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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Members of the D.C. Statehood Green Party are
joining other District organizations and citizens in demanding that D.C.
City Council ensure fair and affordable housing when it votes on housing
legislation on Tuesday, January 8. Washington Innercity Self Help (WISH)
and a coalition of tenant organizations, the League of Women Voters, the
Washington Regional Network, the Washington Legal Clinic for the
Homeless and others, have been successful in seeing amendments included
that improve the current legislation, and will urge Council to maintain
these changes during a rally called by WISH to take place Tuesday
morning from 9:30 a.m. to noon in front of the John Wilson
Building, the seat of district government, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW.
"On Tuesday, Council will hold the second reading of the part of
the housing legislation that includes Title V, the Housing Production
Trust Fund," said D.C. Statehood Green activist Jenefer Ellingston.
"We demand that the fair housing amendments be kept in the
legislation so that D.C. residents are secure in their homes and that
the fund is used to build and maintain affordable housing."
"New housing must serve those who need housing the most -- people
of low and moderate income, rather than developers, contractors,
landlords, and real estate speculators. We're appalled that our tax
dollars are being used for sweetheart development deals for political
cronies and for luxury apartments that few D.C. residents can
afford."
Housing advocates insist that, since 60% of the residents in D.C. are
renters, at least 60% of the production of housing should be used for
rental units. One of the amendments prevents the Mayor from using
his authority to demolish whole apartment buildings and homes in
District neighborhoods, regardless of their condition, without public
hearings and other opportunities for citizen input before the decision
is made. Some Council members and the Mayor have tried to kill the
amendments.
Title V of the pending legislation could provide up to 1,000 units of
affordable housing each year. According to the Washington Legal
Coalition for the Homeless and the Fair Budget Coalition, housing trust
funds have been an effective way to create affordable housing in many
cities around the U.S.
The D.C. Statehood Green Party joins other housing advocates in calling
on the Council to honor the following demands:
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Title V must ensure that at least 50% of the
funds are used for people with incomes of $25,000 and less for a
family of four. (30% of the Area Median Income.)
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Title V must ensure that at least 60% of the
funds are used for rental housing. (71% of people with incomes less
than $25,000 pay more than 30% of their income for rent.)
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Title IX must not give the Mayor the power to
tear down buildings where people can live safely. (52,093 households
need assisted housing in D.C. but only 16,251 are receiving it).
"D.C. government has no plan to relocate
families displaced when development begins on 'hot list'
properties," added Ellingston, who plans to attend Tuesday's
rally.
"The D.C. Statehood Green Party's platform and basic principles
assert that local laws must help residents who need housing assistance
and protection, including rent control for D.C.'s many renters as well
as protection for homeowners. Our active support for these amendments
and protections reflects these principles."
"We believe in environmentally sound development and renovation
that sustain our local economy, which are necessary for any thriving
city. We oppose the kind that displaces residents or funnels our
tax money into the hands of exploitative real estate interests, and we
take no contributions from corporate special interests. That's what
distinguishes the D.C. Statehood Green Party from the Democratic and
Republican Parties, whose officials continue to sell out the city to
their corporate campaign backers and business connections."
MORE INFORMATION:
The D.C. Statehood Green Party http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org
Washington Inner City Self-Help: Linda Leaks, (202) 332-8800
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless: Sczerina Perot, (202)
872-0083
END
Contact:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator 202-518-5624, scottmclarty@yahoo.com
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