When I moved to the suburbs two years ago I was worried I would leave behind some of the urban crazy I'd come to love.
In my old neighborhood an elderly gentleman used to walk a loop of blocks wearing a rain poncho--usually only in the summer when it was sunny and hot. He would also give you a big smile and say "glorious morning to you". I loved running into him because crazy or not, he was sweet. And, unlike most people in DC, he'd actually acknowledge your presence on the street.
There was also the lady who cursed like a sailor. Her hangout was in front of the National Cathedral. Something about the yin and yang of the holy and profane used to always make me smile.
Well, I shouldn't have feared. MOCO has as much crazy as anyone else. Last weekend's story about a landlord, an arborist, and a hapless Homeland Security Agent proved me wrong. You can read the full story here. But, let me break it down for you.
A local landlord with a checkered past wanted to evict an elderly woman and her son from their apartment because they were 2 weeks behind on the rent.
The formal procedure being too too slow for the landlord's tastes, he hired a 'heavy' to forcibly move them out. A heavy nicknamed Bunny. A heavy whose day job is as an arborist. As you can probably guess, Bunny doesn't look very soft and cuddly in his mugshot.
And our hapless Homeland Security agent? Turns out the landlord shared his plans with our DHS guy in advance. To his credit, the DHS guy told the landlord his plan was a bad idea, but still drove him to an ATM, presumably to get money to pay the heavy coming over later that night. And, when the heavy arrived and the crazy began, the DHS guy wasn't exactly quick draw McGraw. Despite the advance warning and 'screams' from the tenants, our man still couldn't manage to get a picture of the license plate on the getaway car.
Let's hope he's in HR and not in intelligence.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Unaccompanied Minors in the DMV
It's official. Some of the unaccompanied minors coming across the US/Mexican border from Central America are now in the DMV. As I'll explain below, their arrival isn't surprising.
Although most Hispanics in the US are from Mexico (or have parents from Mexico), in Montgomery County they are much more likely to be from Central America (or have parents from there). The table below shows 2010 Census data on the Hispanic share of the population, and the percentage of that share by place of origin, for MOCO, Maryland, and the US.
To understand how unaccompanied minors from Central America got here let's break it down into push and pull factors. Push factors explain why a person leaves a place. Pull factors explain why they go where they go.
THE PUSH
In Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala--the 3 countries where the overwhelming majority of kids are coming from--gangs are a ubiquitous menace. Central American gangs aren't like gangs in the US who control relatively small turf in poor neighborhoods. These gangs are much bigger. In some places the control entire towns; in others they control multiple neighborhoods as well as major streets and highways. Sure, if you are a rich person in these countries you can afford to (mostly) cocoon yourself. You can hire a private security detail, live in a gated community with armed guards, and confine yourself to high end areas that are well policed by private forces.
Everybody else is left at the mercy of gangs. And, since most of these countries don't have sizable middle classes, 'everybody else' constitutes a majority of the population.
So, what are Central American gangs like? Well, you can always check out the think tank accounts (see here and here), but let me break it down in simple terms. Most gang members are young men, many of them teenagers. All teenagers have poor impulse control. These teenagers also have high caliber weapons and follow the creed that power is key and dominance is power.
If you are a parent or caregiver this is terrifying because it means that your kids can be roughed up, raped, or beaten unconscious by local gang members simply throwing their weight around. Even worse, your kids could be forced to join a gang and become one of the monsters themselves.
If you are a kid, this is terrifying AND confusing. The adults, who are supposed to be in charge, can't protect you because it's the teenagers running the show.
As a parent, my first instinct would be to get my kid out of that mix STAT! If I was living with them, we'd head out together. If I was in the US, I'd hire a coyote (a smuggler) to get them to me.
THE PULL:
Why come to MOCO? Many unaccompanied minors come to the US to be with their parents, who often work here without papers. MOCO has a higher than average concentration of Central Americans, so it's not surprising that there are reunions happening here and in other parts of the DMV.
Since this issue first hit the news, I've heard people ask "why would a parent ever leave their kids behind in the first place?" There's usually a hint of judgement behind the question, but there's also genuine curiosity. Well, let's start with the fact that there aren't nearly enough jobs to go around. And, then, even if you get a job, it is likely to be minimum wage. Central American minimum wages are abysmal (here they are just crappy). They are not enough to cover basic food staples. So, these parents leave for work, but the calculus is more than economic. If you need money for food for your kids, you're talking about survival.
I've also heard people ask the flip side of this question--why would you ever let your kid travel through Mexico unattended? The trip is truly hazardous. Everyone wants a mordida (a bribe) from migrants, and some want more than that (sexual favors, material belongings, forced labor). In light of this, people often think--"they must be mad for encouraging their kids do that." The thing is, the dangers aside, the trip opens up a light at the end of the tunnel. If you make it, things will get better. Staying behind is like accepting a tunnel with no end, no light.
When the kids come here they are, in a sense, coming home. For them, home is with family members in a safe space. We are that, at least by comparison. Yes, deportation looms, and we have our own gangs here too. But, at least for a short while, they can take a breath. And, exhale.
I hope we give them the space and sanctuary to do just that for as long as they need to.
Although most Hispanics in the US are from Mexico (or have parents from Mexico), in Montgomery County they are much more likely to be from Central America (or have parents from there). The table below shows 2010 Census data on the Hispanic share of the population, and the percentage of that share by place of origin, for MOCO, Maryland, and the US.
To understand how unaccompanied minors from Central America got here let's break it down into push and pull factors. Push factors explain why a person leaves a place. Pull factors explain why they go where they go.
THE PUSH
In Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala--the 3 countries where the overwhelming majority of kids are coming from--gangs are a ubiquitous menace. Central American gangs aren't like gangs in the US who control relatively small turf in poor neighborhoods. These gangs are much bigger. In some places the control entire towns; in others they control multiple neighborhoods as well as major streets and highways. Sure, if you are a rich person in these countries you can afford to (mostly) cocoon yourself. You can hire a private security detail, live in a gated community with armed guards, and confine yourself to high end areas that are well policed by private forces.
Everybody else is left at the mercy of gangs. And, since most of these countries don't have sizable middle classes, 'everybody else' constitutes a majority of the population.
So, what are Central American gangs like? Well, you can always check out the think tank accounts (see here and here), but let me break it down in simple terms. Most gang members are young men, many of them teenagers. All teenagers have poor impulse control. These teenagers also have high caliber weapons and follow the creed that power is key and dominance is power.
If you are a parent or caregiver this is terrifying because it means that your kids can be roughed up, raped, or beaten unconscious by local gang members simply throwing their weight around. Even worse, your kids could be forced to join a gang and become one of the monsters themselves.
If you are a kid, this is terrifying AND confusing. The adults, who are supposed to be in charge, can't protect you because it's the teenagers running the show.
As a parent, my first instinct would be to get my kid out of that mix STAT! If I was living with them, we'd head out together. If I was in the US, I'd hire a coyote (a smuggler) to get them to me.
THE PULL:
Why come to MOCO? Many unaccompanied minors come to the US to be with their parents, who often work here without papers. MOCO has a higher than average concentration of Central Americans, so it's not surprising that there are reunions happening here and in other parts of the DMV.
Since this issue first hit the news, I've heard people ask "why would a parent ever leave their kids behind in the first place?" There's usually a hint of judgement behind the question, but there's also genuine curiosity. Well, let's start with the fact that there aren't nearly enough jobs to go around. And, then, even if you get a job, it is likely to be minimum wage. Central American minimum wages are abysmal (here they are just crappy). They are not enough to cover basic food staples. So, these parents leave for work, but the calculus is more than economic. If you need money for food for your kids, you're talking about survival.
I've also heard people ask the flip side of this question--why would you ever let your kid travel through Mexico unattended? The trip is truly hazardous. Everyone wants a mordida (a bribe) from migrants, and some want more than that (sexual favors, material belongings, forced labor). In light of this, people often think--"they must be mad for encouraging their kids do that." The thing is, the dangers aside, the trip opens up a light at the end of the tunnel. If you make it, things will get better. Staying behind is like accepting a tunnel with no end, no light.
When the kids come here they are, in a sense, coming home. For them, home is with family members in a safe space. We are that, at least by comparison. Yes, deportation looms, and we have our own gangs here too. But, at least for a short while, they can take a breath. And, exhale.
I hope we give them the space and sanctuary to do just that for as long as they need to.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Happy 50th birthday Beltway!
The Beltway had a birthday this weekend! Its final leg was completed 50 years ago, on August 17th, 1964. If it were a human, it would be middle aged. And, though it has its youthful moments (I'm looking at you aggressive drivers), it moves more like a 50 year old than an 18 year old.
In fact, those drivers who never met a bumper they didn't want to twerk aside, the biggest annoyance driving the beltway is the inability to get anywhere near the speed limit.
Although I avoid the beltway like the plague, I can't escape using it on occasion. So I worry about how the metro area will deal with the Beltway's senior years (I'm sure AARP has already extended a membership offer). Two challenges are especially apparent.
1. It needs serious repair work, especially in Maryland. Things aren't perfect on the Virginia side, but the road is in better condition there because the state was forced to make substantial improvements when it re-engineered the infamous mixing bowl, where the Beltway meets Interstates 395 and 95. It also made repairs when it installed the so calledRich-People-Get-To-Drive-Faster-than-You-and-Me-LanesHot Lanes. Virginia also has less mileage to maintain than Maryland. Only 22.1 of the Beltway's 63.8 miles (35%) are located in Virginia. The remaining 41.7 miles (65%) are in Maryland. Right now, there's no big plan to make the substantial repairs that are needed, so gird yourself for crappier road conditions, and deterioration over time.
2. Getting people off the beltway. Everyone agrees the beltway needs to regain some of its efficiency at moving people around the metro area. But, new lanes alone won't take care of the problem. The metro area is growing too fast for that. At most, new lanes would slow the growth of congestion down. So, the real goal for transportation planners is to find a way to get people into buses, metro trains, and other forms of public transportation.
Unfortunately, public transportation isn't very good for people who live in the suburbs and want to get to another suburban location. That's why the beltway is so clogged. Our public transportation is still based on the hub spoke model where going from suburb to city is easy but going from suburb to suburb is either impossible, or requires a circuitious route through the city.
The Purple Line will help, but it won't be enough. Only when transportation funding keeps up with the growth will any real relief happen. And, there doesn't seem to be much political will, or forthcoming dollars, to make that happen.
All you have to do is look at the new plan for redevelopment in White Oak, an area north of the beltway on the eastern edge of Montgomery County. The area is in desperate need of redevelopment, but the county is going to allow a 'set aside' so development can go ahead without the usual requirement that transportation upgrades occur simultaneously.
Can I work from home please?
In fact, those drivers who never met a bumper they didn't want to twerk aside, the biggest annoyance driving the beltway is the inability to get anywhere near the speed limit.
Although I avoid the beltway like the plague, I can't escape using it on occasion. So I worry about how the metro area will deal with the Beltway's senior years (I'm sure AARP has already extended a membership offer). Two challenges are especially apparent.
1. It needs serious repair work, especially in Maryland. Things aren't perfect on the Virginia side, but the road is in better condition there because the state was forced to make substantial improvements when it re-engineered the infamous mixing bowl, where the Beltway meets Interstates 395 and 95. It also made repairs when it installed the so called
2. Getting people off the beltway. Everyone agrees the beltway needs to regain some of its efficiency at moving people around the metro area. But, new lanes alone won't take care of the problem. The metro area is growing too fast for that. At most, new lanes would slow the growth of congestion down. So, the real goal for transportation planners is to find a way to get people into buses, metro trains, and other forms of public transportation.
Unfortunately, public transportation isn't very good for people who live in the suburbs and want to get to another suburban location. That's why the beltway is so clogged. Our public transportation is still based on the hub spoke model where going from suburb to city is easy but going from suburb to suburb is either impossible, or requires a circuitious route through the city.
The Purple Line will help, but it won't be enough. Only when transportation funding keeps up with the growth will any real relief happen. And, there doesn't seem to be much political will, or forthcoming dollars, to make that happen.
All you have to do is look at the new plan for redevelopment in White Oak, an area north of the beltway on the eastern edge of Montgomery County. The area is in desperate need of redevelopment, but the county is going to allow a 'set aside' so development can go ahead without the usual requirement that transportation upgrades occur simultaneously.
Can I work from home please?
Monday, August 11, 2014
Farms and Fairs in the DMV--a trip to the MOCO County Fair
This weekend my family and I went to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. The fair, held at the county's fairgrounds in Gaithersburg Maryland, is always fun. Funnel cake, carnival rides, and cute animals looking their best. It is also a nice reminder that not all of the DMV is urban or even suburban. There's still a lot of rural in these parts!
According to the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development's Agricultural Services division there are 561 farms and 350 horticultural enterprises. And, City-Data.com tells us that 86.14% of those farms are family owned.
By the way, for you stats nerds, the average farm in Montgomery County is 130 acres and the average farmer is 57 years old.
Eat local! and Viva the Fair!
Kickin' it old school!
Cuz the ladies like their tractors too!
They made it look easy
Pig nap--neither pig feet or nor crowds with cameras will get in the way of a good snooze!
Apparently pigs do fly
Cow 'tooties
Winning Flowers
One of these is not like the others
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Who 'owns' the football team in Burgundy and Gold?
Who owns the NFL football team that wears burgundy and gold? The team is officially called the Washington *&^%$. But, it has its stadium in Maryland and its headquarter and training facility in Virginia.
The answer to my question would seem obvious. The whole metro area does. Of course, this being the DMV, a land where everything is subject to politics, it's not so simple.
DC House Delegate Eleanor Norton Holmes calls the team "Washington's football team." She refuses to use the team's official name on the grounds that it is offensive. But, she'll still claim it for the city.
A few days ago Washington Post Sport columnist Jonathan Wise disagreed, suggesting the team really belonged to Virginia. The state's new governor, Terry McAuliffe, feels the same way. In fact, unlike Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and DC mayor Vince Gray, McAuliffe isn't wading into the name controversy. He's happy to claim the team for Virginia with its current name, and while he's at it to take a political contribution from its owner.
My husband, who follows just about every sport known to man, couldn't disagree more. (Ok, he doesn't follow golf or cricket, but he's got everything else covered, which is why he's the Maryland sports representative for this blog). When I asked him who owned the team and told him Wise claimed Virginia did, his first response was an incredulous 'huh?' A man of few words, his comment was akin to a "what you talkin' about Willis?" Sensing my need for more commentary, he followed up. "They play in MARYLAND."
Here's my question? Why, at the moment, would any of these jurisdictions want to claim the team. And, by claim, I don't mean claim the tax revenue that comes with the franchise. I mean claim in a broader, cultural sense. As in, this is part of who I am, and who my people are. It is part of my tradition and history.
I'm no fan of the NFL (see here and here for why), but I'll accept that you can love a team even when you hate the league it is a part of. And, unfortunately, the NFL would hardly be the first sports organization corrupted beyond repair (FIFA anyone?). But, that aside, the burgundy and gold have something else working against them. The owner, Dan Snyder. You know, the man who sues weekly magazines (The Washington City Paper) because no one but Dan Snyder can take the piss out of Dan Snyder. He's also the guy who charges outrageous prices for tickets and then robs you a second time when you buy a hot dog, coke, or beer. And, let's not forget that pesky habit of micromanaging the front office, coaches, players, and maybe even a cheerleader or two (just kidding about the cheerleaders--please don't sue me Mr. Snyder). This man would give Shakespeare or Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal) a run for the money.
Hubby's not ready to give the team up, but for me, I'm happy to let outer space claim them.
The answer to my question would seem obvious. The whole metro area does. Of course, this being the DMV, a land where everything is subject to politics, it's not so simple.
DC House Delegate Eleanor Norton Holmes calls the team "Washington's football team." She refuses to use the team's official name on the grounds that it is offensive. But, she'll still claim it for the city.
A few days ago Washington Post Sport columnist Jonathan Wise disagreed, suggesting the team really belonged to Virginia. The state's new governor, Terry McAuliffe, feels the same way. In fact, unlike Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and DC mayor Vince Gray, McAuliffe isn't wading into the name controversy. He's happy to claim the team for Virginia with its current name, and while he's at it to take a political contribution from its owner.
My husband, who follows just about every sport known to man, couldn't disagree more. (Ok, he doesn't follow golf or cricket, but he's got everything else covered, which is why he's the Maryland sports representative for this blog). When I asked him who owned the team and told him Wise claimed Virginia did, his first response was an incredulous 'huh?' A man of few words, his comment was akin to a "what you talkin' about Willis?" Sensing my need for more commentary, he followed up. "They play in MARYLAND."
Here's my question? Why, at the moment, would any of these jurisdictions want to claim the team. And, by claim, I don't mean claim the tax revenue that comes with the franchise. I mean claim in a broader, cultural sense. As in, this is part of who I am, and who my people are. It is part of my tradition and history.
I'm no fan of the NFL (see here and here for why), but I'll accept that you can love a team even when you hate the league it is a part of. And, unfortunately, the NFL would hardly be the first sports organization corrupted beyond repair (FIFA anyone?). But, that aside, the burgundy and gold have something else working against them. The owner, Dan Snyder. You know, the man who sues weekly magazines (The Washington City Paper) because no one but Dan Snyder can take the piss out of Dan Snyder. He's also the guy who charges outrageous prices for tickets and then robs you a second time when you buy a hot dog, coke, or beer. And, let's not forget that pesky habit of micromanaging the front office, coaches, players, and maybe even a cheerleader or two (just kidding about the cheerleaders--please don't sue me Mr. Snyder). This man would give Shakespeare or Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal) a run for the money.
Hubby's not ready to give the team up, but for me, I'm happy to let outer space claim them.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Moco Map of the Week--Percent Non-family Households by Census Tract
Today's map shows the distribution of non-family households. According to the census a non-family household is any household headed by a single person or containing multiple people who are not related, married, or in a common law marriage.
30.6% of Montgomery County residents lives in non-family households. There is, however, considerable variation across the county's census tracts. The census tract with the lowest percent of non-family households is 7.6%. The tract with the highest is 74.9%.
So, how does MOCO stack up to the state? The US as a whole? Turns out we have fewer non-family households than either Maryland (32.9%) or the US (57.7%).
Several patterns stand out on today's map. First, the county's non-family households are concentrated along two main roads. The biggest concentration is along I-270, a major interstate and also the county's urban spine. Non-family households are also concentrated along Columbia Pike/US 29. Although the Pike isn't as urbanized as the I-270 corridor, it is urbanizing at a steady clip. These patterns aren't too surprising. Urban areas tend to have more non-family households than rural areas do.
Second, there are also high concentrations of non-family households inside the beltway. In fact, the tract with the highest percentage of non-family households is in the heart of Bethesda, in the Woodmont Triangle area. 74.9% of households in this tract are non-family. In a lot of ways, this part of Bethesda looks a lot like gentrifying neighborhoods in DC where a flood of millennials have moved in. However, it is worth noting that the tract (7032.18) with the second highest percentage of non-family households is well north of the beltway. It contains Leisure World, an age-restricted (i.e. adults only) community.
30.6% of Montgomery County residents lives in non-family households. There is, however, considerable variation across the county's census tracts. The census tract with the lowest percent of non-family households is 7.6%. The tract with the highest is 74.9%.
So, how does MOCO stack up to the state? The US as a whole? Turns out we have fewer non-family households than either Maryland (32.9%) or the US (57.7%).
Several patterns stand out on today's map. First, the county's non-family households are concentrated along two main roads. The biggest concentration is along I-270, a major interstate and also the county's urban spine. Non-family households are also concentrated along Columbia Pike/US 29. Although the Pike isn't as urbanized as the I-270 corridor, it is urbanizing at a steady clip. These patterns aren't too surprising. Urban areas tend to have more non-family households than rural areas do.
Second, there are also high concentrations of non-family households inside the beltway. In fact, the tract with the highest percentage of non-family households is in the heart of Bethesda, in the Woodmont Triangle area. 74.9% of households in this tract are non-family. In a lot of ways, this part of Bethesda looks a lot like gentrifying neighborhoods in DC where a flood of millennials have moved in. However, it is worth noting that the tract (7032.18) with the second highest percentage of non-family households is well north of the beltway. It contains Leisure World, an age-restricted (i.e. adults only) community.
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