Most people have covered my thoughts pretty well - but you are exactly right. It is not the high school/college kids that you have to worry about but rather the guy or girl that worked at the 7-11 when you are a kid, and still works there now. Well - you have to worry about them, and the life they are able to provide for the people they support.
I made more then minimum wage in high school working in kitchens and hospitals, but I was well aware that was unusual. Alot of effort, drive, and hard work put me there though. But mixed in there was also some opportunity - I will not deny that.
Not everyone is provided opportunity - or moreso guidance to capitalize on opportunity. Nor is everyone able to resist having fun all the time in exchange for furthering themselves. And in the end, not all have the mental capacity to seek out the same opportunities as another.
In many cases, I think capitalism works - but in an area such as this with high real-estate, many illegal workers who are paid and fill positions well under minimum wage, many businesses that do not pay/record all of their taxes (sales/income/unemployment and others), and slews of high paying and low paying jobs without nearly as much in the middle - the supply and demand equations start to get a little wobbly.
Another thing I think is a problem is that a lot of *legal* immigrants are daunted by the bureaucracy here, and get scared off of doing things like starting their own businesses. My dad follows DC entertainment law (he's a musician), and he told me about a case in which the Mt. Pleasant (or was it Mt. Ranier?) citizen's association was frightening the mostly-immigrant bar and restaurant owners in the area out of having live music. Dad said a lot of the business owners caved because they didn't want to be entangled in the legal system. Then again, I'll bet a lot of non-immigrant business owners would have done the same.
Hmmm....I live in Mount Pleasant, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was in regards to what happened last year. Mount Pleasant is one of the few areas in D.C. that actually has Historic Status, and because of it there are lots of limitations on houses, businesses, etc.
The neighborhood is very eclectic - but with houses all close to the million dollar range - its changing over time....some good, some bad.
Mt. Pleasant Avenue which serves as a border for the neighborhood, and leads its way to Columbia Road near Adam's Morgan is dominated by many Latino shops and businesses, bars and the like. The bars (and many people in the neighborhood) wanted to allow for live music - but some rule against it to stop Mt. Pleasant from turning into an Adam's Morgan kept being brought up. Hmm....I'll have to go back through my emails from the Mt. Pleasant list and see if i can find it. There are rules against live music/dancing in an establishment that serves alcohol. Hmmm.....that made me think of the movie Footloose.
Okay...so now I'm really, really curious. What kinda music does your dad play?
My dad plays in a country-western band (think Bob Wills style) and backs a sixties girl-group. I think you are remembering the same event as me -- my dad told me DC was trying to pass a law requiring any establishment with live music or dj'ed dancing to get a nightclub liquor license instead of a restaurant license. That would essentially mean that those little places in Mount Pleasant would have to shell out the same kind of cash as Nation and the Edge do for their liquor licenses. I think it failed, but these things always rear their heads again.
hmm....not familiar with Bob Wills, at least not in name although I'm sure I've heard some of the music. The websites I've seen just say to me "fun music." That must be very cool having a father in a band.
You're right - those kinda things do always rear their heads again. And I have to wonder if those restrictions are going to lapse as Mount Plesant changes over to more non-ethnic places. These days the restaurants that you have about down there are Tonic and Radius - both nice sit down mid-priced places that serve a bit of a different clientele then most of the other places down there.
I think you have a good point about immigrants being scared off by the bureaucracy in starting their own businesses. That, and some levels of oppression by the masses. For many years immigrants came to this country, opened up little shops and businesses, and prospered. Over time they were resented for it. I think people new to this country remember the stories of that resentment, retaliation, and the like.
I made more then minimum wage in high school working in kitchens and hospitals, but I was well aware that was unusual. Alot of effort, drive, and hard work put me there though. But mixed in there was also some opportunity - I will not deny that.
Not everyone is provided opportunity - or moreso guidance to capitalize on opportunity. Nor is everyone able to resist having fun all the time in exchange for furthering themselves. And in the end, not all have the mental capacity to seek out the same opportunities as another.
In many cases, I think capitalism works - but in an area such as this with high real-estate, many illegal workers who are paid and fill positions well under minimum wage, many businesses that do not pay/record all of their taxes (sales/income/unemployment and others), and slews of high paying and low paying jobs without nearly as much in the middle - the supply and demand equations start to get a little wobbly.
Reply
Reply
The neighborhood is very eclectic - but with houses all close to the million dollar range - its changing over time....some good, some bad.
Mt. Pleasant Avenue which serves as a border for the neighborhood, and leads its way to Columbia Road near Adam's Morgan is dominated by many Latino shops and businesses, bars and the like. The bars (and many people in the neighborhood) wanted to allow for live music - but some rule against it to stop Mt. Pleasant from turning into an Adam's Morgan kept being brought up. Hmm....I'll have to go back through my emails from the Mt. Pleasant list and see if i can find it. There are rules against live music/dancing in an establishment that serves alcohol. Hmmm.....that made me think of the movie Footloose.
Okay...so now I'm really, really curious. What kinda music does your dad play?
Reply
I think you are remembering the same event as me -- my dad told me DC was trying to pass a law requiring any establishment with live music or dj'ed dancing to get a nightclub liquor license instead of a restaurant license. That would essentially mean that those little places in Mount Pleasant would have to shell out the same kind of cash as Nation and the Edge do for their liquor licenses. I think it failed, but these things always rear their heads again.
Reply
You're right - those kinda things do always rear their heads again. And I have to wonder if those restrictions are going to lapse as Mount Plesant changes over to more non-ethnic places. These days the restaurants that you have about down there are Tonic and Radius - both nice sit down mid-priced places that serve a bit of a different clientele then most of the other places down there.
Reply
I think you have a good point about immigrants being scared off by the bureaucracy in starting their own businesses. That, and some levels of oppression by the masses. For many years immigrants came to this country, opened up little shops and businesses, and prospered. Over time they were resented for it. I think people new to this country remember the stories of that resentment, retaliation, and the like.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment