night depending on services to house a juvenile offender. FYI - Assuming a $250 a day per offender housing fee X 30 days equals $7,500 in fees PER CHILD PER MONTH from the District to the Peaceoholics. Assuming this property can house 30 youth that is a potential revenue stream of $225,000 a month, $2.7 million a year. The Peacoaholics may have lost their earmarks but they haven't lost their ability to make money with the District.
From the Washington City Paper article, "What Cost Peace?"
Proving expert at wringing cash out of the public sector, Moten is getting Peaceoholics into real estate. In May, the group snared a $5 million loan on bargain terms from the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development. The idea is to renovate three multi-unit buildings in low-income areas into affordable housing for youths transitioning out of detention. If all goes according to plan, public dollars ordinarily spent on individual kids for a variety of social services will end up in Peaceoholics’ coffers as they serve those same kids in a privately owned local setting.
Now that I have brought you up to speed (kind of) on all the technical facts, let me address a few more of my more…emotional thoughts.
Normally when I write these posts even the passionate ones I try – I said “try” – and interject some type of logic in my feelings. If I am angry about “tomfoolery”, it is because it is inefficient and I don’t do inefficient. It’s a waste of my time and resources - both of which are in limited supply.
In relation to this recap of tonight’s ANC 8E meeting, I am just going to write from what I am feeling in my heart (and stomach, as I am starving and I am mentally and physically exhausted).
I.
Am.
Absolutely.
Terrified.
I don’t have any other way to say it than that. I’m not angry. I’m not even really sad I am just plain terrified.
Watching and participating in tonight’s ANC 8E meeting and observing and really absorbing the chaos around me has be shaken to my core and I don't shake easily.
Despite their best efforts, despite the new condominiums, the new Giant, the new…everything they are doomed. Despite the community clean-ups and vigils, despite life-long residents who have been hanging in there doing the right thing by being the guardians of their community, despite the influx of new and enthusiastic homebuyers setting down roots in their new neighborhood for the long haul, who judge success in years and not property values, they are being royally screwed over by their Mayor, their Government, their City Council and their own Councilman who neither gives a good goddamn or is blind to the struggle - other than to make a few empty promises, throw a few measly dollars, or worse of the worst, exploit the situation by creating and sustaining poverty pimps.
I am terrified for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
Despite their (mostly) good intentions and commitment in the face of insurmountable odds, they are woefully outgunned and under qualified both internally and externally. In a Ward where the unemployment rate hovers around 30%, 47% of the population is functionally illiterate and children are killing other children , between birthing them, grown people are arguing about the order of words on a piece of paper. If that isn’t putting ego above common sense I don’t know what is. I once heard a saying, "during a house fire you don’t argue about what started the fire – you just get the #$%#@ out"! So many times I have wanted to scream at our community leaders, “can we please first put the damn fire out and then we can spend the next year finding out who drank the last of the orange juice two years ago!” If this is the leadership that the community should look to for guidance then we have to find new leaders ASAP. I have said it once and I will say it again, if I was a poverty pimp, drug dealer or irresponsible business owner I would move my next project to a Ward 8 neighborhood. The ANCs are so out of step it would be years before they realized I was even there and even more years before they would finally get organized enough to make me clean up my act - or move.
I am not here to debate if the Peaceoholics are doing any good or if they are as great as they seem to think they are, although I would invite both founders, Jauhar Abraham and Ron Moten to discover the art of humility – there really is no “I” in “Team”, even Batman had Robin. If they are so perfect and have this down to a science then why are young people still killing each other? If they haven’t perfected their plan and despite their best efforts, young people are still murdering each (physically and emotionally) in the streets then perhaps it is time to come up with a new plan at the very least tweak the current plan. Regardless, I am terrified for the Peaceoholics. If their plan tonight was to show a nervous neighborhood and ANC that the Peaceoholics plan for yet another group home was not going to crowd their small, already strained neighborhood with a bunch of loud, boisterous, intimidating and disrespectful young people then you don’t bring a bunch of loud, boisterous, intimidating and disrespectful young people to a community meeting. The Peaceoholics and their supporters didn’t show up to the meeting on time, take their seats quietly, and participate in a respectful dialogue (to be fair at one point both sides totally participated in different shades of tomfoolery). They (the Peaceoholics and their supporters) showed a total lack of respect to the meeting, the residents, and the ANC Commissioners by showing up nearly an hour late, loud, and with a group of over 30 angry and excited young people.
What should have been a meeting for a constructive dialogue on how we can fix this situation and not produce another self-created perfect storm of crime and violence looked more like a showdown – and it didn’t escape my notice and those of the residents around me that it was very choreographed on Peaceoholics part - they even taped the meeting for goodness sakes (I suspect the footage will at one point appear in Peaceoholics infomercial). I remember thinking at the time that this must go over very well with the City Council, especially those on the Council who would rather look at poverty and violence from afar (if at all), pontificate about solutions from behind an ivory wall and who assume that all black youth are something to be feared and protected against. Lordy, lordy, we must be saved from ourselves. I am sure this display has gone over quite well, to the tune of $10 million well (according to Jauhar Abraham that is the value of the Peaceoholics – a nonprofit btw).
This does not instill confidence in me that The Peaceoholics have a handle on the situation or even care to have a handle for that matter. From the mouth of Jauhar Abraham himself in Tuesday night's meeting, when asked why he did not research to see how many other group homes/independent living facilities were already on the block his unapologetic response was, “because I don’t care.”
No debate here on that but pardon me if that doesn’t instill a whole lot of confidence in me and my neighbors that the Peaceoholics "independent living facility" will not disrupt the community.Oops. Correction, they never promised to not disrupt the community. What they did say is that “we shouldn’t send our young people out of the community”-even when that community is dangerous or dysfunctional and perhaps growth (and safety) should be find outside of ones immediate surroundings. I suppose outside of the “community” includes even just a few blocks because from all the opponents of the 1300 Congress Place property they are not disputing its existence, just its location. What a difference 5 blocks (or 500 feet) could make in trying to nurture their fledgling neighborhood.
I am going to wrap up this missive about the Peaceoholics because while I have serious issues and yes, fears, about their tactics (and if I was to be honest with myself some of their motives) I don’t doubt for one second that there is a need for some type of a comprehensive (mental, physical and spiritual) plan to help our most damaged and lost young people. We have a population of our community that is drowning in crime and self-destruction and they are trying to hold on for dear life. I don’t really begrudge them for holding on to a scrap of this or that to survive the rough seas of dysfunction, however, I do have a BIG problem with the self-described “good Samaritan” who withholds the life jacket or worse yet, charges $250 a night for it and calls it charity.
That’s right I said it. I am terrified FOR the poverty pimps. As is almost always the case at most Ward 8 community meetings, at least one poverty pimp (or poverty pimp in training) stands up and says this or that, exploiting yet another bad situation for political or financial gain. Tonight’s PPIT was sponsored by the 'Fenty for Mayor' Campaign. Sometimes wolves come to you dressed in sheep's clothing, you have to check out the designer label in their collar to see who sent them.
Now back to my fear. I am terrified for the poverty pimp because I really do believe that somewhere back – maybe waaaaaaaaay back – but somewhere in the past you (un)dear Poverty Pimp were probably a good person with a good heart who wanted to do good works but somewhere along the line you got lost. Lured in by the promise of fast cash, fast cars, fast women, and an even faster ride into
Last but not least…
I saw you tonight. I felt your pain. I literally could taste your desperation and anger on my tongue and I weep for you – I literally weep for you.
You have been (and continue to be) lied to, neglected, abused, manipulated, pimped out, sold-out, ran-down and given-up. I feel your pain and rage.
For that reason, I can’t lie to you now.
You will not all be saved.
Let me repeat that because I think it’s important.
You will not all be saved.
I say that not because I don’t care, or because I think you are a lost cause or because I don’t think there are caring people out there because I know that there are but the reality of the situation is that despite how f*cked up life is or how unfair it can be it is what it is and there is no guarantee of a white knight or a Superman is coming in to save the day. Pardon my french but "Sh*t happens", it sucks and yet you still have to find a way to get up and dust yourself off. You may not be able to get up right away, you may have to crawl first - and slowly through broken glass - but one thing you cannot do is keep digging the hole deeper. Your own best (and perhaps your only) protector is yourself. Mommy doesn’t have to. Daddy doesn’t have to. Grandma doesn’t have to. Big Mamma doesn’t have to. Cousin Peaches doesn't have to. Your neighbor doesn’t have to. Marion Barry doesn’t have to. The White man doesn’t have to. The Buppies don’t have to. The Gentrifiers don’t have to. Mayor Fenty doesn’t have to. Obama doesn't have to. Even the Church doesn’t have to.
At the end of the day sometimes, you only have yourself, to save yourself.
Stop having babies! Nothing like making a bad situation worse than dragging along a defenseless innocent victim(s).
Stop getting tattoos on your face! One day you are going to need a job. If you are only as single as your options then you are only as desperate as your lack of options. No one wants to hire a lawyer/carpenter/secretary/nanny/bus driver with "Thug Life" tattooed on their face.
Stop breaking the law! Nobody just "catches a case" when you are out doing wrong you can get caught. While we are on the subject - go in the damn house. If temptation is in the street stay off the street. Go in the house or a library or a CHURCH. Find some refuge where you won't be tempted. Even if you don't commit a big crime but where there when the lesser crime happened you can get caught up. It's called Felony Murder and a ride with "Craig and 'em" to do a robbery can end up with you getting 25 years to life.
Stop abusing your body with drugs, alcohol, and unprotected sex! All three can kill you it just varies on how fast.
Stop being disrespectful to others and yourself! No one wants to hear your profanity on the subway or look at your butt hanging out of your jeans - Ladies, few things are uglier than a girl with a foul mouth who fights all the time. Think "more Michelle Obama and less Nicki Minaj."
Stop thinking you know everything! I am amazed at how little I knew yesterday, I learn something new every day. At 15 you know nothing, at 25 less than nothing and at 35 you are just learning how to change a tire.
Stop thinking that talking loud equals talking smart! You just look stupid AND loud.
Stop thinking small! Just because you were born somewhere doesn’t mean you have to die there. We have people killing people over land they don't even own - how stupid is that?!
Stop making the rappers and sex kittens in the music videos your role models! They are not even living the lifestyle they are glorifying, look where Lil Wayne is (jail), Foxxy Brown is (jail), TI is (fresh out of jail).
Stop blaming white people, rich people, rich white people or anyone who has a little more than what you have. News Flash: All these people are busy living their lives and NOT thinking about you. Many times these are the very people who are trying to help you. As the kids say, “don’t hate the playa – hate the game”.
Stop thinking anyone owes you a job. They don't and sometimes the job you qualify for right now isn't cute - like scrubbing floors, serving fried chicken ( I did this for 3 years in high school) and measuring smelly, overweight men for thong swimsuits (3 years in college). Sometimes you have to be an entrepreneur (and not the street pharmacy kind or the poverty pimp kind) to get ahead. I knew I had to start my own business (and so far I've had four) when I realized I hate getting up early in the morning and I like wearing my jammies all day. Everyone has a legal hustle - find yours
Stop thinking you are owed a hand-out. (which by the way is totally different than a hand-up) If you are an able bodied young man or young woman of sound mind nothing should stop you from being self-sufficient. Only two things in this life are guaranteed: death and taxes. Everything in between is gravy. Either get a job or if you can't get a job create your job. In the wild, if you don't hunt you don't eat (and sometimes you can hunt and still not eat). It also goes with my other favorite saying, "beggars can't be choosers."
Stop fighting over stupid stuff! Notice I didn’t say stop fighting, sometimes you have to fight. Sometimes you have to "fight" child molesters, rapists, abusers, drug dealers, sexists, fools, ANC Commissioners, Poverty Pimps and, yes, sometimes people who are trying to kill you or your spirit.
Stop killing folks! Especially other folks who look just like you who live where you live and who are suffering just like you! Stop making our brothers and sisters extinct because they had the misfortune of being born a block over from you or because they have a “gold colored bracelet” and you don’t.
Stop being stupid. Don’t believe everything everyone tells you. Some people just like starting trouble and some folks like Poverty Pimps like to use you to upgrade from a Hyandia to a Mercedes.
Stop thinking someone is supposed to save you. News bulletin: Human kindness is optional. It’s great if you can get it but no one is required to give it. Step your game up and keep it movin'.
And most importantly…
STOP MAKING EXCUSES!
If you want to be an adult, if you want to be taken seriously then realize life isn’t fair, sometimes it really sucks and sometimes you can’t have everything you want right now the way you want it, but if you at least stop digging the hole you're in you may be able to crawl out of it and eventually walk away from the dysfunction and into some happiness. Better still, you may be able to help someone else up, someone who was in the same situation as you – or worse.
It is not too late to save yourself!
And despite all of this I realize that not everyone is going to be saved…in fact we may need to sacrifice a generation just to have a chance to save the next and THAT thought leaves me absolutely, positively terrified.
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