Pandering Pays Off
In the race for D.C. Council Chair, it seemed that one candidate, Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray, had no chance of winning the enviro nod over Ward 3’s Kathy Patterson. After all, Patterson authored legislation forcing CSX railway to divert toxic shipments through the heart of the city. Patterson’s efforts spurred a lawsuit, a battle with the federal government, and a national debate over the role of localities in protecting citizens from dangerous shipments during the age of terrorism.
Gray won the endorsement with two words: Klingle Road.
In the ultimate gesture of pandering, if elected, Gray agreed to reopen the debate over whether the long-closed Northwest road should be turned into a park. The Sierra Club has pushed to permanently close the road, which was damaged after a 1991 flood, and turn “Klingle Valley” into a path managed by the National Park Service. The mayor went green on the issue and joined the Club, but the council, under pressure from motorists, decided to reopen it to traffic.
Gray, who wasn’t in office when the council voted on the matter, served up what the Club wanted to hear.
Most politicians would take the greeny snub and move on. Not Patterson, who delivered a scolding statement after being informed by Sierra Club members that the endorsement had swung to Gray after the Klingle Road promise. “I declined to make that commitment,” she wrote. “[I] said that the majority vote by the Council should be respected, and the road rebuilt.”
Patterson figured her easy-to-sway enviro friends might benefit from some advice, and so she also took a shot at her east-of-the-river-based opponent. “I am sorry that the Sierra Club is focused on a single roadway in upper northwest,” she wrote, urging the group to “focus attention on…efforts of local anti-poverty organizations to address ‘environmental justice’ issues such as the disproportionate levels of pollution in poor sections of the District.”
The Sierra Club’s Jim Dougherty says Gray’s 100 percent score on the group’s candidate questionnaire could not be overlooked. “He came out with an A-plus. She was an A-minus.”
August 9th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Not even Pattersons old friend Jack Evan is supporting her!
What does that tell you???
Ah ha!
August 9th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
Why was Kathy Patterson’s answer “NO” to the lame Sierra Club question? Because the DC Council has already put into law the repair of the road to its original, historic alignment.
The Sierra Club is beating a dead horse.
I think that their failure to endorse her is totally absurd because Kathy has been in support of closing the road (supporting the Sierra Club’s position all along) even to the bitter end when the Council finally voted in 2003.
She lost the vote, but she respects the law that was put in place and she respects the decision the Council made. I have to respect her for that as well.
Vincent Gray, on the other hand, wants to reopen the debate. A debate that has cost us taxpayers millions of dollars and years of neglect to that road which is now an environmental and human health hazard. Sierra Club cries too much money. If the Sierra Club legal defense fund didn’t step in an threaten a lawsuit back in 1990, the road would have cost a mere half-mil. So please, cry me a river of tears about the money — we should be taking it out the Sierra Club’s coffers.
At least the Sierra Club could have picked something of real environmental importance.
Klingle Road is no longer debatable.
Get over it.
August 9th, 2006 at 10:20 pm
Klingle Road again? OMG… let’s move on. Would Gray actually take us back in time?
August 9th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Which is why the Sierra Club and Vincent Gray are both out of touch with a lot more than reality.
August 9th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Mr. Dougherty, the mistake you make is that Kathy’s advocates are the people who support the Sierra Club. And we are Kathy’s advocates because of the positions she has taken over the years on environmental issues in this community. And you recognize those? No! Instead, you endorse somebody who has no record to demonstrate a commitment. Your choice was between somebody with a record and somebody with no record who could talk a good game. What piece of legislation has Gray sponsored over the last 18 months on the Council to improve the environment? What is his overall record of follow through?
This endorsement is an embarassment for anybody who has valued the Sierra Club and believes that the critical work that needs to be done in this city on the environment should be a priority. You have lost my support.
(But, we could do without all the anonymous posts by Jonathan Rees on the blog.)
August 9th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
As one who distributed, received, and read every Sierra Club questionnaire (and no, not every candidate returned one, for whatever reason, including disinterest or simple lack of wherewithal) and attended most of the interviews, including those with Gray and Patterson, I’m having a hard time with all the posters who find the process too precious to be believed. The doubters seem to think that the responses are as flexible as the paper they?re printed on. Maybe you discredit every organization?s endorsement as trifling manipulation?
As Jason Broehm said above, the Sierra Club discussed with candidates issues of mass transit, green buildings, recycling in the city and more, to find out each candidate?s position and enthusiasm on each. I care about all of these, but Klingle Valley is what brought me to the Sierra Club, literally and figuratively. As a runner, I used that cool little canyon under Connecticut Avenue like a secret green passage in the middle of the city, and hope to see it stay that way.
We at the Sierra Club welcome the discussion here and in other public forums, since the reason we MAKE endorsements in the first place to inform likely voters of the issues WE care about, and hope you do too, and in the second place, to form a basis for holding elected officials to their word. Thanks for the attention.
August 9th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
I too used to run on Klingle Road every day. Don’t you realize that as of what, two years ago (three?), it is completely inaccessible and dangerous (loose footings, crumbling roadbed etc.).
Seems to me if you want it back, the NPS has to have free reign to fix the water issues. That has to happen before a road or path can be built over top. The city has already decided on numerous occasions to reopen the road. It is a safety issue (was a primary route for ambulances to get to GU Hospital and to “the hospitals” on Irving Street) a traffic issue, and yes, an environmental issue (how much exhaust is caused by the excess traffic back-ups on Porter Street)?
I believe Kathy Patterson’s point was that the Council has already decided this issue, at the great expense of the taxpayers, etc. It is time to move on.
For those of us who live near Klingle Road and want it open, to walk our dogs, to jog, and yes, god forbid, for vehicular traffic, it is time to move on. I have lived in the area for about 35 years. I can attest that there are plenty of opportunities to jog on Klingle Road, with cars present, without being a safety issue to the runner.
August 9th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Lisa, you hit the nail right on the Sierra Club’s head–the road doesn’t belong to you. It is a public road, which is owned by all of us, not you to use exclusively for your little running path. So it is really about you joining the Sierra Club and using them for your own little back yard path?
Well it looks like your plan might have backfired. Not only did you not get your path, your organization has lost a lot of respect from me and many others who have posted here.
August 9th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
Ms. Swanson,
As a driver, I used that cool little canyon under Connecticut Avenue like a secret green passage in the middle of the city, and hoped to see it stay that way as well.
August 9th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Dougherty and Broehm are at it again with shameless lies and distortions. They should be sued in fraud (Title 18, Section 1343, US Code) for their blatant public misrepresentations and falsehoods.
Gray’s nose is brown because he believed Sierra Club’s green-as-money BS. Gray should be black-balled based purely on gullibility, not to mention taking a unilateral position based solely on hypocritical and fraudulent rantings of a few out-of-touch environmental radicals who continue to apply a deep-wilderness paradigm to urban issues. Sierra Club’s local leaders can not see the forest for the twigs!
Local Sierra Club supposedly has 3,000 members. That is less than 1% of DC’s population. Even if they had 10 times as many members, it would be well less than one percent of the population of the DC metropolitan area. Why does anyone listen to these nut-jobs?
This city has spent hundreds of millions of dollars pursuing lame, pie-in-the-ski Sierra Club policies. It could have rebuilt Klingle Road at least 50 times over with the money we’ve wasted. And we continue to pay everyday in lost time, money, and tax revenues for the Sierra Club’s inanities.
Can anyone doubt that we have gotten a huge negative return on our city’s financial investment in the Sierra Club’s nonsense? Can anyone name one thing that Sierra Club has done to improve our environment…I mean, showing with actual data and evidence that our environment has improved? I sincerely doubt it, but if so, was it worth it? How much did the supposed improvement cost…and is still costing?
And now, new for 2006: Save money and the environment on…Klingle Road!? Please!!! Hey guys, had any new ideas in the past 15 years? Take a look at the Local Action Alerts page on their website — http://www.dc.sierraclub.org — They list Kingman Island, Klingle Road, and…Nada!
Instead, they talk more about how the Club is losing members…Duh! Just take a look at some of the postings on here. Seems to me that the only people here supporting Sierra Club are Dougherty and Broehm. I think that they have been hanging out a little too long inside that hollow tree costume with the Keebler elves.
Fed up in DC
August 9th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
I attended the historic preservation debate with Patterson and Gray on Monday.
Gray mentioned that he’s been involved with city issues for 30 years.
Obviously he was asleep at the wheel on this one…..
August 10th, 2006 at 9:23 am
The explanations from the Sierra Club for their endorsement of Gray (including those published in today’s Post)make their decision look more incredulous with each post. As they try to rationalize their decision, they just show the bankruptcy of both their endorsement process and the endorsement, itself.
Sierra Club: bottom line: short sighted — did you ever consider Gray’s record for follow through as head of the Department of Health and Human Services in the Kelly administration. He was a guy fast with the tongue, especially to promote himself, but not much on following through with his promises — especially if it did not win him any political support. Or are you so myopic when considering an endorsement — that if it isn’t “green,” it doesn’t enter into the discussion?
August 10th, 2006 at 9:58 am
Did anyone read the story about Gray’s secret fundraiser hosted Tuesday night in Baltimore by Bruce Bereano (Gray’s frat ‘big brother’)? Gray purposely ommitted it from his event “calendar” page on his campaign website. Why?
BEREANO HAS MULTIPLE FELONY CONVICTIONS FOR FRAUD RELATED TO CONCEALING ILLEGAL POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS!!!
He’s been quoted in the press as follows: “I don’t buy politicians, I just rent them.”
He’s been disbarred in MD and DC for crimes involving “moral turptitude”.
WAKE UP, SIERRA CLUB.
August 10th, 2006 at 10:03 am
It’s amazing how much fuss has been made by DC residents/taxpayers over Klingle Road when during the years we lived near it, while it was open, it was used mainly by Maryland commuters. Between the morning and evening commutes, we saw few cars on it. And it was repeatedly closed, usually by the weather, since it was a hazardous .7 mile stretch that frequently washed out.
Recently, in preparation for remediation of the Connecticut Ave. bridge above Klingle, city contractors spent a few days patching and repaving much of the closed portion of Klingle, about a quarter-mile stretch, so that their trucks and other equipment would be able to travel two and from the bridge area.
A major rain a week later destroyed all their work in a few hours, rendering the “road” as impassable as before.
If you would like to see before and after photos, e-mail me at camp7823@verizon.net.
August 10th, 2006 at 11:17 am
While I will agree with some of the people posting about the merits of Kathy Patterson, I feel her failure over the years to reach out more to the various minorities (Afircan Americans, Asians & Hispanics) will be fatal for her in this run for chair.
All these endorsements will mean nothing against the backdrop of what each candidate did or did not do for who.
August 10th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
James,
As someone who has reported on Klingle, you should be ashamed of yourself for accusing Gray of’pandering’ to the win the environmentalists support. The environmental issues about Klingle may be a slam dunk. But Klingle always has been about the economic inequity in this city too: $10 million spent on a a long private driveway so a few rich folks can drop their kids off at the elite schools in Cleveland Park (and developers can feast on the Tregaron estate) or $10 million spent fixing the roads and public transport system servicing the poor sections of this city.
It was principally this blatant elitist waste of city money why both Mayors Barry and Williams favored closing Klingle and using the funds where they would do the greatest good for the greatest number. The Council’s razor-thin majority vote was railroaded through by Cropp (and Schwartz (road committe chair) to show Williams who was the true boss of the city–and then, in worst back room ‘boss’ fashion, broke all precedence by attaching it to the budget so Williams couldn’t veto it (as he said he would) without tossing out the entire budget.
Anyone who talks to Gray for more than 5 minutes can see that he is passionate about using the city’s resources in the most equitable way and in helping the disenfranchised. This, plus the environmental health of Rock Creek (and the fact that all studies have shown there will be no overall traffic improvement from building the road) add up to the principled position on Klingle.
Given that the city has gone back and forth on Klingle for 15 years, Kathy’s new position is disingenous. I can only speculate she is trying to cozy up to her Council cronies, Cropp and Fenty, one of whom is likely to be Mayor.
James, if you’ve got the guts to go after a real story ask yourself why the two residents of well-heeled Ward 4 (Cropp and Fenty)favor diverting money from our city’s poor wards remote from the park and siphoning it into building a little used road that chiefly benefits their neighbors and economic allies.
You are right that Klingle exposes a real divide in this city and as well between Gray and Patterson in the city council chair race: Not, however, whether one is pandering to the Sierra Club. But more importantly, whether they are more committed to the greater good of the poor (and the environment) than they are to scratching the backs of the power elites and their cronies.
August 10th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Yes, cronyism is spelled BRUCE BEREANO. Do I need to post the Court of Appeals decision disbarring Gray’s good buddy? You know, the guy who threw the secret fundraiser for Gray in Md. The guy who’s proudest feat is killing the bill to keep cigarette machines from public places while on home arrest for his felony fraud convictions. PLEASE!!!
August 10th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Hey! Stop the presses! Just finished reading Republican mayor candidate Dennis Moore’s DC environmental policy on his website: http://www.mooreforpeople.com
What was the DC Sierra Club thinking when they endorsed Vincent Gray? Sure, Moore is a Republican, though clearly more enlightened, down to earth, and progressive. But, politics aside, Moore is totally on the mark when it comes to the Districts environment. Read it for yourself!
Too bad Moore’s not running for DC council chairman. The Gray endorsement might be an even bigger joke.
I guess politics does make strange bedfellows. Too bad for us who will be chocking in DC filth as we wash it down with our equally bad water.
Oh no! Must I now question the Sierra Club’s credibility?
August 10th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Yeah! We don’t agree on everything. But my friend “Eastermarketeer” is correct. Especially when I walk or drive through D.C. neighborhoods on my mail route. We’ve got a real ‘environmental emergency’ here. And it won’t be solved with lame political and campaign rhetoric. After all is said and done this election year, Moore may be the ugly sheriff we need in this town!
August 10th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Attn: James Jones
Re: Pandering Pays Off
This is a first for me, but I couldn’t ignore your biased commentary regarding Vincent Gray’s decision to revisit the issues surrounding the Council’s vote on Klingle Road.
If you will recall, this vote by the Council was done in such a way by the then Chairperson Linda Cropp that if a Council member did not vote for it (i.e., the opening of Klingle Road) they would have in effect vetoed the budget resolution put forward by the politically astute Council Chairperson.
The Council ducked the Klingle Road vote and there has not been any real vote solely on Klingle Road by the Council as a piece of stand-alone legislation. Had there been a vote, I’m not sure we would have gotten the decision that was made through deaf manuvering by the Council Chair.
August 10th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Attn: James Jones
The real issue may be this: why hasn’t the city repaired Klingle Road? It was on Tuesday, May 6, 2003 that the DC City Council voted 8 to 5 to keep Klingle in the budget. So, the anonymous person who said there wasn?t an up or down vote on Klingle was not truthful. There was a vote and the majority voted to fix the public road ?Klingle Road?.
Here?s another thing that should be mentioned: money to repair Klingle Road comes from the Federal Transportation Dept. People are disingenuous when they suggest that something won?t be built in another Ward if Klingle is repaired. I am sure that maximum pressure is being applied to those who are running for public office, but all the new candidates for office need to know that Klingle is not an either or situation.
For the DC Sierra Club the repairing of Klingle Road and fixing the environmental conditions, which need to be fixed at the site, has become a grudge match. If it were really about improving the environment, long ago Klingle Road would have been cleaned up. But no, the leaders do what ever it takes to allow this situation to continue. Combined sewer overflow, asphalt and other pollution continues to spill off the non-repaired road into the creek, into Rock Creek and eventually into the Potomac River. Serious stuff! I wish the media would understand this.
James, what this town needs is some real leadership. We need our public roads to be open (not private parks for the elite in this town). We need our public schools to stay open, as well as our public libraries. I feel it was wrong for the city to have closed its only public hospital.
Voters in DC can do something to help build positive leadership in Washington, DC. Go out and ask all those candidates for Council whether or not they want to keep the public road Klingle open? In Ward 3 you have 10 candidates. Ask them their position. And remember, for most of the people in NW opening the public road will mean less traffic on your streets and less congestion on many of the main though fare. Of course, once Klingle is repaired it will get more traffic, which is why John and a couple of the other anonymous authors are fighting so hard.
Thanks for writing this James. Good job!
August 11th, 2006 at 3:01 am
Attn: James Jones
This thread will not mean Jack Schitt six months from now.
Is it your nature to pander to gossip mongers and that is why you post these sorry ass threads?
OMG I might lose sleep over the unresolved Klingle Road issue.
August 11th, 2006 at 7:24 am
ATTN: DEMOCRATS
RE: VIRUS IN YOUR PRIMARY
85% of contibutors giving more than $300 to Gray are not DC registered Democrats. Many are Republican financed pacs and most of the rest are big businesses. BEWARE: they are attempting to hijack your primary because they know Patterson can’t be bought.
August 11th, 2006 at 11:43 am
James, there was never an up or down vote on the fate of Klingle Road and you must know it. Rebuilding Klingle Road was included in the DC budget in a back-room move by Mrs. Cropp. By the way, Mrs. Cropp later said that she beleived she had been “clever” to tack it onto the budget. If the council voted against rebuilding Klingle, they had to vote against the entire budget. Likewise the Mayor would have had to veto the budget to stop the Klingle provision. Clever, indeed.
Kathy Patterson refused to support bringing the Klingle issue to a fair vote. I wonder if Kathy Patterson plans to utilitze these backroom tactics if she is President of Council. Now that is scary! The money ($8 million and counting) does indeed come out of the DC transporation funds. Federal funds are only contributory.
I live in an apartment building near Glover/Archibald Park. Some years ago motorists seeking shortcuts tried to put a freeway thru the center of the park for the convenience of Maryland cummuters. It failed. And the thousands of DC residents who live near this greenway are grateful for the environmentalists who went out on a limb (Phil Mendelson went to jail over this) and saved the park.
To rebuild Klingle Road, a natural watershed the roadbuilders must destroy the natural valley — channelize the streams, bulldoze the valley, erect hugh street lights. cut down trees and replace the greenery with concrete.
Klingle Road was been closed for 15 years. Prior to that it was periodically closed for every weather event…rain, sleet or snow. Why rebuild a bad road of marginal value, and destroy a precious greenway and park area that is OPEN TO ALL –not just shortcutters, Maryland commuters, and AAA lobbyists?
August 11th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Dear ?Anonymous At 11:43 AM?, and James you will be interested in this too. Anonymous, your posting proves several of my points. One, the repair and opening of Klingle Road has become a grudge match for you. It is not about cleaning up the deteriorating situation at Klingle Road as it is about winning. Your anti Klingle Road group has become the Karl Rove of DC politics. Win at any cost and say anything to get your way. There was an up or down vote on Klingle and Councilmember Phil Mendelson introduced the amendment, so check your facts! Secondly, you people do not stand up for those who have supported you in the past. One Councilmember once told me your group is not there when needed. Candidates for office take heed of this, look how ?Anonymous? attacks Kathy Patterson. Do you realize Patterson was one of the 4 who voted with Mendelson to keep Klingle Road out of the budget bill in 2003? She did not want it to pass. She was your supporter! Now, you turn around and slap her down? Voters are not drawn to bitter. Let that be a lesson to you Vince Gray and Councilmember Brown. Watch your back with this Anti Klingle Road crowd! Additionally, so glad ?Dear Anonymous? that you acknowledged dollars for fixing Klingle would come from the Federal Government. That is an improvement and you are making progress. Now, let us fix the public road and get on with improving the quality of life for all the citizens of the District. We can start by watering the trees!