Gentlemen, on behalf of the Bethesda Baptist Church family community we greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We want to thank Luke Wilbur and your organization for its interest in giving us a public voice to convey our concerns on the subject of unclothed Bars in our community.
Bethesda Baptist Church has been in the Ivy City/Trinidad Community for over 85 years. We have seen changes in our community in that period of time. Some good, such as community redevelopment by individuals and businesses. Some not so good such as drugs, alcoholism and prostitution.
Currently, the Trinidad Ivy City Community is on a strong comeback. The community has received new streets, new housing reconstruction new recreation centers for children and the list goes on.
Our community has always been a vital concern of ourchurch because the constituents of our church started here or still live here. We are also very concerned about our community because we care about the quality of life for all people.
We are constantly people focused on helping our community stimulate improvement, development and growth towards a better quality of life for its constituents.
Our goal is that the Trinidad/Ivy City community will be a better place to worship, live, work and play. To help meet that goal we have in the past and are actively doing now the following:
. Community clean up programs
. Street evangelism and witnessing homeless shelter worship
services;
. Adopt a school initiative (Webb elementary);
. Tract distribution (Life Changing information about
salvation)
. Free clothes distribution to the community feeding the
Homeless;
. Feeding the Homeless;
. Senior citizens Lunch Programs
. Vacation Bible School for neighborhood children;
. Open air worship services outdoors;
. Prayer for the community outdoors.
As was stated earlier the Trinidad/Ivy City community is on a strong comeback. With the work our church is doing in the community in cooperation with Metropolitan Police and the D.C. Government, our community is a much better and safer Place than it was 10 years ago.
That brings me to the subject of the unclothed Bars who wish to move into our community. We totally are against businesses of that type in our community. Studies have shown that where businesses of that nature operate certain types of crime follow them. Crimes such as prostitution, pedophilia, public drunkenness etc. Many years ago when businesses of that type were located near New York avenue and (14th street thru
17th streets, N.W.) Prostitution (male and female) flourished heavily. The only way the D.C. Government was able to stop it was to shut those businesses down.
All businesses that stimulate a challenge to clean moral behavior are a menace and detriment wherever they are. unclothed bars in our community will destroy the peace, stability, tranquility and overall harmony that has begun to flourish in the community. We have children that play outside and ride their bicycles all over the area. We want to keep them safe.
The last thing we need in this community is a return to what we just came out of in the 70’s and 80’s.
Lastly we wish to solicit help from good family friendly businesses to move into our community. Businesses that can help the entire community not just a few strippers.
We want the strong comeback of the Trinidad/Ivy city community to continue until Jesus Christ returns.
Thank you Sincerely,
Rev. Richard McPayten
Spokesperson for Bethesda Baptist Church
