| Page 2 of 2 < |
As Plan for D.C. Day-Laborer Center Idles, Anger Over Workers Grows
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
In the meantime, some residents say they're on edge. Wallace, who works at Home Depot from noon until it's time for his 8 p.m. roll call at the 5th District headquarters, said he arrests about two day laborers a week, mostly for drinking and urinating in public. And it is not uncommon to hear screaming matches between neighbors and the workers.
Raymond Chandler, an advisory neighborhood commissioner who lives just beyond the barrier wall, said he has called police 50 times in the past month. Some of the workers sleep in a boat parked behind a rowhouse and in an abandoned house in the 2400 block of 10th St. NE., near his home.
"They're banging on people's doors, asking people for food and sleeping in people's cars," Chandler said. "It's uncontrollable."
Even some drivers looking for day-labor help admit the number of workers approaching their cars can be intimidating. A driver of a small pickup drew a dozen workers when he slowed near the grassy area. He hired two workers, but he later said: "I didn't like them bum-rushing me like that."
A 19-year-old worker who would not give his name said he landed a job yesterday morning moving furniture for two hours for $20. He acknowledged that some of the day laborers create problems for the group.
"Many people come to work, and many come to drink, sleep and make noise," said the man, who moved here from Peru in April.
Millison Toye, who lives in Petworth in Northwest Washington, said the government should assist the workers, whom she has seen get into confrontations with customers.
"If you're going to allow people to congregate and stay, then give them sufficient work and housing," Toye said. "With the summer weather, it's only going to get worse."
