There’s been a lot of debate on the HillEast listserve about the activities of the Mayor’s Conservation Corp, seen throughout the week giving out door hangers promoting their services. Perhaps nobody is taking them up on the offer to help with trash and weed problems on city property? Instead, at 11 a.m. today, a number of the MCC played football while over 100 teens sought cover in the shade of Lincoln Park.
It’s been kind of worrisome to see the streets littered with marketing swag to promote conservation and the city’s green activities. Job creation, and providing jobs for youth is an incredibly important activity for the city. The DC Department of Employment Services needs to turn it around and make sure summer hires are given opportunities to get a real learning experience, and supervisors aren’t acting like camp counselors.
Additionally, other teens were seen near Watkins, where presumably they went for cold drinks, since no water seemed to be provided at the park.
I’m on the NE side of the Hill, but only a block and a half from Lincoln Park, and I didn’t get a door hanger, and haven’t seen them out over here.
Is there a number we can call if we have work for them? What kind of work are they volunteering to do?
For instance, my tree boxes could use a quick grooming – nothing fancy, they’re just grass – but they’re definitely overgrown (my “yard” is paved with a small garden, so I don’t own a mower, or even a weed wacker) – is that something they could do? Heck, if they wanted to plant something in there just for the experience, they’re more than welcome to go to it!
DCist has posted a similar take on the greening initiative:
http://dcist.com/2009/06/mayors_conservation_corps_blankets.php
Wasn’t last year’s summer job program criticized for poor management and going over budget as well?
The WPost has an article on some of the other issues with the program: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062501852.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Plenty of blue T-shirt conservation corps kids conserving their energy today by hanging out inside the auditorium at the abandoned Hine Jr. High, then dispersing around noon to buy soda pops and snacks at nearby retailers.
Channel 7 did a story on this tonight ending with a ridiculous response from the city:
“A representative from the program says this year’s program has been an overwhelming success. He notes if teens are just hanging out, it’s the fault of local residents who are supposed to call the city and inform the workers where there is trash or debris.”
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0709/639339.html?ref=tw