I haven't read all 20+ pages of this thread, but I live very close (less than a minute walk) to the planned affordable housing sites. Many of my neighbors, including myself, would welcome affordable housing in the neighborhood. I WANT my kids, who go to Lafayette, to be exposed to more socioeconomic diversity (and if that comes with racial diversity, all the better too). But the problem is that we've seen no plans from the city about how to deal with a sudden population influx. Most importantly, Lafayette is already overcrowded - where the heck are they going to put all the extra kids? If the project is going to move forward without school re-zoning, then part of the new community center should actually be space for PK/K and then have the current Lafayette site be grades 1-5 to make room for the influx of kids. Sort of like the Peabody/Watkins schools.

Additional concerns would include making the E4 bus more frequent (presumably many in the new housing would commute via Friendship Heights metro to work) and making some kind of deal about parking/cars with the apartment residents so that we don't have traffic congestion as people look for parking on surrounding streets.

Because our teachers and first responders should be afforded the opportunity to live in the neighborhoods they serve rather than enduring hour + commutes.

Anonymous wrote:What did people think of the Post's article on the CC neighborhood in DC resisting affordable housing?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/07/09/chevy-chase-dc-affordable-housing-community-center/

“We’re not against affordable housing,” Chevy Chase Voice co-founder Sheryl Barnes said in an interview. “We just want some proof that we need more of it in Ward 3 and this isn’t a fig leaf for a developer giveaway.”

I didn't know the CC demos or history either:
"Chevy Chase has less than 1 percent of the city’s dedicated affordable housing units, according to D.C.’s Office of Planning. Its residents are also overwhelmingly White in a city that is 45 percent Black — and that’s by historical design. Founded by Francis G. Newlands, a former U.S. senator and avowed white supremacist, the neighborhood kept Black people out for decades through racial covenants that barred their homeownership."

There should be no affordable housing in cc. Why should there be? No one would benefit. It’s for rich people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Spend money making sure the facilities are in good condition and the schools are appropriately staffed. The toughest part of creating "excellent public schools" is having a student body where a critical mass (hopefully a large majority) of students are focused on doing well academically. If most of them come from two parent households where both parents went to college (likely graduate/professional school too) this part is pretty easy. Otherwise it can be a big lift.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Better parents. Parents make all the difference in the world.

Don’t you mean the wealth of the parents?

No. Their engagement. There are tons of lower and middle class parents sending kids to schools that are great. They make sure they are great. Many wealthy parents do as well. Some wealthy parents just outsource.

But if we are talking about going as so far as compelling all public attendance, then things like parental fines for missing school, homework, getting bad grades, achieving under grade level all have to be on the table. Same for school administration and teachers. Underperformance on their part would not be allowed (it shouldn’t be now but people are bad self advocates). Furthermore, if public school is compulsory, teachers unions are absolutely done for as well. All public, all parental control.

I do not know if you are a teacher or have firsthand experience about different schools
My family moved around and I attended a fabulous public school as well as a poor mediocre school.
The main difference I found was not just classroom size, but also teachers attitude when they were not overwhelmed or over worked
The better school also had more resources and a number of other smaller things all added to being more motivated, subjects were more interesting and work environment was better

The parents were the same in both schools. I do not believe that parenting alone is the solution. There most likely are parents who struggle and have 3 jobs and just are not as involved as they would be if they were better off financially. At the same time there are plenty of high income parents who work 70 hour weeks as well.
I am all for more assistance to public schools, but the current policy doesn’t listen to the teachers.
Having lived abroad I would say that city planning for mixed income areas is always good.

Having “high quality” public schools for affluent kids isn’t that difficult. You basically just have to concentrate them and have basic standards.

There aren’t enough affluent kids in private schools to make a meaningful difference for less affluent kids just by the resources associated with their presence. Also, you know, the constitution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Better parents. Parents make all the difference in the world.

Don’t you mean the wealth of the parents?

No. Their engagement. There are tons of lower and middle class parents sending kids to schools that are great. They make sure they are great. Many wealthy parents do as well. Some wealthy parents just outsource.

But if we are talking about going as so far as compelling all public attendance, then things like parental fines for missing school, homework, getting bad grades, achieving under grade level all have to be on the table. Same for school administration and teachers. Underperformance on their part would not be allowed (it shouldn’t be now but people are bad self advocates). Furthermore, if public school is compulsory, teachers unions are absolutely done for as well. All public, all parental control.

I was with you until the end here. The last thing we need are more idiot parents thinking they know what’s best for children because they successfully bred. Just take a look at any district monopolized by the “Moms for Liberty” faction to see what happens when small minded, uneducated parents take over. Hate to be paternalistic, but those crabs aren’t going to help their kids climb out of that underachieving barrel of hate and resentment.

Elections can address that far better than leaving things to unelected self-interested hacks. If we are requiring public in this fantasy world, we can push for better structures and processes to achieve parental control. Stupid would also affect housing values.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Better parents. Parents make all the difference in the world.

Don’t you mean the wealth of the parents?

No. Their engagement. There are tons of lower and middle class parents sending kids to schools that are great. They make sure they are great. Many wealthy parents do as well. Some wealthy parents just outsource.

But if we are talking about going as so far as compelling all public attendance, then things like parental fines for missing school, homework, getting bad grades, achieving under grade level all have to be on the table. Same for school administration and teachers. Underperformance on their part would not be allowed (it shouldn’t be now but people are bad self advocates). Furthermore, if public school is compulsory, teachers unions are absolutely done for as well. All public, all parental control.

I was with you until the end here. The last thing we need are more idiot parents thinking they know what’s best for children because they successfully bred. Just take a look at any district monopolized by the “Moms for Liberty” faction to see what happens when small minded, uneducated parents take over. Hate to be paternalistic, but those crabs aren’t going to help their kids climb out of that underachieving barrel of hate and resentment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Better parents. Parents make all the difference in the world.

Don’t you mean the wealth of the parents?

No. Their engagement. There are tons of lower and middle class parents sending kids to schools that are great. They make sure they are great. Many wealthy parents do as well. Some wealthy parents just outsource.

But if we are talking about going as so far as compelling all public attendance, then things like parental fines for missing school, homework, getting bad grades, achieving under grade level all have to be on the table. Same for school administration and teachers. Underperformance on their part would not be allowed (it shouldn’t be now but people are bad self advocates). Furthermore, if public school is compulsory, teachers unions are absolutely done for as well. All public, all parental control.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Better parents. Parents make all the difference in the world.

Don’t you mean the wealth of the parents?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Better parents. Parents make all the difference in the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would low income families WANT to live in CC, Bethesda or Potomac?

The public transit is pretty poor and they are quite sleepy.

The metro is less than a mile away and 90 seconds via capital bike share.

The metro is 0.6 miles away from the community center. It is a 15 minute walk, and when I moved here 13 years ago, all of my professional neighbors in this area walked to the Metro station. There was pretty much a parade down Western every morning between 7 am and 9 am. As someone who still uses Metro to get to work, I can't wait until Friendship Heights has shopping options again. Please stop saying the community center is "a mile" from metro.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would never fly with the current Supreme Court. They’d at least make an exception for religious schools. And this entire line of argument (prohibiting private schools to get revenge over the wealthy and supposedly reduce the achievement gap) is completely mind boggling in the USA. This isn’t Finland- for good and for bad. If I have to pay for my own healthcare you’re damn right I’m gonna send my kids to whatever school I want.

Perhaps you are being a little dramatic
Only 1% of children attend private school. Good luck in bringing the rest of country to the level needed for the next century. You are not about to lose your privilege that you fought hard for

No! About 9% of students attend private school.

14.4% in DC.
https://edscape.dc.gov/page/pop-and-students-private-school-enrollment#:~:text=The%20latest%20American%20Community%20Survey,in%20private%20school%20in%202021.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.

Ok. So let’s say closing private schools isn’t an option because of the hurdles. What are the less burdensome options to create “excellent public schools” throughout DC?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A local or federal government doesn't really have the right to close a private or religious school in the US.

Are you saying Congress couldn’t pass a law mandating that all students are educated in the public school system?

Given various court rulings, it would probably require a constitutional amendment.

Probably? Certainly.