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

• Councilmember Brooke Pinto

• Councilmember Brianne Nadeau

• Councilmember Phil Mendelson

Letters to other DC Council members

• Councilmember Elissa Silverman (At-Large)

• Councilmember Robert White (At-Large)

• Councilmember Anita Bonds (At-Large)

• Councilmember Christina Henderson (At-Large)

• Councilmember Mary Cheh (Ward 3)

• Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4)

• Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5)

• Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6)

• Councilmember Vincent Gray (Ward 7)

• Councilmember Trayon White (Ward 8)

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