City Officials, Keep Your Word
I really hope Mayor Gray follows through on his promises to the small businesses in the District of Columbia as stated in your article, "Gray Promises Reforms to Increase Opportunities for Small Businesses," by Denise R. Barnes, October 11, 2012.
The only other thing I wish he had stated would be that he wants to increase opportunities for small minority-owned businesses in the District. Our minority-owned businesses are being forced out at an alarming rate. Our restaurants, clothing stores, barbershops and beauty salons are all being put out of business by the gentrification in certain neighborhoods.
The city government talks a good game when it comes to saying what officials and agency heads will do to help small businesses, but I think D.C. government now pays more attention to those new businesses in gentrified areas. Those businesses enjoy increased police patrols, new and brighter streetlights and other city provided amenities.
Longtime District residents can see what the city is doing and who benefits. Our businesses, and even our churches, are being forced out of the city because we now have a city government with no backbone.
Robert K. Lawson
Washington, D.C.
Money Matters!
Once again you and your staff at the Informer have produced a wonderful informative piece of work, your annual "Financial Literacy Supplement." I appreciate your continued efforts to educate those of us in the community about these important issues. While there are so many in our community who are unemployed or underemployed, there are quite a few of us who are working with mortgages, credit card debt, student loans and car payments.
The articles in the Financial Literacy Supplement are very helpful in understanding ways to ensure that the money we earn works for us. The section that really caught my eye was "Healthy Money Tips for Families." They were very simple, but they were things I had not even thought of doing. Another interesting article was the one on buying or leasing a car. It really made some things clear to me. I could list more of the articles I found to be helpful, but I think you get the message.
I just want to thank the Informer for providing us with this supplement each year. It shows us that the Informer understands that while there is high unemployment in our community and a need for jobs, there is also a need for continuing education about financial matters for those of us who have jobs.
Sissy L. Underwood
Mount Rainier, Md.
