Letter for sign on: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S9PX1J0zYfKEI264xue0e3N-L4bJyfDxDwusMGR28r0/edit

Park Morton's Equity Plan: https://metrodcdsa.slack.com/files/U010B18JXA5/F01888TPM29/parkmortonwayforwardv7v2.pdf?origin_team=T5ZV3MTFS&origin_channel=GE2PJ490S

Since February, a group of us in Park View has been working with residents of Park Morton, a public housing community on Morton St NW and Park Rd NW, to combat displacement. Park Morton has been a home for low-income, mostly Black residents of Park View since 1961. Today, many of the residents have lived there for two, three, or four generations.

In 2007, DC made plans to redevelop Park Morton. At first, residents were promised that they would be provided alternative housing in Park View while their new buildings were constructed, and then given first rights to return to their home. However, DC Housing Authority is now moving forward with redevelopment without an alternative site for Park Morton residents, due to a series of legal delays and broken promises. Long-time residents are being moved to locations all over the DMV, breaking up the community. Many residents do not want to leave, but due to pressure from DCHA, feel they have no choice. Many who still live there fear that if they leave, they may not be able to come back, and that their community will be permanently ruptured.

Park Morton residents have created their own plan for redevelopment, the Park Morton Equity Plan. This plan includes demands that the city secure or build alternative housing in Park View before relocating any more residents, that they have the first right to return to the redeveloped community, that they have the opportunity to co-own the new properties, and that they are given employment and other social support.

At this point, Park Morton has lost 40 families, and residents fighting to stay are asking their neighbors in Park View to stand in solidarity with them. After talking with them, we’re reaching out to community members and organizations like MDC DSA to see if you’d be open to getting on a call with us to talk about ways you’d be willing to support Park Morton.

This could mean anything in a range of actions: from simply agreeing to have your name on a list of endorsers, to releasing a statement of support, to helping build connections to other local influencers in Park View, to contacting policymakers to voice your support. Any amount you are willing to participate would be greatly appreciated, and no action is too small.

Other orgs that have signed on:

DC for Democracy
DC for Reasonable Development
OneDC
EmpowerDC
LinkUP
DC Grassroots Planning Coalition
Love & Solidarity Collective
Bread for the City
Garfield Terrace Residents & Council