August 10, 2021
Save McMillan Action Coalition
smac.dc@gmail.com
202-656-3012
BEGA ENDS INVESTIGATION OF COUNCILMEMBER MCDUFFIE ABOUT MCMILLAN PARK; ASBESTOS ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED
Earlier this year, Ward 5 neighbors living around McMillan Park asked the DC Board of Government Accountability to consider the influence of financial contributions made by developers being handed McMillan Park on Ward 5 Councilmember, Kenyan McDuffie's decision to ignore residents' pleas for help. See here :: http://www.dcfeedback.com/fit2print/dc/474
Neighbors living around McMillan Park are very worried that demolition of the site will expose them to deadly asbestos fibers woven into the cement of the historic structures the city wants to excavate and crush at the Park. Residents are also worried about DC's drinking water supply right across the street from McMillan.
Documents submitted to the DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA) included financial disclosures showing developers and lawyers funding Councilmember McDuffie's election campaigns as they salivate in anticipation of the substantial profit in privatizing and redeveloping the large McMillan Park and Sand Filtration site into downtown sized office buildings, 500+ luxury condos, a grocery store, and a community center, all together 2+ million square feet across 25-acres. The redevelopment project known as the McMillan Town Center will admittedly bring another 20,000 vehicles trips around the site in an area known for a high childhood asthma rates and existing choking traffic along a key emergency egress route.
However, on July 26, 2021, without much elaboration, BEGA chose not to investigate Councilmember McDuffie citing the DC Ethics Code generally (see letter at end of release):
https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/titles/1/chapters/11A/subchapters
/II/Neighbors around McMillan Park are considering what to do next, including clarifying the investigation request.
Right now, the DC Court of Appeals has stayed demolition of McMillan Park as they consider neighbor's claims that DCRA issued demolition permits prematurely without proper safety planning in place, including asbestos testing. Court of Appeals asbestos briefs here :: http://www.dcfeedback.com/fit2print/dc/766
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210027P-Letter-to-Complainants.pdf