D.C. maintains tradition of corruption, nontransparency

Re: “Deal ‘on the table’ for I-395 air rights,” Local, July 6

Cronyism, selective access, blatant manipulations of due process and gaming of legitimate public oversight continue at the D.C. Council. More public property is now up for grabs in the West End at 23rd and L/M streets NW, including a big firehouse, a public library and a police station on perhaps the choicest land in downtown D.C.

Council Member Jack Evans said in your newspaper on July 6 that “All of the conditions for a successful development now exist, and we should not hesitate to proceed.” You bet. On July 3, Evans and two committees ramrodded through a supposed “public roundtable” with just one day’s notice (or less). Not even the West End and Foggy Bottom Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners or the Foggy Bottom Citizens Association even knew of it to prepare any form of public comment, let alone average citizens.

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I believe only Evans’ pre-selected developer and a few council members showed up. Of course, it’s hard to know for sure who attended or just what was said, since nearly a week later, the required video record of the testimony still does not exist online for the public to review. Nor has it been replayed on cable Channel 13, as is standard practice for all D.C. Council hearings.

Evans understated his success at manipulating public oversight in what is now oxymoronically called “D.C. good government.” The high art of preferential access, greased deals, sweetheart arrangements, lack of community input, opaque decision making, and syncopated information disclosure has been perfect.

David J. Mallof
Washington

Determine rider demand before building Purple Line

Re: “Officials worry Intercounty Connector could be roadblock for other projects,” Local, July 10

Your story on the Purple Line buried what should have been the lead: The state of Maryland is delaying issuance of its environmental impact statement on this project for a year because of ridership demand questions. Why are we making conjectures about the availability of funds for a project without knowing the ridership demand for it?

The state would do better to study the Purple Loop proposal, which would run next to the Beltway and proceed south to provide a connection with the Medical Center Metro stop. That project would serve the estimated 500,000 new visits a year expected at the Naval Hospital when Walter Reed is moved to that location.

Furthermore it would save thousands of trees on the Capital Crescent Trail, which would be lost under one of the alignment options the state is studying.

Mier Wolf
Town councilmember
Chevy Chase

Distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants

Re: “Vote to deny services to immigrants looms,” Region July 9

After reading this article, I was again presented with an example of media misrepresentation of certain issues. I’m positive that the “immigrants” you are referring to are undocumented, illegal immigrants. I’m also positive that the county would not attempt to deny legal immigrants any benefits they are entitled to.

Your headline, however, would lead some to believe differently.

This slant does nothing more than incite immigrant groups and cause them needless worry and fear. The only individuals who should be concerned here are those who broke the law when entering our country, or those who violated their immigration status.

In the future, please be more accurate in your description of the issues.

William Duda
Ashburn