May 1, 2006
Question Time: Empty City Edition
The DCist staff has already noticed some changes in the city today that we presume to be due to the planned immigrant boycott. Some of us have been told our drycleaning will not be ready today, some of us experienced longer wait times for our morning repast, and many of us have noticed that parts of the city, Metro platforms for instance, seem eerily empty. We're interested in hearing how, and whether, things are different across the city and throughout the day, so leave us your observations and your thoughts in the comment section below.
Picture taken by Bsavid.
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Ditto on the drycleaning. Also I talked with a waitress at Johnny's half shell (by dupont) on Saturday evening and she said they probably would close today, she had also heard at some other restaurants the managers would work in the kitchen today to fill in.
The buses down 16th street were empty. Ha! I got a seat, but once I got off the bus, I didn't get my bagelwich prepped by my regular guy -- was told he was "out sick."
There is no one cleaning the halls or emptying the trash at USDA where I work.
Give me a break. The impact of this illegal alien "boycott" will be minimal unless you work in construction or at a bar that hires them. Spare me the typical d.c. guilty white liberal wishful thinking about any massive impact.
Claude, you sound like a real piece of work.
Rockville Pike had 20-30% less car traffic than usual for a Monday, and buses are completely empty. Haven't reccied the local restaurants, though I heard that a couple of places in Congressional Plaza are closed for the day.
I had no problem crossing the ordinarly traffic-clogged streets of downtown Bethesda this morning.
Mr. Claude, you are free to spare yourself of discussions on the topic by visiting whichever other blogs you please.
I noticed the same light loads on the red line, but then thought about it, and I don't think its ever crowded by day laborers. Is there something else going on today that is causing a lot of people not to work today? Or is this a trickly down thing, where people who lost thier child care today were forced to stay at home?
Claude, it's not just "illegals" boycotting today -- all immigrants are called on today to miss work and school. And if you don't think D.C. has a lot of immigrants, I suggest trying to find a restaurant/bar/dry cleaner/coffee shop/hotel/store--anywhere--that doesn't hire immigrants, the vast majority of whom are legal.
the southbound greenline trains are usually pretty full by the time i get on at U Street... noticibly less crowded this morning... i think it'd be interesting to look at today's overall metro ridership, but then again there may not be any difference in the overall numbers unless people are just staying at home today...
Scott--I don't know which red line you were on, but my ride on the red line was absolutely packed to the brim with probably 10 people at each door at each stop having to wait for another train... supposedly caused by a downed train at Woodley Park but even before that we were pretty packed.
My block in Courthouse is bordered by four or five condo projects, and there was no construction noise this morning. Every traffic report I heard on the news sounded like the roads were far less congested that usual, and my usual 20-minute commute down 395 ended up being more like 12 minutes.
So, the biggest impact that I can tell so far is that traffic has decreased. If that's the case, let them go.
I am one of those immigrants that you blindly assume are in support of this, but am not - this has never been about legal immigrants, organizers have tried to lump us all in for their political gain.
This protest will backfire and do nothing to help out a situation that is in dire need of one.
Kate,
I'm one of the few reverse commuters that trains all the way out to Rockville every morning while sardine packed trains go the otherway. Chinatown this morning at 7:30 was pretty quiet.....felt like a holiday.
Claude is french and so is not entitled to an opinion.
Texican,
Lets see, its 11:27am no lunch rush yet, no dinner rush, peoples trashcans are not full yet, peoples kids are still in school....maybe you should wait until later in the day to start sending people back. You should turn down O'Riely, or Fox News, or Lou Dobbs and allow your brain to breath for a few minutes. If you think this not about legal immigrants as well then you haven't listened to more than one side.
It doesn't matter how much flag waving you do hermano, you are still an immigrant.
A lot of downtown office workers have stayed home today since they believe that there will be another massive immigrant rally on the Mall, like three weeks ago, which snared afternoon traffic and clogged the Metro with a lot of clueless riders.
Rode the bus (42) this morning, and it was as packed as usual...more so than usual, in fact. Not sure what that means. Most people I've talked to have used the event as a punchline more than and actual reality. Does anyone know someone who's actively participating?
Dude I am glad they didn't do this on Friday, could have really messed with an important holiday! This Tonto Gringo likes his Margaritas cold, his lawn care/house cleaning cheap, and his food/women spicy! Viva Immigrants!!!
No difference out in Centreville, but then again I don't have a lawn service and leave pretty early in the morning.
The only difference I saw was the bus being 15 minutes late at the Stringfellow Park and Ride. I am headed out to the hot dog stand to grab lunch in a little bit. Will let you know if it's open or not.
TC
I doubt a one day boycott will make any difference in what Congress decides. The boycott that Rosa Parks sparked was extended, so was the boycott of South African companies that started in the 70’s.
I support legalization combined with increased enforcement, but the immigrants and their supporters would need to spend much more that one day away from their jobs. Does anyone know of a short boycott that made a difference?
I'm a legal immigrant and I'm out "sick"... ha ha
"...some of us experienced longer wait times for our morning repaste..."
REPAST, not REPASTE.
The construction site next to my office in Alexandria is much less active than usual today. I'm going to ride through Chirilauga this afternoon, see if it is more or less busy.
The hot dog stand was open for lunch, with a different guy working it. There was one Tex-Mex placed closed in Crystal City and the sign on the door said the Boycott was the reason why.
TC
I guess traffic was a little lighter this morning on the beltway, but the biggest difference I've noticed is that my pompous right-wing friends are going out of their way to point out how unaffected they are by the boycott. Granted, these people aren't the best with cause and effect calculations. Also, it seems that all of them know at least one immigrant who isn't participating. Imagine, just yesterday these people were just people like anyone else, but today they've been elevated to the status of Immigrant Friend Who Is At Work. Lucky them.
It didn't even dawn on me that this boycott was going on. I work downtown, just got lunch..everything seems normal. Metro was the same this morning. My dad is an immegrant and he resents people who come here illegally. I go both ways on it, while I understand trying to find a better life, I think it should be done legally. Why can't they just open Ellis Island type facilities again? You stand in line, get documented and go....it worked out great back then.
I have to admit, I experienced a longer than usual wait this morning at the McDonald's at New York Ave and 13th. They seemed to be extremely understaffed.
I'm sorry to disagree with the liberal angst; I'd mistakenly thought a difference of opinion was allowed.
I am opposed to illegal immigration. This doesn't make me a redneck or French.
In fact, if being an illegal immigrant isn't really illegal, then why should using an illegal drug really be illegal?
And yes, the Montgomery Alabama boycott went on for *over one year*. Hundreds of boycotters lost their livelihoods during that tumultuous time. It does not compare at all to a one day "boycott" of tax-deferred work.
I'm sorry to disagree with the liberal angst; I'd mistakenly thought a difference of opinion was allowed.
I am opposed to illegal immigration. This doesn't make me a redneck or French.
In fact, if being an illegal immigrant isn't really illegal, then why should using an illegal drug really be illegal?
And yes, the Montgomery Alabama boycott went on for *over one year*. Hundreds of boycotters lost their livelihoods during that tumultuous time. It does not compare at all to a one day "boycott" of tax-deferred work.
I'm sorry to disagree with the liberal angst; I'd mistakenly thought a difference of opinion was allowed.
I am opposed to illegal immigration. This doesn't make me a redneck or French.
In fact, if being an illegal immigrant isn't really illegal, then why should using an illegal drug really be illegal?
And yes, the Montgomery Alabama boycott went on for *over one year*. Hundreds of boycotters lost their livelihoods during that tumultuous time. It does not compare at all to a one day "boycott" of tax-deferred work.
I'm sorry to disagree with the liberal angst; I'd mistakenly thought a difference of opinion was allowed.
I am opposed to illegal immigration. This doesn't make me a redneck or French.
In fact, if being an illegal immigrant isn't really illegal, then why should using an illegal drug really be illegal?
And yes, the Montgomery Alabama boycott went on for *over one year*. Hundreds of boycotters lost their livelihoods during that tumultuous time. It does not compare at all to a one day "boycott" of tax-deferred work.
We heard you the first three times, Claude.
Our house-cleaner didn't show up today. At first I thought something was wrong, then found out they were taking part in the boycott.
To me the tactics (and thus intent) of this boycott are confusing. Most immigrants are here to take advantage of the economic benefits of being in the US (ie better-paying jobs), I don't think their presence in the workforce is disputed. However, if the intent is to show their contribution to the US (and gain wider support), not spending money would more effectively demonstrate their economic clout. Not working just hurts their employers who depend on their labor and already want them to remain in the US anyway.
Claude then when the next time you go out to eat don't get upset when the food cost three times as much and when most other basic services cost twice as much if not more.
Don't get upset when social security collapse sooner than planned because of the millions of immigrants who come to this country to work and get money take out of their paychecks for social security but never collect it when they are older because they have moved back to the countries they came from. Don't get upset when taxes eventually have to go up because we spent billions of dollars on a wall.
Don't get upset when companies outsource even more because they cannot find people to fill jobs that immigrants once filled. And companies that hire millions of U.S. citizens also have to shut down because they cannot compete on the world market without having a partial workforce of immigrants.
Then go tear down the Statue of Liberty and the plaque on it that reads:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
If you care about security that is a completely valid concern but kicking 11+ million people out and in the process ruining the economy will not solve the issue, if you think you can just try and kick everyone out and you will be safe then go talk to someone in Israel and see how well it is working for them.
You should probably go back and take a couple econ classes to realize that population growth of individuals who are in the labor force is extremely healthy for an economy. These are jobs that US citizens are not doing and the immigrants who fill these jobs are holding up a vital part of the economy, unless you are willing to work for $5 an hour with little to no benefits? How does that sound Claude?
Took some pictures of store closings in Adams Morgan.. total of about 5 places.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79346304@N00/sets/72057594122308360/
Alex: Those are great. I like the last one: "We believe in the American Dream".....
Today was crazy, I saw some trash on the ground, realized it wouldn't be picked up until tomorrow. Gawd I can't wait for this all to be over. Think of the children. Chaos I tell you! Filthy, filthy chaos!
I work at Cafe Luna in Dupont (not Luna Grill and Diner, stop confusing them!) and have never been so proud to see the effects of direct action! Our owner wanted to stay open today and just cope with slow service, as we only had one waiter available to work all day.. but the kitchen just said too bad, they're not coming to work! We ended up staying closed for the day and I, for one, am glad that my friends with two and three jobs get a day of rest. And I do disagree with those that doubt the impact of this "one day" event -- the immense energy in this country surrounding this immigration issue is certainly not reducable to this one single day. In fact this is one of the largest risings up of people in my memorable lifetime.. certainly more widespread, unified and visible than any sort of liberal white anti-whatever pro-whatever cause I've been involved with. These are the kind of actions that really produce change: those that come from a unified and impassioned base of people from border to border. These are historical times, why are we so pooh-pooh about it?
anna bee, I believe I side with you on this issue but I tend to think this type of action will have a huge backlash against illegals. The silent majority, despite the predictions of its death, is still alive and well. That majority gets scared very easily and I think this is the wrong move for the pro-amensty folks. Just like waving Mexican flags was boneheaded this might push the opinion polls in the wrong direction, which is something you don't want happening.
It looks like a Wendy's drink cup from my window here. That piece of trash just glaring in the sun. Should I call the local sanitation dep't? This is madness, out of control. I just don't know if I can wait this out, please come back to work illegal immigrants!
i'm an immigrant (west indian / jamaican) and as i was pulling into my parking lot at work this morning, i remembered that yes, i am an immigrant and i could still pull out, go back to my apartment and sleep in. but i didnt...does anyone know when the next day like this will be?
oh, sidebar: has anyone seen the indie flick, Day Without a Mexican. Rent it today...very timely.
our office did not receive mail today... oh - and i got a seat on the S2!
our office did not receive mail today... oh - and i got a seat on the S2!
Anna Bee, I was initially disappointed when I found out that I wouldn't be able to introduce an out of town friend to Luna today, but I can't think of a better reason to close. Good job.
Stolen from the first comment at Gothamist on the same topic because it is too good:
Day without immigrants? I'm a (legal) immigrant unlike those people. This is not about immigration (which is good) but about illegal intrusion by people who do not pay taxes but flood our hospitals, schools and other public services. Paul Krugman had good article about this few weeks ago in NY Times.
Please, no more politically correct names. Illegals are not immigrants. (Similarly, bank robbers are not bank customers even if both visit banks).
_____
m, Thanks for the good words on the pictures.
fromgothamist, that’s the other side of the coin people don't seem to address. I keep hearing comparisons to Birmingham, which is not only way off, but borderline insulting (citizens being treated unfairly based on the color of their skin, vs. non citizens breaking the law and avoiding taxes). That's not to say that nothing can be done to improve the situation for everyone in this country, but it'd be nice if people could keep the issue framed correctly ;)
It's pretty foolish to say that immigrants are avoiding taxes. I think most of the people involved in these demonstrations are actively seeking the opportunity to fully engage in this society.