If you were to describe Washington in one word, what would it be?

Balkanized
Lois Kampinsky
Education Director, Video Producer

Political
Earle Rands
Stockbroker

Busy
Amy Seaman
Marketing, the Nature Conservancy

Livable
Richard Abbott
Retired

Misunderstood
Sven Shockey
Architect

Underappreciated
Erin Palmer
Medicare Program Analyst

If someone told you they were moving to Washington, what advice would you give them?

Forget your car
Lois Kampinsky

Check out the many different neighborhoods of our city. Each of them are wonderful and have something for everyone.
Earle Rands

Washington is really a small town. Try to move to a place where you like your surrounds and become part of your neighborhood. If you don't it will just seem like politics, people, cars, and urban sprawl.
Amy Seaman

Live close in near the Metro.
Richard Abbott

Explore the neighborhoods. While Washington is a symbol that represents many things, it is also a real place with its own history and complexity. On the one hand, Washington is clean, open, and defined. On the other, it has a patina of age and cultural diversity.
Sven Shockey

Live in the District. Live near a Metro rail station. Ideally, choose your housing to enable you to walk to work.
Erin Palmer

If a tourist had one hour to spend in Washington, what one thing would you tell them to see?

The Declaration of Independence.
Lois Kampinsky

Georgetown. Shops, resturants, historic homes. Where people meet to be seen.
Earle Rands

The Library of Congress. It is absolutely amazing that anyone go into the largest library in the world and check out a book. I think it displays the absolute best qualities of our democracy.
Amy Seaman

Go the Mall and just walk around.
Richard Abbott

Walk the Mall.
Sven Shockey

The United States Capitol building. Specifically, the West portico area where Inaugural addresses are delivered and Presidents are sworn in.
Erin Palmer

What's the best thing about Washington?

Its beauty.
Lois Kampinsky

People are friendly. Willing to help there neighbor in need. The citizens of Washington have pride in their cultural city.
Earle Rands

It is a beautiful city.
Amy Seaman

Culture and the arts--music and museums--much of it free.
Richard Abbott

Cosmopolitan.
Sven Shockey

Its political and historical prestige.
Erin Palmer

What's the worst thing about Washington?

Its instability..
Lois Kampinsky

Crime and schools. The city still has a long way to go to deliver services to their citiens.
Earle Rands

The city gets blamed for all of the politicians that work here.
Amy Seaman

Summer weather.
Richard Abbott

Crime and years of neglect.
Sven Shockey

No voting representation in Congress yet we pay some of the highest taxes in the nation.
Erin Palmer

If you had the opportunity to move, would you? And if so, where would you go?

Yes, eventually. Italy.
Lois Kampinsky

Yes, but not far from Washington, D.C. I will open a fine dining bistro in the Shenandoah Valley, west of the city.
Earle Rands

I debate that question all the time. But I haven't come up with any place better.
Amy Seaman

West Coast.
Richard Abbott

If my salary were to triple, I would consider Manhattan.
Sven Shockey

Yes. I'd move to the Mountains, preferably the south island of New Zealand, but I'd settle for the American Rockies. Ideally, I'd live equal times in both places.
Erin Palmer