WAMU: Report on Relisha Rudd Misses the Big Picture

The Mayor Gray administration issued a report absolving the District of responsibility for the disappearance of  8-year-old Relisha Rudd, who went missing from DC’s larget homeless shelter in March.

In her commentary for WAMU 88.5, our executive director Judith Sandalow argues that whether you agree or disagree with the conclusion, the report completely misses the point.

She says that rather than focusing on the mechanics of government bureaucracy, the report should have stepped back and asked more fundamental questions such as: what could have been done to prevent this family from spiraling into extreme poverty and instability? When the District’s attempts to stabilize the family failed, could it have stepped into Relisha’s life sooner? What can the DC government do to prevent other children from being exploited?

You can listen to her commentary using the link below.