NPR to Silver Spring: Not So Fast
It's no secret National Public Radio is shopping around for new digs. What with all that Kroc money for new staff and expansion of online operations, alone (seriously, they are always hiring), it's no wonder old 635 Mass Ave., NPR's home since 1994, just can't cut it.
A new HQ within the nation's capital probably won't either. "We are not tied to looking for a space in the District," NPR spokeswoman Emily Lenzner told Washington Business Journal. "We are looking for a space that would accommodate us in the most economical way."
Silver Springer has the scoop from "sources in discussion with NPR": The MoCo spot is in the top tier of possibilities along with Crystal City and "another unknown location in Va." A petition is online to bring NPR to Silver Spring and at least 49 people have signed it.
That's flattering and all, but when City Desk reached out to NPR, Vice President of Communications Andi Sporkin wrote in an e-mail:
Anyone, including bloggers, who claims some inside knowledge must be relying on tarot cards or tea leaves--these people are just guessing and off-base. There is no list of finalist or even semi-finalist locations and we don't expect to make a decision for several months, probably in the Fall.
Specifically regarding Silver Spring, while we appreciate the community interest in us, we have our own important criteria that will determine our location selection and a petition has no influence in our decision-making. I can share with you that I personally wrote to one of the SS blogs to make them aware of this, but my comments were neither posted on the site, nor have I received a response.
That's not really a way to make friends in high places, Silver Springer, now is it?
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6:13 pm
Through word of mouth I’ve finally been made aware of this post. To make things clear I was never contacted by NPR although my door is always open.
Instead of what typically surmounts to community opposition when a large organization wants to move into a neighborhood and contrary to some County Councilmembers view points, the community has instead shown (that they do indeed want NPR in their community ) a vast amount of support for NPR coming to Silver Spring. For what it’s worth the Silver Spring, Montgomery County and Maryland community are simply welcoming NPR with open arms if they do indeed decide to relocate to Silver Spring.
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