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jonetta rose barras: Is the DC government violating the Fair Housing Act?
For a group of homeowners in Ward 8’s historic Anacostia neighborhood, the answer to that title question is a resounding “Yes.” They recently filed a housing discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), asserting that the District’s “[Low-Income Housing Tax Credit] program administration, policies, and practices violate the Fair Housing Act by concentrating [LIHTC] projects and units in majority Black neighborhoods and keeping those projects out of White neighborhoods.”
Khari Brown: It’s not too late to fulfill the promise of Brown v. Board of Education
In 1954, my father was one of the first Black students to integrate McKinley Technical High School in DC. There, he received an education of a far higher quality than he ever would have had otherwise, enabling him to become the first college graduate in his family and to provide economic security and opportunities for future generations of our family. As we reflect on the recent 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, it’s disheartening to see that countless schools in DC and around the country are once again functionally segregated.
Niciah Mujahid: DC’s safety net is burning. The council can still save it.
Black, white or brown, across all eight wards, we all want a District that works for and keeps everyone safe, not just the privileged few. Back in March, Mayor Muriel Bowser sent a fiscal year 2025 budget proposal to the DC Council that called for “shared sacrifice” while slashing essential programs without asking anything much of our most well-off residents. To justify this indefensible budget, she tried to divide and scare us into budget cuts that we simply cannot afford and that will leave us less safe. She cut close to a billion dollars, eliminating entire programs from our social services and torching the safety net. Meanwhile, she invested hundreds of millions of dollars in both “downtown recovery” and “public safety” while failing to understand that thriving communities are the root of true safety and economic resilience for DC, and must be where our budget makes its investments.
jonetta rose barras: The short path to ruin in DC
The DC Council gave preliminary approval this week to a $21 billion Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Financial Plan that included dozens of significant adjustments to the proposal submitted in April by Mayor Muriel Bowser. Legislators roundly praised themselves and their staffers for their spending package that reduced cuts or outright restored several social programs — most of them unevaluated — while including more money for public education, among other things.
jonetta rose barras: Will cries for new political leadership in DC’s Ward 8 be answered?
A recent straw poll by the DC Ward 8 Democrats received so much attention on social media, a casual reader may have thought it was a full-on endorsement of candidates running in the June 4 Democratic primary. However, the results meant little, given that fewer than 100 people participated in the Saturday afternoon event.
Amber W. Harding: Council must stop displacement of over 2,000 families from housing
Once again, DC residents are about to be terminated from housing support merely for hitting an arbitrary time limit, regardless of their individual circumstances or needs. But this time, the number of families affected is unprecedented. With little warning, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration has begun terminating over 2,000 families from rapid rehousing — about half the families in the program. This mass displacement will cause significant trauma to the families themselves, and the impact will reverberate throughout our community.
Brandon Best: DC needs a vision — and funding — for math innovation
Math is a fundamental building block for the future. As our world undergoes rapid technological advancements, the ability to understand and apply mathematical concepts has never been more critical. With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies changing the skilled worker landscape, there is a greater need for our educational system to evolve to ensure our students can navigate and succeed.
Artomatic transforms abandoned building into a free artistic oasis
In its latest incarnation, Artomatic once again serves as a beacon of creativity, transforming a vacant building into an artistic hub. From sculptures fashioned from trash in the Potomac to a time-lapse video capturing the Rosslyn skyline, Artomatic demonstrates dynamic, empowering and utterly captivating art that defies traditional form. Running through April 28, Artomatic covers eight floors in a Golden Triangle office building, with the exhibition showcasing the works of over 1,000 artists and performers, ranging from live musical acts to tarot card readings — ensuring there is something to enchant every visitor.
jonetta rose barras: How responsible will DC officials be during this budget cycle?
Finally, DC Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee has decided to close — at least partially — the public’s wallet to Mayor Muriel Bowser and the gang of DC Council spendthrifts. He is demanding that they replenish the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve from which they took money during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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