Dave Stroup
Since 2003, the blog “Why I Hate D.C.” has been a vital antidote for those Washingtonians tired of being force-fed the usual boosterish bromides about the District’s revitalization. Since joining the blog last year, Dave Stroup, 25, has become one of Washington’s best haters. He has accused police officials of ignoring spiraling violence in Columbia Heights and demanded that Metro General Manager John Catoe resign after the June 22 Red Line crash that killed nine people.
How long have you been writing for it?
I don’t actually hate D.C. I hate the frustrations that make enjoying D.C. difficult.
Why do think problems persist so long here?
The government is fairly young. It hasn’t really taken the training wheels off here. And the federal government isn’t really hands off enough. … It results in nobody really taking responsibility for the problems. And I think there’s a general apathy of people who live here.
What do you hope police Chief Cathy Lanier or John Catoe are saying about you?
John Catoe, I’m currently in the process of calling for him to resign. I would at least hope that by seeing that … it makes people think twice about going in front of the cameras and making … the typical canned comments. When the president goes in front of the cameras, there’s millions of people watching it. … These local people, they go in front of the cameras and nobody’s paying attention. I’m hoping … that people who read my site will say, “No, this is ridiculous.” Make them accountable.
You’re a little young to be a curmudgeon, aren’t you?
Uh, yeah. I’m not the “get off my lawn” kind of person. Some people read the site and think I’m just this cynical [expletive] who hates everything that’s good in this world. That’s by far not the truth.
– Bill Myers
