“We Keep Saying We’re Going to Do Better. When?” A Different Type of Forum Puts Candidates on Record About DC’s Most Contentious Issues
Leaders from directly impacted communities asked five At-Large council candidates hard-hitting questions about housing and community safety
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2020
Media Contact:
Beth Wagner, Organizer, Brookland Manor Coalition
bmbvassociation@gmail.com | (301) 800-1497
Washington, DC— Leaders from People For Fairness Coalition, the Residents Council at Park Morton, the Brookland Manor Brentwood Village Residents Association, Garfield Senior Residents Council and other communities endangered by DC’s housing policies demanded accountability from future leaders with pointed questions at last night’s virtual At-Large DC Council Candidates Forum.
Dozens of voters joined the forum via Zoom and Facebook Live to hear impassioned testimony and calls for change from impacted community leaders as they pressed candidates Christina Henderson, Chander Jayaraman, Jeanné Lewis, Will Merrifield and Mónica Palacio on their plans for DC’s housing crisis and COVID-19 recovery. Candidates clashed over solutions but were in agreement on the need for political courage in office, the extension of build-first rights to communities, and the protection of affordable family housing.
Jeanné Lewis went so far as to describe the treatment of families at Brookland Manor at the hands of the property owner, MidCity Financial, as “criminal”.
When asked how candidates would create affordable housing for “low-and-no-income” residents making 0-30% of area median income (AMI), Will Merrifield proposed implementing a social housing model to remove the profit incentive from development altogether. Monica Palacio and Chander Jayaraman argued instead for long-term housing subsidies.
Notably, all candidates present expressed support for the community’s Vacant To Virus-Reduction plan, which proposes the use of DC’s 10,000 vacant properties to house the unhoused in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Reginald Black, Director of Advocacy for People For Fairness Coalition closed the forum by thanking attendees: “That testimony you just heard really reiterated the name of this forum, Who Do You Serve. The other hosts, myself, and the people in the audience from impacted communities, you know, we continue to press on, in and out of elections. And we want people to join the fight.”
Peter Landeros, an American Indian Movement leader in the region, opened the forum with an acknowledgement that DC is located on Indigenous Piscataway land. Markus Batchelor, Marcus Goodwin, Ed Lazere, Vincent Orange, and Robert White did not accept invitations to attend.
The recording is available to view at facebook.com/BrooklandManorCoalition. The title quote is from Muhsin “Boe Luther” Umar, President of Garfield Senior Residents Council.
Hosts:
Mr. Reginald Black, Director of Advocacy for People For Fairness Coalition, Journalist/artist of Street Sense Media, Chairman of Focus Attitude Commitment to Excellence (FACE), Founder of Rahlowtisity, Lived Experienced Appointee (LEA) to Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH).
Ms. Minnie Elliott, Native Washingtonian, President of Brookland Manor Brentwood Village Residents Association, Civil Rights activist, retired educator, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother
Ms. Yvonne Johnson, Native Washingtonian, Vice President of Brookland Manor Brentwood Village Residents Association, retired educator, daughter, mother, and grandmother to Ethan and Jasmine
Ms. Cheryl Brunson, Native Washingtonian, Treasurer of Brookland Manor Brentwood Village Residents Association, mother, grandmother, sister, and community counselor for anyone who needs a listening ear
Ms. Shonta High, President of the Council at Park Morton, Civil Rights Activist, Entrepreneur (Owner of High Alert Emergency Preparedness), and Mother
Mr. Muhsin “Boe Luther” Umar, Native Washingtonian, President of Garfield Senior Residents Council, Co-Founder Hustlers 2 Harvesters, urban farmer, carpenter, musician, mentor, ANC Candidate for SMD 1B03, and member of the Citywide Advisory Board
About Brookland Manor Coalition:
The Brookland Manor Coalition is a citizen’s group of organizers and volunteers working alongside the Brookland Manor Brentwood Village Tenants Association in their fight against displacement. Brookland Manor is the largest remaining affordable community in the nation’s capital and its 3, 4, and 5-bedroom units are some of the last places for families in the District. The pending redevelopment plan will displace hundreds of families by eliminating desperately needed family housing. Join Ms. Minnie Elliott and the Brookland Manor community in the fight for common sense housing policies in Washington and help combat the displacement of lifelong DC residents at brooklandmanorcoalition.org, @BrooklandManorCoalition on Instagram and @BManorCoalition on Twitter.
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