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RESIDENT EVICTED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF U STREET

Author

Erica Childs-Johnson & DC Radio Co-op

Date Created

20 Nov 2003

More details...

Many current DC residents are concerned that they will be pushed out as Mayor Anthony Williams actively recruits 100,000 new residents to the District.

Longtime resident of the historic U Street Corridor Renford Grandison and his son have lost their home as constrution crews and bulldozers pave the way for high-rise luxury condominuiums. In late October, police officers, were looking for a suspect in a nearby armed robbery. They searched the home of Grandison, known as Rennie, on Florida Avenue, near Cardozo senior high school, without a warrant. The police returned a few days later with a warrant, and threw Rennie's personal items into trash bins after getting the fire department to condemn the building.

Audio

Rennie's neighbors gathered Monday night, at the Washington DC office of the American Friends Service Committee to tell Rennie how outraged they are about how the police treated him.
[....TAPE...]

Neighbors who have known Rennie as an avid collector and repair man for years, were shocked to see network news coverage claim Rennie's house was full of stolen goods. Delores Armistead teaches next door at the Booker T Washington Public Charter School.
[....TAPE...]

Many of Rennie's personal belongings disappeared from his home including a collection of old American currency, his girlfriend's diamond ring, and his large record collection was destroyed during the raid. But this is not what upset him the most...
[....TAPE...]

Many of those in attendance say their rights could also be violated, especially during a period of rapidly rising real estate prices and the development of Columbia Heights and U Street. Nina whose mother is friends with Rennie, says the city made Rennie into a criminal in order to get his property.
[....TAPE...]

Debra Thomas, the ANC Commissioner for the area, who has worked to protect low income residents from displacement for years, says community members need to stand up for their rights.
[....TAPE...]

Rennie is being represented pro-bono by the People's Law Resource Center.

Concerned neighbors are planning to testify at the Citizen's Advisory Council meeting with the 3rd District police force on November 26th. There are also plans to hold a candlelight vigil in front of the 3rd District police headquarters on December 2.

For more information, or if you have information on the case, call the American Friends Service Committee 202-299-1050, that's 202-299-1050.

FOR MW, THIS IS Erica Childs-Johnson. thanks to Ingrid Drake and Selina Musuta for help on this report.

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Comments

Many illegal condemnations in same area

20 Nov 2003

by Luke

Reply to this comment

Unfortunately, Rennie's case is no isolated matter. Although it's the most outrageous of the illegal evictions, there have been many others. Too many residents of apartments on 14th st have come home from work to find their buildings "condemned" by the fire department to make way for gentrification.

Apparently, it's the Colombia Heights Metro station that's feeding this real estate frenzy, since yuppies don't ride the bus but do use the train. Back in 2000,you might remember, Mayor Williams lauched his "hot properties" initiative aimed at clearing "code violating" housing near that Metro by condemning and closing buildings.

Although we turned back the thrust of that offensive and at least two of the targetted buildings were purchased by their tenants, this campaign appears to have returned in a more stealthy manner, namely no-warning condemnations presumably aimed at getting residents of OTHER buildings to move out En Masse to save their posessions.

If so, Rennie's case corrosponds to teh massacre of one village in palestine by teh Irgun in 1948 to encourage other Palestinians to abandon their homes. On horrible event is intended to scare away thousands of others and clear the way for teh occupiers to redevelop the land.

We all know who the occupiers are in DC-the real estate barons and their yuppie customers. Both sellers and buyers of upscale condos in Colombia Heights(such as the one at 14th and FL) should be held just as responsable as their minions in the police and fire departments for the assault on Rennie's house and all the other unlawful evictions.

In other words, the gentrifiers have declared war on the poor, and they intend to wage this war with armed aggressors such as the cops who stormed Rennie's humble home.

Re: RESIDENT EVICTED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF U STREET

21 Nov 2003

by a

Reply to this comment

i heard this report. what is interesting is the role of the police. the police have some support for protection but they also have this dual role of 'improving' the city (as defined by a particular group of people who like 5 star restaurants, sports teams, fox news, hi-tech applications to war and entertainment...)
they protect 'public order' (keep the bmw shiny, etc.)

it may be changing but the disorganization of the communitys means change policies too often are set by the business community.

it would be interesting if the 'booker t washington school' could possibly provide a lesson on this sort of relevant topic, though washington, unlike dubois (sic?)---- thought more practical skills were important to learn as opposed to say 'people's law'.

it would also be interesting to know what the 'business community' in general thinks about dc development. WISH has on their web site one poll of business owners, who seem to be the 'small business' types. they might have a different view than other types. all those places on U street also; one wonders how much they provide to the city as opposed to put in their pockets. some do benefits and provide culture, and many may just eke out a living. they may pay a few taxes to help fund schools, and stadiums.

then there was the 'citizens summit'. they said it was for example more female and older. how representative of a sample was it of public opinion; how much of it will be ignored.