As a recently former resident of Capitol Park, I can tell you that the situation with the displacement of residents of The Griswold is a very upsetting, problematic and poorly managed issue from their perspective and from the perspective of many other community members. The building has been the home base for these seniors and people on disability for years and they consider their neighbors to be family. The pharmacy is around the corner. The bus station is two blocks away. The fruit truck comes by daily [[weather permitting). The Walmart bus would pick them up periodically for shopping runs. A number of other nearby stores provided food and amenities. They and residents of the other senior buildings in the neighborhood would gather daily in the park to talk, have lunch, do tai chi, have aerobics class, play chess, play music, cook-out and play with their grandkids. The idea that this area is some abandoned area, devoid of human activity is totally false propaganda.

Upon learning that they had been given one-year to vacate, residents of The Griswold hired legal help to assist their negotiations. The initial agreement made last summer secured continued occupancy for the 10 most elderly residents [[people in their 90's) as well as housing relocation assistance and moving assistance. Predictably, the way this has played out: Residents were not given any assistance in finding new homes beyond a phone number they could call. As far as moving supplies, they were given boxes and masking tape. Thankfully, movers were provided. The housing voucher process has been long, delayed and provides only $750 for rent. Since the new rent will be upwards of $1150, the 10 most elderly residents now have to leave as well. During the transition, illegal construction in the building while residents are still present created dust, noise and debris debris in the hallways and common areas, causing respiratory issues and other health problems. I know of numerous instances where residents have had to chase out construction workers knowing that they were in violation of housing regulations.

This idea that there is no room for seniors or other low-income residents Downtown is completely enraging. There are dozens of unoccupied buildings Downtown crying out for tenants. Of course I fully understand that it is much cheaper, easier and faster to kick out some poor black people than invest resources where they are actually needed: to rehab not-in-use properties.

That video is an unwatchable attempt to sweep the displacement of seniors and disabled people under the rug. As another example of these lame attempts to look good: https://www.facebook.com/citizensofc...313902/?type=1

"Yea, we should probably throw in some black people on the poster in front of the building where we kicked out all those black people"