Local News/Neighborhoods

The 22nd of September was the national Renter's Day of Action, with protests in over 50 cities. In DC, tenants from Congress Heights, Museum Square, and other threatened buildings gathered on Alabama Ave by 3200 13th st. Geoff Griffis of City Partners(investor) and Sanford Capitol(landlord) plan to demolish it and the adjacent occupied buildings anyway to build luxury apartments. They are stopped at the moment by Metro refusing to put a related land sale on the agenda. The banner at 3200 13th st read "liberated territory" and police acted like they expected OneDC and Justice First! to sieze the building like what happened at Parcel 42 back in 2010.

Video including Luci Murphy, the demands-and those security guards

In recent years DC's developers and their bought-and-paid for politicians have been trying to move out the residents of Barry Farms to make way for "redevelopment" and what they think of as "progress." On the 17th of September, the 11th st Bridge Park Washington Performing Arts held a Lantern Walk remembering the African-American builders who built their homes in Barry Farms and Hillsdale while working such long hours in town that they often had to walk back to Anacostia by lantern light. Some of the participants in the Lantern Walk sang "We shall not be moved" by the 11th St Bridge, a clear reference to the current threats to Barry Farms.

Video highlights of the Lantern Walk

Civil Rights Group Challenges Buffer Zone that Restricts Free Speech at New Trump International Hotel

A section of Pennsylvania Avenue, a National Historic Site that runs from the White House to the Capitol, will be turned over for the use of the Trump Organization along with the large (7,000 square foot) previously public plaza that features an 1889 Benjamin Franklin statue and that abuts the soon-to-open Trump International Hotel at the Old Post Office, as well as a portion of the sidewalk space abutting the Avenue.

The turnover of these spaces creates a “buffer zone” that appears to suppress or extinguish free speech in proximity to the building leased by Trump, restricting access to priority or exclusive use of the Trump Organization.

The landlord at 1320 Nicholson St owes but has not been paying tenants refunds for an illegal rent hike invalidated by the DC courts.Since a new management company took over the building conditions have deteriorated and this illegal rent hike was attempted, possibly in an attempt to clear out the building. On the 22nd of June, tenants rallied outside and met with councilmember Anita Bonds and Councilmember-elect Robert White(GOP never wins in DC) demanding action to recover the money they are owed and fix the building.

Video from the rally at Nicholson St