Housing/urban Issues/Gentrification

Metro gets an earful on bad service, high fares, and revenue-based policing at board meeting

On Jan 31, Save Our System, No Justice No Pride, Black Youth Project 100, and others packed Metro's board meeting. Speakers charge Metro is trying to "solve their problems on the backs of the riding public, and trying to fund themselves by soaking poor residents while developers ride for free with huge projects made possible by Metro.

NJNP Steering committee member Latinxrex speaks on limited Metro service forcing some to trade sex for housing close to jobs

Photo by Save Our System

People For Fairness Coalition holds annual march and vigil for fallen homeless

On the 21st of December, People For Fairness coaltion held their annual vigil and march to remember those who have died on the street while homeless this year. This year 45 people died on the streets, some of their names as well as a casket were carried in the march from Luther Place Memorial Church to Freedom Plaza.

Video of the march

Marching on 14th st with the casket remembering 45 homeless people who died this year in DC

DC Reinvest protests as Senate summons Wells Fargo CEO to hearing

On the 3rd of October, Well Fargo CEO Tim Sloan had to face the music, testifying in front of the Senate Banking Committee about the fraudulent loans and unauthorized accounts Wells Fargo opened in the names of unknowing account holders. Meanwhile, protesters from DC Reinvest were outside calling out Wells Fargo for other offenses such as funding gentrification, pipelines and private prisons.

ONE DC People's Platform puts Kenyan McDuffie on mock trial over Brookland Manor

On September 21, the monthly One DC People's Platform was held at Dance Place in the gentrification-beseiged Catholic University/Brookland neighborhood. The highlight of the event was a "people's trial" of DC Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie for multiple offenses related to his aiding and abetting displacement and gentrification of the Brookland Manor apartements

Video-some highlights of the mock trial and conviction of Kenyan McDuffie

Mayor Bowser raids another homeless camp to make way for condos

On the 20th of June at 10AM, DC Dept of Public Works trashed and removed tents and other property of homeless people camping under the railroad overpasses on K and L sts NE around 1st st NE. A construction project is going up between K and L sts just west of the tracks, the Washingon Post reports this is condos and rationalized the attack with a claim that yuppies were walking in the streets to avoid interacting with the homeless.

Here we have a condo project started right next to where the Mayor ordered trash collectors to remove another homeless tent city

DC Zoning approval to "redevelop" Brookland Manor granted as residents protest displacement

On the 22nd of May, the DC Zoning Commission approved the "second stage PUD" to allow redeveloping Brookland Manor without any of the current larger family units and a reduction of over 100 units of affordable housing. This is to make way for over 1,000 small luxury units. Residents protested both outside and inside the hearing, some vowing to camp on or in DC officials and Mid City's own buildings if they lose their apartments.

Video-Brookland Manor tenants, allies vow to occupy city official's homes over just-approved "redevelopment"

Brookland Manor tenants protest at zoning hearing, with many supporters

On the 23rd of February, an unusually large crowd of supporters backed up Brookland Manor tenants at and before a zoning hearing. The hearing concerns a proposed redevelopment that would displace larger families and many low income tenants. On the grounds that an injury to one is an injury to all, many groups stood with the tenants. Supporting organizations ran the gamut from One DC to the IWW and many others.

Video Highlights from the rally outside/before the zoning hearing

Mayor Bowser raiding homeless camps again

One of Mayor Bowser's signature programs has been "fighting homelessness" by sending police and trash collectors against tent cities erected by the homeless.Earlier this week, Bowser's forces again destroyed the homeless camp in Rock Creek Park near Whitehurst Freeway. Then, on the afternoon of the 16th of February, a trash truck and a few other vehicles were parked menacingly close to a homeless camp on the east end of town.

Homeless Memorial March and vigil remembers 46 who died this year

On the 20th of December, the People for Fairness Coalition marched from Luther Place Church to Freedom Plaza to remember 46 people who died on the street or with a housing voucher they were unable to use. The march included a casket in memory of the fallen.

Video of the march from Luther Place to Freedom Plaza

Marchers on 14th St with a casket remembering the 46 homeless people who have died this year in DC

Back At The Trump Hotel

Protests mark the official ribbon cutting of the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC's historic Old Post Office Building.

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