Kudos for Josh Kaplan’s Investigation of Fraud in DC’s Eviction System
Longform noted Kaplan's work in its "Best of 2020 Investigative Reporting," saying:
Josh Kaplan’s incredible investigation into a fraudulent and rigged evictions process in Washington D.C. is local journalism at its best. In D.C.’s eviction system, tenants are supposed to be notified of eviction proceedings via private process servers — people who are typically hired by landlords to deliver notices and can charge between $60 to $100 a case. However, “there is no mechanism in place in D.C. to check whether these process servers were truthful in their affidavits and actually delivered the summonses.” Kaplan’s reporting uncovers that many residents have had no idea they were going to be evicted: They never received a summons. Two process servers, Karl Stephens and Matthew Buck, have “played an outsized role” here, lying about serving tenants with papers about their initial court dates. It’s an astounding read on the eviction process, tenants’ rights and safety, and corruption, one that led to a swift response from the D.C. Council and an amendment to legislation.
DCist has nominated Kaplan’s piece for a number of investigative awards, including Polk; Investigative Reporters and Editors; Goldsmith; Livingston; Society of Professional Journalists; and Online Journalism Awards.
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We are excited to announce that Katharine Weymouth, who chairs the Greater Washington Community Foundation, has become the fifth member of SpotlightDC’s Board of Directors, joining Colbert I. King, Margaret “Peggy” Engel, Kojo Nnamdi and Harry Jaffe. Here's what she has to say about SpotlightDC:
When I was invited to join the Board of SpotlightDC, I did not hesitate. With the challenges that newsrooms around the world face in their business models, we have all read and seen too many stories about newsrooms decimated by drastic cuts, with some being forced to fold altogether. It is local reporting, and particularly local investigative journalism, that has really been eviscerated as newsroom staffs are forced to focus fewer resources to try to produce the same number of stories on multiple platforms.
Despite the dearth of resources, local reporting, and especially local investigative reporting, is more important than ever: to ensure that state and municipal officials are being held accountable; to ensure an informed and engaged citizenry; and to tell stories that would otherwise not see the light of day. Local investigative journalism, in particular, is at real risk of being lost as it requires patience, resources, and expertise. Whether it is digging through reams of data or paperwork, or studying a local budget and following the trail of where money has been spent and the impact of those funds, a good investigative story can take weeks, months or even years.
SpotlightDC is a small organization with a mighty mission -- to support investigative and explanatory journalism focused on the District and its region -- and I look forward to seeing the impact of the journalism that we can help fund.
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