DC mayor answers critics who say she's helping to foster gentrification

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says she's responding amid a growing protest movement in the city over new development and gentrification, pushing long-time D.C. communities out.

People in Anacostia point to Navy Yard to illustrate their concerns -- that once development spills across the river, it will push out historic communities and native Washingtonians.

Bowser has cut a lot of ribbons on new buildings in the District, but she insists her legacy is creating opportunity, not spreading gentrification.

"What we've done in our administration is create more opportunities, for more Washingtonians. But the anxiety people feel? That's real. It's certainly warranted because when you are a city that is growing there are a lot of demands on housing and transportation," Bowser said.

Bowser's jobs event at the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Arena was actually called "Investments to Combat Gentrification."

The "Don't Mute DC" movement is increasing its calls for fairness in housing. At her own event, even attendees told FOX 5 that, despite her insistence, they don't think the mayor is doing enough to insure that longtime D.C. residents aren't priced out of their own city.

Attendees told FOX 5 that they want a program that's going to work with people to help them obtain affordable housing.

The Institute for Metropolitan Opportunity says that D.C. ranks at the top of urban areas pushing low-income people out of neighborhoods.

The mayor says she's angered developers by demanding that they create more affordable housing than they did in her first term.

She says it's a priority for her second term.