See this letter-to-the-editor in the Thursday, October 29, 2009, Examiner from Volita Russell, Math and Science GED Instructor at YouthBuild Public Charter School. See her profile here: http://www.ybpcs.org/aboutus.html .
Ms. Russell may very well be referring to the lively Monday, 10/05/2009, Bates Area Civic Associaton (BACA) meeting — at which the BACA members voted to oppose LAYC/YB coming to the JF Cook School on the unit block of P Street NW.
My observation is that Ms. Russell, in her letter below, only mentions the most fringe of stated concerns at the meeting.
Other concerns that were raised at that BACA meeting could be readily labeled as valid and not fringe.
Letters from Readers
October 29, 2009
Opposition to charter school doesn’t make sense
Ward 5 residents showed their true colors during a meeting with Mayor Adrian Fenty. The topic of opening a new YouthBuild Public Charter School in an old vacant school in Shaw/Dunbar was on the agenda. About 30 students and staff from YouthBuild, where I work as an instructor and college placement specialist, came out to show the community why the school would benefit them.
They didn’t really want to hear us because their minds were already made up. So we sat there quietly listening to many resident discuss why they did not want our new school in their neighborhood. I grew more disappointed, upset, angered and surprised at what I heard.
They didn’t really want to hear us because their minds were already made up. So we sat there quietly listening to many resident discuss why they did not want our new school in their neighborhood. I grew more disappointed, upset, angered and surprised at what I heard. I didn’t think the comments could get any more ignorant until I heard that they do not want more teens in the area because it would mean more trash, even though they do want to add retail development. Our students, only one of whom was able to speak during the chaotic meeting, were more respectful and mature than the adults. I just don’t understand why a community challenged with drugs, gangs, trash, and the homeless would not support a school whose mission and curriculum is designed to educate our urban youth to rise above such tribulations.
Volita Russell
Washington
Bates Area Civic Association 
If she thinks so poorly of Ward 5 residents, why does she want the school/social program to be located amongst us? And, obviously, she misrepresents (or simply doesn’t care about) the community’s concerns about being saturated with social services. It’s a very disappointing letter that, unfortunately, is very much in keeping with LAYC’s high-handed approach to this neighborhood.
“I just don’t understand why a community challenged with drugs, gangs, trash, and the homeless would not support a school whose mission and curriculum is designed to educate our urban youth to rise above such tribulations.”
I guess if they had visited the community earlier, they would know why.
I was sitting next to 3 of the woment that night at the meeting. I tired to explain to them that it is nothing against the orginization or the children, but the manner is which this went down in addition to the number of social services we already have. I also explained that there is a lot in this neighborhood (drugs and bus loads of homeless people that get dropped off on my street each day) that wouldn’t be condusive to children. None of them were interested in what I was saying and kept saying that we were all racist. I also explained that if it was just a school and not a facility with housing it would be more accepted by the neighborhood. I also asked them where they lived and if they were familiar with the area. None of them lived nearby and 2 weren’t even in from the District.
I also support youthbuild at the school; while empathetic toward the folks who opppose the school, I am painfully aware that DC has loads of kids who need the opportunity to succeed that youthbuild offers.
These discussions do get scary — i would be nervous to go to a community meeting and say this because i know i would be attacked. Once i promoted a social service provider at a neighborhood community meeting and was surrounded by angry community folks screaming at me.
And yes, I pass the great litmus test) I live in the neighborhood, have lived here for twenty years, pick up trash, have been mugged, live around the corner from public housing, and I get the fact that some teens are way scary and not nice.
Yes, I would rather live near a great charter school serving the best and brightest with tons of cool stuff going on there. I get that. But I also get that DC has a permanent underclass, a community that will be served and uplifted by youthbuild and this underclass won’t go away if we don’t take action.
Now, I will duck my head.
RW – I love how our elected officials now are raising all kinds of alerts. Yet, our leaders FAILED to monitor who was being awarded the RFP. The DC Government made public that LAYC was awared the property in June of 09. The DC government asked for public comments from June 30 – July 16, 2009. I have yet to see our council member being held accountable, or our ANCs or our Civic Association leaders. I support your comments as well RW. So we got what most consider a lemon, lets make lemonade.
I’m tired of the fact that this neighborhood always has to “make the best of it.” That sends a clear message to the city to keep doing what they’re doing. How about a homeless shelter in MM Washington, there’s a real need for those and no one else wants them. And people will grouse a bit but they’ll get over it. I get the point that people here could have paid more attention to the RFP, but does anyone really think that would have made a difference if we had commented in time?? We (the BACA civic association) did make clear our preference and the city did not care one bit. But instead of now presenting a united front to say ebough is enough, we’re just asking for more of the same by blaming each other. We’re bound to repeat this whole sorry experience the next time the city wants to dump unwanted social services on us.
The “process” was screwy. Though individuals submitting the RFPs are “recommended” to seek community involvement, they are not required to do so. The DC Government has clearly established a process by which they can force something in a community even though the community may not want it. I don’t know if expressing opposition during the period in which the process allows for opposition would have made a difference. In regards to M.M. Washington, a lesson we can learn from LAYC is to watch that RFP more closely and submit the formal comments of support/opposition for the RFP selected for underwritting. So how to we monitor and take part in the process rather than get screwed by it?
Ps. Sorry – I agree that the tone and choice of words used by Ms. Russell in her letter was not a smart choice. That was not a good way to teach to a community that is largely opposed to this project and hostile at times. Though it is her right to express her frustration and anger as many have done so, it was probably not a good way to foster good will.
In the end, I suspect LAYC, Cook, Hanover and Bates will be paired together by the efforts or force of the Mayor’s office. We don’t need additional social services, but I will certainly welcome new neighbors. I will certainly be patient with LAYC and help them help the community. I do feel the Mayor’s administration has mislead most groups involved in the situation we are in now. I wish LAYC the best future possible. I will also remember the Mayor’s choices the next time I enter the voter’s computer terminal.