Q2: Greenleaf Redevelopment

Q: What will you do to ensure that Greenleaf redevelopment remains for low-income residents and all those who live here, while preserving the social diversity of Southwest? Calls for social reform from Black Lives Matter and the Poor People’s Campaign are exactly about the issues of equity and justice that Greenleaf redevelopment raises.

Resident Response

Greenleaf resident and Board member- "Robert White met with us to discuss the need for public housing repairs, so I know him. His response is what I would like to see for Greenleaf. Ed Lazere is also someone that I know will fight hard for low-income residents."

Another Greenleaf resident and Board member - "The responses from the candidates all seem to be pointing in the same direction - Build First, minimize displacement, but I don't see where candidates have applied their understanding of the mechanisms of government to say how exactly they would make this happen." (no preferred response)

⭐ Robert White - We are in desperate need of more housing, but residents are generally distrustful of any redevelopment of public housing because the District has rarely gotten it right. We have seen past projects get delayed, increase cost estimates, or not deliver on their promises to bring back former residents. First, we have to use a build-first approach to make sure residents have stable housing and are not displaced from their neighborhoods. Second, we have to increase the amount of affordable housing any time we redevelop public or low-income housing. We are facing a housing crisis, and we need to build new, affordable housing. Redevelopments can help us create those affordable units, but the city has to do its job of ensuring that we aren’t allowing new projects to get away with building too few affordable units and hundreds of market-rate units that will remain vacant. When we take one step forward, and two steps back, our most vulnerable residents suffer the most harm.

⭐ Ed Lazere - The Southwest-Waterfront neighborhood is home to one of the most racially and economically diverse communities in the city. This historic neighborhood has long insisted that it should maintain its social diversity. As an At-Large DC Council candidate, I fully pledge to support your goals of an array of housing types, family housing, significant investments in affordable housing, and additional mechanisms such as land banking and land trusts. I fully back ensuring a Build First commitment for Greenleaf redevelopment and believe that public housing redevelopment warrants active legislative accountability given its propensity to displace families. Public housing, including Greenleaf, plays an incredibly important role in DC’s affordable housing landscape, as our lowest-barrier affordable housing program which serves a large number of older residents, people with disabilities, and families with children. As a Councilmember, I would require that any infusion of local funds come with requirements that the DC Housing Authority ensure all current tenants the right of return; replace units one for one; engage in “build first” and more.

Christina Henderson - First, I believe the Council should pass the Public Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Amendment Act of 2020 which would require DC Housing Authority (DCHA) to submit its plans to the Council for review. If it is not approved this Council Period, I would certainly support it next year, if elected. Second, it is imperative that DCHA follow through with the “Build First” plan for Greenleaf Gardens. I recognize that DC has yet to successfully do this, but I believe it’s an important step to ensure that current residents do not get mired by ineffective relocation assistance by DCHA. Furthermore, I believe it’s a way to rebuild the trust between DCHA and residents. The ongoing relocation and displacement experiences of former residents of Barry Farm are fresh in a lot of minds. Third, as a Councilmember, I would not support funding or the approval of any plan that not include one-for-one replacement, with the same subsidy levels and number of bedrooms. I understand the DCHA would like for this site to be mixed-income and mixed use, but if we are losing bedrooms through the conversion it makes it much more difficult for current resident families to move to the new units. And finally, I would be dogged in my oversight capacity on this project and others to ensure this project is progressing as planned. This would include regular meetings with DCHA and tenants to hear feedback and try to help resolve communicate issues. I learned from my time as Committee Director for the Committee on Education and 5 years working for DC government that in order for oversight to be effective with DC government agencies it needs to be consistent and persistent. Often times, we have issues of mismanagement of funds or failure to comply with various aspects of DC law because some Councilmembers only engage in oversight during performance oversight time or when an incident happens. That is not enough and if elected my approach would be completely different.

Kathy Henderson - I have always understood that Black Lives Matter and I have a strong record of uplifting my community without displacing existing residents; I served 20 years as a staunch advocate for my community, which is economically diverse. I always voted to include an affordable housing component in every housing development project that I supported with my vote. I will certainly advocate for Greenleaf residents and all D.C. residents. I do not support pushing anyone out of our city and believe we are stronger when everyone can afford to live here and thrive. We CAN create and maintain affordable housing if we elect the right people. I am right for public service, with a strong record of supporting residents.

Will Merrifield - As a councilmember I will organize with Greenleaf tenants and their allies to build a coalition inside and outside the Wilson Building to ensure tenants are not displaced. I will also demand transparency from DCHA regarding the redevelopment plan and ensure there is effective Council oversight over the project. Prior to running for office, I was an attorney at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless for eight years. At the legal clinic, I represented tenant associations at Brookland Manor and Congress Heights going through large scale redevelopment projects. I am the only candidate in this race who has been on the ground with tenants fighting back against displacement. During this time, , I partnered with organizers at Justice First and ONE DC to form an organizing, media and legal strategy to keep long-time tenants in place and fight back against politically connected developments. Residents at Greenleaf should maintain their home and community and I will fight to make sure they are not displaced and be a voice against the privatization of public housing.

Mónica Palacio - We must take aggressive action to enforce rent control laws, invest in permanently affordable housing and provide help for families experiencing great hardship due to COVID-19. Affordable housing is vital and central to ensuring we preserve an inclusive city where workers, families, students and businesses can thrive. Our housing crisis must be turned around and put individuals and families on a road to greater long-term security. I will craft legislation that strengthens and expands rent control.

Marya Pickering - Since 2017, DCHA underwent an audit of each of the 41 sites and over 7,000 units under its stewardship. This process revealed the impacts of years of poor management of our public housing resources. DCHA's recently released Transformation Plan calls for a phased approach to make each of the Authority’s properties livable and self-sufficient. That is certainly a reasonable goal. However, given the CFO's projections for lower revenues for the next two fiscal years, it would be wise to re-visit budget estimates and make plans that will best serve the community. The Mayor and current City Councilmembers have shown by their actions that they do not have the best interests of DC's poorest residents at heart: They consistently cut "sweetheart deals" with developers, such as the Hill East Project, which short-change low-income residents. As your Councilmember, I would work with Neighborhood Associations and existing City agencies to make common-sense, affordable plans for properly housing our low-income residents.

Ann Wilcox - It is important that Southwest DC remain the diverse, vibrant neighborhood that it is! Greenleaf redevelopment plans should ensure that current residents are allowed to remain long-term, and that affordable housing options increase in Greenleaf. In addition, other housing development plans in Southwest (and Navy Yard) should enforce inclusionary zoning and affordable housing requirements.

Chander Jayaraman did not provide a specific answer on Greenleaf redevelopment, but addressed other questions as indicated below.

Q3: Support Banning Use of Tear Gas?

Will you pass a ban on the use of tear gas in the District? (Do not support use of tear gas ⭐)

⭐ Christina Henderson - I would support a ban on the use of tear gas in the District. The use of tear gas, and all other chemical weapons, in warfare was prohibited by the Geneva Protocol of 1925. Why then should it be allowed to be deployed against civilians, who are in most cases peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights?

Kathy Henderson - I support protecting my constituents, officers and city infrastructure from those that seek to riot and cause us harm and grievous injury. I will never stand on the sidelines while rioters destroy our city. Using tear gas to disperse out of control destructive crowds is a non lethal way to protect lives and property. No, I would not support a ban on tear gas.

⭐ Chander Jayaraman - I am in favor of banning the use of tear gas and other chemical agents on peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment rights. I recently hosted a city-wide Town Hall on Re-imagining Policing. I convened ANC Commissioners from across the city and invited the Deputy Chief of Police, the DC NAACP, city council members, and the Deputy Mayor to discuss how policing is currently experienced by our diverse neighborhoods, what policing would like if we got it right, and some of the steps we’ll have to take to get there, one critical component of which is rebuilding trust between our officers and our communities. You can view the recording at https://chander2020.com/policing.

⭐ Ed Lazere - Yes.

⭐ Will Merrifield - Yes.

⭐ Mónica Palacio - Yes, I support D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s bill that prohibits the D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department from using “chemical irritants” to disperse protesters.

Maya Pickering - No. In these dangerous times, I would not want to limit options available to MPD and our law enforcement professionals to appropriately combat dangerous and destructive evildoers.

⭐ Robert White - Yes. I co-introduced both the Internationally Banned Chemical Weapon Prohibition Act, the permanent legislation to ban the use of tear gas, and the emergency amendment in the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act that placed a temporary ban until the permanent legislation passes.

⭐ Ann Wilcox - Yes, in June the City Council passed the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act of 2020, which among other provisions, prohibits the use of tear gas, pepper spray, riot gear, rubber bullets and stun grenades by MPD (or federal police while on non-federal land) in response to First Amendment protests. This reform legislation should be made permanent, and further policing reforms considered.

Q4: Meaning of "Great Weight"?

Q: Can you explain what precisely “great weight” means regarding ANC approval/disapproval of development projects? What plans do you have to make jobs from opportunity grants available to working age youth of color, particularly affected by the gentrification and COVID-19 restructuring?

Christina Henderson - In the short-term, I would promote the work of DC’s ReEngagement Center (REC) with businesses that have received opportunity grants. Sometimes employers will say they cannot find youth of color who want to work in certain industries. Well, the REC’s whole purpose is to serve 16-24-year-olds who had dropped out of high school and are now getting back on track with education and employment. In the long-term, I believe that the Council needs to make updates to the First Source law to close loopholes, provide meaningful oversight, and ensure that District residents are receiving the training necessary to be successful in securing jobs coming to DC. The Council also needs to be more of a strategic partner in ensuring the success and longevity of the University of the District of Columbia, which also includes the community college. Local institutions and community colleges are essential to providing access to higher education and training for anyone who desires it, growing the local economy, and helping to curb income inequality.

Kathy Henderson - I support the Summer Youth Employment Plan and will do my part to ensure continued funding from as many sources as possible, including local funds, Federal funding and private funding and grants. Giving our children an opportunity to experience the workforce is a productive rite of passage.

Chander Jayaraman - I view every crane in DC as an opportunity to put people to work in good-paying jobs. My years directing the Latin American Youth Center’s YouthBuild program taught me the importance of introducing young people, particularly young people of color, to ALL their career options. I also learned that we can’t ask young people of color to choose between training for good jobs and putting food on their families’ tables. We must provide paid job training, so they can prepare for their futures while also caring for their families.

Ed Lazere - The District’s future depends on investing in our youth and helping them create paths to a full adulthood, including employment. We need to do a much better job of identifying the industries and occupations that are expanding in the city, especially those that create living wage jobs without requiring an advance degree. The District should do more to partner with employers and unions to reach out to youth and offer occupation-specific training and then hold local employers accountable for hiring DC residents. One of the saddest, worst comments I heard over and over again from DC residents is that they got training but then didn’t get a job. We must turn that around.

Will Merrifield - My social housing plan includes a New Deal-style investment in public infrastructure construction of affordable homes. Similar to President Roosevelt’s initiatives such as TVA and others, I plan to put people back to work through and after the pandemic while simultaneously beginning the process of creating truly affordable housing for all DC residents.

Mónica Palacio - We must use trusted intermediaries to reach young people and young adults of color and I will fund non-profit organizations with a track record of success providing career readiness programs. There are already great programs and school’s in place that provide opportunities for young people to succeed in the job market, however, a lot of those programs are centered in the northern parts of the District. Through funding and advocacy, I will ensure that those programs and those schools reach young people in some of the most vulnerable communities in the southern part of the city.

Maya Pickering - As mentioned earlier, I would work to institute a strong vocational/technical training track so that young people who choose not to go on to junior college or college can graduate from high school with the ability to support themselves. Unfortunately, the Mayor's recent "Infrastructure Academy" targets a demographic over 19 years old. This is too little, too late. Despite the COVID shutdowns, there will continue to be opportunities in many sectors of our service economy where young people can earn a good living: HVAC maintenance, landscape and natural resource management, and the personal care industry, to name a few.

Robert White - Great weight on ANC approval/disapproval of developments means that ANCs are supposed to receive notice of a project and have the opportunity to send formal recommendations. The Commission can discuss and vote on the recommendations at its public meeting. From there, the agency or entity is required to provide the ANC with an official, written response to the recommendations. This is a local accountability measure.

In 2019, to expand ANC great weight authority, I introduced the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Participation in Planning Amendment Act to give ANCs great weight in amending the Comprehensive Plan, which is the framework that guides future development. I also co-introduced a bill written by Councilmember Brianne Nadeau to give legal and negotiation assistance to Commissions as they work through development proposals.

Ann Wilcox - Youth from the affected neighborhoods should be given PRIORITY for these jobs; they should have these opportunities even if they have had earlier juvenile criminal involvement. Youth need to be given a second chance, and every opportunity to escape the limits of their neighborhoods.to keeping DC’s racial and ethnic diversity, to ending homelessness, and to ensuring DC stops being the worst city in the nation in terms of displacement of Black residents. Through my work leading the DC Fiscal Policy Institute over the past two decades, I have contributed to numerous budget and policy successes in affordable housing, including ensuring DC’s Housing Production Trust Fund targets DCs’s lowest income families; creating DC’s Local Rent Supplement Program; creating and strengthening DC’s Inclusionary Zoning program; and creating legislation mandating that any DC land disposed of for housing have specific affordable housing set-asides. As a Council member, I would push to support these tools and expand tools that create permanently affordable housing. The District has supported creation of limited equity coops in the past but that support has been limited in recent years. I support the community land trust model because it creates zones of permanently affordable housing that can keep residents in their communities and slow the spread of gentrification. And I would work to support growth of the social housing model, which means housing developments that create permanent affordability and strong democratic rights of tenants to make decisions over their homes.

Q5: Youth Employment

What plans do you have to make jobs from opportunity grants available to working age youth of color, particularly affected by the gentrification and COVID-19 restructuring?

Christina Henderson - In the short-term, I would promote the work of DC’s ReEngagement Center (REC) with businesses that have received opportunity grants. Sometimes employers will say they cannot find youth of color who want to work in certain industries. Well, the REC’s whole purpose is to serve 16-24-year-olds who had dropped out of high school and are now getting back on track with education and employment. In the long-term, I believe that the Council needs to make updates to the First Source law to close loopholes, provide meaningful oversight, and ensure that District residents are receiving the training necessary to be successful in securing jobs coming to DC. The Council also needs to be more of a strategic partner in ensuring the success and longevity of the University of the District of Columbia, which also includes the community college. Local institutions and community colleges are essential to providing access to higher education and training for anyone who desires it, growing the local economy, and helping to curb income inequality.

Kathy Henderson - I support the Summer Youth Employment Plan and will do my part to ensure continued funding from as many sources as possible, including local funds, Federal funding and private funding and grants. Giving our children an opportunity to experience the workforce is a productive rite of passage.

Chander Jayaraman - I view every crane in DC as an opportunity to put people to work in good-paying jobs. My years directing the Latin American Youth Center’s YouthBuild program taught me the importance of introducing young people, particularly young people of color, to ALL their career options. I also learned that we can’t ask young people of color to choose between training for good jobs and putting food on their families’ tables. We must provide paid job training, so they can prepare for their futures while also caring for their families.

Ed Lazere - The District’s future depends on investing in our youth and helping them create paths to a full adulthood, including employment. We need to do a much better job of identifying the industries and occupations that are expanding in the city, especially those that create living wage jobs without requiring an advance degree. The District should do more to partner with employers and unions to reach out to youth and offer occupation-specific training and then hold local employers accountable for hiring DC residents. One of the saddest, worst comments I heard over and over again from DC residents is that they got training but then didn’t get a job. We must turn that around.

Will Merrifield - My social housing plan includes a New Deal-style investment in public infrastructure construction of affordable homes. Similar to President Roosevelt’s initiatives such as TVA and others, I plan to put people back to work through and after the pandemic while simultaneously beginning the process of creating truly affordable housing for all DC residents.

Mónica Palacio - We must use trusted intermediaries to reach young people and young adults of color and I will fund non-profit organizations with a track record of success providing career readiness programs. There are already great programs and school’s in place that provide opportunities for young people to succeed in the job market, however, a lot of those programs are centered in the northern parts of the District. Through funding and advocacy, I will ensure that those programs and those schools reach young people in some of the most vulnerable communities in the southern part of the city.

Maya Pickering - As mentioned earlier, I would work to institute a strong vocational/technical training track so that young people who choose not to go on to junior college or college can graduate from high school with the ability to support themselves. Unfortunately, the Mayor's recent "Infrastructure Academy" targets a demographic over 19 years old. This is too little, too late. Despite the COVID shutdowns, there will continue to be opportunities in many sectors of our service economy where young people can earn a good living: HVAC maintenance, landscape and natural resource management, and the personal care industry, to name a few.

Robert White - Black and Brown youth and their families have undoubtedly been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, in addition to the disparities present before the pandemic. While I’m not certain which specific grant this question is referring to, I closely monitor our efforts to engage Black and Brown youth with all available workforce programs. As a very active member of the Labor Committee, I conduct oversight over the Department of Employment Services. The question I always ask is: how are these programs getting people who need work into careers?

We have sadly seen too many youth involved in or become victims to violence in the District in the last few years. We should not lose sight of the fact that people with steady careers tend not to commit violent crimes. So, we must prioritize supporting programs that will help youth learn and develop career skills and benefit from career options.

Ann Wilcox - Youth from the affected neighborhoods should be given PRIORITY for these jobs; they should have these opportunities even if they have had earlier juvenile criminal involvement. Youth need to be given a second chance, and every opportunity to escape the limits of their neighborhoods.

Q6: ANC Influence over Development

Does the ANC have influence over developments in the neighborhood? What is the role of ANCs in development projects?

Christina Henderson - I do believe ANCs have influence over some types of developments in the neighborhood. For example, ANCs have great influence in developments that are part of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process, which allows developers to work with communities to add additional density to projects beyond what is allowed by the zoning code in exchange for amenities like affordable housing and improved public space. Unfortunately, fewer developers are choosing to engage in the PUD process due to a litany of recent legal challenges and delays – this is something I want to improve as a Councilmember. As a Councilmember, I would push the Mayor’s Office to work more closely with ANCs at the start of development projects (ie., when siting and determining scope), especially when it involves District-owned land. ANCs have a good pulse on community needs, and historically have been strong advocates against displacement. Southwest has changed dramatically since I last lived there in 2013 and it is unfortunate that longtime residents have not had a significant voice the development. This needs to change if as a city we want to promote equity.

Kathy Henderson - Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners rightfully have a voice in development projects on behalf of their constituents. The ANC's are your voice and you should ensure your representative is aware of your thoughts regarding any project coming to your community. I always facilitated community meetings with my constituents to capture their views and input.

Chander Jayaraman - I’ve served as an elected ANC commissioner in Ward 6 for eight years. Commissioners are the closest to the people and have the pulse of their communities. Too often, DC agencies skirt existing regulations and ignore the thoughtful comments and feedback provided by ANC Commissions. As your next city council member, I will ensure that DC agencies are held responsible, and that your thoughts and opinions get the respect they deserve. Agencies must respond, with specificity, about any decisions they make that are counter to the official vote of the affected ANCs. ANCs must play a primary role in all development projects, particularly any projects that seek greater density than regulations allow (PUD). I believe our local ANCs are the right entities to negotiate for public benefits associated with development. For instance, Ward 6 does not currently have an Adult Day Center for our seniors. I worked with my fellow commissioners to reject a 900-unit development on the SW waterfront until the developer agreed to work with us to meet the needs of seniors in our community. The result was that the developer agreed to provide funding to help our community secure the first Adult Day Center for our seniors in all of Ward 6.

Ed Lazere - The ANC should have great weight over development projects. As noted above, ANCs should have support and resources from the District to help them assess projects proposed in their community and compare those projects against a baseline of other projects in the city. That would enable ANCs to have informed positions and the ability to fight for developments and community benefit agreements that truly serve the community. In particular, ANCs should have access to technical assistance to negotiate community benefit agreements, including information on the CBAs negotiated for other projects, for comparison.

Will Merrifield - Yes, the ANC has influence because their opinion is given great weight. I think it is essential that community members that are anti-displacement run for ANC to exercise this influence in a positive way. In SW DC this would mean preserving public housing and opposing the giving away of public money to politically connected developers to build luxury units that working class people cannot afford.

Mónica Palacio - I believe ANC’s were created to be an important voice for communities across the District. While they don’t hold any immediate power over the priorities or investments made by District agencies, they are an important vehicle of keeping residents informed and mobilizing a response to planning processes and final decisions of those agencies.

Maya Pickering - The ANC structure and process is a form of governance most closely aligned with the needs of specific neighborhoods, the so-called "single member districts." As such, their input on proposed development projects deserves to be seriously considered.

Robert White - ANCs can play an important role in development projects built in their communities. Commissioners are usually in direct communication with their constituents and their Ward councilmember about proposed projects. Developers generally present project plans and updates at ANC meetings, giving commissioners a chance to ask questions and give feedback. Often, ANCs work with developers and the communities they represent to amend development plans and make sure it fits into and benefits their community. During my first term, I’ve worked with ANCs when they’ve had concerns about potential contracts, construction timelines, or even noise concerns. I have also written and supported legislation to give ANCs more tools to influence projects and negotiate with developers.

Ann Wilcox - ANC’s are to have “great weight” in considering PUD’s, community benefits agreements and related plans. ANC members should pass resolutions, testify at Zoning Commission hearings – and most important, their views should be taken into account as plans are finalized. If they are not considered, the ANC should seek Court review of the agency actions.

Q7: Prioritize Land Trust and Coops?

Will you prioritize community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, social housing, and worker cooperatives?

Christina Henderson - Yes, I’m especially interested in community land trusts. As a Councilmember, I would champion DC creating a land trust that would provide affordable, permanent homeownership opportunities to moderate and low-income households. The home and land costs in certain parts of the city have made the barrier to entry too high for many residents. DC government engaging in shared-equity homeownership provides access and builds on our goals for housing equity.

Kathy Henderson - I have supported limited equity cooperatives and will explore other ways to provide affordable housing and opportunity to D.C. residents of elected to the Council.

Ed Lazere - Preserving and expanding the supply of affordable housing is central to keeping DC’s racial and ethnic diversity, to ending homelessness, and to ensuring DC stops being the worst city in the nation in terms of displacement of Black residents. Through my work leading the DC Fiscal Policy Institute over the past two decades, I have contributed to numerous budget and policy successes in affordable housing, including ensuring DC’s Housing Production Trust Fund targets DCs’s lowest income families; creating DC’s Local Rent Supplement Program; creating and strengthening DC’s Inclusionary Zoning program; and creating legislation mandating that any DC land disposed of for housing have specific affordable housing set-asides. As a Council member, I would push to support these tools and expand tools that create permanently affordable housing. The District has supported creation of limited equity coops in the past but that support has been limited in recent years. I support the community land trust model because it creates zones of permanently affordable housing that can keep residents in their communities and slow the spread of gentrification. And I would work to support growth of the social housing model, which means housing developments that create permanent affordability and strong democratic rights of tenants to make decisions over their homes.

Will Merrifield - Yes, I am specifically running on a social housing platform based on the model in Vienna Austria. If properly scaled, the Vienna model would create non-means tested mixed-income affordable housing available at 30% of a household's income that pays for itself. As an attorney at the Legal Clinic I have been on the record for years supporting limited equity co-ops and land trusts as well. I believe the only way to achieve housing as a human right is through the decommodification of housing.

Mónica Palacio - Yes, these are all effective strategies for preserving and creating more affordable housing.

Maya Pickering - As your Councilmember, I will prioritize common-sense, fair solutions that serve the best interests of our residents.

Robert White - Yes. Housing has been a top policy focus for me. Last year, as board chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, I led regional elected officials in a commitment to build 320,000 new housing units over the next ten years, with the vast majority of those housing options affordable to people with low and middle incomes, but I have also been pushing hard of the District to think outside the box, like converting older, underutilized apartment buildings into workforce and low-income housing.

With the out of control cost of housing, we are in desperate need for more tools to help people own housing. Land trusts, limited equity co-ops, and worker cooperatives are just the tools we need to be investing in.

Ann Wilcox - Yes, community land trust plans must be fully funded; in addition, TOPA (tenant opportunity to purchase) and other existing laws which promote home-ownership should be supported. We should also consider social housing, which works in European cities.

Q8: Defining Community Benefits for Development

Who should determine the community public benefit associated with a development? There are plans for a new community center in Southwest, but many feel that this is the pet project of a few.

Christina Henderson - Currently, the community public benefit agreements in the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process is negotiated primarily between ANC’s and developers. In general, I do think those are the appropriate parties, except when the project is a redevelopment of an existing residential building/community. For those projects, existing tenants should very much be at the table in determining any community benefits. There have long been conversations about the need to put some guard rails on the community benefit possibilities to ensure that the community benefit is long-term and that the community writ large would broadly be impacted. I support proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan that emphasizes that affordable housing and prevention of displacement of existing residents should be the primary community benefit in PUD deals.

Kathy Henderson - Community benefits should be discussed with residents and their ANC representatives and other elected representatives. I support community benefit agreements and have facilitated meetings with my constituents to obtain their input. I respect developers that want to support the community and uplift the community with green space, trees, training and meeting space, jobs and amenities. When developers actually partner with the community, goodwill, mutual opportunity and strong projects are the result.

Ed Lazere - Community benefit agreements should be developed with recognized community partners. Every community organization that has a stake in the project should be allowed to offer input. And ultimately there should be broad community agreement that the entity/entities negotiating and signing the CBA have the backing of the community.

Will Merrifield - The Community itself must determine what is a community benefit. The only way for the Community to do that is to engage at the ANC level and in the zoning process. I know this can be very demoralizing because often the zoning commission is working on behalf of developers. However, if people elect local leaders who champion housing policies that take power away from developers (like my social housing platform) and take back control of government through active civic participation we can build a truly inclusive and equitable Washington DC.

Mónica Palacio - The voices of diverse stakeholders in a community are the ones that should decide what the true benefits are to that community.

Maya Pickering - As mentioned in answer to a previous question, our unique ANC structure and process support governance most closely aligned with the needs of specific neighborhoods, the so-called "single member districts." As such, their input on proposed development projects deserves to be seriously considered. It is unfortunate that the proposed new community center in Southwest appears to be the "pet project of a few", similar to examples in other neighborhoods cited above. As your At-Large Councilmember, I would work with neighborhood associations and local stakeholders to provide sensible solutions that best serve our residents in each Ward.

Robert White - I have had concerns with the community benefits agreement program for many years. The process of a community benefit agreement should be inclusive of the entire affected community and should be approved by the entire affected Commission or Commissions. The reason that I ran for Council the first time because I was watching my hometown change around me; my family members were getting displaced, businesses that I grew up around were closing, and everyday people were getting left behind. We need to ensure that community members have a seat at the table and feel empowered to voice their needs. DC is unique, in that we have a very engaged constituency with great talent and good intentions, but if we are not inclusive, especially on the hyper local level, we will see changes in our community that do not benefit all residents.

Ann Wilcox - The King-Greenleaf Recreation Center seems to be a success, but additional community or recreation facilities should be considered. The ANC’s should have hearings, to gather a broad range of views of Southwest residents on the need for further facilities.

Q9: Digital Divide

Q: DCPS students are suffering greatly from the digital divide: lack of computer and Internet access. What policies and budget priorities are you going to implement to address this?

Resident Response - Thank you for your responses regarding my digital divide question. Based on the responses, I have several specific "asks": implement a Reducing the Digital Divide program by end of 2022 to establish a 1:1 student to computer/tablet ratio and to fund a public WiFi grid for the entire District, so that every DCPS student is walking distance within a HotSpot. (No preferred responses.)

Christina Henderson - Even when we are not in the midst of a global pandemic, I believe that all DC students should have access to a computer device and reliable broadband internet. Our students should not have to hover outside the library or McDonald’s to get access to internet afterhours. As a Councilmember, I would push for 1:1 devices for all students and that the city finally address the internet connectivity inequities across the city which would not only improve students’ educational experience, but also their families. We need to invest in municipal broadband, which hopefully, would bring down the costs for all residents.

Kathy Henderson - It is a matter of priorities. I began my public service career by helping children improve their reading skills in 16 of the District's neediest schools. Giving our children the tools they need to succeed is essential to growing productive adults. I raised a beautiful daughter who attended D.C. Public Schools, is trained as a biologist and is the youngest elected representative in the city's history. I want the same educational success for all of our children; I will ensure that our budget prioritizes providing computers and books and education resources for all of our children attending D.C Public Schools.

Chander Jayaraman - On the first day of school, I recorded a video about my concerns related to virtual schooling, access to technology, and the digital divide. I believe we have a unique opportunity to fundamentally change the way education works in DC. A hybrid model, in-person learning combined with technology at home, can help us close the opportunity gap in DC and raise the educational achievement of all our students. But this will only happen if we provide equitable access to the tools they need to succeed. As an emergency planner for 18 years, I worked on DC’s pandemic plan and currently help child care centers to reopen safely, so I know what we need to do to prepare to reopen our schools.

Ed Lazere - During my campaign this year, I joined the Digital Equity in DC Education coalition to call for $11 million to the FY 2021 budget for technology. But the Mayor and Council did not, putting pressure on private organizations to fill the gap and leaving many students unprepared for the start of the school year. This problem was exacerbated by a lack of transparency and accountability on the part of DCPS, which for months said everything was fine but then commissioned a survey showing 60 percent of families needed help. Going forward. We must demand transparency from DCPS and a true partnership with families to identify and address students’ technology needs.

Will Merrifield - DCPS plainly suffers because education funds have been funneled to charter schools for decades to the detriment of traditional public schools. In order to begin to close the digital divide, we have to eliminate charter schools that benefit only certain students and re-invest in a public school system that makes sure every student has a chance at success. Part of that reinvestment needs to include expanding access to the internet and making sure every student has the materials and devices they need in order to keep up with their classmates.

Mónica Palacio - Over the last 25 years, we have struggled to make improvements for all children in our schools. While we have made some progress, that progress has not been received by children East of the River. I will introduce and support legislation that will create funding to close the education gap. Closing that gap means; funding for more resources, technology, and after-school programs. For our students to succeed, we need to invest and ensure that all students have access to free internet, devices, software, and the appropriate online learning platforms.

Maya Pickering - As your Councilmember, I intend to work to raise our high school graduation rates to 90% and implement a vigorous vocational/technical program at the high school level to address the needs of students who may not continue to 2 or 4 year institutions of higher education. The digital divide is certainly a problem for many families. We understand that DCPS is working to make computer and internet access more available as our schools continue in a "distance learning" mode. Availability of computers and internet access is only the first step, and one that can be helped by our excellent public library system, where such resources are readily available when libraries are fully open. The other components for student success are appropriate guidance from parents and teachers, together with a strong, age-appropriate curriculum to help students use this technology.

Robert White - The digital divide disproportionately affects families of color in DC. I began working with parents in Southwest and other parts of the city long before the Covid-19 pandemic to get students more access to computers. Had we taken this more seriously, we would have been more prepared to get computers to students when we had to switch to distance learning. Since the pandemic started, I’ve been fighting to get computers and internet access to all students that needed it. While the city is on track to do this, parents have been left in the dark, and thousands of students did not have a computer and/or internet access on the first day of school. This was avoidable. Right now, Councilmembers don’t receive enough information from our education agencies. That is an issue I have been fighting since the day I joined the Council, and I’ve introduced legislation to have an independent entity collect the data that we need to be able to make better and more equitable budget decisions. I remain committed to fighting for the information that we need to address issues like the digital divide, opportunity gap, and family resources.

Ann Wilcox - Public-private partnerships must be forged, to bridge the short-term need for digital devices, Wi-fi and “hot spots,” so that all DCPS students can be successful during COVID restrictions. Over the long term, money should be budgeted to ensure that all students have devices and technology to work digitally - even if they are physically back in school.

Q10: Keeping Children Safe

Q: How can we better keep our children safe? There are a lot of sex offenders in the area.

Resident Response - I felt that Robert White and Christina Henderson provided the most details.

⭐Christina Henderson - As a Councilmember, I would invest additional funding in the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, whose whole mission is to foster community-based strategies to help prevent violence and increase public safety. They have seen impact with initiatives like their Pathways Program and we need to double down on their work and provide them with a budget that allows them to make significant subgrants to violence interrupter organizations. I also want to invest more in support roles in schools like guidance counselors, social workers and school psychologists. The more trusted adults around young people with the time and capacity to talk and engage, the more likely kids will feel comfortable alerting adults to behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

⭐Robert White - As the father of two young daughters, I know that as parents we want to keep our children safe and play safely in our neighborhoods. Nationally, we continue to see too many gaps in sex offender registration requirements. We have to work with our courts and federal agencies to tighten registration requirements and to make sure that we don’t lose track of registered sex offenders.

Kathy Henderson - Parents are the first line of defense. Building and maintaining strong relationships with our officers is essential. Over the years our officers have done an excellent job of providing safe passage for our children to and from school. School personnel must be trained to recognize anomalies that endanger our children. We must hold sex offenders accountable and those that engage in domestic violence and other crimes against children and families. We definitely should not legalize prostitution, which would give cover to those that sexually exploit children.

Ed Lazere - In the short term, we must do more to follow up and investigate on every report of possible child sexual abuse. We must provide rigorous ongoing training to mandatory reporters to ensure they are prepared to identify possible cases. In the long-term, DC must address its highly dysfunctional behavioral health system to ensure that every DC resident has access to quality mental health services.

Will Merrifield - Keeping children and families safe should always be a top priority for all levels of government. To me, safety starts with communities that are understanding and inclusive. Through my plans for social housing, reinvesting in public education, and ensuring living-wage employment are a start to creating safe communities.

Mónica Palacio - It has now been 3 years since we first sparked nation-wide attention due to the number of missing Black and Brown girls in the District. As a mother, the safety of my child is something that concerns me every day. We have heard from community members that authorities often assume missing children of color are runaways rather than victims of abduction. We need to start listening to the concerns of our communities, investigating and making changes where they need to happen to ensure the safety of our children.

Maya Pickering - There is no substitute for parental care and appropriate supervision of our children. It is unfortunate that dangers are everywhere in our world. Our families, teachers, and caregivers need to exercise caution and diligence in protecting our children from harm.

Ann Wilcox - Community members, ANC leaders and others should work closely with MPD and other authorities to ensure that sex offenders are registered and monitored, as the law requires. “Safe passage” to and from school is critical, in every neighborhood, and the community should support these efforts.

Chander Jayaraman did not provide a specific answer to this question.

Non-Responsive Campaigns

Michangelo Scruggs sent a file type that could not be opened and did not respond to our request for a text alternative. Marcus Goodwin acknowledged our request for comment via Twitter "like", but did not provide responses within the timeframe. Only after we tweeted that his campaign put up many signs in Southwest and did not respond, did he belatedly send his request, which was rejected to be fair to other candidates. The following candidates did not respond: Claudia Barragan, Calvin H. Gurley, Joseph Henchman, A'Shia Howard, Jeanné Lewis, Rick Murphree, Vincent Orange, Alexander M. Padro, Eric Rogers, and Keith Silver.