Comments on: What’s Wrong With “Ward 9″?

By: Grumpy

Grumpy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:23:45 +0000

Perhaps those that live on the borders (meaning they can step 5 ft. across the street into either jurisdiction) may not mind that term. But for the "Black Elite" living below the line of De-snob-ation that starts at Hampton Mall (for us old school residents)and moves down Central Ave. to Woodmore and beyond, that term negates their 'comeuppance'. After all, those are the same folks that voted for Al Wynn and Geechi Jack Johnson...I'd bet they would rather have AD for Mayor NOW rather than either of those two seeing how he and Rhee are making moves to eliminate 30 plus years of ineptitude and cronyism in the DC government.

By: Reid

Reid — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:12:42 +0000

Yeah, ditto on what Steve said. I think the reason people object is that it's such a big county, and what happens in, say, Suitland, has about as much to do with Greenbelt as it does with Alexandria. So when all the problems of the county get wrapped up into "PG County", residents get touchy. I guess I can see their point, but I think they're being oversensitive and are more venting about the problems of the county, not the way it's called. But when it comes to Ward 9: as I've understood the term, it has meant to reference the population of the county (primarily the ex-DC residents) who try to exert control over the politics of DC, despite the fact they don't live there (e.g., church double-parkers, anytime the issue of DC government employees comes up period). So I think the term is meant to communicate the inapropriate influence P.G. County residents and politicos have over DC affairs (and finances). So when it's used correctly, it is derisive, but necessarily so. When it's used to describe a bunch of basketball players, it doesn't make sense at best.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:59:15 +0000

I also know that, for some reason, "PG" itself is offensive to some Prince George's residents. In fact, I know that at the Post it's forbidden to use "PG" unless it's in a quote.

By: Mark Athitakis

Mark Athitakis — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:26:21 +0000

I say, "I live in Prince George's County, just outside D.C." It's just a bit of civic pride at work--if you like where you live, you don't want it to be dismissed as a mere appendage to some other place.

By: Mike Licht

Mike Licht — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:43:38 +0000

Many PG residents are touchy about being DC Government employees but living in suburban PG.

Many PG boosters don't like being linked to contiguous but crime-heavy Wards 7 and 8.

When in NYC and LA, all PG residents say they are "from DC." Go figure.

By: Arthur Delaney

Arthur Delaney — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:48:50 +0000

I once heard Rep. Albert Wynn himself refer to the area as Ward 9.