I live within one block of Don Juan’s restaurant, two blocks of the Marx Café, and three blocks of Haydee’s Restaurant. The owners of these businesses have looked out for me and my children, our kids have gone to school together, they have cooked our meals and helped shovel our snow. My daughter works for the current owners of Marx Cafe at the bakery that they operate down the block. She was offered a better paying job in another neighborhood and decided that she didn’t want to give up the pleasure of working alongside people who have known her all her life, applauded her achievements, and baked the cakes for her celebrations. This sense of community stability is good for families.

Several years ago, I tried to organize, along with a group of friends, family friendly entertainment evenings in local venues. Unfortunately, I found out at the time that a group of residents had negotiated with the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board to ban live music in Mount Pleasant businesses. Even though these people live. in some cases right on my block, and I greet them daily, I had no idea that they had been up to this. I think their approach was misguided, because by prohibiting restaurants from having entertainment and other activities, they have forced them to rely solely on liquor sales to stay afloat, increasing the consumption of alcohol on our street. I find their approach detrimental to families.

Now that my children are teenagers, I would love for them to be able to enjoy an all ages show within walking distance of our house. I would love for my son’s band to be able to perform in our own community. I would like to be able to hold a talent show or a fundraiser for their school in our neighborhood. (School without Walls, the DC Public High School that my daughter attends, recently held such an event at Busboys and Poets. They packed the house and raised a good amount of money– this would not be possible in any Mount Pleasant establishment.) I seek voluntary agreements which would help preserve the food and beverage establishments on Mount Pleasant Street that have deep roots in our community and enable them to provide activities that families could enjoy.

Athena Viscusi is a long time Mount Pleasant residents. For 20 years, she has worked as a social worker and community activist in Ward 1 neighborhoods.

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