If you want to go in definitions, let look at the intent. While it may not be reflectively helpful (or it might be) to the residents (not residence as you wrote) of Ivy City, it is meant at describing the viewpoint of why Brookland gets a different type of response and preferential treatment that the AREA gets. So it is not an "insult" but a VALUE MARKER (kind of like the value of various poker chips) that has been highlighted for years by our political "leaders".
The level of affluence is the delineation between rich and poor and the use of the word "poor" by Stephanie R is not meant as a personal downgrade to/of the people but as a reminder that because there wasn't much money/affluence/politically involved folks coming from that area, then they were treated as 4th/5th "class" residents. So, Stephanie R wasn't demeaning (making less than) but identifying the viewpoint and reflex/reactionary approach in our "leaders" constant approach to satisfying Brooklanders over the others -- They our "leaders" past and present have for years exhibited their disdain for and created the "less than value" of Ivy City and Trinidad's residents as well as all over the city where folks were ill positioned in life.
Now that we are straight about that, the people who you mentioned who were heads of departments should not favor one WARD over another and to suggest that says something about your thought process. And while they live here, that just shows that while they may be able to afford to luve elsewhere, they have combined their comfortabilty and prudence into choosing their residence; which is quite unlike others who would like to live elsewhere but only had Ward 5 wallets.
As to organizing -- once again I go to your thought process. I believe my friend (our newly discovered) White Eric tried to explain this earlier - all residents should have the same rights and attention given to us. We shouldn't have to organize at all but show up and give our input and if it makes sense as it usually overwhelmingly does - our "leaders" should get it -- but instead, they find ways to do what they want to to satisfy their campaign funders/ agendas. Getting our basic needs taken care of had become a job. Why should people have to fight so hard to get basic respect and services -- especially equality in education. So you should go "garnish" the courage to redirect your emails to where it should be addressed -- those friends who use you and you like the position because it strokes your ego and you have figured out how to fill your man bank account.
So while we are Ward 5 3 days/3 months/3 years or 4th generation like yourself, etc., the rule of thumb is to service the most injured and pregnant at the emergency room before we see someone for the common cold - like choosing kids over dog parks - from someone who has cats dogs and feeds the raccoon and possun and cats. The problem is that we have folks who are more interested in dog parks than Rec. Centers for our kids.
I have recently tried to stay out of the squabbles on this medium as they can be dangerous to one's mental capacity but I feel that it is important to respond.
First off Stephanie please understand that your use of the term poor is not helpful to the residence of the Trinidad and Ivy City neighborhoods but instead an insult. The word poor isn't one of financial situation but truly a condition making one less than other which is why the word is defined in ways such as:- less than adequate- exciting pity- inferior in quality or valueWhile some in those areas may not be as financially well off as others they are no different than our neighbors in Batex/Truxton Circle, Bloomingdale, Brentwood, Brookland, Eckington, etc.Now that I have that out of the way the issues which they face in many instances has been related to and continues to be the true lack of a real organizational structure which galvanizes power. It isn't by accident that the majority of our elected leadership on a Ward level has lived in certain areas. Taken a step further if you look at the individuals who usually obtain power via appointments and senior level positions within our government they have also for the most part come from the norther part of our ward. This has stated to change yet we still have a long way to go. Even within some of our stronger communities (which is based not on financial viability but their level of organization) there has still been a failure to truly galvanize the power within our communities for which I can give several examples such as:- about 4 years ago the Chair and Vice Chair of the DCDSC as well as the DCYD's were ward 5 residents. Yet our power base within the party wasn't use to its fullest potential.- in the last 6 years several high ranking government officials have lived/or live in the ward including the Chancellor, Deputy Mayor for Education (Wright), DOES Director (Dr. Webb), Head of the Zoning Commission, Director of the Mayor's Office on Policy & Legislative Affairs, etc.We haven't as a ward let alone in many communities been able to truly organize and use our power for the betterment of the ward. One of the reasons is because of the many egos within the ward which continues at this current time. This has just passed down in many of our neighborhoods which aren't as well organized such as Trinidad/Ivy City. We still continue to galvanize together to fully garner our power and come up with items which may be in the best interest of us all and much like the children in the White House and on the Hill have forgotten what compromise truly is. It isn't having the other side cave and while one side gets 100% of their way. It is working together to come up with real solutions. From there it is getting out of the mindset of always saying no and working to instead say how about we not do that and do this instead. Again as I have said in the past this is how things are done in the parts of the city which others like to throw out are getting more of the things they wish for. They don't always agree but they know that they must work for something greater than self and as a collective.With this in mind however things are starting to slowly change throughout our ward and we will all hopefully see the benefit. This such as the Ward 5 Industrial Land Use Task Force which includes the folks such as Commissioner Lewis and some of the work that others in the community are doing which isn't getting the notice now is moving us in that direction. It unfortunately takes folks realizing that they don't know it all or that age or time in the community doesn't mean that your way is always the best way.Our city as a whole is moving in a new direction with the more than 1100 new residents per month moving in and many of them are finding a place in ward 5. Our ward and more importantly our neighborhoods are growing and expanding and the best way for us to continue the improvement of them all is the find ways to unite. Commissioner Lewis is a wonderful example of how things are moving in the right direction as a rather new home owner in her community. So are items such as the Union Market which are shining new light on the beauty of our ward which many were not aware of in years past. My wife and I have become a regular on the weekends and it is great to not only began to see more and more of our neighbors from not only ward 5 but the city at large again venture into our community but also others from around the region who have increasingly began to ask more questions about our neighborhoods. It is the fact that we have new businesses opening up and garnering attention while fitting in nicely with mainstays such as Brookland Hardware, Jimmy Valentines, etc.What is needed now is to not look at what hasn't happen in our ward and instead work to make plans to improve what we now have while making each community stronger. The work of groups such as the W5COE is great and while I probably won't own a dog park anytime soon the fact that a group of neighbors have joined together to create a dog park association is something that may not have been talked about just 5 years ago. With the relaunch of the Ward 5 Business Organization and with the great foundations in all of our communities it is time to build.Commissioner Lewis I not only look forward to working with you on the Ward 5 Industrial Land Task Force but also in many other ventures to come as we continue to grow our greater Ward 5 Community.Neighbors remember "WE ARE WARD 5". No matter if you have been in this community for 3 minutes, 3 days, 3 years or 3 generations we are a ward and it is time to become to solution oriented blueprint that leads the city and the region.With that I will again fade into the background and get back to work.--
Eric J. Jones, MSF
ejjones.threed@gmail.com
"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action."
El Haj Malik El Shabazz__._,_.___
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