The signs and times are a changing...

From an email on the ANC6A elist:

I need to get a feel for opinions - is the following concern something neighbors in 6A08 or around 18th St and D St NE would like addressed? Please send me your feedback.

Here is the concern that has been posed to me by a neighbor. They would like to bring this concern to a future ANC6A meeting. At the corner of 18th St NE and D St NE there is a sign that basically reminds people that if they are caught with drugs or dealing drugs that their cars, etc. can be confiscated. The sign with the same information is around 8th St NE and D St NE.

Some of the neighbors have expressed an interest in having the sign removed. To my knowledge, it will not affect enforcement of the law if the sign is removed.

The argument for removal is that the neighborhood has changed and people would like to reflect that by having the sign removed and just "informing people of the law"... In addition, the arguments for removal I have heard to date focus on the improvement of the 400 b/o 18th St NE vs. the entire surrounding area - all of which have come a LONG way, but still have a LONG way to go.

An argument for keeping the sign would be that the neighborhood and particularly this corner was ravaged by drugs in the past and to some extent is still affected by drugs - just like the corner at about 8th & D St NE. Having the signage at the other intersection does not seem to negatively affect improvement of the surrounding area; therefore, it should not negatively affect the area around 18th & D NE.

Send me your opinions:
1. Is this something we need to address?
2. How do you feel about the signage?

Please remember that a commissioner would have to submit a motion to ANC6A requesting sign removal on behalf of whoever erected the signs (or just ask the people to remove them first).