DC for Reasonable Development: "Update MCMILLAN: Mendelson Gets His Way, for now"

Message #1:

From: WARD5@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WARD5@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 2:59 PM
To: dcsgp@yahoogroups.com; HistoricWashington@yahoogroups.com; ward5@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WARD5] Update MCMILLAN: Mendelson Gets His Way, for now

Dear McMillan Park supporters!

In two days time, nearly 100 letters were delivered to the Council Chairman by you and your friends. Please ask your friends to also send a letter (we've updated the letter based on the results of today) >> http://savemcmillan.org/dmped

Your support also pushed the media to cover the largesse of City officials in lining the pockets of their developer cronies >>
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2016/04/05/mendelson-to-introduce-bill-waiving-procurement-rules-for-mcmillan/

TODAY'S UPDATE:

Despite our pleas for ethical government, and despite the pointed questions of Councilmembers Mary Cheh (Ward 3) and Elissa Silverman (At-Large), Phil Mendelson's "emergency" legislation to exempt McMillan Park from DC's procurement laws passed today.

What does this mean, what can we do?

ATTEND THE COUNCIL HEARING ON CITY PLANNING TOMORROW
We encourage everyone to attend hearing tomorrow and testify how disappointed we are in the unethical behavior regarding the future of our park.  And to remind them this issue isn't going away!  http://dccouncil.us/events/budget-oversight-hearing-cow

-- WHEN: Wed. April 6th, hearing starts at 9:30am; If you want to testify, sign up for all three agencies (Office of Planning, Office of Zoning, and DMPED) and then check in before Noon.
-- LOCATION: The Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. ROOM 500
-- TELL US YOU ARE COMING! smac.dc@gmail.com

Please sign up to testify in person, Call the Council and ask for Evan Cash (202) 724-7002 or email: cow@dccouncil.us

OUR MESSAGE: Stop! We want all pre-development costs back.  We want the terrible privatization deal that destroys our national landmark rescinded now!

PREPARE FOR A PROTEST

The "emergency" legislation passed by Phil Mendelson and the Council today is temporary.  Emergency legislation is in effect for 90 days at which time it dissolves.  This means Mendelson will have to bring the legislation forward through normal legislation procedures in the near future -- which means an opportunity for major public dissent.

The Save McMillan Action Coalition is preparing for protests in May at/around our Park.  We hope you will be part of that organizing, which will set us up to really embarrass Councilmembers who seek to support non-competitive public property giveaways if and when they try to enact Mendelson's legislation permanently.

We want your help!  Use your skill set to Save McMillan

* Art * Phone banking * Internet research * Music * Banner Making * Delivering Lawn Signs * Petition Gathering * etc.

Please get involved, let us know you are interested!

Email: smac.dc@gmail.com

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/SAVEMcMillan
Website: www.savemcmillan.org/opposition
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dc4reality

Share our info with your friends on social media -- we are the media now, if we use these channels!

Thank you for you continued support,
Save McMillan Action Coalition & Friends of McMillan Park, and DC for Reasonable Development
FACEBOOK - JOIN - LIKE
https://www.facebook.com/SAVEMcMillan
  --
DC for Reasonable Development
202-810-2768
dc4reason.org

Message #2:

From: WARD5@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WARD5@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 11:33 PM
To: friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com; dcsgp@yahoogroups.com; ward5@yahoogroups.com; stopthepopdc ; HistoricWashington@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WARD5] Fwd: 4/6/15 Council Planning Hearing: WITNESS LIST [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from d.c. forrd included below]

Hi good civic citizens!

I've included folks who I know and saw on this witness list just to give you a sense of when the spotlight will be on you.  See attached.

If you are not on this list, that doesn't mean you can't testify.  Unless the Chairman decides to be a total ass he will call for anyone else from the public to come and testify if you are in the room.

The hearing starts at 9:30pm -- looking at this list, the last panel of public witnesses may be called around 11:30am-ish.

If you are signed up for multiple agencies, you can choose to testify on any agency during any panel if you so like.  That is, you can choose to testify on any and all of the planning agencies, even if the panel is not for the agency you want to speak about.  I've seen it done before, and I intend to do that tomorrow.  In fact I want to testify about all three agencies at the same time so I don't have to spend the whole day sitting in front of a series of unethical corporate sellouts who are giving away our historic city to their developer cronies.

Hope this is helpful.

Chris Otten

BTW, did you see the news about McMillan >>
https://www.facebook.com/SAVEMcMillan/

DC For Reasonable Development
202-810-2768

dc4reason.org