Posts tagged Poverty
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#GGWashReads “Evicted,” which puts a human face on a widespread problem
Last week, members of our summer book club discussed the harsh and complicated realities facing tenants and landlords at the bottom of the housing market as we read though Matthew Desmond’s award-winning book, Evicted. Keep reading…
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National links: Is America getting cities wrong again?
Star cities continue to develop their urban centers — but why are they so empty? By controlling the curb, cities can control the future. The next leader in water management could be…Los Angeles? Keep reading…
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This DC bill could help bolster affordable housing and protect low-income borrowers
In November 2017, DC Councilmember David Grosso (At-Large) introduced a bill that would likely increase affordable housing investments and low-income lending by banks that do business with the District government. Now local housing advocates say its passage is more important than ever. Keep reading…
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This is what Arlington residents think about their county
Arlington residents of all ages are concerned about housing costs. Many like new urban amenities and denser development but are worried about displacing lower-income neighbors. Others point to the county's affluence and pockets of racially homogenous communities and wonder what that says about their progressive values. Keep reading…
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Activists say a small office and retail building will gentrify Takoma Park. It’s already gentrified.
The City of Takoma Park has spent the better part of two decades trying to develop a publicly-owned parking lot in Takoma Junction, a prominent but downtrodden commercial area adjoining what is now one of the city’s most posh neighborhoods. The project is nearing final approval, but not everyone is happy. Keep reading…
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Upzone expensive areas to fund anti-displacement in poor ones? Should we push this?
Matthew Yglesias has a bold idea for DC housing and anti-displacement policy: Build a lot of new homes in areas like west of Rock Creek Park, Dupont/Logan, and Capitol Hill, and use some of the tax revenue to cut property taxes east of the Anacostia River. Keep reading…
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DC has spent hundreds of thousands on encampment removals. Now, people experiencing homelessness are suing.
Last month, several people experiencing homelessness filed a class-action lawsuit against the District, claiming that their belongings were being improperly thrown away during sweeps of encampments. As the lawsuit progresses through the courts, one thing is certain: until DC is able to provide mental health services and safe housing for all of those who need it, people will continue to live in encampments. Keep reading…
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Are bad boundaries spurring inequality in Montgomery schools?
Montgomery County public schools have been growing at an incredible rate and show no sign of abating. Instead of adjusting boundaries to allow a more equal distribution of students, the county is building additions in its over-capacity and less-wealthy schools. Keep reading…
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A new short documentary highlights the dire consequences of DC’s maternal care desert
The result of hospital closures in DC is a maternal care desert for women who live east of the Anacostia, who now have to trek half an hour by car or more (and further by transit) to access a maternity ward and prenatal care. A new seven-minute documentary from The Atlantic highlights the deadly, discriminatory consequences of these closures. Keep reading…
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Richard Rothstein lays out the reality of government-mandated segregation in “Color of Law”
The government's explicit role in building and enforcing segregation has been largely obscured, and it has done comparatively little to rectify the harm it's caused to African-American communities — harm which deeply resonates into the present day. Keep reading…