martin: anc2a is the west end and foggy bottom. 2c is shaw, along with penn quarter (which is partially in 2c, and partially in 6c).

In the ten years that I have lived two blocks from H Street, NE, and within two block of about six liquor stores, I have seen a dramatic decline in the number of people using the alley near my house as a bathroom/brothel. There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of house fires, including the 500 block of 5th St, the 600 block of 4th St, and yesterday the 300 block of L St.

While there is certainly a correlation with the single sales ban, I'm can't say there is a causal relationship. I don't know how much of that is due to the ban on single sales, how much is due to more owner-occupied houses in the area, how much is due to economic development on H Street, and how much is due to police checkpoints in Trinidad.

If it were up to me, I'd cut in half the number of liquor licenses. Do we really need a liquor store on every bock?

I think we just repeated an error in the Examiner story there, IMGoph. You're right, it has to be 2C and 2F to include those neighborhoods.

I am just observing what happens in Mount Pleasant where they have a singles ban. Treating the root of the problem rather than banning stuff might help more. There will always be drunks and homeless no amount of legislation will rid the world of these timeless societal problems. Bans of most types not just alcohol related are often endorsed by short sighted narrow minded people who want to make themselves feel better IMHO.

If you would be so kind, mommyworks, please tell me how I can inform my neighbors that the "timeless societal problems" they cause for everyone else makes them live in filth.

And if you can do so WITHOUT sounding like a racist, I would be most appreciative.

The singles ban in Mt. Pleasant is useless, since there isn't a similar ban in Columbia Heights right next door. Wouldn't it make sense to make the singles ban a citywide thing, instead of a patchwork rule in various jurisdictions?

whoa, stanton park, i'd like to hear why you feel there has been an increase in house fires. it's a pretty incendiary charge to throw out there without explaining yourself.

i live off of h street. far fewer 40s, pounders and the other usual suspects left in my front yard since the ban took place. also, far fewer gentlemen stopping to relieve themselves in the alley by my house and no one has taken a "nap" in my front yard. overall, i like the ban very much, thank you.

My data was collected using the methods outlined in Anecdotes and Carefully Preselected Samples are Statistical Proof. It is almost as authoritative as Wikipedia and a favorite of bloggers, politicians and NIMBYs everywhere.

Nice one SP.

I'm just a few blocks off H St and I haven't really seen any difference. If all someone has $2 for a 40, they're going to keep walking until they find someplace that's going to sell them one. In this case, that brings them a few blocks south of H St and into my 'hood where the singles ban doesn't reach.

The exception for craft beers sold at Whole Paycheck is clearly a classist double standard, but I'm willing to let it ride until I start seeing empties of La Fin Du Mond on the sidewalk in front of Stoney's.

"These bans are useless but make affluent white people feel better"

Wow. Generalize much? In my neighborhood some of the most vocal fans of singles bans are black people. I haven't yet got Homeland Security to investigate their bank accounts for me, but I have yet to see them driving Bentleys.

"I'm celebrating by peeing on Hillman, hillrat, and myself."

Store it up until next MAL weekend, Monkey. You'll be the most popular monkey in town.

I was just kidding about the whole peeing-on thing. About the worst that would happen would be that I'd have to light my farts. That Carlo Rossi Paisano is a bit gassy.

@Mediocre Fred:Bingo!

er, 'drunk in public law' was what i meant to say

I live in dupont. We have single sales. Lots of dudes buy them and drink them in the neighborhood. People pee in the alley by my place all the time. It's a bit annoying, but I don't see people wanting to ban single sales. Strange. The funny thing is that I see as many interns buying big ol cans of beer or big bottles of bud as older dudes with nothing to do.

Think i will donate my next six pack purchase to the homeless. Blankets & sandwiches in the winter, 16 oz cold one's in the summer .. seems appropriate enough.

I'm for it. Yes, there are laws against public drunkenness, "aggressive" panhandling, and public urination. It's easy to say "enforce the existing laws." But, those laws are unenforceable because officers are not going to spend time doing sobriety checks on the street and arresting people, like it or not, and many of those who are violating the law are not going to be deterred by the potential for an uncollectable fine. Get rid of the singles and these problems are significantly lessened and police are not spending time and resources on it. Ask yourself the question, if single sales were currently illegal in your area (like selling single cigarettes), is there a strong argument you can make for legalizing them?

The alternative to legislation is neighborhood residents, community associations, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissions fighting it out with problem businesses through protesting licenses. That's not good for anyone.

I do believe the prohibition should be citywide or, at least, ward wide, so that the problem isn't simply shifted to another block and stores are not placed at a competitive disadvantage with those who focus on profitable single sales one neighborhood over.

http://caryforcouncil.org/campaign/index.php?blog=8&title=ward2singleslegislation