SW dc Action
We're a group of SW Waterfront residents who organize and advocate for a more equitable, anti-racist, and environmentally sustainable neighborhood. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.
We meet the 1st Sunday of the month. Email swdcaction@gmail.com for the location and time.
QUICK LINKS:
Meeting With Chairman Mendelson On 4th & M
August 9, 2022
On Tuesday, August 9th, members of the coalition to purchase the lots at 4th & M Street, had a 20-minute meeting with Chairman Mendelson to discuss the effort. Chairman Mendelson said the meeting cleared up confusion he had from a July Meeting Up With Mendo event, where he was asked about the effort. Mendelson asked if Ward 6 Councilmember, Charles Allen, supported the effort, insinuating that he would not get involved unless the Councilmember was supportive.
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PRESS RELEASE: Activists Deliver Petition With Nearly 1,000 Signatures To Mayor
June 29, 2022
On Wednesday, June 29th, activists belonging to the groups SW Action, and Ward 3 Housing Justice, delivered a petition, containing nearly 1,000 signatures to the Mayor Muriel Bowser, calling on her to purchase two lots for sale in Southwest, D.C. and transfer ownership to the Douglass Community Land Trust.
On June 24th, 2022, while on the Politics Hour radio show with Kojo Nnamdi, the Mayor was asked whether she would support the petition, to which she replied “I’ll certainly review it.” Later that day, a meeting request with the Mayor was made via her website. When the activists delivered the petition on the 29th, they reiterated their call for a meeting with the Mayor. The activists hope that the Mayor and other elected and government officials will act on this unique opportunity for residents to collectively own and steward land in the city.
PRESS RELEASE: SW Action Holds Rally Urging D.C. Government to Designate Land in SW for a Community Land Trust
June 6, 2022
SW Action released a press release on June 6th calling on the DC government to purchase the lots at 425 and 375 M Streets SW and transfer ownership to the Douglass Community Land Trust to allow community ownership and community-led stewardship of the parcels.
Rally For 4th & M - June 3rd, 5-7pm
June 3, 2022
More than 100 people attended the rally on June 3rd calling on the DC Government to purchase the lots and transfer ownership to the Douglass Community Land Trust to allow community ownership and community-led stewardship. Speakers included Coy McKinney, member of SW Action, Kiesha Davis, SW resident and member of Douglass CLT board, Vaughn Perry, President of the Board of the Douglass CLT, and Thelma Jones, SW Action member and SW resident since 1976.
Rally For 4th & M - June 3rd, 5-7pm
May 22, 2022
Join us on Friday, June 3rd, 5-7pm at 425 M Street SW as we hold a rally to express how much this space means to us and to keep the pressure on elected and government officials to make this happen!
Press release: DC GOV should purchase lots at 4th & M
May 10, 2022
The lots at 4th & M, 425 and 375, are on the market. They were initially purchased for $10. We are calling on the DC Government to purchase the land and transfer ownership to the Douglass Community Land Trust to allow for community-led and community-owned development. The lots have become a vital gathering space in the neighborhood that provide a place to gather, obtain fresh, locally grown produce for people of all incomes, and support small, predominantly Black and Brown, artists and vendors. To sign the petition, click here.
Letter Regarding Bethel Redevelopment
March 14, 2022
In response to the loss of 10 significantly sized trees on public land, the minimal amount of money paid by the developer, and the lack of transparency involved in all of this, we wrote the letter linked below.
The loss of our tree canopy is not just an environmental issue, but also a racial one as well, since people of color are more likely to be exposed to the heat island effect than Whites. Although the Black population has decreased 20%, due to developments like these that offer minimal amounts of affordable housing, there is still a significant Black population that live in the area that deserve to receive the benefits an established tree canopy provides. If you agree with the concerns listed, please sign on in support. Link to letter.
Letter On Latest Plans To Redevelop Greenleaf Without a Promise For 'Build First'
March 9, 2022
Residents of Greenleaf Gardens were given a resolution that did not include a promise to fulfill the promise of "Build First" in order to prevent displacement during its redevelop. We wrote this letter and sent it to the DC Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners asking that they vote against the resolution and ensure that the promise Build First is fulfilled: Link to letter.
OP-ED: Expanding A Community-led Model For Permanently Affordable Housing
March 1, 2022
Our latest on why it makes sense to expand the Douglass Community Land Trust into Southwest with quotes from Kymone Freeman of We Act Radio, Silvia Salazar, a resident and Board member of Douglass CLT, and analysis from the Council Office of Racial Equity on how public land should be disposed. Link to article.
Get To Know SW Action!
October 11, 2021
Don't know much about SW Action? Check out this document to learn about what we've been doing since forming in December 2019 and where we hope to go in the future. If you care about racial justice and environmental sustainability, get in touch!