The amended language continues the Department’s commitment to include a diverse population in the District of Columbia with information on the Consolidated Plan. The current Citizen Participation Plan cites specific news outlets to be used to provide public notice. Over time, news publications may change. The Department wishes to maintain its commitment to providing notice in the types of publications that reach different neighborhoods, language or ethnic groups, minorities and special interest groups, without citing specific existing publications. The amended language substitutes generic publications for the specific ones used heretofore.

In the instance that an existing publication ceases to exist or is not available for publication of public notices, this would eliminate the need to further amend the Citizen Participation Plan.

Amended language: On page 4 of the Citizen Participation Plan, the “Hearing Notification” section is amended to include the following language in the second sentence, following “These media outlets include:

“a daily newspaper in general circulation (such as The Washington Post) and other publications that reach different language groups, neighborhoods, minority populations and other special interest populations or affinity groups” (Examples of such publications in 2006 would include: The Afro-American, El Tiempo and The Blade.)”

This same language is also substituted in sections on pages 7 and 8 that refer to publication of notice.

Please submit your comments by February 6, 2006. To comment by phone, call Ms. Pamela Hillsman, Community Development Resource Specialist, at (202) 442-7256; or you may write to: Mr. Jalal Greene, Director, Department of Housing and Community Development, 801 North Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20002.