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“Cockamamie” Neighborhood Zones

June 4, 2008 By Adam Hengels

Thanks to loyal reader, DBM for the tip on the photo link.

David Weigel – Highway to the Neighborhood Zones refers to DCist – Police to Seal Off D.C. Neighborhoods

The Examiner has the scoop on a controversial new program announced today that would create so-called “Neighborhood Safety Zones” which would serve to partially seal off certain parts of the city. D.C. Police would set-up checkpoints in targeted areas, demand to see ID and refuse admittance to people who don’t live there, work there or have a “legitimate reason” to be there.

Shelley Broderick, president of the D.C.-area American Civil Liberties Union and the dean of the University of the District of Columbia’s law school, said the plan was “cockamamie.”

“I think they tried this in Russia and it failed,” she said.

Good luck opening a business and bringing jobs to those areas if customers have to pass through a checkpoint every time they enter the zone. I can’t see things getting any better in these neighborhood zones.

Almost sounds like an exclusive luxury community. If they want their neighborhood sealed off, they could buy the streets from the district, build a wall, and hire their own private security. But, I assume it’s not a luxury community and they can’t afford their security.

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Filed Under: Zoning Tagged With: crime, washington dc

About Adam Hengels

Adam is passionate about urbanism, and founded this site in 2007, after realizing that classical liberals and urbanists actually share many objectives, despite being at odds in many spheres of the intellectual discussion. His mission is to improve the urban experience, and overcome obstacles that prevent aspiring city dwellers from living where they want. http://www.marketurbanism.com/adam-hengels/

Comments

  1. Bill Nelson says

    June 4, 2008 at 10:16 pm

    Actually, you have to show ID at Costco to get in, too. To say nothing of airports.

    But, devil’s advocate argument here, couldn’t one say that if people want higher densities, then they should buy the streets from the city and then build whatever they please?

  2. Bill Nelson says

    June 4, 2008 at 10:16 pm

    Actually, you have to show ID at Costco to get in, too. To say nothing of airports.

    But, devil’s advocate argument here, couldn’t one say that if people want higher densities, then they should buy the streets from the city and then build whatever they please?

  3. DBM says

    June 5, 2008 at 3:47 am

    What is the rationale behind this? There has to be some sort of issue going on in the neighborhoods affected to create this proposal.

    In any case it sounds completely ridiculous to me, no matter how well-intentioned the plan was.
    And let me guess, since it’s a public service the tax payers of the entire city will be footing the bill for the “protected” few.

    Why did this recent Digg post just come to mind??…..
    http://wuntvor.mirror.waffleimages.com/files/44/44cb4b91287cfcd8111d471867502a3cac861ab0.jpg

  4. DBM says

    June 5, 2008 at 3:47 am

    What is the rationale behind this? There has to be some sort of issue going on in the neighborhoods affected to create this proposal.

    In any case it sounds completely ridiculous to me, no matter how well-intentioned the plan was.
    And let me guess, since it’s a public service the tax payers of the entire city will be footing the bill for the “protected” few.

    Why did this recent Digg post just come to mind??…..
    http://wuntvor.mirror.waffleimages.com/files/44/44cb4b91287cfcd8111d471867502a3cac861ab0.jpg

  5. MarketUrbanism says

    June 6, 2008 at 2:16 am

    That photo’s great! I’m gonna add it to the post.

  6. Market Urbanism says

    June 6, 2008 at 2:16 am

    That photo’s great! I’m gonna add it to the post.

  7. MarketUrbanism says

    June 6, 2008 at 2:18 am

    Bill,
    I would argue that even if one doesn’t own the street, one should be able to build as dense as he pleases on his own property.

  8. Market Urbanism says

    June 6, 2008 at 2:18 am

    Bill,
    I would argue that even if one doesn’t own the street, one should be able to build as dense as he pleases on his own property.

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