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DC Department of Housing and Community Development Rejects VNSTA’s FOIA

Today, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development rejected a Freedom of Information Act request by the Van Ness South Tenants Association.

The request submitted by VNSTA states:

We request the most up-to-date draft version of the Rent Control Housing Database mandated by DC law under §42–3502.03c. Public Accessible Rent Control Housing Database.

We request access to an operational version of the database so we can review its functioning before it is released to the public later this year. (Date Range for Record Search: From 01/01/2023 To 07/25/2023)

The reason for the request is approximately eight years have passed since the DC Council approved legislation mandating a user-friendly, public database of rents. Such a database would enable DC residents to search for information about rents in various apartment buildings.

Reports have indicated that the database, which is slated to be released this fall, does not contain historical data — i.e., it currently is not a useful research tool. If true, this also means that DC renters, policymakers and the press cannot investigate systematic overcharging by some companies in the rental housing industry. While some residents, like those of 3003 Van Ness who were harmed, have received restitution for overcharges, thousands of other DC renters may not know that they were overcharged.

Tenant association presidents release letters to City Council regarding voucher approval process

The presidents of eight Northwest DC tenant associations, joined by other area residents, today released letters to every member of the DC Council, asking them to vote no on fast-tracked “emergency” bills that would prohibit the DC Housing Authority from conducting criminal background checks on applicants for taxpayer-subsidized housing vouchers. The DC Council will vote on the legislation on Tuesday, July 12th.

The letters specifically ask councilmembers to consider such legislation through the normal legislative process, including hearings, testimony, debate, markup and final vote. The letters state that it is inappropriate to fast-track legislation that may jeopardize public safety without thorough deliberation.

Letters to the three cosponsors of the legislation

Letters to other DC Council members

The letters are signed by the presidents of eight northwest DC tenant associations, along with other active members of their working group. The signers are:

  • Harry Gural, President, Van Ness South Tenants Association

  • Carren Kaston, President, Sedgwick Gardens Tenant Association

  • David Luria, President, Brandywine Tenant Association, co-founder, DC Area Tenants Association Consortium

  • Bill Hawkins, President, Kenmore Residents Association, co-founder, DC Area Tenants Association Consortium

  • Amy Schussheim, President, Connecticut House Tenants Association

  • Iris Lipkowitz, President, 4000 Mass Tenants Association

  • Karen Mitchell, President, Saratoga Chesapeake Tenants Association

  • Armande Gil, President, Parkwest Tenant Association

  • Kim Farmer, co-owner, 4600 Connecticut Avenue condominium

  • Teri Huet, resident, Avalon the Albemarle

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VNSTA requests update on aggressive dogs following Dec. 7th attack

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The Van Ness South Tenants Association today sent a letter to Josh Luper, General Manager of Equity Residential for 3003 Van Ness, requesting an update on the vicious attack by two extremely aggressive dogs on a smaller dog in the underground garage on December 7th.

In an email to residents on December 20th, Mr. Luper told residents that if their animals pose a threat to other animals or people, Equity Residential may require it to be removed from the community. There have been no further communications from Equity Residential since then, raising concerns by VNSTA security working group members that no action may have been taken.

For these reasons, the letter from VNSTA requests an update from Equity Residential.