Washington D.C. – Page 3 – Teen Observer Archive

July 20, 2016July 21, 2016

Mixed reactions to D.C.’s minimum wage hike

Ken Martin sells the newspaper Street Sense in Tenleytown on Wisconsin Avenue. Photo credit: Kyla Jackson.

Jacqueline Davis shopped at a CVS in Tenleytown, where one-bedroom apartments can fetch $300,000 and single-family homes go for more than $1 million.

A longtime District resident, Davis, 66, worries for low-income residents who may not be able to afford staying in the city. She agrees with the D.C. City Council’s decision this summer to hike the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“I feel very good about it,” Davis said.

In June, the City Council voted to raise the minimum wage from its current $11.50 to $15 an hour by 2020 for non-tipped workers. People interviewed this week in Tenleytown expressed mixed reactions to the increase, with some saying it’s necessary in a city where the cost of living is increasing and others saying they fear prices may go up as a result.

Victoria Alukpe, 21, a political science major at American University, said no one can survive on minimum wage. She feels the increase will help people match their pay checks with what they pay for.

“Everyone is working to survive,” Alukpe said.

Through her studies in political science, Alukpe has come to support the idea of a higher minimum wage, joining many District residents and workers who agree with the minimum wage increase.

D.C. living does come with a hefty price tag.

Zillow.com statistics note that the price for a one-bedroom home in D.C. in 2016 sold for an average $370,000. That’s been steadily on the rise and is expected to continue going up. Five years ago, the average one-bedroom cost $319,000.

Transit costs also add to a low-wage worker’s monthly bill. Metro riders can expect to pay $237 for a 28-day pass, according to the WMATA website.

Ken Martin, 62, a D.C. hat vendor who was offering the Street Sense newspaper outside CVS on Wisconsin Avenue, has a different take on the minimum wage.

“The whole thing is just wacko,” Martin said.

Martin disagrees with the minimum wage increase. He feels it will also raise the cost of living and minimum-wage workers won’t get ahead as promised.

“People just don’t do the math,” Martin said. “Everybody wants more money, but they don’t realize that more money is not enough money.”

July 14, 2016July 15, 2016

Environment at American U a priority

Four years away from its goal of “Climate Neutrality” but with some students skipping participation in its greening efforts, American University has pledged to continue its sustainability efforts on campus.

Students and staff interviewed this week said the university’s commitment to environmental issues on campus including composting, recycling and the maintenance of a community garden makes it a leader in the nation.

The university “is doing a pretty good job,” said Liam Toohey, 35, who works at the Bender Library on campus.

In April, AU signed Second Nature’s Climate Commitment, a document that reaffirms the school’s goal of climate neutrality. Second Nature assists colleges and universities nationwide with efforts to become more sustainable. The document emphasizes higher education’s role in sustainability.

Signatories “believe firmly in the power, potential, and imperative of higher education’s key role in shaping a sustainable society,” according to the document.

Five months earlier, AU joined more than 300 colleges and universities in signing the White House’s American Campuses Act on Climate agreement.

The Zero Waste Policy AU adopted in 2010 also prompted the establishment of AU’s Zero Waste Club, a group of students that takes initiative in reducing campus landfill waste, as their name explains, to zero. AU’s Zero Waste Policy has called for “reducing and diverting 100 percent of the university’s waste stream.”

Most buildings on campus, offer four different ways to dispose of materials. These include bins for organic waste, trash headed for landfills, glass and plastic recycling and paper.

But, not all students pay attention to the separate bins, and that may jeopardize whether composting materials–food waste, napkins and other biodegradable materials–are treated as environmentalists hope. In the past, the University has had issues finding a composting facility that accepts mixed materials from the bins.

“People need to pay attention,” to composting bins, said Fabiola Lizardi-Clemente,17.

Allie Goldsmith, 19, a barista at the Dav, a coffee shop in the School of International Service, noted that it has been going green for as long as she can remember, and said many students at SIS do a good job paying attention to environmental issues.

“People are more conscious here,” Goldsmith said.

A sign at the coffee shop read, “SAVE the WORLD, use a MUG! Take it ANYWHERE but please, please, PLEASE bring it back to the DAV.” Another sticker pasted at the shop said, “We proudly serve TAP WATER.”

Tucked behind the SIS building, down a narrow gravel pathway, is an herb and vegetable garden, an effort by AU’s Arboretum and Gardens team to promote consumption of locally grown produce.

The garden, according to Toohey, is open to all AU faculty, and is filled with herbs from “Stir-fry Thai Basil” to “Simply Salsa Cilantro.” Other plants include curly kale and blackberry bushes.

The School of International Service building, which is LEED-certified, is renowned on campus for being a “green place.” That means its better at reducing water and energy usage.

Other buildings, like the Kogod School of Business and the Mary Graydon Center, have green roofs, helping to cut down on water runoff and boost “energy efficiency,” according to the university’s website.

July 14, 2016

Pokémon Go catches ’em all in D.C.

“Pokémon Go” has been sweeping the world’s attention and in Washington, D.C. students, professors and parents are among the millions using the app who are trying to catch ‘em all.

Players are tasked with finding Pokémon in an augmented reality with the creatures popping up on screen as they walk. The object is to catch as many Pokémon as possible, with some having more value than others.

District residents said the surge in play this week has been noticeable.

“I saw teenage boys at a park for the first time in my life,” said Aiyana Riddihough, 20, a new “Pokémon Go” user and Washington University student. “I think that’s pretty good.”

While “Pokémon Go” has encouraged players to step outside and explore their neighborhoods, it also has brought risks. The National Safety Council released on Tuesday a statement citing concerns noting people walking and driving while using the app may be putting themselves and others at risk.

“It takes people out of their environment, but also puts them in it,” said J.T. Tubbs, 21, a camp counselor at American University.

A large difference between “Pokémon Go” and other games is the freedom it presents to its users, according to Patrick Flynn, an American University adjunct instructor of film and media arts. While some applications may punish you for not checking up regularly, “Pokémon Go” allows players to catch Pokémon whenever they like.

“As the game gets on and as hierarchies develop as they always seem to do, that’s when we’ll start to see what the real problems are,” said Flynn, who said with more time more issues might arise.

The future of “Pokémon Go” may change with the beginning of the school year. High school students won’t have the same amount of time to play, however, college students will return to campuses flooded with Pokémon.

“You could, theoretically, see fraternities or clubs setting up lures and using that as a way to meet people and expand their membership, in a very organic, social way,” Flynn said.

For now, “Pokémon Go” attracts users from many backgrounds. Players don’t need prior knowledge, but for those Pokémon fans the game is like a dream come true.

“I’m obsessed,” said Dylan Kenney, 21, while catching a Pokémon on the table at a campus cafe. “I’ve played Pokémon for years, and now I can actually catch a Venonat in Starbucks.”

July 12, 2016July 14, 2016

Safety on the Metro

The Washington D.C. Metrorail system in 2015 ran more than 206 million trips and is one of the nation’s largest transportation systems, but district residents said maintenance and personal safety are top safety concerns for them.

Liam Toohey, 35, said he watched a YouTube video of tracks sparking saying they looked like “huge flares that look like fireballs.”

Toohey, who works at the American University library, understands the those problems he’s seen online and heard friends talk about mean Metro needs to be fixed.

“It’s good that they’re putting time into fixing it now before it could be a bigger problem later,” Toohey said.

Currently, the system is undergoing a massive safety overhaul, meaning some lines are closed or are single tracking. Metro does provide a list of service disruptions on its website, but still, these fixes are a hassle for some commuters.

Mindy Corriner, 28, an American University graduate student, works several jobs. Service delays on the Metro are a big inconvenience for her.

“It actually came 15 minutes late which made me late to teach because I was supposed to be there at 8 a.m.,” Corriner said.

In addition to maintenance and construction concerns, some women interviewed said they also fear harassment.

“It’s not really safe for women after 7 p.m.,” said 19-year-old Marifer Zacarias.

Zacarias believes women face more threats including cat-calling, being followed or stopped, and even groping.

“That shouldn’t be,” Zacarias said. “So I believe that they need to enforce more security.”

On its website, regarding safety, it reads, “Metro is working with employees, riders, jurisdictional partners, and the general public to make sure that everyone does their part in creating and sustaining a culture of safety and security in stations, vehicles, support facilities, and access points.”

But for some groups in Washington, D.C. that promise of working towards a safer system, hasn’t gone far enough.

“I think it’s great that there’s an education campaign speaking out about this issue,” said Alex Mazzarisi, 22, and American University graduate who rides the Metro frequently. “This type of thing often goes unpunished and we need to attack the root of the problem with education.”

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016

What year was the Declaration of Independence signed? Spoiler alert: 1776.

Even though someone may be a U.S. citizen, that doesn’t always mean they know the complete history of their country.

Some residents and visitors to Washington, D.C. had a tough time answering questions from the citizenship test given to immigrants.

When asked why we celebrate July Fourth Ricky Monroe, 55, said, “Was there a war or something?”

Monroe also did not know what year the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Spoiler alert: 1776.

In order for a foreigner to gain U.S. citizenship, he or she must show an understanding of the English language, speak in English clearly, and demonstrate knowledge of U.S. government and history. Of those who took the test in 2015, 91 percent passed.

Matt Garvey, 65, answered the practice citizenship questions like: name a war fought in the 1900s, where is the Statue of Liberty located or what ocean is on the West Coast. Others included: when was the Constitution written and how many members does the House of Representatives have.

Even though most people interviewed this week found little challenge with the test, when asked the question “what does the 4th of July celebrate” many were unsure.

Megan Kane, 59, said, “Did we sign something?”

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016

Fourth of July offers fun, but plenty of risks

Picnics, family reunions and BBQs are great ways to celebrate July 4, but the holiday carries the label of the most dangerous of the year, according to the National Safety Council.

Additionally, celebrations in big cities like Washington, D.C. strike fear into many tourists and residents in the wake of such high-profile terrorism incidents like the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013. The National Park Service on Fourth of July at the National Mall increased security screenings before allowing visitors inside.

“I haven’t felt as safe at big events like the celebration on the Mall recently as I have in the past considering what’s been happening worldwide,” said Katie Lenz, 24.

Even with what some see as a threat at major events like the National Mall Fourth of July celebration, fireworks and drunk driving over the holiday weekend are major threats, according National Safety Council.

In 2015, the National Safety Council estimated 409 traffic-related deaths and over 49,000 traffic-related injuries requiring medical attention over the holiday weekend.

The National Safety Council recommends drivers buckle up, reduce speed, refrain from cell phone use, keep small children in the back seat and avoid driving after drinking.

“During the 4th of July, I try to stay off the roads because I know how many accidents are gonna happen that night,” said Marisa Calderon, a 35-year-old mother of two.

Driving isn’t the only risk.

Over the July Fourth holiday, an average of 230 people every day will visit emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Almost one third of those injuries are to hands and fingers, but the Commission reported serious burns and eye injuries also happen.

July 5, 2016July 5, 2016

Getting Around the District During Metro’s Renovation

While it is not the most practical for some lifestyles, for many, walking is a preferred method of transportation in Washington D.C.. Photo Credit: Alex Mazzarisi — While it is not the most practical for all lifestyles, for many, walking is a preferred method of transportation in Washington D.C..
Photo Credit: Alex Mazzarisi

Washington D.C. is home to loads of different ways to get around the city but people interviewed in the Tenleytown neighborhood this month said they have hassles and how you get around is a matter of preference.

The capital’s Metro system that covers 118 miles is ongoing major renovation that has created inconveniences for commuters and made regular travelers face more traffic.

“I use Metro most of the time, it’s expensive, but it’s easier for me,” said Alistar Wallbaum, 51, as she pushed her two sons in a stroller. “It’s gets us to where we have to go.”

However, ongoing renovations to Metro have had a negative impact on Wallbaum’s daily commute.

“It’s made it slower and less reliable,” Wallbaum said.

Max Green, 34, has had to alter his commute because of the renovation.

“It makes things more difficult for me,” Green said. “I don’t have a car and so I rely on the Metro to go everywhere, but now I’m going to have to change my plan.”

According to wmata.com, there are 91 Metro stations on six train lines. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 400,000 people use the Metro daily in D.C. The D.C. metropolitan area ranks third in the nation in the percentage of commuters who take mass transit.

Not all commuters in the district rely on Metro, and others take the bus, bike, rely on taxis and Uber or walk. Metrobus service includes 11,269 bus stops, and 328 routes on 187 lines, according to wmata.com.

But others are paying more to avoid public transportation.

“Metro freaks me out,” said Sahar Eini, 23. “I don’t like it at all.”

“I could get stuck on the Metro,” continued Eini, who relies on friends and Uber. “I can’t deal with that.”

For others, transportation revolves around one’s lifestyle and practicality.

Jairo Valencia, 50, delivers pizzas for Papa Johns and relies on his car. He believes that cars are extremely practical for his lifestyle, but he’d rather be walking or biking.

“For work, I have to drive,” Valencia said. “But, I like my bike. D.C. is a small city. When I have the time, I walk. The Metro is okay, but I don’t use it.”

Transportation options abound around the 64.34 square mile city and vary in convenience and cost.

“If you don’t like one form of transport, pick another,” said Dehrah Maceto, 25. “The good thing about D.C. is that everyone has a choice here. None of them are flawless, but you can make it work and get where you need to be.”

July 5, 2016July 5, 2016

District residents and tourists had lots of different plans for July Fourth

People wait for the bus outside the Tenleytown Metro. Photo credit by Eli Siegman.

Residents of and tourists to Northwest Washington, D.C. had different plans for Independence Day but everyone was excited to celebrate the nation’s 240th birthday.

Some viewed it as a day off, while others saw it as an opportunity to make a difference.

Beth Morgan, 53, thinks July 4 is a very important holiday for Americans. She was planning on spending it at home in New Jersey with her family.

“I think a majority of people view it as a day not to go to work,” Morgan said.

Morgan not only believed that it was an important holiday but it was also a fun one. When asked if it was her favorite holiday, she said it was “in her top three.”

Terry Baugh, 55, waited at a Tenleytown bus stop, and when asked about July Fourth her face immediately lit up.

“It’s more exciting here, fabulous neighborhoods,” Baugh said.

Baugh planned to help with a fundraiser for an organization called “KidSave,” which helps pre-teen orphans and those in foster care find mentors or even permanent homes. Baugh said that on the Fourth of July KidSave hosted an event at Arlington National Cemetery that viewed fireworks while it helped raise money for KidSave.

When asked if people in Washington celebrate it differently because they were in the nation’s Capital Baugh said, “People in Washington care a lot about this country.”

July 1, 2016

Hope Folklife Festival brings light to issues affecting Basque region

Basque sign greeting people as they enter the festival. — Basque sign greeting people as they enter the festival on the National Mall. Photo credit Paige Goldstein.

This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates the cultures of the Basque people through dance performances, food tents and cultural exhibitions at the National Mall where visitors were greeted with an over-sized white sign during Wednesday’s opening ceremonies.

The Basque people are an indigenous ethnic group location on the border of Spain and France. The people call themselves the euskaldunak, literally meaning “the Basque person.”

“I think the festival represented our culture well,” said Daniel Roth, a citizen of the Basque community.

Currently, many controversial topics including Basque independence, have been discussed in the community and those who attended Wednesday’s opening ceremonies hoped the festival would bring more attention to what they consider crucial issues.

But despite the controversy, many attendees knew little or nothing about the issues impacting the Basque region and its people.

“I’ve never heard of them until I heard about the festival,” said Keani Solorzano, 18.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival brings attention to this unique culture, as well as starting the conversation about a free Basque State.

July 1, 2016

Nearly five decades of culture on the National Mall

This year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall celebrates Basque culture. Photo by Eli Siegman. — This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall celebrates Basque culture. Photo by Eli Siegman.

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday to celebrate and learn more about the Basque region of France and Spain during the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall.

Valerie Emerson, 58, visited the market place during Wednesday’s Opening Ceremonies at the Arts and Industries Building to buy products made in that region.

Emerson, who said she comes every year, is devoted to the Smithsonian and the event, which has been an annual tradition since 1967.

“The Folklife Festival is a good way to educate the public about other cultures,” Emerson said.

Outside the Arts and Industries Building, food vendors and dance stages were set up along the National Mall.

Visitors and staff expressed excitement about this year’s festival, which runs through July 4 then begins again July 7 and ends July 10.

Deb Ramsey-Moor, 32, one of the staffers at the market place, has been going to the festival for 22 years and now works there. Moor listed some of the past countries that have been celebrated including Peru, China, Kenya, Scotland, Wales and Bhutan.

“We can learn a great deal from each other,” Ramsey-Moor said.

At Wednesday morning’s opening ceremony, Basque music played, dancers warmed up and people dressed in festive local attire took photographs with strangers and visitors.

Monica Firestone, 30, came to the festival because she studied abroad in college in Spain. Firestone knew a little about Basque, but saw this as an opportunity to learn even more.

“The Folklife Festival is a great tradition in D.C. and the Smithsonian,” Firestone said.