DCPS students shafted again - sign petition to keep Jelleff field public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

What’s even crazier is that some of them believe this stuff. They took offense to being called “elite” and they think that “Maret saved Jelleff” when it was DC that saved Jelleff. DC bought the land for millions of dollars, and then Maret threw up a fence. Maybe it would have taken a year or two and been shabbier, but DC could have found the money to do renovations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

Yep, they really believe the line that "Jelleff would have been condos." The city put up fifteen freaking million dollars to buy the site. The city is in the midst of spending something like $700 million to renovate all the rec centers. No, there was never going to be condos there.
What’s even crazier is that some of them believe this stuff. They took offense to being called “elite” and they think that “Maret saved Jelleff” when it was DC that saved Jelleff. DC bought the land for millions of dollars, and then Maret threw up a fence. Maybe it would have taken a year or two and been shabbier, but DC could have found the money to do renovations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

What’s even crazier is that some of them believe this stuff. They took offense to being called “elite” and they think that “Maret saved Jelleff” when it was DC that saved Jelleff. DC bought the land for millions of dollars, and then Maret threw up a fence. Maybe it would have taken a year or two and been shabbier, but DC could have found the money to do renovations.

Threw up a fence? Really now. Who knew redoing an entire field from essentially scratch, redoing a pool, putting up lights and protective fencing was so simple. So simple, in fact, that NO ONE stepped up 9 years ago when approached to help redo the field. Not British School, not other organizations, but Maret did. That’s the actual history and fact. And to ignore that is to be willfully ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

What’s even crazier is that some of them believe this stuff. They took offense to being called “elite” and they think that “Maret saved Jelleff” when it was DC that saved Jelleff. DC bought the land for millions of dollars, and then Maret threw up a fence. Maybe it would have taken a year or two and been shabbier, but DC could have found the money to do renovations.

Threw up a fence? Really now. Who knew redoing an entire field from essentially scratch, redoing a pool, putting up lights and protective fencing was so simple. So simple, in fact, that NO ONE stepped up 9 years ago when approached to help redo the field. Not British School, not other organizations, but Maret did. That’s the actual history and fact. And to ignore that is to be willfully ignorant.

No one else was offered the deal Maret got, and DC could have done it all themselves despite what Jack Evans claims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

What’s even crazier is that some of them believe this stuff. They took offense to being called “elite” and they think that “Maret saved Jelleff” when it was DC that saved Jelleff. DC bought the land for millions of dollars, and then Maret threw up a fence. Maybe it would have taken a year or two and been shabbier, but DC could have found the money to do renovations.

Threw up a fence? Really now. Who knew redoing an entire field from essentially scratch, redoing a pool, putting up lights and protective fencing was so simple. So simple, in fact, that NO ONE stepped up 9 years ago when approached to help redo the field. Not British School, not other organizations, but Maret did. That’s the actual history and fact. And to ignore that is to be willfully ignorant.

No one else was offered the deal Maret got, and DC could have done it all themselves despite what Jack Evans claims.

Actually. You’re wrong. Other groups were approached to help redo the field and they all said no. That’s literally fact. Just because it doesn’t fit into your misguided narrative doesn’t mean it’s not true. You don’t get to rewrite history because you don’t like a decision that was made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

What’s even crazier is that some of them believe this stuff. They took offense to being called “elite” and they think that “Maret saved Jelleff” when it was DC that saved Jelleff. DC bought the land for millions of dollars, and then Maret threw up a fence. Maybe it would have taken a year or two and been shabbier, but DC could have found the money to do renovations.

Threw up a fence? Really now. Who knew redoing an entire field from essentially scratch, redoing a pool, putting up lights and protective fencing was so simple. So simple, in fact, that NO ONE stepped up 9 years ago when approached to help redo the field. Not British School, not other organizations, but Maret did. That’s the actual history and fact. And to ignore that is to be willfully ignorant.

No one else was offered the deal Maret got, and DC could have done it all themselves despite what Jack Evans claims.

Actually. You’re wrong. Other groups were approached to help redo the field and they all said no. That’s literally fact. Just because it doesn’t fit into your misguided narrative doesn’t mean it’s not true. You don’t get to rewrite history because you don’t like a decision that was made.

Nope. Other groups were “approached,” but only Maret was negotiated with. It’s described in detail earlier in this thread. And, of course, there was no RFP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

What’s even crazier is that some of them believe this stuff. They took offense to being called “elite” and they think that “Maret saved Jelleff” when it was DC that saved Jelleff. DC bought the land for millions of dollars, and then Maret threw up a fence. Maybe it would have taken a year or two and been shabbier, but DC could have found the money to do renovations.

Threw up a fence? Really now. Who knew redoing an entire field from essentially scratch, redoing a pool, putting up lights and protective fencing was so simple. So simple, in fact, that NO ONE stepped up 9 years ago when approached to help redo the field. Not British School, not other organizations, but Maret did. That’s the actual history and fact. And to ignore that is to be willfully ignorant.

No one else was offered the deal Maret got, and DC could have done it all themselves despite what Jack Evans claims.

Actually. You’re wrong. Other groups were approached to help redo the field and they all said no. That’s literally fact. Just because it doesn’t fit into your misguided narrative doesn’t mean it’s not true. You don’t get to rewrite history because you don’t like a decision that was made.

That doesn't square with my recollection. Maret was in negotiations with B&GC when B&GC ran out of cash and threw itself on the mercy of the city. Maret asked the city to keep the deal that Maret had worked out with B&GC, and the city did. There was never any open bidding.

You can see the press release that was done at the time here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ycNlJMWbHeYHXEp05bI--O3JMLhAflAT

The Maret deal and the B&GC deal were announced at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Is there any evidence that other organizations were approached about this opportunity, other than Jack Evans saying that?

[Anonymous]

The testimony by the Maret parents today intrigued me. I would love for my children to attend such a school. So I looked at the admissions information on their website to find out what they require. Interviews, testing, letters of recommendation for elementary school age children. And only a handful of slots are available at any given grade level. How do they choose among the applicants? Do they hold a lottery or take the most gifted? The more I look into this, the less this seems to be a school than a club for those God has showered with money and/or intellectual gifts. My kids are bright enough, but they're not going to stand out on Maret's tests enough to win a financial aid package. We are never going to be a part of that community, as nice as it may be. If they act like they are special its because they are. They may deplore the "us vs them" tone of the debate but the reality is that there is an us and a them and that we can never be them nor them us. We are separate and unequal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

Ms. Rice was unable to testify because she was appearing at the "Most Powerful Women's Summit." No joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any evidence that other organizations were approached about this opportunity, other than Jack Evans saying that?

Jack Evans is a liar. I live in his ward and wrote complaining about the jelleff deal. He wrote back that there was an understanding that Maret would have access to jelleff for 2 decades. I asked where that understanding was represented in written documentation and he didn’t write back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WaPo has an article up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-private-school-saved-a-public-dc-field-should-it-get-preference-for-play-time/2019/10/21/7030f9c8-f412-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html

I didn't expect much from the Post and it didn't disappoint.

Although I did like this bit:

“They accused our children of being the quote, ‘Children of the powerful’ and denied quote, ‘black and brown kids’ access to the field,” said Ian Cameron, who leads the school’s board of trustees.

His wife is Susan Rice.

The lack of self-awareness of many of the Maret witnesses was breathtaking. They sure talk the talk. Their crisis PR guy, who is very likely a Maret parent, had them all singing from the same sheet music. “Misinformation” “social media” “the media” “back room deal” “race and privilege.” Were any of them able to look at how this so-called contract extension was handled and see how slimy it was? So many of them loved to wax poetic about how community minded Maret is and took offense to Silverman reminding everyone That Maret did what it did with Jelleff for Maret, first the foremost. The requirements added to the easement contract (ie the swimming pool) was the cost of doing business, not stuff Maret desired to pay for because they are good citizens. But they want to claim it now. Rewriting history.

+1. Maret can afford a bunch of PR people and wealthy powerful parents pleading their case but what they did is wrong to anyone who any sense of ethics.

[Anonymous]

For the cost of putting on this show in terms of lost wages, fees, and schooling, reputation, Matet could have bought another field.

Why are they going to the mat for this one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the cost of putting on this show in terms of lost wages, fees, and schooling, reputation, Matet could have bought another field.

Why are they going to the mat for this one?

They don’t like being told no.

[Anonymous]

Vote, Vote, Vote!