Re: Digest for friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic

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Rob

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Oct 2, 2019, 4:15:00 PM10/2/19
to friends-of-m...@googlegroups.com, Ward 5 Google Groups, bloomingdale
Hello All,

The ironic aspect of this McMillan issue is that we (including our Mayor, Karl Racine and most others here in DC) think that President Trump is guilty of so much and has been usurping the laws to benefit himself, his family and others around him... yet we fail to understand that this behavior is so pervasive right here in our local community (District of Columbia). We have sold out to Developers and many of our politicians and City Official do financially benefit ... and/or their family and friends do. All we have to do is go down the line of our Officials and see the benefits them or their friends/families are receiving. 

It is like former VP Biden's son on the board of a Gas Company in Ukraine or Rudy Giuliani's financial dealings with leaders of Ukraine. Or former VP Dick Chaney being on the board of New Jersey's Oil Company in Golan Heights, Israel/Syria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie_Energy). How do these persons get to those positions .. well they have connections but often times, they make decisions while they are in office which ensures them a spot at the table and can possibly control the laws being passed. 

So, why do we think our officials would be any different. The reality is that Soldier"s Home property is going to be developed (I believe about 77 acres of it) and they could put any of the "Medical Offices" which may be needed there. In addition, adjacent to Veteran's Hospital on Irving and Michigan, the Horning Brothers Own that big parking lot and the shopping center (I believe) and that there is talks of a Hotel and offices/residential being developed there. 

SO, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN 20,000 VEHICLES BEING ADDED TO THE IMMEDIATE AREA ... IMAGINE THE AIR QUALITY THEN!!!

So, let's stop the B.S... let's stop complaining about President Trump and all he is doing if we are not going to complain about this particular space at McMillan. The process has been usurped in so many ways that it is so HYPOCRITICAL to even discuss the issues we are having on the Federal Level!! It really does SUCK ... but what the hell do I know! I no longer waste my life fighting for this stuff because I will go to my grave and not much is going to change .. sounds sad but so true... and it is because so many of our residents don't support the few who fight for everyone. 

The worst part is that our City always wants to claim to be a "leader" in climate change, charge for plastic bags, now recycle only plastic and glass bottles, but not bags .. and other recycle items in recycle bins .. (so amazing) but we FAIL to see that having a Park with Possible Vertical Farming which is definite needed in every major City would be a best use. I have no skin in the game here but it would make for such a more "Green and Healthy" DC to have a "park/farm/green space with some underground shops and activities at this location vs. the Major Development we are being sold out for. 

I guarantee, there is no regrets of making of Central Park in New York and for sure, Making of a Capital Park here in the center of Washington DC would have no regrets either. I am sure it would allow for a more walkable/livable/breathable/edible life in our City. 

Great Job to all those who fight for what you believe and in the Best Interest of our Residents here in Washington DC. And for those who are hoping that President Trump finally get's the boot for usurping our laws and system and personally benefiting from his position... let's start our work at home first!! Really ... let's not be too upset at all which he is doing .. especially if we are doing the same or tolerating the same here on our local level! 

Rob Ramson







On Wed, Oct 2, 2019 at 3:07 PM <friends-of-m...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
"d.c. forrd" <dc4re...@gmail.com>: Oct 01 05:46PM -0400

[please share]
 
 
 
 
 
 
*FWD::: Press Alert: Save McMillan Park Action Coalition & DC for
Reasonable DevelopmentContact: Linwood Norman, SMA...@gmail.com
<SMA...@gmail.com>, (202) 656-3012‬ DC Court of Appeals Accepts Opening
Briefs from McMillan Park Neighbors Defending National Historic Landmark;
Despite Requests and Protests OAG Racine Chooses Not to Meet With McMillan
AppellantsWashington, DC -- *Today, the first day of October 2019, the
highest Court in the District of Columbia, the DC Court of Appeals,
accepted the opening briefs from several McMillan Park neighbors who are
challenging the decision to subdivide and build on the open green plains of
McMillan Park and to demolish the historically protected 20-acre Sand
Filtration Plant and water cistern underneath the site.
www.savemcmillan.org/water
 
Private developers with deep ties to elected officials will be paid
millions in taxpayer dollars to privatize the public land at North Capitol
Street and Michigan Avenue Avenue NW is which is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000022.htm
 
Developers are eyeing a substantial windfall to replace the protected
historic landmark with 2+ million square feet of new downtown-sized
development including hundreds of luxury condos, a grocery store, a
recreation center and a new medical campus.
 
 
*"This could be DC's central park -- an open place for all with acres and
acres of wonderfully re-purposed majestic subterranean space for cafes,
libraries, recreation, urban agriculture, a grocery store -- all without
destroying and privatizing this amazing historic site that has protected
views to all of DC's major landmarks downtown,"* said James Fournier,
appellant and park neighbor.
 
 
 
Mr. J. Peter Byrne is the Mayor's Agent on Historic Preservation.
https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/j-peter-byrne/
 
It is Byrne's decision that is under appeal, the decision that approves the
demolition and subdivision of the landmarked McMillan Park and Sand
Filtration Plant. http://savemcmillan.org/mayorsagent/
 
The Court of Appeals just accepted the Opening Briefs of the neighbors
challenging Byrne's approvals. The McMillan Park appellants include Cynthia
Carson, James Fournier, Melissa Peffers, Chris Otten, Daniel Wolkoff,
Jerome Peloquin, and Linwood Norman. They are calling out the fact that
all of DC's local preservation officials have completely ignored the
Federally-assigned preservation covenants that run with the McMillan Park
deed. http://savemcmillan.org/legal/MCM_deed_GSA_covenants.pdf
 
In late August, the Court denied Karl Racine's attempt to dismiss the case,
and ordered Petitioners to file their briefs by the end of August. To try
to head things off, appellants attempted to meet with Racine over the
summer to intervene on behalf of the residents who want the best possible
outcomes for McMillan Park, but Racine ignored pleas for a meeting. And
despite open protest of Racine recently, Racine's office sent a note laste
week turning down any meeting with McMillan neighbors.
http://www.dcfeedback.com/fit2print/uncategorized/300
 
 
 
*"Look, we want the city to follow its laws, whether that be about historic
preservation or basic common sense, because when Mayor Bowser's agencies
run over the laws, they hurt the real interests of real DC residents and
they are now doing it routinely,"*said Melissa Peffers, a Bloomingdale
resident and appellant.* "The developer's expert says this new project will
bring another 20,000+ new vehicle trips daily to our neighborhood. This is
unacceptable given the adverse air quality, pedestrian safety, and traffic
concerns we have to contend with along North Capitol Street daily right
now."*
 
 
 
The Court ordered Racine and attorneys for Vision McMillan Partners (paid
for by DC taxpayers) to file a response brief within 30 days.
http://savemcmillan.org/legal/2019/alive/
 
*###*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<< prior release Sep 10 2019 >>
 
*Lead DC Attorney Karl Racine Continues to Ignore Illegal Demolition at
McMillan Park; Racine Interrupted at Georgetown University Forum*
 
SEE LINK to PRESS RELEASE HERE >>
http://www.dcfeedback.com/fit2print/uncategorized/300
 
 
[image: mcm_demo2.jpg]
 
Mayor Bowser is publicly stating there is no demolition happening at the
Park. "District officials insist there's no demolition work underway at
McMillan site" >>
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/08/27/district-officials-insist-theres-no-demolition.html
 
*photos credit: Ward 5 residents, Daniel Wolkoff & Paul Cerutti*
 
###
 
 
 
*====*
*YOU CAN REACH KARL RACINE AT*
 
*202 727 3400KAR...@DC.GOV <KARL....@DC.GOV>*
*====*
 
 
 
 
--
DC for Reasonable Development
(202) 656-5874
www.dc4reason.org
fb.me/dc4reality
twitter.com/dc4reality
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--
R. Ramson
1440 Newton Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C., 20017
202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)

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