WASHPO: One more youth program in Congress Heights just too much for neighbors

The Advoc8te is pleased as punch that our cause regarding the clustering of group homes in Congress Heights is being reported by the media. No one is above the law and I am so very pleased to see public officials,  residents and community advocates come together for the benefit of OUR community. No longer should residents feel hesitant to speak up and out about advocating for their community for fear of being labeled "anti-black", "anti-community", "anti-poor" or any of the other "anti". We are pro-community, pro-transparency and pro-compliance with the law.  We, the community stakeholders, shouldn't have to "move to Georgetown" to expect the laws of the District to be upheld. We shouldn't have to "move to Georgetown" to feel safe in our own homes and we definitely shouldn't have to "move to Georgetown" to be ask how our tax dollars are being spent.

Ron Moten, founder of Peaceoholics Inc. says opponents of 1300 Congress St SE are "shortsighted" and  "should move to Georgetown". (Photo courtesy of Washington City Paper)

Concerned citizens are going to continue to ask questions about what is going on in their community, especially projects like these that are planned and executed in violation with Title 11 and  without notifying the community in advance. It's not only common decency to notify the ANC and the Single Member District -  its the law. The Advoc8te tips her hat to Commissioner Seegars, the concerned residents of Congress Street and the supporters (from both within and outside of Ward 8) who are tired of seeing this type of unfair and destructive "clustering" in our communities. There is a law on the books against this type of clustering and it needs to be enforced - no exceptions.  Not even for the DC government or the groups they give millions of our tax-payer dollars to.

The only thing more absurd than having four group homes on the same block is accusing someone of being white "rich" for opposing it.  This rhetoric is not only getting tired, it makes no sense. From all accounts everyone in the neighborhood  (homeowners and renters, new residents and old residents) oppose the location and the mystery surrounding this group home/independent living facility/youth residential facility/condominium.  

If the new definition of "rich" is being a working class,  first-time homebuyer, struggling to pay off student loans,  living in a one bedroom condo, in a neighborhood that most DC residents are hesitant to drive through let alone live then I need to stop playing the lottery.

P.S. Hat Tip to the Washington Post for finaly hearing our request and referring to our Congress Heights neighborhood by name and not just "Southeast".

Go HERE to sign the online petition against clustering of group homes in Congress Heights.
Go HERE to  read the full Washington Post article.

Excerpt:

One more youth program in Congress Heights just too much for neighbors

By Christy Goodman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 10, 2010; B01


Tonette Sivells, the first in her family to graduate college, saved her money to achieve another dream: buying her first home, in Congress Heights.


But when a community group suggested opening a home for at-risk youths, she and other neighbors opposed it, because there are four programs to help the needy in close proximity. For that act of defiance, Sivells, who works with victims of domestic violence, found herself labeled as selfish and uncaring.


"They bit our heads off. Called us rich. Said we don't care about the youth, we don't care about black people," said Sivells, 35, who grew up in inner-city Baltimore. "That is not true."


Gentrification is usually thought of as a white middle-class displacing low-income residents in traditionally black neighborhoods. But increasingly in the District, black professionals are being hit with the same tag as they move into neighborhoods, organize, and weigh in on how to improve their way of life and preserve property values.


Ronald Moten, a founder of the anti-violence group Peaceoholics, which proposed the youth residential program, said Sivells and her Congress Heights neighbors are being shortsighted. Moten said they have a not-in-my-backyard attitude toward his organization's project. If residents wanted to buy expensive condominiums, they should move to Georgetown, he said, not to a neighborhood filled with poor people.


"You can't just come here and push the people out who were here before you," he said. "Somebody poor is going to be in that building. I guarantee that."


Moten said he and his organization have been in the community and working to improve the neighborhood by providing opportunities to young people, such as helping renovate the building for the residential program. Those who oppose his project have not done anything for the community, he said.

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