13 minute read
DUNBAR
BUYING OR SELLING A HOME?
CALL TODAY!
McClure Team
DEBORAH D. BODDIE
GRI, Broker Probate Specialist
202-288-0255 deborah-boddie.remax.com 220 7th Street, SE Washington DC, 20003
Become a Published Author with Dorrance. We want to read your book!
Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true. Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true.
Complete Book Publishing Services
FIVE EASY STEPS TO PUBLICATION:
1. Consultation 2. Book Production 3. Promotion 4. Distribution 5. Merchandising and Fulfillment
Call now to receive your FREE Author’s Guide 877-420-7280
or www.dorranceinfo.com/informer DUNBAR from Page 1
of Human Rights.
Like other Ethiopian and Eritrean residents at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments, Merin alleges that the property management charges them rent significantly higher than what they’re obligated to pay. Another complaint concerns management’s failure to provide him with a copy of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Residents Rights and Responsibilities brochure or an on-site bilingual building manager.
“They’re not accommodating us properly and they discriminate against us. When I fell [in my bathroom] and was taken by ambulance, they were laughing instead of looking at me as a human,” Merin said. “When I was in the hospital, they were charging me rent [even though] I wasn’t getting a paycheck. And they didn’t give me any compensation [for my fall]. They don’t care about us.”
Residents Organize for Transparency and Proper Facility Upgrades
The Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments, located on 15th Street near the U Street corridor, houses residents 62 years and older, many of whom have a fixed income. Amenities at the high-rise apartment include a balcony, breakfast bar, fitness center, business center and community room.
More than a decade ago, residents of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments utilized their rights, as outlined in the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), to secure ownership of their apartment complex when Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners had been contracted for a wide-scale renovation project.
Through this arrangement, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners and the residents shared 1% ownership. HUD also extended the Section 9 housing contract for 20 additional years, while the District government provided a 40-year property tax abatement.
A contingent of residents would later form the 2001 15th Street Tenants Association in response what they described as an attempt by Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners to wrestle ownership from the Paul Laurence Dunbar Residents Association.
Since the inception of the 2001 15th Street Tenant Association, the group, led by resident Glenda Richmond, has endeavored to hold Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners and residential property management company WinnCompanies, accountable to residents.
Richmond and others allege Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners misused federal funds allocated toward the renovation of Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments. While they acknowledge upgrades made on the outside of the property and in the common areas, residents continue to complain about rodent infestation, cracks and holes in the walls, water damage that has decayed wood, and failure to fix appliances.
Last November, the 2001 15th Street Tenants Association demanded that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the D.C. Council investigate the Department of Housing and Com-
5 Residents at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments in Northwest continue to complain about rodent infestation, cracks and holes in the walls, water damage that has decayed wood, and failure to fix appliances. (Courtesy photo)
munity Development (DHCD) for what they described as its failure to hold building managers accountable.
A DHCD representative said the housing compliance officer responded to tenants’ complaints by sharing information about agencies that could be of assistance to them.
The tenant association’s other demands focused on WinnCompanies. Residents said they want WinnCompanies to hire a certified professional of occupancy, community outreach personnel and an assistant office manager who are fluent in English, Amharic and Tigrinya. They also demanded proper training of on-site management, including in their use of the HUD Handbook; copies of relevant paperwork, including HUD brochure, notice of rent increases, and information related to the certification of maintenance workers.
Richmond, a resident at Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartment for more than a decade, started this particular crusade in the aftermath of a fire during the summer of 2020 that claimed two elderly lives and injured and displaced dozens of residents.
Displaced residents who spoke to The Informer on the condition of anonymity said they hadn’t been provided with another apartment for months.
The head of the tenant association also alleges that Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners didn’t compensate affected residents with the insurance payouts
DUNBAR Page 40
Ex-Ballou Principal Set to Enter Ward 8 Council Race in 2024
James Wright WI Staff Writer
Rahman Branch, the former principal at Ballou High School and ex-executive director of the Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs, is almost certain to run for the Democratic nomination for the Ward 8 D.C. Council seat in 2024.
“People in the community have approached me about making the race,” Branch told the Informer on Jan. 15. “I am seriously considering doing that. Right now, I am not seeing the outcomes I want to see in the ward. As the councilmember, I want to be a part of the solution.”
Salim Adofo, the chair of the 8C advisory neighborhood commission, declared his candidacy for the Ward 8 council position in December. D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) has not revealed his plans publicly on whether he will seek re-election in 2024.
Branch served on the faculty of Ballou from 2005-2014. His tenure as the principal started in 2008 and ended in 2014. Branch said as the principal, test scores increased by 20% in three years, decreased school violence by 60% and reduced suspensions by 30%. He said enhanced parental and community engagement led to a school modernization plan for Ballou that added tens of millions of dollars from the initial allotment of $8 million.
As the leader of the city’s African American Affairs Office from 20152019, Branch said he wanted to make sure that Black residents felt comfortable in the place once deemed “Chocolate City.” He pushed for city government policies that addressed such concerns as affordable housing, jobs and education. Plus, Branch chaired the Committee for Equity and Access in all neighborhoods as part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative and worked with the Urban Institute to publish the State of Black DC, a report on the status of African Americans in the city.
He presently works as an educational consultant.
Branch said he sees public safety, health and education as challenges for many Ward 8 residents. He said the outcomes in those areas can change if ideas from the community are considered, relationships with city leaders are fostered and residents get behind the need for change.
The former leader of the mayoral office said he doesn’t offer Ward 8 voters the traditional political leader resume of having served as an advisory neighborhood commissioner or some other elected office or volunteered as an officer in the Ward 8 Democrats.
“I have served in the mayor’s office,” he said. “As the former principal of Ballou as well as other educational positions, I know what is going on in the community and what its needs are.”
Branch said he won’t hesitate to reach out to Ward 8 residents west of the Anacostia River in the Navy Yard neighborhood. He also spoke of being humble as the ward’s council member.
“I am not running to be the king of Ward 8,” Branch said. “I don’t have all of the answers. I want to make things better for the people we want to serve.”
WI @JamesWrightJr10
5 Rahman Branch worked as the principal of Ballou High School from 2008-2014. (Courtesy Photo)
FITS YOUR life
With our unique tub-over-tub liners, replacements, and tub-to-shower conversions we can complete your bathroom renovation in as little as a day. At Bath Fitter, we don’t just fit your bath, we fit your life. Why have over two million people brought Bath Fitter into their homes? It Just Fits.
SPECIAL OFFER
NO INTEREST UNTIL 2025!
OUR BENEFITS
2
Easy to Clean Seamless Wall One-Day Installation 1
WE DO IT ALL! Tub Liners Tub and Shower Replacements Tub-to-Shower Conversions
1-877-799-1685
bath-fitter.com/local24
1Tub-to-shower conversions and fiberglass replacements typically require a two-day installation. 2Lifetime warranty valid for as long as you own your home. *Offer ends 01/15/2023. All offers apply to a complete Bath Fitter system only, and must be presented and used at time of estimate. Minimum purchase required. Terms of promotional financing are 24 months of no interest from the date of installation and minimum deposit. See representative for details. Qualified buyers only. May not be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases. Valid only at select Bath Fitter locations. Offers and warranty subject to limitations. Fixtures and features may be different than pictured. Accessories pictured are not included. Plumbing work done by P.U.L.S.E. Plumbing. MD MPL #17499, NJ MPL #10655, DE MPL #PL-0002303, MD MPL #82842, VA MPL #2710064024, IA MPL #18066, OH MPL #37445, WV MPL #PL07514, MI MPL #8111651. PA HIC #PA017017, NJ HIC #13VH03073000, WV HIC #WV053085, MD HIC #129346, VA HIC #2705155694, MD HIC #122356, VA HIC #2705096759, IA HIC #C112725, WV HIC #WV038808, MD HIC #129995, VA HIC #2705146537, DC HIC #420213000044. Each Franchise Independently Owned And Operated By Bath Saver, Inc, LLC, Iowa Bath Solutions, LLC, Ohio Bath Solutions, LLC, Mid Atlantic Bath Solutions, LLC.
The Newsletter
Sign up to receive the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Money Talk Newsletter and stay up to speed with the latest financial wellness information.
Do you or a loved one struggle on the stairs?
ü ü ü
AN ACORN STAIRLIFT IS A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR:
Arthritis and COPD sufferers Those with mobility issues Anyone who struggles on the stairs
THE PURCHASE OF A NEW STAIRLIFT!
CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION KIT AND DVD! 1-855-841-2971
*Not valid on previous purchases. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not valid on refurbished models. Only valid towards purchase of a NEW Acorn Stairlift directly from the manufacturer. $250 discount will be applied to new orders. Please mention this ad when calling. AZ ROC 278722, CA 942619, MN LC670698, OK 50110, OR CCB 198506, RI 88, WA ACORNSI894OB, WV WV049654, MA HIC169936, NJ 13VH07752300, PA PA101967, CT ELV 0425003-R5. AT&T Vice President of Multicultural Engagement and Strategic Alliances Tanya Lombard, Martin Luther King Jr. III, and Rev. Al Sharpton present an award to Minyon Moore during National Action Network's Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest on January 16. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
CAPTURE THE MOMENT
Who’s Reading the Informer?
(L-R) Richard Wright Public Charter School students Tarron Lawson 17, Aman Williams, Dante Davis 17, Kimani Rispus 16, and Sonya Lowery read the Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
WORDS TO LIVE BY
– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
CONVERSATIONS from Page 5
youth office staffed by youth employees—one listener called out, “That’s brilliant!”
Blocker also suggested youth representatives that could liaison with D.C. Council members or city agencies. She felt previous generations had ignored youth needs and created barriers to their success.
“I feel like they misled us, and I feel like they disappointed us,” she said.
POSITIVE MENTORSHIP BY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS COACHES
It was the great abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, who once said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” That quote certainly applies to today’s youth not only here in the nation’s capital, but all across the United States, with one revision: “broken men and women.”
On Saturday evening, approximately 50 students, parents, coaches, and community leaders gathered at the Anacostia Arts Center for a panel titled, “Coaching Away Violence.”
The panel, moderated by WPGC 95.5’s Poet Taylor, explored the challenges confronting today’s inner-city sports coaches and the important roles that they play in the lives of young men and women as much-needed mentors.
The role of today’s sports coaches often extends beyond sporting activities to include filling gaps in the homes of our young people.
“Coaching got me to become a better athlete and we all became one as a family and a brotherhood,” said one student panelist who attends Rock Creek Christian Academy, when asked to offer his thoughts on how his football coach has positively impacted his life and that of his fellow teammates.”
Those in attendance, some shedding tears, remembered 14-yearold Antoine Manning, who was killed in Southeast, D.C. last November. Antoine loved sports, especially football, and is missed dearly by his family, friends, teammates and coach.
Another consistent theme raised by some in attendance is a lack of awareness of community resources available for families in crisis by the district government and other entities. Moreover, many parents dismiss emotional concerns expressed by their children because they themselves lack the ability to address them.
One resource organization is the Next Steps Program. For those in need of assistance, including anger management and depression, program officials can be reached at (202) 642-4443 or nextstepsdc22@gmail.com.
When asked what he had taken away from the students, Moten replied, “I learned to listen.”
WI
5 Students from schools around the DMV participate in a discussion at Anacostia Arts Center organized by Don't Mute DC during MLK Weekend. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
Your local marketing experts with UNLIMITED REACH.
Kevin Berrier 443-508-1936 KBerrier@MDDCPress.com
We Cancel TIMESHARES for You
Every year 150,000 people reach out to us for help getting rid of their timeshare. In 2019, we relieved over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and maintenance fees. We can help.
Get your free information kit and see if you qualify:
888-984-2917
BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE
THE NATION’ S 2 GUTTER GUARD1 FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1
Promo Code: 285
1Subject to credit approval. Call for details.
EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!
15% OFF
YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE*
+ 5%
OFF
TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY!**
10
SENIORS & MILITARY! WE INSTALL
YEAR-ROUND!
LIFETIME
WARRANTY
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
1-855-995-2490
Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST
*For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Off er valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufactured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suff olk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114
