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I am trying to understand what gives the federal government the right to close down streets in the district to both vehicles and pedestrians. I can understand if there are safety concerns or scheduled construction but so the president or other official can go to church. I live across from national cathedral and on January 21st part of Wisconsin ave and other nearby roads will be closed to vehicles and foot traffic. This directly effect me along with several hundred other people who live in the mentioned area. I cannot even walk out the back of my building because the cross street is closed as well. I literally have no way out unless i were to illegally climb someone's fence and trespass through their yard.
Would i trade my life for the president of the United States, definetly not. I do realize that the position of the president is more important than myself but to inconvenience this many people is ridiculous. The fact that this is a church makes me even more upset. I thought we had seperation of church and state in this country.
Even if i could get out the back of my apartment the only option is using stairs. What would happen if i was handicapped and could not use stairs? If i have to call an ambulance for some reason would they let the ambulance through or prohibit them from entering.
I really just dont get it. Maybe if the government had every home owner or renter aware of the situation prior to them living in the area i could undertand and accept it. A note on the lease or mortage agreement.
I am glad to be an american. I was born in this country and i honestly feel that you have infinite posiblities in this country but i really just dont get this.
I am trying to understand what gives the federal government the right to close down streets in the district to both vehicles and pedestrians. I can understand if there are safety concerns or scheduled construction but so the president or other official can go to church. I live across from national cathedral and on January 21st part of Wisconsin ave and other nearby roads will be closed to vehicles and foot traffic. This directly effect me along with several hundred other people who live in the mentioned area. I cannot even walk out the back of my building because the cross street is closed as well. I literally have no way out unless i were to illegally climb someone's fence and trespass through their yard.
Would i trade my life for the president of the United States, definetly not. I do realize that the position of the president is more important than myself but to inconvenience this many people is ridiculous. The fact that this is a church makes me even more upset. I thought we had seperation of church and state in this country.
Even if i could get out the back of my apartment the only option is using stairs. What would happen if i was handicapped and could not use stairs? If i have to call an ambulance for some reason would they let the ambulance through or prohibit them from entering.
I really just dont get it. Maybe if the government had every home owner or renter aware of the situation prior to them living in the area i could undertand and accept it. A note on the lease or mortage agreement.
I am glad to be an american. I was born in this country and i honestly feel that you have infinite posiblities in this country but i really just dont get this.
Have you tried contacting you DC Council Representative?
Same reason they shut down Times Square before New Years. They put barriers around the epicenter of Manhattan and make people stand in lines to get checked by security before they can get in.
Bluefly - Times Square is not a residential area. I think Burgers comment is that people lives are being disrupted by all the street closures in residential neighborhoods and I agree with him/her. I don't have any problem with the streets being closed near the mall and White House but 21st and Wisconsin?
I live on Wisconsin and I have no idea what the OP is writing about.
Are they closing off part of the street for an Obama visit to the national cathedral or something?
I seriously doubt your entire block will be quarantined the way you describe it. And I really don't see how you can expect your landlord or lender to notify you of what the secret service may plan to do at some time.
Americans have a habit of trying to murder our presidents. It's been that way for a long time, and so secret service goes way over the top with security measures.
The 21st is when the new president and almost the ENTIRE government has a non-denominational prayer service at the National Cathedral (happens every four years, peeps) on his first full day as President. The right that government has to block off areas for security is called "eminent domain" -- all the land belongs to the government when there is an over arching need. Granted, that's overly simplified, but a bit of inconvenience is the price you pay for securing the leader of the free world. And yes, your cellphones will probably go dead while the Secret Service and the President are nearby.
As a side benefit, areas of the District that see a lot of special events like this get the benefit of dozens and dozens of different federal, local, and foreign agencies around to protect you.
Bluefly - Times Square is not a residential area. I think Burgers comment is that people lives are being disrupted by all the street closures in residential neighborhoods and I agree with him/her. I don't have any problem with the streets being closed near the mall and White House but 21st and Wisconsin?
Whether it's commercial, residential, or farm country doesn't matter. A public road is a public road, and if it's in a potentially hostile zone, then actions are taken. The point is that governments regularly close down sections of roads for various events. What should be far more disconcerting is if they establish a "free speech" zone a couple miles from any events where protesters can "practice free speech". That's horrific. Keeping an area clear for dignitaries is protocol and expected, especially in DC.
You have no doubt stood for up to 10 minutes waiting to cross a completely deserted road in the middle of rush hour because a motorcade is coming through. They don't discern between residential or commercial.
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