Housing/urban Issues/Gentrification

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

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

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"

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.