Dear Neighborhood Drug Dealer, Please leave! Best Wishes, The Community

January 18, 2009 The Advoc8te

For some time now MPD 7D has been concentrating on Newcomb St and Oakwood St in Congress Heights to combat what has been a blight and a cancer on our community - drug dealing. Residents have been complaining for some time (sometimes years) of drug deals going down right on their block, cars pulling up at all hours of the night and the worst of the worst - gun fire. Luckily MPD has been reporting an increased presence on those streets as of late and have been making 1 to 2 drug arrest per night - in some cases recovering guns in those arrests.

Drug dealing leads to a host of quality of life issues. Streets and sidewalks are littered with the byproducts of dealers and their customers (liquor bottles, ziplock bags, needles, etc). Residents are incapable of enjoying their homes in peace and are in effect being held hostage in their own homes, residents and visitors alike afraid to drive down those blocks out of fear of becoming "collateral damage". Even the simple task of walking your dog or taking your children to the park can become a safety issue.

As if living in the middle of a drug zone wasn't the worst part insult is only added to injury out of the fact that some of these drug houses are in fact receiving benefits from the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8).

The Section 8 Housing Program was established by Congress in 1974. In accordance with the "1998 Act" and effective October 1, 1999, the new Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) is the result of the completion of the merger of the old Certificate and Voucher programs into one single, new market-driven program. The new program is designed to make the tenant-based housing assistance program more successful at helping low-income families obtain affordable housing and increase their housing choices. The program is administered in every state throughout the country.

The HCVP has been operating in the District of Columbia for over a decade, and more than 10,300 families are receiving assistance through various housing assistance programs. The vast majority of these families are law abiding citizens who just need a chance, an opportunity...some "breathing room" so they can get on their feet.

On Oakwood and Newcomb Streets (as is the case in hundreds of neighborhoods nationwide) some (but not all) of this drug trafficking is taking place out of homes that are supposed to be receiving government benefits.

This is of great concern for two major reasons:

The purpose of the HCVP (and other government assistance programs) is to offer government assistance to families that are in need, to give them an opportunity to get on their feet and ensure that are less fortunate residents (and their dependents) have a place in this society and a place to call "home" - what ever person should be entitled to in this country. So in effect "drug houses" that are also receiving government paid benefits are in effect engaging (albeit indirectly) in government sponsored drug trafficking.

HCVP is for families - the vast majority of these families have minor children. Innocent, defenseless minor children who are being forced to watch (and possibly engage) in this illegal and dangerous activity. One can only imagine the unhealthy and dangerous environment suffered by little children forced to grow up in a drug zone. How can once expect those children to do the "'right" thing in life when all they are faced with is the "wrong" way in life? Raising a child in a house that participates in drug dealing (or using) is child abuse plain and simple. Children need a place to be children....to be able to grow and thrive and that can not happen in a crack house.

Unfortunately despite years of community complaints, calls to the police it is getting difficult to have these drug houses permanently shut down. There needs to be a concerted effort between the relevant government agencies such as DCRA, US Attorney's Office, MPD, Child and Family Services and for those homes receiving forms of government aid Health and Human Services and DC Housing Authority, etc. Advisory Neighborhood Commisisons should also be involved and should make it a part of their monthly agendas to combat specific problem properties in their communities. All of these agencies play a part but until they get together, regularly and implement an effective and aggressive action plan these same drug houses will continue to be a blight, an embarrassment and a danger to the surrounding community. Not only do the occupants need to go but the negligent landlords need to be fined, arrested and in the case of those participating in the Housing Choice program they need to be banned from the program.

These drug dealers are a cancer that needs to be eradicated - for all of our sakes. We as residents can no longer continue to "suffer in silence" or to individually fight this battle alone. It is high time that we call in the Calvary. We all need to play a part.

To the drug dealers, their customers or even the negligent home owners who are aware of this illegal activity occurring within and on their property - WE SEE YOU. We all live here and we all deserve a great place to live and we are sick and tired of you destroying our community. It is not too late to change and you can start today to make a positive impact on your community. It takes a man to build something. Any ordinary thug or hoodlum can destroy something. It takes a man to stand up and put a stop to this foolishness.

And if you can't stand up and do the right thing, if you continue to sell these drugs, hang out on this corners committing crimes and being a general nuisance then we want you out.

Lil Wayne had a song called "The Block Is Hot". We as a community need to make the blocks so hot that those wishing to break the law for their own selfish desires need to think twice.

We are trying to build healthy, happy and SAFE neighborhoods and there is no longer a place for you or the danger that you represent.

BELOW PLEASE FIND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT CAN HELP US COMBAT THESE "NUISANCE PROPERTIES". We need to let them know that we need a task force TODAY. Something that is open to the community and that will make regular reports on progress and actions. We also have to be ready and willing to take responsibility for our own communities. We can no longer turn a "blind eye" when we see illegal activities. If every neighbor got on the phone to the police, Child and Family Services, DCRA and the like when they saw dealing (or any other illegal activity) occurring on their block we could really get some stuff done. The dealers count on us the community getting tired or turning a blind eye.

For every drug house/nuisance property that is shut down opens up a possibility of a nice, law abiding family to move in. Our communities can grow stronger and safer one house at a time, one block at a time, one neighborhood at a time.

Change is NOW.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE FOR DC 202.698.1452 or dc.outreach@usdoj.gov

Lendia Sue Johnson, MPD Community Outreach Coordinator/ 202.698.1454/lendia.johnson@dc.gov

Shanelle Simms, Mayor's Office Rep for Ward 8/ 202.340.7264/ shanelle.simms@dc.gov

Jose R.Dorce, Mayor's Office Rep for Ward 8/ jose.dorce@dc.gov

Commander Joel Maupin (MPD 7D)/ joel.maupin@dc.gov

Assistant Chief of Police Diane Groomes/ diane.groomes@dc.gov

Linda Argo, Director of DCRA/ linda.argo@dc.gov

Harold Beckham, Director of DPW/ harold.beckham@dc.gov

DC Housing Authority/bmiller@dchousing.org

To Report Child Abuse/ 202.671.SAFE (7233)

Crime Solvers Tip Hotline/ 800.673.2777

Gun Tip Hotline/ 800.ATF.GUNS (4867)