See what the candidates for Ward 8 DC Council have to say about these urbanist issues

In March, we introduced the candidates in the Ward 8 council race: incumbent councilmember Trayon White, and his challengers, Stuart Anderson, ANC commissioner Mike Austin, Yaida Ford, and Frederick Hill III. (Jeronda Hilton and Danielle Platt will not be on the ballot.)

As part of GGWash’s endorsement process for the 2020 DC Council elections, we’re running responses to our questionnaire, which was sent to candidates in contested races in Ward 4, Ward 7, Ward 8 (we already endorsed Patrick Kennedy in Ward 2), and for the Democratic at-large seat.

As always, our endorsements will rest on who we think is most likely to best represent our interests, which include frequent, reliable transportation; accessible, affordable housing; and the land-use policies needed to support and expand both.

White, Anderson, Austin, and Ford responded to our questionnaire; we received no response from Hill or Platt.

The candidates are broadly in agreement that we need to produce more housing and that Ward 8 needs greater retail investment and pedestrian safety improvements. They’re also in favor of free transit passes. Beyond that, though, there’s division on whether improvements to streets to accommodate more people on foot, bikes, and transit are worthwhile, or if they are too greatly perceived as gentrification. Perhaps most interesting is the candidates’ responses to our question about public housing: Anderson and Austin suggest systemic policy reforms while Ford and White focus on compliance, oversight, and ANC control.

The DC primary is June 2. Given the uncertainty of the coronavirus, all voters should request mail-in ballots as soon as possible. You can use iOS or Android apps to access an absentee ballot form that can be completed digitally or by hand then scanned, emailed, faxed, or mailed to the board of elections. You can also call 202-727-2525 or email dcabsentee@vote4dc.com to get a form sent in the mail.

White, Anderson, Austin, and Ford’s unabridged responses are below.

1. Do you support building more housing in DC? In particular, do you support the Mayor’s goals to add 36,000 units of housing by 2025? Would you support a more ambitious target than 36,000 new units of housing?

Stuart Anderson: Yes I support building more housing in DC. Yes, I support the Mayor’s goal to add 36,000 units; yet, I feel that we could build the necessary housing in less time. Also I believe that more than a third should be affordable for low-income residents to ensure all residents can live in the city without being burdened by housing costs.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Housing Development Corporation of Washington DC will be parts of my plan to keep affordable housing in DC and keep current tenants in place. We have to build an engine that will keep families in safe, decent and affordable homes for decades to come. My housing plan would include:

• increasing the number of housing vouchers;
• further inclusionary zoning;
• expanding low-income housing tax incentives; and,
• creating more public housing options.

To achieve these aims, I would pursue modifying the area median income (AMI) formula to raise the number of individuals eligible for federally subsidized housing assistance. I would push for policies to require plans to incorporate low-income housing for families and individuals in new development projects coming to the District. I would also advocate for offering tax rebates to individuals willing to take on projects to rehab properties for the benefit of low-income families.

The Green New Deal for Public Housing Act would commit up to $180 billion over 10 years to upgrade 1.2 million federally administered homes. In addition to the environmental benefits, a DC version of the Act might very well help with the employment issue that I see as one of Ward 8’s major issues. To my understanding The Green New Deal for Public Housing Act also authorizes the training and development of skills necessary for career development in the fields, trades, and services which are required for full implementation. So my team will be getting familiar with the Act. We could tailor our policy so that the savings would dedicate billions of dollars to energy retrofits for the District’s dilapidated public housing stock.

Mike Austin: Yes, I support building more affordable housing in DC, because it is harder and harder for families to afford to live in the city, especially those in Ward 8, where lower wages and salaries are generally stretched further to cover housing costs. Specifically, the slow rate in which the District produces affordable housing, coupled with the high housing demand, have made it increasingly difficult for families of four or more to find stable, safe, and affordable housing. It is even more difficult for low- and moderate-income families to find affordable housing, because middle-income families are occupying housing units that are meant for low-income residents.

I also support Mayor Bowser’s goal to add 36,000 new housing units by 2025 to keep up with projected growth. This is a notable goal, but is not enough to decrease housing cost for residents - the current goal only stabilizes the market. Therefore, I think the District needs to take an aggressive approach to set an ambitious affordable housing target, despite the obstacles. With a more creative affordable housing approach that leverages existing DHCD PADD Properties, Inclusionary Zoning Amendments, Tax Increment Financing tools, improves the PUD process, will lead to the production of more affordable housing to meet the housing demand in the District.

Yaida Ford: Housing and especially affordable housing in DC is one of my top priorities. Ward 8 is the last frontier for economic development in the city and our residents are concerned about being displaced as the development evolves. Currently, there are development projects underway (i.e. Reunion Square) that have not been tailored to Ward 8’s needs through impactful community benefits agreements. Reunion Square, as initially proposed, was going to include workforce housing and market rate housing. The incumbent nixed those components and modified the project to include senior housing but the location is not ideal for seniors because there is no grocery store or other services that are vital to quality senior living within walking distance. This is problematic because our seniors have limited mobility. It is equally problematic that we don’t have enough workforce housing so that our residents can focus on career development without the fear of being homeless. That said, the Mayor should increase her goal of 12,000 to 18,000 affordable housing units out of the 36,000 new units. In addition, I support:

• 18,000 new affordable housing units by 2025
• Using blighted and vacant housing to create more workforce housing for our returning citizens
• Developing a task force to develop solutions for economic displacement
• Creating housing for target groups including seniors, artists, teachers and social workers who are serving our residents
• Enforcing Fair Housing laws and the Rental Housing Act

Trayon White: I support building more housing. I also support the mayor’s goal. Also, it is essential to understand that what we as a city need is to prioritize curtailing the displacement of long time district residents. What is needed is not just more housing, but more generational housing for youth, families, and seniors. We also need housing for residents who experience homelessness, those who need rapid rehousing, and for young adults who are thriving after being in the system. We need safe, high quality subsidized housing for those with vouchers, on the waitlist, and those living in public housing.

2. The DC housing market’s growth has been uneven and particularly concentrated in certain neighborhoods. Do you support the mayor’s goal to set production targets in each area of the city to evenly disperse new housing?

a. Would you encourage growth along transit corridors, such as Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue? If not, where would you prefer?

Stuart Anderson: Yes, I believe that the goal of seeking to balance the concentration of housing is a good idea. I think that we have to control the cost as we develop new housing, yet I would support encouraging growth along transit corridors. The goal of having walkable communities calls for us to develop in a manner that supports people being able to use public transportation. In addition to Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, I would also support housing growth along Alabama avenue.

Mike Austin: Yes, I support the Mayor’s goal to set production targets in each area of the city to evenly disperse new housing. Wealthier neighborhoods generally lack affordable housing, and new affordable housing developments are often met with resistance from these neighbors. Given the heavy political influence that wealthier constituents have in the city, equitable placement of affordable housing is seldom championed by politicians. This NIMBYism results in less affordable housing produced as a whole, and more affordable housing produced in less affluent parts of the District. Wealthier communities have more amenities, job opportunities, better transit options, and higher performing schools, which can materially enhance a low-income families’ life and trajectory. Access to the abundant resources found in wealthier neighborhoods is a game changer for low-income children and families.

I would also encourage growth along the transit corridors of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE, because those are the main thoroughfares in Ward 8; both of which have monumental investments forthcoming with projects like the 11th St Bridge Park and St. Elizabeths’ East, so I would focus my attention on more residential neighborhoods which are not slated for development like: the Washington Highlands, Buena Vista, Bellevue, and Fort Stanton areas. There are side streets and arterial roads in these neighborhoods where I would like to see growth, because they are not experiencing the same pace of development and improvement as the Anacostia, Good Hope, Congress Heights areas.

Yaida Ford: A one-size fits all approach to housing will not work for our city. Each community needs to be carefully examined to determine what type of housing will best serve its needs. I live on Good Hope Rd and the only vacant land that we have is environmentally protected. It provides our neighborhood with an ecosystem that gives us cleaner air and wildlife that we need because of the environmental issues posed by the daily high volume of traffic. But in remote areas like Washington Highlands, there is space for new housing especially for families. On MLK Ave, however, the housing is more suitable for single individuals and smaller households. We have Mapleview Flats which is already 100% affordable housing. What we need now is to add some market rate housing to bring disposable income to the community to support the new businesses on MLK Ave who otherwise, will not survive. Currently, several of our small businesses cannot maintain normal business hours because of the lack of regular foot traffic that will boost sales. We want those businesses to thrive because they add culture to our neighborhoods. In sum, we need an increase in diverse housing options in Ward 8. I think the Mayor’s goal should especially focus on mixed income housing. More businesses will be attracted to Wards 7 and 8 if we create a diverse and robust housing infrastructure with residents who will support them.

Jeronda Hilton: Yes: Fair is fair: When equitably applied everyone will be happy. Yes if they are viable after assessment.

Trayon White: Ward 8 has been the frontrunner for creating new affordable housing and advocating for our residents not to face displacement. It is crucial to build and allocate new housing with the understanding that we cannot continue the patterns that concentrate poverty. Ultimately, Ward 8 seeks to have the same amenities as our areas in the District but not at the cost of displacing families and businesses.

During my tenure at the Councilmember for Ward 8, I supported “Equitable” growth in the major corridors within Ward 8 and beyond. We set new standards for development that prevent the further disenfranchisement of longtime Ward 8 residents. We established and encouraged growth from within our communities with the direst needs for amenities, recreation centers, and community-owned businesses. We need growth throughout the ward, growth that will empower young adults with sustainable jobs, access to resources, education, and hope. Growth throughout the ward should include a coordinated effort to curtail youth violence and uplift pedestrian safety for our families in our corridors. Under my leadership as the Councilmember, I did just that, we secured over 50 million dollars for a new Congress Heights Recreation Center, the construction of the new Douglass Recreation Center, and a new recreation center in the Anacostia community.

3. Much of DC’s public housing, such as Barry Farm, is in disrepair. However, renovating or redeveloping this housing has historically meant disrupting the lives of its residents, if not outright displacing them. What, if anything, would you change about DC, and DCHA’s, redevelopment plans?

Stuart Anderson: I would work to ensure that DC’s public housing does not get so badly in disrepair that renovation and/or repair does not necessarily require redeveloping. I agree that redevelopment has disrupted and/or displaced people’s lives; however when the Government agencies do not do their jobs adequately the property must be fixed. I will pay close attention to DCHA’s monitoring and oversight process to ensure that no more public housing will go into grave disrepair.

Mike Austin: Public housing is a lifeline for many residents in the District, especially in Ward 8. The renovation and redevelopment of dilapidated properties like Barry Farm have meant that many Ward 8 residents’ lives are uprooted, and whole communities lost during the process. As the ANC 8C Chairman for Barry Farms, I asked tough questions about the redevelopment process and the direct impact to families. From that experience I realized that DCHA’s redevelopment plans should be amended to give impacted residents more of a stake in the engagement process versus the mere facade of inclusion and involvement. DCHA’s plan should also ensure that developments are one-for-one bedroom replacements; maximize communication after residents move so they remain engaged; and create more homeownership opportunities for residents within old public housing developments.

Yaida Ford: Right now the Barry Farm redevelopment promises to provide temporary housing to prevent displacement. I am uncertain if those promises will be fulfilled. As a Councilmember I would have actually invited responsible developers with a positive track record to engage with me and my constituents about prospective redevelopment. I would have made sure that the relevant ANCs had input on the community benefits agreement (CBA) that was established around redeveloping the community. There are several projects in the Ward that have been developed without any transparency or input from ANCs and community leaders. Our residents are simply tired of this.

Jeronda Hilton: Depending on assessment results – decision will be made whether to repair or

knock the housing down and develop newer ones. In the end District residents will appreciate and willing to be patient.

Trayon White: DCHA must focus on how it implements its redevelopment plans. During my term in the housing committee, my oversight of DCHA related to addressing the immediate needs of public housing tenants. DCHA has to focus on following the law and adhering to HUD’s

build in place, one-to-one replacement, and right to stay mandates. DCHA has to involve its tenants, the community leadership in all of their redevelopment plans and approvals.

I was in full support of the historic designation for Barry Farm. In my humble opinion, had DCHA been more proactive, we would not have had to delay the redevelopment of Barry Farm. Many residents in Barry Farm and in Woodland Terrace don’t have the right resources to make the best housing decisions for themselves. If re-elected, I will continue the oversight of DCHA through voicing the needs and solutions of public housing residents.

4. Do you support increased protections for pedestrians, such as those within the Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus Amendment Act, which would reduce speed limits, ban right turns on red, and increase investments in sidewalks? What else would you do to increase pedestrian safety?

Stuart Anderson: Yes I support increased protections for pedestrians. In addition I would have the city invest in greater clarity in the signage throughout the city around parking and other directional signage.

Mike Austin: Yes, I support increased protections for pedestrians, and agree with most of the provisions of the Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus Amendment Act. Last year, almost half of all DC’s fatal traffic victims died in wards 7 and 8. So, increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists is crucial East of the River. Other parts of the city have more speed bumps and traffic calming measures that provide additional safety, and Ward 8 residents deserve the same protections. In addition, Ward 8 residents deserve equitable access to public transportation to connect them to all areas of the city, whether it be for work or leisure. Ward 8 also needs greater investments to improve sidewalk conditions, more streetlights, stop signs, traffic signals, medians, rumble strips, bike lanes, and other traffic calming measures that are proven to increase pedestrian and rider safety.

While I support the legislative intent behind the Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus Amendment Act, there are a few provisions that I’d want to take a closer look at to understand the impact, such as the sidewalk requirements for projects that may hinder current or prospective business owners in Ward 8. I also worry about the unintended consequences of allowing the Metropolitan Police Department to tow or impound a vehicle with five or more tickets; this may cause additional financial burdens and hardship for Ward 8 residents.

Yaida Ford: We need to continue to protect the safety and rights of pedestrians. We need to have a public relations campaign against texting, which is shown to be an increasingly major cause of vehicle accidents against pedestrians. We also must increase and enhance the number of Yield Pedestrian Right of Way Crosswalks throughout the city in areas where we accidents happen most.

Jeronda Hilton: Yes! I support safety measures anytime and anywhere.

Trayon White: Yes, Ward 8 bears a disproportionate number of street violence including pedestrian deaths. Almost a third of all traffic deaths in 2018 occurred in Ward 8.

It is important to note that Ward 8 car drivers are not the sole culprit of these deaths. The rates of car ownership in Ward 8 are lower than other wards. In Ward 8, lower- income and predominantly black communities, our residents rely on the bus and their cars to move across the city and within the ward. We cannot solely focus on solutions that further punish low-income drivers by increasing traffic tickets and penalties when there are other viable solutions.

Earlier this month, I provided testimony to stop proposals that would eliminate bus routes along the MLK Ave corridor. The impact of the elimination of bus routes would mean that more residents, especially our youth and seniors, will have to walk in areas that are unsafe, that lack lighting, and are always under construction. Anacostia, one of the main corridors affected by WMATA’s proposals, has long experienced disinvestment in streetscape maintenance, notably a lack of crosswalks, traffic lights and stop signs, and renovated sidewalks. We cannot continue to ignore all types of safety risks for pedestrians, citywide.

5. Would you support removing on-street parking for dedicated infrastructure, such as bus lanes and bike lanes? If not, why not? If yes, can you give an example of where you would remove parking for a bus or bike lane?

Stuart Anderson: I would scrutinize the process closely in Ward 8, but yes I would support removing on-street for dedicated infrastructure changes. As a result of the traffic congestion, on the east side of the north bound lane, in the 1900 block of MLK Jr avenue would be one of the first locations for the removal of the right to park.

Mike Austin: Yes, there are circumstances where I would support removing on-street parking for dedicated bus and bike lanes, because these designated lanes improve safety and ease traffic in heavily traveled neighborhoods. There is a misconception that Ward 8 residents do not ride bikes, however, bicycles are some residents’ main form of transportation.

I support removing on-street parking on Alabama Avenue, SE to install a bike lane, because bike lanes slow down traffic and there are insufficient traffic calming measures in that area that have not reduced traffic fatalities and accidents in that area. I do want to note that although bus and bike lanes help, I believe speed bumps, rumble strips, and better speed enforcement measures are better traffic tools to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Yaida Ford: This is HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL in Ward 8 because certain communities perceive bike lanes to be a sign of gentrification befalling the community. For example, on Alabama Ave (in Congress Heights) the incumbent agreed to remove parking spaces for bike lanes but he did this without community input. The community was outraged! Several residents bombarded an ANC meeting and expressed that the lack of parking spaces was a disservice to families who drive to work and drive children to school. It is imperative to understand our community dynamics: most of our residents commute outside of the Ward to work because there are few quality jobs within the Ward. They do not rely on public transit if they have jobs in industries like hospitality and construction that require them to report between 5:30 am and 6 am. Other residents are afraid to take public transit to work if they get off late because they are vulnerable to crime. Because the bike lanes in Congress Heights are not frequently used, residents believed that adding them was a mechanism for gentrification to invade their community versus seeing them as a benefit for the residents who currently live there.

Jeronda Hilton: Require further studies of all areas for me.

Trayon White: No, I don’t support removing on-street parking for dedicated infrastructure like bike lanes—especially on-street parking for seniors and families living with disabilities. About bus lanes, we need to first protect against reduction in bus services, because it will only deepen the already growing inequality experienced by Ward 8 residents. Our ward has experienced decades of transit-related discriminatory policies, practices, and disinvestment, which have expanded inequities. Out of WMATA’s recently proposed changes to 22 bus lines, 9 of those currently serve Ward 8 residents. Thus, before taking on-street parking for seniors and families to install dedicated lanes, we should first focus on strengthening the transit systems that serve Ward 8 residents.

6. Many developers in DC have gone through the Planned Unit Development process in order to add additional density beyond what is allowed by the zoning code. In exchange, PUDs must provide amenities like affordable housing or improved public space. But PUDs also take a long time and are subject to lawsuits, which ultimately makes the housing that they do deliver more expensive than it could be. How, if at all, would you improve this process?

Stuart Anderson: I would look at the current process a bit closer; however, at this moment I support the current process. The purpose of the PUD process is to provide for higher quality development through flexibility in building controls, including height and density additional time is needed to ensure safety. Also there has to be a level of scrutiny which provides that the resulting development is superior to what would result from a matter- of-right development. Something that would offer a commendable number or quality of meaningful public benefits, and protect and advance the public health, safety, welfare, and convenience. And finally time is needed to ensure that the resulting development is not inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan. I would look into how we might improve the process.

Mike Austin: PUDs have been a source for community benefits for many years, but have recently been less effective due to lawsuits. As such, developers have now opted to use by-right development and text amendments to build, and in essences circumvent, or materially limit community engagement that’s allowed under the PUD. To improve the PUD process, I would limit the use of text amendments so they are only used when necessary.

The PUD should remain the custom for non-conforming developments, and the DC Council’s recent changes to the Comprehensive Plan, should reduce the ability to friviously hold up development projects. I would also strengthen Councilmember Silverman’s amendment to the Comprehensive Plan that used the build-first approach that allows existing residents to move into new homes without being forced to move away first. I also believe that PUDs should allow for public engagement beyond ANC. As an ANC Chairman, some of these projects take considerable time to review and deserve their own community meeting so the public has ample opportunity to provide feedback on design elements, land use, parking, and community benefits.

Yaida Ford: The answer is simple: the more engagement the developer has with the community prior to beginning his project the easier it is for the developer to deliver and the less likelihood for lawsuits and red tape. The Menkiti Group had difficulty implementing the MLK Gateway project in a timely manner and it still isn’t completed although the signs have been up for more than 5 years. The reason for that is that the value proposition was not made clear to the residents early on and there was no council leadership to serve as a touch point for residents. My level of engagement will be early, often and inclusive of my ANCs and residents.

Jeronda Hilton: There has to be meeting point between developers and those suing them. Let’s find the meeting point by reviewing the entire processes and finding ways to remove impediments.

Trayon White: Ward 8 has experienced disinvestment for decades, in Ward 8, the need for PUD’s ensures community benefits, participation and mitigates adverse impacts, as opposed to solely a means of adding density. In fact, the past and current PUD processes, including its regulations, have been beneficial at maintaining some level of community-led input in what is often inequity in city’s development approvals. Throughout my term in council, I worked together alongside directly impacted residents, ANC’s, developers, and the city to mitigate an increase in benefits and reduce adverse impacts of proposed development projects that require a PUD. What is needed is to strengthen PUD’s mandates to consult directly with impacted communities, including a community-led coordinated effort with the city agencies who provide reports during a PUD application. There has to be more accountability for agencies like DCOP, DDOT, DOES and DOEE in the process, so that long-ignored public safety and infrastructure needs are prioritized and met as part of the approval process.

7. Councilmember Charles Allen recently proposed that DC provide most residents with up to $100 per month on their SmarTrip cards. Would you support it? If not, why not? What changes would you make to the bill?

Stuart Anderson: I like the idea because it will encourage more citizens to use public transportation. Automobiles are the highest carbon-emitting sources and by reducing the cost of public transportation people will tend to use their private vehicles less. This is in line with my position on enacting municipal climate policies.

Mike Austin: I would support Councilmember Allen’s recently proposed bill, the Metro for DC Amendment Act, which gives qualified residents up to $100 per month on their SmartTrip card. Low-income residents, particularly those in Ward 8, are often unable to access child care, healthcare, a job, or school due to lack of transportation, and high metro fares only create a financial barrier to public transit. To enhance the legislation, I would ensure that the application to attain the transit benefit is easy to access and that there is heavy public outreach to promote the program and encourage and help residents apply. I also think that instead of offering the benefit in tiers to households making $155,000 or more, the city should redirect that spending to increase the transit benefit for those who need it most.

Yaida Ford: Transportation is big issue in Ward 8 and WMATA police have disproportionately targeted Ward 8 residents for fare evasion than residents in other wards. Councilmember Allen’s legislation is a great start and I would support his legislation if I were elected as the 8 ward Councilmember.

Jeronda Hilton: I will support the measure. When you put money in the hands of residents they will in turn spend it to benefit the City. Introducing money into the system is always a good thing.

Trayon White: Yes, I support Councilmember Allen’s proposed bill. Residents east of the river experience transportation challenges that prevent them from maintaining their jobs or the ability to participate in certificate and higher education programs. This bill could provide some financial relief for the transportation needs of the working class. Also, to ensure that we can maximize participation. It’s essential to understand more foundational socio-economic issues that prevent many deeply low-income residents to not carry SmarTrip cards. I would work with my colleagues to expand the bill to include more sustainable reliefs and long provided operational transit requests that address the daily needs of lower-income riders, students, and seniors in Ward 8.

8. Do you think Ward 8 needs more connections with the neighborhoods across the river? Do you support expanded pedestrian and bicycle access through projects like the 11th Street Bridge Park project or the Frederick Douglass bridge replacement? How should these projects be connected to the rest of the ward?

Stuart Anderson: Yes, we need to beconnected. Far too long Ward 8 has been less connected to the rest of our great city. It is time to make sure we are included in all of the plans for how the city is shaped moving forward so that ward 8 is not an afterthought in the process.

Mike Austin: Yes, I think Ward 8 needs more connections with the neighborhoods across the river, because Ward 8 residents are currently disconnected. For too long, Ward 8 has felt like a separate city, because of the transportation gaps, workforce gaps, healthcare gaps, resource gaps, and overall opportunity gaps that we have in the ward. Major construction like the 11th Street Bridge Park Project will help close these gaps, and allow residents to feel more connected to the rest of the city. Ideally, projects like the 11th Street Bridge Park will mesh with the design elements of the rest of Ward 8, and enhance the current streetscape of our community.

Yaida Ford: Ward 8 has a lot to offer our residents. We have many great sites and venues that include Anacostia Playhouse, Anacostia Arts Center, Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, THEARC, the Frederick Douglas House, and the Entertainment and Sports Arena to name a few places. As a Councilmember, I will promote Ward 8 places of interest. Part of getting back and forth from Ward 8 and the rest of DC includes the 11th Street Bridge Park project, the Frederick Douglas bridge replacement, and bike/walking lanes. I support these projects particularly because of the efforts community leaders made to engage the community especially on the 11th Street Bridge Park project.

Jeronda: I think so, but I need further studies of the area geography to comment properly.

Trayon White: Longtime residents in the great Ward 8 and city-wide are for the most part generationally rooted and connected to the city, beyond geographic constraints like the river. It is through these familial and community ties, that connectivity with the rest of the city is in full force beyond any expansion of bicycle access. Despite these connections, the city has long disenfranchised W8 residents via infrastructure disinvestment. For example, our existing decaying recreation centers, lack of crosswalks in our sidewalks, lack of lighting, illegal dumping, poorly maintained fields, lack of high-speed internet connection in community centers, and one grocery and one decaying hospital that serves our entire ward. We have significant needs and priorities in the ward related to infrastructure, accessibility, and safety. What we have seen from similar public-private partnership projects like the 11th street Bridge Park is that public spaces have a tendency to become privatized, and access to those spaces becomes policed. This is why I was very supportive when community members and organizations requested a rework of the Bridge Park plan and to be included in the implementation of its equity plan. Continued public access that is not privately policed will be critical in ensuring that projects like the Bridge Park have public access and remain connected to the rest of the ward.

9. Ward 8 has some of the largest amounts of subsidized, affordable housing in the District. Would you like to see subsidized, affordable housing more equitably distributed across the city? If so, what would you do to make that happen? If not, why not?

Stuart Anderson: Yes, I would like to see subsidized, affordable housing more equitably built across the city. As council member for Ward 8 I would urge my colleagues to join me in pushing the Mayor on a plan to balance out the distribution of subsidized, affordable housing in areas where the percentages are far less than they are in Ward 8. The plan would have a fixed (but flexible) timeline for the number of additional units to be built in each of the Wards.

Mike Austin: Yes, I would like to see subsidized, affordable housing more equitably distributed across the city. The District has aggressive affordable housing production goals, and Ward 8 should not bear the brunt of the burden. To make this happen, I would work with the community, affordable housing experts and advocates, my Council colleagues, and developers to strategize how and where to increase the District’s affordable housing stock, starting in the wards with the least amount. If the District is going to combat our affordable housing shortage, residents in other wards must be open to allowing more affordable housing in their neighborhoods.

Yaida Ford: Affordable and subsidized housing is important for the entire city. I agree that Ward 8 has a substantial amount of affordable housing and for that reason, we actually need a mix of market rate housing to support the economic development that our residents our craving. We have only one supermarket for 90,000 residents. We have no full-service hospital. We have no Target or Walmart or Marshals or…any retail that is considered a “staple” in urban American cities, and consequently, we don’t have the jobs that come with that type of development. Our residents are tired of being underserved and having to go to MD, VA or other parts of the city to meet their basic needs.

Jeronda Hilton: Must be based on income only.

Trayon White: Yes, especially equitable distribution in areas where there is very little racial and economic diversity. Equitable distribution of housing across the city, is not just about building more subsidized housing and increasing density regulations in the city. It should also include ensuring that the quality of the housing that is built is not less than for those who make less; especially in areas that are projected to have lower market-rate profits. In Ward 8, we continued to ensure that all housing construction is high-end and also affordable. Living in subsidized housing should not mean that the construction, materials, and amenities have to be subpar. Throughout my term in council, I made sure that developers and general contractors hire local workers, and build green sustainable buildings with amenities for everyone to enjoy equally.

10. What steps would you take to bring neighborhood retail, like grocery stores, to Ward 8? What other sorts of retail do you think Ward 8 needs?

Stuart Anderson: One of the main amenities our Ward needs, for more reasons than one, is more grocery stores. Yes, having more grocery stores in our Ward will bring more jobs. And grocery stores will address the food desert in general. Yet the greatest benefit of more providers of quality food are the children whose brain development depends on equitable food access. I plan to urge my colleagues on the council to pass emergency legislation to earmark funding to incentivise more grocery stores to come into Ward 8. I plan to encourage developers who wish to build in the Ward Tax breaks should they include within the infrastructure of their projects space adequate for grocery stores. I will not merely encourage grocery stores to come and do business in the Ward, I will work with others to come up with other ways to create novel ways to increase food access. Ward 8 needs more restaurants and a variety of other retail outlets (apparel shops, furnishing stores, caffes, and the likes). There are not enough laundromats, no theater, or family activity proprietors (bowling or kid’s place).

Mike Austin: Ward 8 does not have the same retail options as the rest of the District — to live in Ward 8 is to spend your money across the river or in Virginia or Maryland because there is no place to shop in the neighborhood. The District continues to lose money and jobs by not having basic amenities available to Ward 8 residents. In order to create retail options, we need leadership that will not protest development, but will use their platform to negotiate and maximize community benefits.

The District also needs to leverage financing options like TIFs, and other subsidies that allow for responsible development — inclusive development that promotes growth while protecting residents. Further, increasing funding mechanisms like the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund that I established to help support the new grocery stores coming to Ward 8, will also bring neighborhood retail. Ward 8 residents deserve shopping, dining, and a new full service grocery store.

Yaida Ford: Increasing the number of grocery stores, healthy food options, and retail options in Ward 8 is one of my campaign platforms. I will work with developers and the Mayor’s office to identify the best mixed-used retail areas/development space in the ward. I will then work to develop a grocery store engagement process so we can highlight these areas and do site visits with the grocery stores. We will provide the grocery store with the appropriate incentives to open in Ward 8.

For retail we need to make Ward 8 a great option for small and medium size businesses by offering competitive grants from the city and engagement with our various chambers of commerce. I would also focus on having these businesses participate in local festivals and events in the ward so they could have some measure for community engagement/interest in their various businesses. My goal is to connect new businesses to local resources as it relates to trainings, grants, effective workforce development programs, and any additional supports.

Jeronda Hilton: Nope I don’t want more neighborhood retail stores – I will spend my team on bringing small businesses manufacturing.

Trayon White: A big priority during my term as the Councilmember has been to uplift ward level small businesses to not only bring but incubate neighborhood retail, food establishments, and professional services. One way of empowering our local retail economy has been to ensure that Ward 8 residents willing to start small businesses have the appropriate resources. During my time in council, I secured funds to create the Dream Grants program, which provides $500,000 to support Wards 7 and 8 small and emerging businesses with grants of up to $10,000. Furthermore, as the Councilmember, I secured $400,000 in one-time local funds for the Department of Small and Local Business Development to award competitive grants for equitable food business incubator startups in Ward 8. Through securing these funds, we are able to set precedence in how to best support the viability and sustainable growth of small minority-owned businesses across the city. We have also introduced several bills that provide compliance and enforcement mechanisms to ensure equitable procurement and contracting opportunities. Providing contracts oversight ensures that Ward 8 residents can apply and receive contracts in all facets of new development projects, from construction contracts, to affordable retail leasing, to food incubators, to cleaning and security services, internships and salaried careers, all prioritizing Ward 8 residents.

11. The development of Poplar Point, which has been on-again, off-again for over a decade, will likely be of greater interest as projects like Capitol Riverfront, the 11th Street Bridge, and the South Capitol Street bridge are completed. How will you approach development pressures on this site? What would you want to see there?

Stuart Anderson: I have been advising Neighborhood Advisory Commissioners on what should be our shared interest in the Poplar Point development for about 2 years now. The 110-acre site is slated to be transferred to the District of Columbia from the federal government. Once the active National Park Service and the US Park Police facilities are relocated the property can be transferred to the District. Having been in a couple of meetings on the Poplar Point project, I know that the site must undergo a federal environmental impact analysis (EIS) and Small Area Planning (SAP) process. Poplar Point is envisioned to be the home of a variety of different uses including residential, retail, office space, entertainment venues, cultural areas, and park/open space uses.

Mike Austin: The Poplar Point development project has been stalled for long enough, but it will be more attractive once the 11th Street Bridge Park, the MLK Gateway, and the South Capitol Street Improvement projects are completed. In order to handle development pressures, we must be proactive, inclusive, and negotiate for community benefits and amenities while simultaneously preventing displacement, especially for our most vulnerable residents. That is why one of the areas I will champion is responsible development.

I would also reintroduce legislation like the Displacement Prevention Act that I co-wrote as a Legislative Director for Councilmember LaRuby May, which uses the Schedule H tax credit as a tool to help curb displacement. I also plan to convene policy experts and community members to help create the appropriate incentives to encourage responsible development in Ward 8 that brings the much needed amenities that we deserve.

Yaida Ford: First, I would like to see the environmental impact analysis completed. After this is completed, I would assess the best beneficial use for our community. As a Ward 8 resident, I long for us to reserve as much green space as possible for our children and families. So many African-American children lack access to green space and as the Councilmember for the Ward I would want to ensure that their interests are protected in the process.

Jeronda Hilton: Need further studies to respond.

Trayon White: The best description my vision and approach on development projects in Ward 8, is best exemplified in my contributions in the Council’s review of the comprehensive plan framework element. Economic growth in Anacostia should encourage choice not displacement, ensuring that development benefits everyone in an inclusive manner, especially those who are at the highest risk and results in positive public impact and equity for Ward 8 residents. During my term our Ward 8 legislative staff provided all of the language related to equitable development and equitable growth in the framework element. Specifically, in our approved text amendments, we addressed racial equity in the development process, enforcement of community-led participation mandates, public safety needs related to transportation equity. We added the need for cultural heritage preservation.

Prior to our Ward 8 efforts, the word “equity” was never included in the Comprehensive Plan. Moreover, we included text that detailed provisions to address displacement head- on. Our legislative contributions to the comprehensive plan were then followed by the introduction of a package of legislative proposals aimed at providing relief and resources for high displacement risk zones.