Empower DC

10/16/2026

Update: Buwa Binitie of Faria Management was a no show to the meeting with tenant leaders that he agreed to. Tenants were (and are) ready to work towards better housing conditions!

 

Unsafe and unhealthy housing is, unfortunately, a citywide problem. Join Empower DC's Tenant Power Campaign to speak directly to the Dept of Buildings Strategic Enforcement Office about housing inspections and repairs. Wednesday, 10/21, 6 pm at Bread for the City SE or virtually on Zoom. RSVP & more info: EmpowerDC.org/Events

10/16/2026

JOIN US for a hybrid Environmental Justice 101 session on Tuesday, October 20 at 6pm in person at the Union Market Community Room or over Zoom! (empowerdc.org/events)

Learn more about Empower DC’s different environmental justice campaigns including issues of overconcentration of industrial land and DC’s historic environmental racism. We provide the context and also information on what you can do to fight for environmental justice in your community. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like any accommodations!

The contact for this event is Maritza at [email protected] or 771-208-4964

Hope to see you soon!

10/13/2026

In 2021 - after much organizing by residents like us - the DC Council amended the Comprehensive Plan (a 20-year plan that guides development) to require use of a “racial equity lens” in city planning and zoning.

As a result, the DC Zoning Commission developed a Racial Equity Tool which requires applicants to conduct community engagement and evaluate the racial equity impact of their projects. On October 26, the Zoning Commission is holding a public roundtable to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the racial equity tool and its implementation.

Join us to learn more, discuss racial equity in DC zoning and prepare testimony for the upcoming hearing. We have scheduled two online sessions:

Wednesday, October 14th
6:30-8:30PM

Friday, October 16th
12:00-1:00 PM

After you register at www.empowerdc.org/events, look out for a confirmation email with the Zoom link.

You can sign up for the Oct 26th Zoning roundtable at https://dcoz.dc.gov/service/watch-live-virtual-zcbza-hearingsmeetings
Select the drop down boxes as shown on the attached graphic.

10/05/2026

Hear the rest of this story and more on  the Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE) Dept. of Energy & Environment new dashboards.
 
Join DOEE Monday, October 19th  from 5:30-6:30pm virtually for a presentation of the new dashboards which show measurements from the District’s new air quality monitors and sensors. Join for a better idea of what air quality is like near where you live, work, and play.
 
RSVP Today in our Bio.

10/02/2026

09/16/2026

The DC Council (Human Services Committee) planned to consider a transfer of public land St. Elizabeth's to Dantes Partners - owned by Buwa Binitie of Faria Management. The District is spending significant resources to enforce the law at multiple Faria properties. Tenants spoke out about their personal experiences at Faria properties & the hearing was cancelled! Thanks to Councilmember Charles Allen and Councilmember Zachary Parker for speaking out!

09/16/2026

Landlords (and their attorneys) are blaming tenants for mismanagement and unsafe housing conditions but that's not the full story. "This man [Faria Management] is posting notices on our door... that I owe $3000 and some money. I have never been late on my rent!" "Management has changed about six times in the last year." DC needs changes to housing code enforcement to ensure buildings are not neglected to this extreme. We are demanding earlier interventions and problem solving that keep tenants in safe condition and preserve affordable housing.

09/16/2026

Karl Racine came to our press conference about legislative changes needed to improve DC's code enforcement process! He took photos, he reminded Councilmembers that he endorsed them, and he told all of us to be careful about what we say in public. When tenants were about to speak out THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with mismanagement and unsafe living conditions at Buwa Binitie properties, his client, he interrupted to speak from his place of "obvious bias."

09/09/2026

We’re excited to share that we will be participating at CEEJH INC 12th Annual Center for Engagement Environmental Justice & Health’s annual symposium! We look forward to learning alongside community leaders, advocates, and researchers and working together to build community power and strengthen environmental justice in the District. The symposium will be happening virtually September 14 to 16 and in person September 17-19 at Bowie State University. Register at bit.ly/CEEJH2026.

09/02/2026

Today DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a case against Faria Management for extreme housing neglect. Empower DC's Tenant Power Campign, DC Jobs with Justice , and DC tenants have been raising alarm bells about Faria for well over a year now!

DC tenants demand that DC government stop subsidizing slum housing; Dept of Building make repairs to keep tenants safe (not just issue fines!); and DC facilitates new owners to fix up the building, and protect tenants. We are asking Chairman Phil Mendelson to support the LIEN and STRONG Acts to improve enforcement of the housing code!