American Experiences: Get Out of My Parking Spot

These are images of Carlton Briscoe, a fifty-two year old man who lives near 14th and U Streets in Washington DC. Carl, known also as “New York,” lives in some of worst conditions I've encountered. He suffers from advanced HIV, for which he currently receives no treatment. He is also afflicted with severe, untreated diabetes which causes him to faint on a regular basis. His body is covered with Kaposi's Sarcoma, a dermatological condition commonly associated with full-blown AIDS. He is heavily dependent on an array of substances, including crack-cocaine, which he’s pictured ingesting in this series. He faces daily harassment from police and new residents, many of whom reside in the luxury condominiums that proliferated along 14th Street in recent years.

Carl claims to have lived in the area for decades, an assertion that other locals could not corroborate. “Big We,” a longtime resident of Clifton Terrace and acquaintance of many in the area, says he noticed Carl only a few years back. “I’ve been out here for a long time and I don’t remember him from back when,” We explains. He generally keeps distance from Carl, interacting with him only when necessary. “He’s a nice enough guy,” he says, “but he’s always scratching [his sores] and that bugs me out.” We, who is an alcoholic, claims to drink with Carl on occasion but always takes his pull before Carl touches his lips to the bottle.

Carl claims to have a sixteen-year-old daughter who lives in New York City. He talks about her regularly stating that when he’s paid outstanding debts, he’ll travel to New York to be with her. He claims to have an estranged wife, from whom he contracted HIV some fifteen years ago. He is not in touch her or with other members of his immediate family members who live in DC area.

In light of rampant eastward gentrification in Northwest Washington, the DC Metro police have engaged in a campaign of consistent harassment against Carl. The neighborhood’s newest residents, most of whom are young, white, wealthy, professionals, are offended by his appearance and behavior. Folks are frustrated that their $450,000 condo sits above a man in Carl’s condition and that he occasionally sleeps in the parking spots that come with their units. The police respond to this frustration by harassing Carl in an attempt to move him further east.

After four decades of neglect, Washington’s wealthy decided that 14th Street is once again livable. In light of this, remnants of the past, be they dilapidated storefronts or downtrodden human beings, must go. Carl, however, is not interested in leaving. The risk of incarceration is a welcomed prospect for him. He speaks in glowing terms of previous stints in prison where he enjoyed a bed, showers, cable television, medical treatment and regular meals.

While gentrification is a natural process, the inertia of which took hold years ago, we must consider the ramifications of this process. We are new in the neighborhood and would be wise to understand its dynamics.