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D.C. Residents Protest Branch Replacement PlansSome 75 people led by activist Ralph Nader staged a rally outside the District of Columbia Public Library’s West End branch July 14 to protest the city council’s vote that week to allow a developer to build a residential project on the site. The emergency legislation, passed July 10 without a public hearing, permits EastBanc Inc., developer of the nearby Ritz-Carlton hotel, to replace the existing library and fire station with a residential project that would incorporate a new library and fire station, ownership of which would be retained by the city. “The D.C. Council dictatorially transferred this public property to a private corporate developer without establishing any justification and without affording adequate public notice and hearings,” said Nader, whose D.C. Public Library Renaissance Project seeks to rally support for the system. “It’s pretty amazing that you pass a law that names the developer—what about competitive bidding?” Vice President Joe Sternlieb said EastBanc has held a dozen community meetings on the project in recent months, and the council held a round table discussion, which requires shorter public notice than a hearing. The West End protest is among various controversies surrounding DCPL’s branches, four of which have been closed for reconstruction since December 2004. Residents have held rallies to protest delays in reopening the facilities, and supporters of the Benning branch sued the city June 22 to halt demolition of the building until community members can provide input into plans for its replacement, the July 5 Washington City Paper reported. Posted July 20, 2007. |
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