At-large council candidates debate housing issues at the Oct. 20th forum.
Noticeably absent were Councilmembers Bonds and McDuffie. Both are running for the two at-large council seats up for grabs this year. All other candidates attended.
MEDIA RELEASE
For Release: Immediately
Contact: (202) 288-1921
TONIGHT
HEAR THE JOINT TENAC-WPFW (WeActRadio) AT-LARGE COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM
ON WPFW RADIO 89.3 FM, from 5 PM - 7PM
This is a re-broadcast of the Oct. 20th Forum;
TENAC will be issuing our endorsements for the November elections soon. TENAC will endorse the candidates that we believe will best promote tenants' rights, affordable housing, and rent control, and indeed, all housing rights. Among our criteria will be those candidates we believe will help remedy the homeless crisis and DCHA's scandalous mismanagement, corruption, and lack of oversight.
RECAP of THE DETAILS:
Moderators asked the candidates about their positions on the current problems facing affordable housing, tenants’ rights and rent control, such as:
- The DCHA scandal brewing as reported by HUD, including the mismanagement, negligence, gross overpayment of rents to landlords, and more; for reference, see DCist Article on DCHA Scandal
- The destruction of rent control by re-directing voucher holders to rent control housing for exorbitant landlord profits. Such a “policy” has caused almost 2000 units of public housing to lie vacant – that’s 2000 to perhaps 4000 voucher holders left unhoused to help landlord pockets;
- Stopping the mayor from waiving affordable housing requirements mandated in the law. Affordable housing is, ironically, required in the law. But the mayor then regularly "waives" these requirements, claiming she has the authority to do so. In truth, the law requires that affordable housing be built; for example, a certain percentage of new housing is required to be built for residents having 0 to 30 percent of the average DC area income (families with zero to about $40K a year income); a certain amount is to be set aside for families having 30 to 50 percent DC area income (families having about $40K to $60K incomes); etc., etc. But the mayor regularly waives these requirements despite having no explicit legal authority to do so. This is not really legal yet remains unchallenged in the courts. For more details and the failure of DC's compliance with the law, see The Washington City Paper report, Auditor Publishes Damning Report on DC Housing and the actual The DC Auditor's report, DC Auditor's Report;
- The comprehensive reform of rent control to promote and increase affordable housing. This includes the expansion of rent control to newer buildings (currently rent control applies only to building built prior to 1976);
- The audacity of all actors - - the council, mayor, regulatory agencies, developers and landlords - - claiming (one of the mayor's major talking points), that they have funded millions and billions for affordable housing. In reality, luxury and high-end housing is being built. How is this legal? Partly because the law has been twisted to allow high end housing to be labeled as affordable. Partly because the mayor usurps her legal authority by waiving affordability requirements for developments. No one is fooled, except perhaps the public, who never hears these facts from the mainstream (developer/corporate funded) media and the politicians.
HEAR THE CANDIDATES' ANSWERS!
