DC AG candidate Ryan Jones will take on developers, urban removal

Ryan Jones, a DC native running to replace Karl Racine as the Attorney General of Washington DC, says he is fully aware of the extreme frustration and growing resentment among permanent DC residents over out-of-control development and urban removal (gentrification).

[BBN interviews DC AG candidate Ryan Jones on development, housing insecurity #DC #Ward5]

In an interview with Capitol Intelligence/BBN at his residence at the Bozzuto managed The Modern at Art Place at Fort Totten in Ward 5, Jones said as DC attorney general that he would make sure that all developers will be held legally accountable for all affordable housing commitments they made to receive billions in tax and zoning code exemptions.

DC developers such as Bozzuto and Trammell Crow are required to earmark circa 20 percent of units for affordable housing but in practice only provide a fraction of the legally mandated set aside.

The Howard East Neighbors (HEN) led by Harvard law graduate Robert E. Haferd; Brookland Manor Coalition of Minnie Elliott and Save McMillan Park led by Daniel Wolkoff organized a virtual online and in person protest at the home of Ward 5 Council Member Kenyan McDuffie citing his complete neglect in protecting low-income housing at the Brookland Manor on Rhode Island Avenue and Ward 5 cultural and historical landmarks such as the Howard University School of Divinity and the “A Survivor’s Journey” mural on the side of the old Brookland Café on 12th Street and Otis NE.

Kenyan McDuffie had been a candidate for DC Attorney General until a challenge by another DC AG candidate, Bruce Spiva, successfully kicked McDuffie off-the-ballot for lack of standing.

Brian Schwalb, the former co-managing partner of Baltimore’s Venables law firm, has been endorsed by his former law partner Racine for DC AG.