[Mintwood-place] At Mary's place
John Cloud
john.cloud666 at yahoo.com
Fri May 7 22:21:16 UTC 2010
Chris:
I was reacting to:
(1) an ANC-1C meeting that, in terms of addressing the problems in Kalorama park, let alone getting any ANC action on it, was wound down tighter than a politburo seminar in Communist Russia;
(2) yes, a "secret cabal" of emails about some new "solution" to the anti-Erosion Project that involved DPR staff, the Fund for Kalorama Park, two ANC commisisoners, only one of whom, that would be you, have ever shown any interest in the mess, and Bryan Weaver, who has failed any responsibilities he might have as the single-district guy for the park in a major way, and conspicuous by their absence, not a single one of the critics of the park plan. Who have, by the way, among other things, way more technical knowledge about much of the plan and the problems, and have been leading the charge since the beginning (fences and the lack, fraudulent inovices paid, geoblock2, Mitchell Park crap in the park , historic context for twerrazo park furniture, problmes with landscaping plan, etc.)
Its a long list, and the major unifying factor about all of it is-- our ANC "leaders" had nothing whatsoever to do with any of it. The ANC-1C is an absolute floundering disaster perched like a boil on top of this on this festering park project, which, as I keep saying, has now caused more erosion than anything since the Civil War.
The good side is, since the ANC does not represent the Kalorama community on this, we are not bound at all by your secret deals.
________________________________
From: Chris Version II.0 <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com>
To: John Cloud <john.cloud666 at yahoo.com>
Cc: mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org; weaveranc at aol.com; 1c01 at anc.dc.gov; anc1c05 at gmail.com; anc1c06 at yahoo.com; Mindy Moretti <anc1c04 at yahoo.com>; WreynoldsANC at aol.com; boettrich at verizon.net; Jesus S. (OOC) Aguirre <jesus.aguirre at dc.gov>; Sherry (DPR) Frear <sherry.frear at dc.gov>; Bridget Stesney (DPR) <bridget.stesmey at dc.gov>; AMMainStreet at aol.com; denisjames at verizon.net; polscm at aol.com; dcvirginia at hotmail.com; Eddie Becker <eddie_becker at yahoo.com>; jim at grahamwone.com
Sent: Thu, May 6, 2010 9:46:28 PM
Subject: Re: Big news at the ANC1C meeting
Dearest John:
It's amazing how many excellent and valid points you bring up regarding how the Kal Park project has been so messed up.
All along, I figured you could bring your knowledge to the fore with this project... you have... but your behavior and language undermines your intention.
Your latest claim that somehow I have been involved in some sort of secretive plan with DPR and the Fund and the Councilmember is so ridiculous as to make any claims of your injustice now laughable.
I mean have you seen what's happening with the Mount Pleasant Library >> http://www.districtdynamos.org/mount_pleasant/petition
If I were secretively planning with Graham and the Executive, do you think we would have an accessibility ramp going from here to Baltimore and an expansion plan which risks peoples lives?
The reality is, by the email chain below, that as a Commissioner I simply tried to get some report back from the Fund meeting which I had to leave early from. There was no notice of the results from DPR, Graham, the Fund or anybody that attended that meeting. So I summed up my notes, put them in a letter, and then sent them to Director Aguirre. His response is what you read.
So please stop condemning people, including me. But, please continue to document the problems, continue to highlight the concerns, and continue to agitate. I encourage all of these things... but to do so with some sense of decency and social awareness... otherwise, all of the valid points you make and bring up get clouded away into obscurity.
Regards,
Chris O.
202-536-4065
==
FOLLOW THE EMAIL CHAIN BELOW TO SEE WHAT CLOUD REFERS TO AS A SECRETIVE PLAN.
==
----- Original message -----
From: "Chris Version II.0" <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com>
To: "Aguirre, Jesus S. (DPR)" <jesus.aguirre at dc.gov>
Cc: "Jim Graham" <Jim at grahamwone.com>, "Bryan Weaver - 1C03"
<WeaverANC at aol.com>, "Lisa Duperior" <AMMainStreet at aol.com>, "Stesney,
Bridget (DPR)" <Bridget.Stesney at dc.gov>, "Frear, Sherry (DPR)"
<sherry.frear at dc.gov>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:14:31 -0700
Subject: Re: KalPakMtg Followup
Please do.
Thanks,
Chris
Aguirre, Jesus S. (DPR) wrote:
> Thanks. With your permission, I’ll send your summary with our responses.
>
>
> On 4/29/10 4:17 PM, "Chris Version II.0" <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Thank you for this info Jesus. This will help with our ANC meeting
> next
> week. Perhaps you should with the larger list so to close the feedback
> loop with the public. I can do the same with my lists.
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
>
> Aguirre, Jesus S. (DPR) wrote:
> > Chris,
> >
> > Please see enclosed document with responses to your
> questions/summary.
> >
> > I would be happy to discuss any items that require clarification.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > --Jesús
> >
> >
> > On 4/27/10 4:37 PM, "Chris Version II.0" <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Jim and Jesus:
> >
> > Hope the week has started strong.
> >
> > I wanted to follow-up as I sent the email you see below on Friday, so
> > you may have missed it... now sending on Tuesday April 27.
> >
> > It's important that the feedback loop is closed on what's
> happening in
> > our Park... so far there has been no notice of feedback.
> >
> > So, in my capacity as a duly elected neighborhood official, I am
> > writing
> > again, to please ask that you review these points below and make sure
> > that there is some understanding about what "moving forward" means
> > with
> > our park.
> >
> > With humble respect,
> > Chris Otten, 1C02
> >
> >
> > Chris Version II.0 wrote:
> > > Dear Jesus and Jim:
> > >
> > > Hope the week is winding down strongly. I noticed some work has
> > > started in the park. Thank you.
> > >
> > > It's been nearly two weeks since the Fund meeting and some public
> > > decisions were made, but there hasn't been any closure of the
> > feedback
> > > loop with the residents. Unfortunately, I had to leave before the
> > > conclusion of the meeting and any "vote" on things, so I missed
> them
> > > personally too.
> > >
> > > I've cc'd two level headed members of the community who are key
> > > players in both the Fund -- Lisa, and the ANC -- Bryan. They were
> > > both at this meeting as well, so respectively, I hope we can
> get some
> > > more info to close the feedback and get info out to our
> constituents.
> > >
> > > So I am hoping by this email to get an understanding of the
> points I
> > > made, the points I heard, the agreements I heard, and what
> remains to
> > > do. Jesus, Jim ... please let me know if I got this info right
> or if
> > > I am missing anything.
> > >
> > > MOVING FORWARD
> > > 1) By May 31, this project will be complete.
> > > 2) The erosion issues shown in the project plans will be completed.
> > > 3) All of the red clay brought into the park will be dug up and
> > > removed by the contractor replaced with an absorbent soil substrate
> > > that was to be shown to the public.
> > > 4) The historic archaeological items under the soil will remain
> > > undisturbed and a City archaeologist will be on site during the
> work
> > > to make sure this is happening correctly.
> > > 5) No more trees will be damaged. Any trees already killed will be
> > > replaced. Any trees damaged will be re mediated back to health.
> > > 6) Any soil disturbed will be mitigated: rocks removed, soil
> > > stabilization, good absorbent soil to be used, not red clay.
> > >
> > > NEED MORE INFO
> > > 1) Landscaping: Mrs. Frear was to show a report showing the
> > > anti-erosion levels of the bushes and trees being proposed and how
> > > these trees may or may not be native species to the area. DPR to
> > > determine if the choice plants are appropriate and report back.
> > > 2) Landscaping: There was no discussion on a landscaping
> maintenance
> > > plan. Who will take care of all of the new landscaping once
> > planted?
> > > Does DPR have a plan ready or will the summer dry out most of the
> > plants?
> > > 3) Picnic Table: Will not be touched. DPR determining the validity
> > > of safety complaints and will report back. Mrs. Frear says it
> can be
> > > restored and if it is moved it will break.
> > > 4) Basketball Court: The northwest end of the court is seeing major
> > > erosion issues, does this plan rectify that? If not, what will
> we do
> > > to rectify that?
> > >
> > > OTHER TASKS
> > > 1) Mrs. Frear was to update the DPR website to put identification
> > > names to the PDF files to help the public understand them better.
> > > 2) DPR will be reporting back on the efficacy of the
> landscaping and
> > > how it will help with anti-erosion and how DPR sees these new
> > planting
> > > and new investment in our park to be maintained.
> > > 3) DPR will be reporting back on the safety concerns raised by the
> > > picnic bench, are they valid?
> > > 4) DPR to express how the archeology of the site will be monitored.
> > >
> > > ---
> > >
> > > Looking forward to a detailed response that I can forward to my
> > > friends and neighbors.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Chris O.
> > > 202-536-4065
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
John Cloud wrote:
> ANC-1C-02 Commissioner Otten and ANC-1C-03 Commissioner Weaver:
>
> There were two big developments at the ANC meeting last night. I'm writing this mainly for the benefit of Commissioner Weaver, who was one of 3 commissioners who didn't make the meeting. But I know how the burden of a meeting once a month wears a man down, especially on Cinco de Mayo with margaritas 2 for 1.
>
> Big news No. 1: DPR Acting Director Aguirre more or less acknowledged that he knows about my overdue FOIA request response, and thence he knows that DPR is over due by about SEVEN MONTHS in providing legal public documents I asked for about the Anti-Erosion Project. He should also know that a statement to me like "we're working on it" doesn't mean jack legally. To assist DPR in their xerox-challenged ways, today I filed yet another FOIA administrative appeal with Mayor Fenty's office.
>
> Big news No. 2; was provided by Commissioner Otten! He circulated copies of emails that reveal, clearly, that the DPR Kalorama Q & A released by Sherry Frear was in fact, negotiated April 27 and 8 by a small cabal consisting of: Councilman Graham, DPR's Aguirre, Frear, and Stesney, ANC Commissioners Otten and Weaver, and Lisa Duperior, of the Fund for Kalorama Park! Hence, no public participation and involvement, no attempt at timely disclosure of this new "secret plan" for over a week, deliberate exclusion of every known critic of any aspect of the Anti-Erosion Project! Not to mention; no attempt to deal in any meaningful way with the obvious contract fraud that has charactierized this troubled contract since the beginning.
> Nor any real plan on how DPR plans to avoid contract fraud in the future. There are many DPR references to "See specification number so and so.. contractor shall provide suitable fill from offsite if on-site quantities are insufficient or unacceptable...etc." But the reality is: every bit of crap the contractor had brought to Kalorama Park DPR has found "acceptable" in large part becuase THERE ARE NO INSPECTIONS according to those specs and worse yet DPR HAS ALREADY PAID FOR ALL OF IT. The spces call for screening the soil to test it but DPR doesn't own any screens! They will have the contractor test his dirt! Yes!
>
> Getting us back to that pesky little "contract fraud" matter that just won't go away. Graham at least knows he has to keep his crimes below a limit or he'll pay a price, or at least an underling will have to be thrown overboard. But what about DPR and ANC-1C? Wilson Reynolds can do his dardest to limit public discussion of the Kalorama Park scandals and avoid any ANC-1C actions entirely, but way too much badness has gone down for well over a year now to allow you to get away with your "back room" dealings much longer. In addition to the illegality of Graham and Aguirre and other DPR staff saying whatever it takes to get out of a public meeting intact, then cutting secret contract changes without public disclosure, and no contract enforcement, ever, the ANC-1C is preparing to play a role to throw even more public money into a festering bioswale of fraud and red red clay and big rocks.
> Are you getting enough out of this crime to rationalize the coming time?
>
>
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