Mayor Bowser’s latest eviction proposal threatens to deepen D.C.'s affordability crisis by prioritizing developers over residents struggling to stay housed. Rolling back tenant protections and fast-tracking evictions—especially for those merely arrested, not convicted—will disproportionately harm the city’s most vulnerable, while doing little to address the root causes of unpaid rent. Instead of punitive measures, the city should enforce “First Source Hiring Agreements” and “Small Business Contracts” to increase income opportunities for D.C. residents. Bowser’s approach, combined with years of giveaways to developers, has already contributed to a 2024, $700 million deficit. It’s time for the D.C. Council to reject this misguided policy and demand real solutions that eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government while protecting affordable housing for all. If Mayor Bowser won’t stand up for D.C. residents, we must find leadership that will.

Ernest Johnson is a Democratic candidate for Mayor of the District of Columbia. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Maryland. He is currently completing a Master's Degree in Government at Harvard University.

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