U.S : VICTORY FOR SANKOFA and DC’s Black-owned Businesses !

Dear friend,

Last Tuesday, during a live press conference at Sankofa Video, Books, & Cafe, the news came in that the DC Council passed legislation granting a 10-year tax abatement for Sankofa Video, Books, & Cafe ! This historic legislation will give one of the city’s premier Black-owned businesses a fighting chance to remain economically viable in an increasingly expensive city, by removing its property tax burden for the next 10 years.

This is an important victory in the fight against gentrification in DC, and we could not have done this without members like you. Thanks to the petitions signed by Sankofa’s supporters and Color Of Change members, the DC Council heard from the community in overwhelming numbers and was compelled to make a decision that will open the door for more protections for DC’s Black-owned businesses.

Every Black-owned business deserves a level playing field. Chip in $10 to help us keep fighting for policies that allow Black businesses to thrive!

The voices of Color Of Change members helped to protect one of DC’s most beloved Black-owned businesses from the detrimental effects of gentrification. All of our Black-owned businesses deserve the opportunity to operate and thrive in the cities they know and love, without being priced out, and you can help ensure this is possible.

The next steps in this fight are to :

• Implement similar legislation for all Black-owned DC businesses that own their property,
• Draft and implement rental relief legislation for the Black-owned DC businesses that pay rent to operate their businesses, and
• Push for these protections in Black cities nationwide.

We can protect Black-owned business across the country. Chip in $10 to help us create the conditions for Black businesses to thrive!

Until justice is real,

Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color of Change team.

References :

1. “DC the Most Gentrified City in the Country: Report,” Patch, March 22, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/141838?t=10&akid=34068%2E1942551%2EzV5O1-
2. “In Increasingly Expensive D.C., a Longtime Black Bookstore Looks for Tax Relief,” DCist, May 29, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/141839?t=12&akid=34068%2E1942551%2EzV5O1-
3. “The Line Hotel Didn't Comply With All of Its Hiring Requirements, Audit Finds,” Washington City Paper, May 8, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/144473?t=14&akid=34068%2E1942551%2EzV5O1-
4. “D.C. Considers $60 Million Tax Break for the Advisory Board Company,” The Washington Post, October 16, 2015, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/144474?t=16&akid=34068%2E1942551%2EzV5O1-
5. “Is DC Giving Too Much Away in Living Social Tax Deal?” DCist, June 26, 2012, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/144475?t=18&akid=34068%2E1942551%2EzV5O1-
6. B23-0075, Council of the District of Columbia, http://act.colorofchange.org/go/144476?t=20&akid=34068%2E1942551%2EzV5O1-
7. “DC Gentrification Threatens Black-owned Bookstore, Cafe Near Howard University,” WUSA9, May 26, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/144477?t=22&akid=34068%2E1942551%2EzV5O1-

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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.