PARCEL 42 MUST BE ABOUT NEW-WAYS OF CONDUCTING PUBLIC HOUSING

In Shaw recently asked the long-overdo and quite appropos question regarding Parcel 42: [paraphrasing] "Isn't adding MORE low-income housing (Parcel 42 proposal) in an area with such extremely high-concentration of existing low-income housing, not such a good idea?" How will our community leaders and elected officials rise to the mandate that Parcel 42 MUST be different than those that came before?

In Shaw says recently, affably:

" ... Parcel 42 [...] presenters were suggesting 100% affordable housing. Doesn't the Susan Reitig House of Prayer building that's up have affordable housing aspects? And then across 7th St there is a post-riot affordable housing building, which across 8th from that building another affordable housing structure, and across R Street from that a public housing. Then across R/Rhode Island from Parcel 42 is senior affordable housing. So short of the 7-11 that intersection would be a concentrated area of affordable housing if this plan was chosen. I'm no city planner, but isn't this almost like concentrating poverty? And despite being structured to have retail or some commercial space on the first level the building on 7th and R (Lincoln-Westmoreland? Name escapes me now), there is little for profit business that I see. So something is wrong if pre-existing space is underperforming. ... "

How about some new responses to the issue of gun-fire and affordable housing? How about some substantive changes to the dangerous and ineffective ways in which public housing has been operated/executed in the past?

I solicit from DC elected leaders, including Councilmember Graham, Councilmember Evans, Mayor Fenty, the Chief of Police, and community leaders, starting with Mr. Padro, what ideas he and they intend to support to ensure that Parcel 42 does not become the gun-shot-haven that is the Westmoreland. I look forward to these leaders' offering of NEW THINKING AND DOING on this issue with substantive ideas to do parcel 42, right: NOT more of the same poor, public housing offerings that is much too-much a problem unto itself and others; and though my disposition on this issue is already vividly apparent, I'll say it again: often a gun-shot wound/death unto itself and unto others.