Southwest Voice July 2021 Issue

Ward 6 is about 16,000 people above the average of the other wards. That number approaches the population for the 20024 zip code in Southwest. The residential population above I-395 is already in Ward 2. Parts of Southwest below I-395 may be allocated to Ward 2 or Ward 8 to the south. All wards must be similar in population with a deviation of no more than 10%. A scenario of moving Southwest into Ward 8 may appeal to DC Council because it is least disruptive to other parts of the city. Ward 8 has the smallest population at 80,517. Such a change that Ward 8 crosses the Anacostia River may be inevitable. In 2011, Ward 7 gained parts of Ward 6 on the west side of the river for the first time.

There are advantages to Southwest being in Ward 8. First, the current Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. represents a district that is 92% Black or African American. At a time in which Black residents in Southwest are being left behind during a period of intense gentrification, racial health and economic equity may be best achieved by absorbing it in a majority African American district. The Black population in Southwest is in a decade-long nosedive. The opposite is true for the White population, which is expected to continue climbing upward if proposed projects lacking affordable housing along South Capitol and in Buzzard Point are built. In addition, Black household median income in the Southwest zip code declined from 2010-2019, from $43,920 to $40,781. In a separate story for the Washington Post, ANC6D Commissioner and community leader Rhonda Hamilton said, “We’re just watching these buildings go up and absorbing the brunt of the impact. Developers more often tell residents what they’re going to do instead of really soliciting input from the community. But this is our future, too. This is the future of our community, our neighborhood, and we should have a say.”

The health disparities for Southwest's low-income and public housing communities are unchanged and likely worsening. Southwest's ward representative on DC Council is a major factor for why the city tolerated environmental racism in Buzzard Point for decades. In fact, residents in Buzzard Point continue to bear the brunt of diminishing air quality, increased noise and traffic, and diminished quality of life with construction activity and home games, not to mention the nearby industrial plants. This injustice is getting attention, but only because it is rapidly gentrifying. The Washington Post recently asked DC Council chairman Phil Mendelson whether the “arrival of White newcomers (is) bringing about this new awakening” to clean up the air pollution in Buzzard Point. “I would say probably,” Mendelson said. Former Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells leads the city's environmental regulation agency, which has come under scrutiny for its lax enforcement. Until April of this year, a polluter in Southwest had been operating without a business license since 2011.

Mr. White is more vocal about race and racism than the present Ward 6 councilmember Charles Allen. For example, Mr. White, along with Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, also African American, co-introduced legislation this year to establish a Reparations Task Force and Fund. Mr. White's legislative record is replete with proposed programs aimed at addressing structural racism. This year alone he's proposed laws to incentivize contractors to prioritize DC residents for apprenticeships, to strengthen the DC Human Rights Act, to eliminate income source discrimination in housing, and to permit mobile devices to cast votes. In fact, if Mr. White represents Southwest, with its rapidly growing development, then this could provide him and his constituents in Ward 8 with greater influence and clout to redirect resources to build more equitable, healthier communities. In response to our inquiry, Mr. Allen affirmed his position on Southwest in Ward 6, “I would like to see the amazing community of Southwest remain an integral part of Ward 6.”

Another advantage to Southwest being in Ward 8 is that it would shorten an otherwise tight deadline that the city has to finalize a new map and enable it to move more quickly on to creating the revised ANC maps. However redistricting is decided, one thing is clear – Southwest is likely to get a whole lot of attention. Public hearings on redistricting will resume in the fall. The Council redistricting sub-committee members include At-Large members: Elissa Silverman (chair), Anita Bonds, Christina Henderson.

SOUTHWEST, WASHINGTON, D.C. – An ad hoc group of residents formed to recognize nine individuals and organizations that helped the community through the COVID pandemic or have shown a lifelong commitment to the community. An awards ceremony was held on Saturday, July 10 at the Southwest Farmer’s Market. Dr. E. Faye Williams served as the mistress of ceremony. Ms. Vyllorya Evans and Mr. Christopher Williams served as co-chairs of the event.

Community Support Award – This award recognized efforts that ensured community resilience through food availability and distribution, clothing giveaways, and other forms of community support. Awardees: 4th St SW CVS Employees, 4th St SW Safeway Employees, Christ United Methodist Church and Ward 6 Mutual Aid, Ms. Thelma Jones, and Ms. Christine Spencer (below-right).

Neighborhood Pride Award – This award recognized volunteer beautification efforts to ensure that Greenleaf and its adjacent areas remain free of refuse. Awardee: Ms. Yodie Baker

Courage to Lead Award – This award recognized the leadership of Ms. Walker to face challenges in the redevelopment plans for Greenleaf and related to ensuring quality housing for residents. Awardee: Ms. A. Dena Walker (below-left)

Lifetime Perseverance Award – This award recognized Ms. Bishop’s community leadership and lifetime perseverance, including her recent graduation. Awardee: Ms. Patricia Bishop (pictured above with her daughter)

Lifetime Community Leadership Award – This award recognized ANC6D Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton’s lifetime achievement in unwavering community leadership and environmental justice advocacy. Rev. Brian Hamilton, co-pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, presented the award (pictured below). Awardee: Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton

Opening remarks by Ms. Faye Williams, Mistress of Ceremony (left, in orange): “The Southwest Community Awards is an opportunity to recognize and thank individuals and organizations in our community who are making a big difference. Although Covid challenges are still with us, we are turning a corner. We have many folks in Southwest to thank for helping us get us through Covid to-date. They risked their lives and increased their exposure in order to provide for others in our community. Today, we celebrate them.”

Ms. E. Faye Williams is the author of a new book, “Dick Gregory Wake Up and Stay Woke: Running for Life“. Mr. Gregory was a frequent visitor to Southwest.

The final analytic sample was 265 following data cleaning. To estimate population estimates, survey research often does not require large numbers such as surveying 20% of the population. For example, it is common to poll around 1,000 Americans to represent 260 million people for US presidential candidate polls. The SW data results raise alarm about the social and health costs of neighborhood change in Southwest and what economic and racial groups are bearing the costs. It establishes a relationship between perceptions of neighborhood change and poor mental health. A second manuscript is underway to study subgroups based on financial vulnerability, mental health, residential tenure, age, neighborhood attachment and other measures collected in the survey.

Highlights

• Over 70% of respondents indicated that the following groups are negatively impacted by neighborhood change: low-income, people with high school diploma, public housing residents, and African Americans.
• Perceived negative impact of neighborhood change on self, family, or friends increased the odds by 1.6 of poor or fair mental health whereas neighborhood attachment was a protective factor against poor mental health.
• The cost of housing was cited as the second most frequent reason for moving in the last five years. The first was career.
• 40% felt that “there are plans to force out long-time residents.”
• 30% of residents said that they are somewhat or highly likely to move from Southwest in next five years. Cost of housing was cited as the number two reason for leaving next to career/job.
• 10% moved to Southwest because they were unable to afford to live elsewhere in Washington, DC.
• 76% agree or strongly agree that they “would suffer a sense of loss” if they moved out of Southwest.
• 34% said negative change is overall somewhat or mostly negative.
• 20% indicated that neighborhood change will somewhat or mostly negative impact them personally