-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- ----- Original Message ----- From: Ruth Caplan To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 5:55 PM Subject: [a16-international-planning] Structural Adjustment in DC Greetings mobilizers, The local outreach committee formed as part of the Mobilization organizing in Washington DC has been making the link between structural adjustment by the World Bank and IMF in the global South and structural adjustment taking place here in the United States and especially in Washington DC. As part of this effort we have written to Mayor Anthony Williams and the DC City Council protesting the planned eviction of poor, Latino and African American tenants. The letter, approved by the Spokes Council, follows below. When we protest for global justice, we want to stand with our brothers and sisters in DC who are suffering injustice in the nation's capitol. In Struggle and solidarity, Ruth DA: March 29, 2000 TO: Mayor Anthony Williams and Members of the DC City Council FROM: Mobilization for Global Justice RE: Moratorium on Evictions We are writing to you in support of and in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at CARECEN (Central American Resource Center), the 1458 Columbia Road NW Tenant's Association and other community-based groups in Columbia Heights and in other low-income, immigrant-rich, people-of-color communities whose housing is threatened by actions by city officials, property owners and developers/investors. In the guise of holding slumlords accountable, the city is, in fact, threatening to remove tenants from their homes and allow these same slumlords to sell substandard buildings to developers who will profit handsomely from developing the land with commercial buildings and upper income housing. We understand that approximately 50 buildings are slated to be shut down. This would translate to the eviction/dislocation of up to 1,200 people, beginning as soon as early April, leaving them with virtually no resources nor recourse. We call on you to order and/or enact an immediate moratorium on all evictions. There needs to be full disclosure and opportunity for community hearings and input. This is in keeping with the mayor's community dialogues which were held last fall. It is also important to note that many of the tenants in question do not speak English and therefore require additional time and interpretative resources. We support the city administration taking legal action against the slumlords in this city, but such action must require slumlords to make all needed repairs to the buildings and to allow tenants to remain in the buildings rather than allowing owners to profit when their buildings are shut down and tenants evicted. It is time for those responsible for these deplorable housing conditions to be held accountable in this way and to be required to pay all fees and taxes owed the city. The Mobilization for Global Justice is made up of organizations based in the District and from around the country who have united in opposition to the destructive structural adjustment and lending policies of the IMF and World Bank. We are concerned that the same structural adjustment objectives of shrinking the public sector through budget cuts and privatization initiatives are being pursued in the United States in response to pressure from corporate interests that stand to benefit financially from such changes. Tragically, the poor bear the brunt of these insidious policies, both at home and abroad. As we mobilize for global justice, we stand with Columbia Heights and other District communities in their struggle for justice. We hope we can be proud of the action taken by the city administration and the City Council to ensure justice in the nation's capitol. We anticipate your response to our request for a moratorium on all evictions and for community hearings. Mobilization for Global Justice Office c/o Greenpeace 1436 U Street NW Washington DC 20009 <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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