Hello Everyone, ( We hope you are enjoying this rainy seasonal weekend weather!)

Letter to the Editor
The Washington Post
letters@washpost.com

Steve Thompson’s article underscores an alarming and indefensible failure in D.C.’s approach to affordable housing. The fact that so-called “affordable” apartments now exceed $1 million per unit to construct is not just unsustainable—it’s outrageous.

This is further evidence that Mayor Bowser’s housing strategy is completely out of touch with the lived reality of most District residents. While the city pours hundreds of millions into the Housing Production Trust Fund, we see little oversight and even less affordability. Developers are gaming the system, racking up extravagant costs, and walking away with profits, while the people who need affordable housing the most are left waiting.

There is no justifiable reason why taxpayers should be asked to subsidize $1 million apartments under the false promise of affordability. We must demand an immediate audit of all Housing Production Trust Fund expenditures, freeze new luxury-affordable projects, and refocus the city’s housing investments toward cost-effective, community-based development.

It’s time for leadership that prioritizes working families over political donors and real estate interests. The District can and must do better.

Sincerely,
Ernest E. Johnson
Candidate for Mayor of the District of Columbia
Chair, Friends of the Frank Reeves Center

friendsofthefrankreevescenter.com

ernestjohnsonformayor2026.com "Wear The Mission"