[WardFive] RIP TENAC CHAIR JIM McGRATH

It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of long time tenant’s rights advocate Jim McGrath.  Jim was not only one of the loudest voices advocating for Tenants in Washington DC, he was also a strong supporter of many other causes, including DC Statehood.  Together Jim and I organized a few rallies denouncing then-candidate Trump’s hateful language towards immigrants.  Not long ago, while peacefully exercising his 1^st Amendment right to petition his government, he was assaulted by a Trump supporter.  Jim always wanted to make sure every community was protected and informed, and would often translate all the literature he put out in Spanish, knowing that a large number of the people he wanted to help spoke limited English.  I had the honor and privilege of collaborating with Jim, and had him on the April 2016 edition of the DC Statehood Today show: https://youtu.be/gYXO2qF4IbU (Jim starts at 9:20).

 

May he rest in peace, and my deepest condolences to his family, and his large extended family in DC and beyond.

 

We will miss Jim. 

 

Franklin Garcia

US Representative (Shadow) for the District of Columbia

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW C-09

Washington DC 20004 

franklin.garcia@dc.gov

202-727-9110 (Office)

 

From: Councilmember Anita Bonds [mailto:ABonds@public.govdelivery.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2020 5:02 PM
To: fgarcia@maestropc.com
Subject: On the Passing of TENAC Founder Jim McGrath

 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER ANITA BONDS   Councilmember Anita Bonds Statement on the Death of TENAC Founder Jim McGrath    WASHINGTON, DC – “I am saddened to learn of the passing of Jim McGrath. Jim will fondly be remembered as the founder of DC Tenants Advocacy Coalition, known as TENAC, the District preeminent tenant’s rights organization which fought forcefully for the rights of tenants. For decades, Jim tirelessly promoted the rights of tenants through testimony at the Council, in support of rent control measures, and for the creation of obtainable affordable housing. My thoughts and prayers are extended to his entire family and hope they find comfort in knowing of the many lives he benefited through his advocacy.” James P. “Jim” McGrath passed away peacefully in Washington, DC on March 3, 2020, age 82. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held in Washington, DC in the Spring/Summer 2020.