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Demolition Paves Way for New Shopping Center Women Break the Cycle of 23 Years and Counting
Domestic Violence
By Michelle B. PhippsEvans WI Staff Writer By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer
law enforcement. She said they threat,” she said. had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a vicstory, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assesspush forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further said about Marlow. training for law enforcement Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life Protecwho reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counsel“get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. case in such a way, the average “If we are ever going to eradiperson can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the viclogue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow Also present at the event was said. Mildred Muhammad, the exMarlow would also like to see wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatthe Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasthe founder of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilan organization that helps the dren about domestic violence,” survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. and their children. Marlow has worked to break “I lived in fear for six years. Six the of abuse in hat, her kicked family, Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8),cycle in a suit and hard years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the policies she off the initial demolition phase of the Skyland Shopping Center in Southeast not an easy Sept. thing26. to Barry, come inside out theiscrane, pushing will start that on Wednesday, helpedfor the construction of,” she said. Below, Mayor Vincent Gray process. crews get started. also attended the demolition. Mildred Muhammad said “I plan to take these policies to /Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah people who want to help a Congress and implore them to domesticand violence victimterms must tochange our laws,” said. be named becauseMarlow she works plication; is negotiating of how go into for “I will stop government, until these poliofbeitscareful agreement with they the District. the not District as the victim's life, and understand cies the are last passed.” Legislation leading to site disposi- does homeowner. thatwillshe may be in2013. “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached tion be introduced “We’re not getting guaranmode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net While several residents are tees from the city or developers,” “Before you get to 'I'm going ecstatic, four homeowners on Ft. Harris to killDrive you,'init Hillcrest started asare a verbal WI said, adding they have Baker not. hired experts who said there will Homeowners said they will be afbe damage. fected by redevelopment. Henry Fonvielle, president “We are so concerned about of developer Rappaport, disthe demolition that we asked the developers to buy these four agreed, saying that since the dehomes,” said Joanne Harris, a 20- velopment will be done in phases, year resident. damage will be minimal. The homes sit behind trees “The first phase will include in the back of the shopping the big box retail,” which will be center. Each was fortified with in the front, far from the homes, underpinnings, for more than $50,000, residents said. One ho- said Fonvielle. He said as developmeowner, Cherise Cole, pointed ment gets closer to the back, the to her tilted dining room chan- smaller housing units will have a delier and a slanted curtain rod lesser impact on Ft. Baker Drive because there’s a ravine “buffer” above the window. “All I know is our home between Skyland and the homes. is on pillars, and the soil is not The first phase begins in 2013. sturdy and it will get damaged As Skyland becomes a “reonce the vibration begins,” said ality,” these residents said they Cole who moved into the house may do something drastic. in 2006 with her husband, Ron, “We’re going toL.Y. haveMarlow to take and two young daughters. legal action against the govern“I just want to make sure my home is the same before Sky- ment and the developer if anyland’s development as after,” said thing happens to our homes,” another resident who asked not Cole said wi
Mayor Vincent C. Gray joined Ward Council member When L.Y.7 Marlow's 23-yearYvette Alexander Ward 8 old daughter told and her the father Council member Marion Barry of her daughter threatened her on Wednesday, Sept.of26their to begin life, and the life child, a she phased demolition of had the Skyknew something to be land Shopping Center, 18-acre done. Out of her an frustration with handling site at law theenforcement's intersections of AlaEmail comments to: of the situation, sheHope decided bama Avenue, Good Roadto rburke@ start the Road Savingin Southeast. Promise camand Naylor To paign. many residents in Ward 7’s Hillwashingtoninformer.com seems to beita was vicious cycle crest“Itcommunity, a long thatin coming. won't turn my family time loose,” Marlow said. Marlow “This is so exciting,” said shared herNeighborhood story with theComaudiAdvisory ence at 7B theRobin District Heights missioner Marlin who Domestic Violence Symposium worked with Hillcrest’s Skyland on May 7 at the District Heights Revitalization Taskforce, as the Municipal Center. The sympoShoe City building began to We represent victims of major sium was sponsored by the crumble after it was crunched medical malpractice such as Services byFamily the clawand of aYouth backhoe. The Sandra Robinson Jack Olender cerebral palsy. Center of the city of District taskforce worked with city offiAll 5 lawyers were again elected Heights and the National Hookcials and store owners to jump“Best Lawyers in America” 2012 Up of Black Women. Skyland’shas redevelopment for Karen Evans is a nurse/attorney startMarlow written a book, more than 23 years. Attorney/Pediatrician Harlow Case Karen Evans Melissa Rhea “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a “This community under-of Robert Chabon, M.D., J.D. is story about four generations Of Counsel. stands the definition of longis domestic violence. The book suffering,” said who acinspired by herGray, own69, experiences, knowledged Deputy Mayor Vicand those of her grandmother, tor Hoskins and Attorney Genher mother and her daughter. eral the she project’s SheIrvin saidNathan every for time reads acceleration. “When I came in excerpts from her book, she still In Memoriam office 21 months ago,words I made a Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. can not believe the came Wilhelmina J. Rolark promise we “Color would move the refrom her. Me Butterfly” The Washington Informer Newspaper development of Skyland forward won the 2007 National “Best THE WASHINGTON INFORMER PUBLISHER asBooks” quicklyAward. as possible, and today In Memoriam NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) Denise Rolark Sr. Barnes Dr. isCalvin W. Rolark, is further we’re keeping “I wasevidence just 16-years-old when published weekly on each Thursday. Wilhelmina J. Rolark my eye first blackened and my faith with that commitment.” Periodicals postage paid at Washing- STAFF THE WASHINGTON lips bled,” Marlow by said. Anchored Walmart, ton, D.C. and additional INFORMER mailing of- NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published Denise W. Barnes, Editor weekly on and Thursday. Periodicals fices. News advertising deadlinepostage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional the Elaine site willDavis-Nickens, be transformed presiinto mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. is Monday prior to publication. An- Shantella Y. Sherman, Assistant Editor dent ofsquare-feet the National Hook-Up 315,000 of retail that Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2000 by The nouncements must be received two of Blacknational-brand Women, said there is no includes retailers Washington Informer. All rights reserved. Send change of addressRonPOST Burke,MASTER: Advertising/ Marketing Director weeks to event. Copyright 2010 consistency in theshops way and domestic es toprior The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, and neighborhood resbyD.C. The20032. Washington All Lafayette IV,without Assistant PhotopermisEditor No partInformer. of this publication may be Barnes, reproduced written violencePlans issuesinclude are dealt taurants. 468with hous-by rights sionreserved. from thePOSTMASTER: publisher. TheSend Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of Khalid Naji-Allah, Staff Photographer ing units. Presently, the site is set change of addresses to Therates Washphotographs. Subscription are $30 per year, two years $45. Papers will be received to be conveyed to the developnot more than a3117 weekMartin after publication. MakeE.checks payable to: ington Informer, Luther John De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. ment team led by The Rappaport Dorothy INFORMER Rowley, Online Editor THE WASHINGTON 20032. No part of this publication may Companies, and William C. Smith 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. • Washington, D.C. 20032 be reproduced without written permisBrian Young, Design & Layout & Company. Phone: 202 561-4100 • Fax: 202 574-3785 sion from the publisher. The Informer E-mail: news@washingtoninformer.com Most delays were legal, as Newspaper cannot guarantee the return AssureTech /www.scsworks.com, Webmaster www.washingtoninformer.com Skyland tenants who lost busiof photographs. Subscription rates are Mable Neville, Bookkeeper nesses through eminent domain $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will PUBLISHER Thompson, Social Sightings columnist be received not more than a week after Mickey fought the actions. In 2011, seven Denise Rolark Barnes publication. Make checks payable to: Stacey Palmer, Social Media Specialist cases were related to Skyland. ToSTAFF REPORTERS day, the city awaits one decision THE WASHINGTON INFORMER Brooke N. Garner Managing Editor Tia C. Jones, Ed Laiscell, REPORTERS from the D.C. Court of Appeals. Carla Peay Luther King, Assistant Managing Editor Odell B. Ruffin, Larry Saxton, 3117 Martin Jr. Ave., S.E Ron Burke D.C. 20032Advertising and Marketing Mary Wells, Joseph Young “I don’t know if eminent Washington, Mable Whittaker Bookkeeper Misty Brown, Eve Ferguson, Joy FreemanPhone: 202 561-4100 domain works differently in Ward LaNita Wrenn Administration Coulbary, PHOTOGRAPHERS Gale Horton Gay, Barrington Fax: 574-3785 7,” said Skyland taskforce memJohn202 E. De Freitas Sports Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Salmon, Stacey Palmer , Charles E. Sutton news@washingtoninformer.com Victor Holt Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Maurice Fitzgerald, ber Paul Savage about D.C.’s www.washingtoninformer.com Zebra Designs, Inc. Layout & Graphic ,James Design Wright, JoanneJoseph Jackson,Young Roy Lewis, Robert power to seize private property Ken Harris /www.scsworks.com Webmaster Ridley, Victor Holt without owners’ consent, as NaCIRCULATION tional Park was built in less than PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Trantham two years, he said. John E. De Freitas, Victor Holt, Roy Lewis, In 2010, the development Khalid Naji-Allah, Shevry Lassiter team received approval of its Planned Unit Development ap4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com 4 Oct. 4, 2012 - Oct. 10, 2012 The Washington Informer
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We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
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