As the 2020 DC Budget hearings heated up over the summer, DC residents continued speaking up about McMillan Park, advocating for defunding the demolition and privatization of our historic public site and shifting the nearly $100M in public monies to DC’s families who are struggling to contend with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie has been a woeful cheerleader for the privatization & redevelopment plan for McMillan Park putting his reputation on the line for his favorite developer friends in spite of the obvious corruption and startling facts showing unethical breakdowns in the deal.
Open letters to City Council
DC residents sent an open letter to the DC Council in early July asking the city to #DefundMcMillan. Following on in support, Ward 5 residents sent an open letter to Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie in mid-July.
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie finally responds
With letters from DC residents on his desk for a couple of weeks and many more emails going into the Council demanding a response to Black residents in the District who want to #DefundMcMillan, the Ward 5 Councilmember finally sent a written statement for the first time in many years about McMillan Park.
In his response letter, McDuffie says that he has long supported the “thoughtful, fiscal and socially responsible development at McMillan” and that he is “dismayed by the protracted development process.”
The community wants to better understand Kenyan’s position in light of real facts on the ground at the Park
Ward 5 neighbors’ in turn have replied back to the Councilmember with questions that include:
- Is it “fiscally sound” for DC taxpayers to pay nearly $100M to raze the historic structures to build luxury condos that will generate overwhelming traffic and air pollution in an area with high asthma rates for Black children and elders?
- Why is the Councilmember accepting the displacement pressure the development will put on the struggling Black families?
- Is it equitable to build a medical complex across the street from three existing facilities when East of the River Sisters & Brothers need it now; and
- What is “thoughtful” about the city giving away open green public space for a project in which there a no truly affordable housing for families?
The community awaits Councilmember McDuffie’s answers to these questions in reply.
ITS BEEN WEEKS SINCE RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED COUNCILMEMBER MCDUFFIE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS STATEMENT ON MCMILLAN PARK! TAKE 5 MINUTES AND SEND A NOTE ASKING KENYAN TO RESPOND.
We will never forget the DC elected officials who have turned their backs on Tax paying citizens In regards to McMillan Park. You are robbing our neighborhood of our green space! And over building to extreme!
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie does not listen to his constituents.
Our community Truxton Circle found that out when $500,000 was requested and approved by ANC5E and approved in the FY19 budget. Over two years have passed and the funds have not been spent. What happened to the funds for the NY Avenue Playground. McMillan is receiving millions in taxpayer funds. It is the biggest DC no bid ripoff in the city. Drive pass and look at our beautiful park, and imagine a green space where families can sit in the park and enjoy oxygen from the many trees.
Imagine 25 acres of green space to enjoy Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness. Too many buildings, very little affordable housing, more medical buildings and bringing cars and pollution to this neighborhood. Do we all have to go to Maryland and Virginia to enjoy green space for our families? Do we need to continue begging our leaders for crumb for a quality of life or does DC work on Human Development vs Economic Development?