2.08.2010

We're totes fucked, folks

Blizzard 2010 continues to wreak havoc, city remains shut down. Heading into Tuesday the Federal government remains shut down. The District government will be open, though DC Public Schools will be closed. The biggest story perhaps is that Metro will still be on limited service tomorrow. I was fully expecting Metrorail to be back to full service above ground today. The fact that many above ground stations will be closed for the fourth day makes absolutely no sense. Let's talk about what we know: Metrorail cannot run above ground if the third rail is covered in snow. The third rail is roughly 8 inches above the ground. Metro has equipment that can work to clear the track above ground, and also has deicing equipment. There has been no new snow accumulation since around 6 PM on Saturday. How have they been unable to clear the snow? Yes, drifting and blowing snow can be a problem, but at this point this is baffling.

On top of all of this, another 10-20 inches of snow is expected. Yes, we are completely and totally fucked. I've lived in DC since 2002, and I recall back in '03 when we had a few big snowstorms. I wasn't here in '96 for the blizzard, so the idea of a city being shut down for essentially a whole week is a completely foreign concept. However, this much snow is also a completely foreign concept. I grew up in Chicago, which gets a lot of snow. I'd only heard stories of snowstorms measured in "feet." Sure, in Chicago you might get a few storms in a row that add up to 2+ feet, but I can't remember this much hitting all at once.

So how do we feel about the Fenty's handling of the snow? Back in December, we were all impressed by how the city handled the big snow. We saw trucks treating the big streets, and come Monday we were perhaps a bit surprised that OPM closed the government. However, for us city dwellers we need to also think of those out in the 'burbs. As I write this on Monday night, a lot of streets in the District are still a mess. 16th Street NW is finally a bit clear, but still with some ice and slush. Columbia Road is still slushy, and will likely re-freeze tonight. Side streets are mostly impassible. For many of us, though, the conditions of the road aren't so important. We can trudge through the snow and make it to CVS or Safeway. Of course, the shelves are bare (as the Mayor of the Sandinista Safeway, I am upset with the lack of perishable goods), but imagine living 4 miles from a grocery store, and being in a still-buried subdivision. However, what do we think? Fenty opened the government knowing that Metro would be limited (mostly non-existent today). Why did he do this? It would have been very easy to simply say:
Good evening. As I speak, crews are working around the clock to clear District streets. However, given the limited service provided by Metrorail and Metrobus, and the fact that many residential areas remained snowed in, I have decided to close the District government. The Federal government is also closed, and I urge all residents to stay off the roads so our crews can continue their work. While the work of the government is very important, the safety of our employees is paramount.
No really, how hard is that? You don't even have to take the blame! Blame Metro! Blame the suburbs! Look, any of you government-types that want to hire me, I'll write your tweets and blog for you. It'll be great, and you'll be doing a whole lot better than you're doing now, 'cause ya'll suck.

So yes, all in all we are totally fucked. If the weather models prove true, and we get another, say 16" of snow by Wednesday night, we'll be buried through the weekend. Metro will be screwed until probably Friday, and most stores will remain unstocked throughout the week. This isn't pretty, people. City dwellers, this is one of those times where the premium we pay to live so close to everything is so worth it.


In case you missed it: Tooting my own Tweet horn: @DaveStroup: maybe kwame brown should get on foursquare, then he could be the mayor of something.

13 comments:

  1. DC native and I'm not black. In fact. I come from European Ancestors.February 09, 2010

    "City dwellers, this is one of those times where the premium we pay to live so close to everything is so worth it"

    You pay premiums because you are transplants.

    You are all idiots. Victims of marketing schemes.

    While all of you were busy seeking out attention with your childish snowball fights the natives were not laughing with you we were laughing at you.

    The new urban (penis) has been marketed to you and you have spread your wallets (vaginas) wide open.

    A good friend of mine and fellow DC native who some of you may remember from here who goes by the name of "Georgetown Prep Alum" is a member of a family who own several rental properties in DC.

    While all of you pasty transplant wanna-be urbanites were busy digging out of the snow he was down in south Florida attending the super bowl.

    The rest of his week will be spent at various golf courses.

    He invited me to come down and join him but I decided to pass this time around.

    Snowboarding has always been a hobby of mine since I was young.

    I have a collection of over 100 snowbaords dating back to the late 1980s.

    So you see it is not only the native brothers and sisters down in southeast DC who hate you, there are plenty of native golf club swinging and snowboarding preppy private school alums who hate you too.

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  2. I don't get your point, at all. Actually it sounds pretty snotty. First you're proud to be from DC yet you despise the fact that people have moved here and are actually gravitating towards the city (personally I think it's dull). Then you're boasting about your friend who probably has some CEO job, makes way too much money that should be going to other people, who is enjoying his time in Florida. I just don't get what's so bad about enjoying the snow.
    Your argument, if that's what you can even call it, is weak. You did not get anything across except make yourself look like a stuck up idiot with a foul mouth. If you don't like that people are moving here, then get the hell out, in the meantime, shut up.

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  3. I wouldn't encourage the first poster by responding to them. That person sounds mentally ill.

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  4. Haha, I had nothing better to do...I blame it on cabin fever.

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  5. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the snow, especially to escape cabin fever.

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  6. Dave, I agree that much of the situation is caused by a lack of preparation for snow. Even though I am from Boston, I won't simply call DC people wusses partly because many people in DC aren't from here (and that's OK--people from other states ARE from the same country, and it's perfectly acceptable to be geographically mobile, in my book)and partly because I recognize the lack of preparation for snow down here. There could be so much more towing, plowing, and sanding/salting the roads before, during, and after the storm. As to the metro, I would simply say that lack of preparation is also the issue. Maybe DC and Metro should take lessons from NYC, Boston, and Chicago and their respective subway systems.

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  7. I have to agree with this last comment. I'm originally from NJ and they plow and salt and sand while its happening and salt and sand ahead of time.

    But the excuse that they're not prepared just seems like bullshit. I mean I've only been living here for a year and a half and it's snowed here more than it has in the past couple of years in Jersey. so have they not learned their lesson yet? On top of that, it's not like it's never snowed here before, it snows almost as frequently as it does anywhere else on the East Coast, so the excuse is just old and unjustified.

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  8. No matter how much rent you pay you will always be a transplant DOUCHEBAGFebruary 09, 2010

    Then you're boasting about your friend who probably has some CEO job, makes way too much money that should be going to other people, who is enjoying his time in Florida

    CEO job? To my knowledge Georgetown Prep Alum has never had a full time or even part time job except for one or two summers at one of the local driving ranges back during high school.

    We are very geographically mobile. Next month I will be headed down to Mexico during Spring Break. In April "GPA" will be down in Georgia for the 2010 Masters tournament.

    I just don't get what's so bad about enjoying the snow. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the snow, especially to escape cabin fever.

    Pasty attention seeking 20 and 30 year olds having gigantic snowball fights in the snow along with taking off their pants while riding on the subway. They are nothing but a bunch of attention whores!

    LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT EM LOOK AT ME
    LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME

    You so urban. You so edgy. You so gritty.

    And then some of you have the nerve to wonder why many local natives of all races hate your fucking guts?

    If you don't like that people are moving here, then get the hell out, in the meantime, shut up.

    Uh Oh! Here we go again. The transplants and their "If you dont like it then leave" "We are adding to the city by moving here" "There was nothing here before we started moving in" bullshit logic.

    I actually enjoy the fact that many yuptards decide to move here. They are straight comedy.
    Easily the greatest show on earth.

    LNS 4 LIFE!

    I wouldn't encourage the first poster by responding to them. That person sounds mentally ill.

    I am merely stating the facts. Deal with it.

    The only people who are mentally ill are all the pasty transplants who are taking it up the ass from their landlords every single month.

    All for the sake of being urban.

    The truth hurts doesnt it?

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  9. I am in no means any sort of pasty transplant indie kid who seeks attention. I'm here for an education, a free one, and I will get the hell out of here as soon as possible. as for the no pants day and such, to my knowledge that happens all over, in boston, ny,.... etc. yes it is stupid. I would do anything to not live in DC.

    I don't really understand why people are moving here cause they think its so cool.. It's not a cool city. It's dry and boring filled with a bunch of rich power hungry men. it's boring.

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  10. The fact that you and your ilk are still living off of your parent's money is sadly hilarious and puts you on the same level as hipsters. And other DC natives do not differentiate between your pasty ilk and the transplants themselves, stop acting like you have any sort of street cred.

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  11. Um, what the hell are you even trying to say? What does someone's ability to never work a job (except once at the golf course!?) and just skate along on their family's rental income have to do with anything? If anything, you are even shittier and do more to give DC a bad name than transplants who try to do anything more productive than brag about their snowboard collection.

    Also, don't you dare put yourself on the same page as all the hardworking, totally-fucked-over-by-your-lifestyle people in SE and NE DC, you ignorant, privileged shit. Transplants aren't the only people exploited by landlords and developers like your friend's family, just the most able to afford it- just ask any of the many DC natives who have been driven out of columbia heights or "NOMA" in the past years. You are no better than any of the invading yuppies you seek to disparage.

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  12. the above post is from a born-and-raised DC resident who pays his own rent and can't afford 100 snowboards.

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  13. Most transplants think they are urban but they are nothing more than their landlord's bitchFebruary 12, 2010

    am in no means any sort of pasty transplant indie kid who seeks attention. I'm here for an education, a free one, and I will get the hell out of here as soon as possible. as for the no pants day and such, to my knowledge that happens all over, in boston, ny,.... etc. yes it is stupid. I would do anything to not live in DC.

    I don't really understand why people are moving here cause they think its so cool.. It's not a cool city. It's dry and boring filled with a bunch of rich power hungry men. it's boring.


    You do realize things were not always this way right?

    It was not this way until all of the organic, rent raising, snowball fighting, no pants wearing, nasal voiced pasty douchebags all decided to start moving here that it started to become one huge BOREFEST.

    It is no coincidence that 2000-2010 Washington DC has been nothing more than the equivalent of a huge pile of dog shit.

    The kind of designer dogs that nasal voiced transplants purchase in order to attract attention towards themselves whenever they are outside walking with them.

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