DC Auditor Report on Duke Ellington

[Anonymous]

Why exactly are we building a mecca for the Arts? Have you ever heard of a starving engineer? An engineer waiting tables "until they get a breakthrough"?

[Anonymous]

Why exactly are we building a mecca for the Arts? Have you ever heard of a starving engineer? An engineer waiting tables "until they get a breakthrough"?

Oh, you sad people and your sad little joyless lives, lives that will soon be automated away, by engineers from India and Bangladesh, who are much, much cheaper than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why exactly are we building a mecca for the Arts? Have you ever heard of a starving engineer? An engineer waiting tables "until they get a breakthrough"?

Oh, you sad people and your sad little joyless lives, lives that will soon be automated away, by engineers from India and Bangladesh, who are much, much cheaper than you.

That doesn't make sense. Engineering doesn't get automated unless you're talking about AI. Engineering will always be needed all over the world. I'm not worried about having a job. And I find it very satisfying to make things that last.

How's the street corner working out for you? I'll still put a dollar in your guitar case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much of this overrun can be attributed to the Georgetown and Burleith neighbors, who bitched so much about parking that they ultimately created a requirement for the underground parking. NIMBYism is a big reasone why this project cost so much.

BS.

It is pretty obvious that the location was far from optimal for the school.

Who lobbied for it to stay there? Who approved it, despite those logistical challenges and likely financial overrruns?

THAT's the problem.

The school has thrived there for decades. This was a perfectly wonderful place for it to stay. The cost overruns aren't because it stayed in the same location. There are lots of reasons for them, none really excusable. One reason is the neighbors nonsense about parking and the fear that - heaven forbid - a teacher or student from the school might park on their precious public street.

The parking around the school is two hour parking, so a teacher or student could not park there during the school day, unless they have a zone 2 sticker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I thought this one the first report came out showing incredible cost overruns and I still think it… I really would love for the department of justice to look into this.

Also, everyone always talks about Ellington as if it's this wonderful gem of a school for performing arts. Where can I see some statistics for the last 10 years that show where Ellington graduates went to college, if they pursued arts degrees of some sort and do they have a job in the arts? I feel like this myth of Ellington being a wonderful school is never really backed up with stats. Am I missing it?

+1.

What a disgrace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much of this overrun can be attributed to the Georgetown and Burleith neighbors, who bitched so much about parking that they ultimately created a requirement for the underground parking. NIMBYism is a big reasone why this project cost so much.

BS.

It is pretty obvious that the location was far from optimal for the school.

Who lobbied for it to stay there? Who approved it, despite those logistical challenges and likely financial overrruns?

THAT's the problem.

The school has thrived there for decades. This was a perfectly wonderful place for it to stay. The cost overruns aren't because it stayed in the same location. There are lots of reasons for them, none really excusable. One reason is the neighbors nonsense about parking and the fear that - heaven forbid - a teacher or student from the school might park on their precious public street.

I see that you're very skilled at blaming others. Who's responsible for the $120m+ cost overruns? The unions!! The teachers!! The neighbors!!

You don't fool anyone. Let's see what else we learn via these audits.

I'm the PP...and I'm not trying to fool anyone. I know I am not responsible for the overruns, since I have nothing to do with the project (and voted against Bowser and all the politicans that are responsible). So yeah, I'm blaming others. Neighbors, unions, contractors, the Mayor, the City Council. This is an epic fiasco, and many, many people are responsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why exactly are we building a mecca for the Arts? Have you ever heard of a starving engineer? An engineer waiting tables "until they get a breakthrough"?

Oh, you sad people and your sad little joyless lives, lives that will soon be automated away, by engineers from India and Bangladesh, who are much, much cheaper than you.

That doesn't make sense. Engineering doesn't get automated unless you're talking about AI. Engineering will always be needed all over the world. I'm not worried about having a job. And I find it very satisfying to make things that last.

How's the street corner working out for you? I'll still put a dollar in your guitar case.

+1.

This school is going to become a national joke. Poor Duke Ellington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a high school with 500 students. 500 students.

They might as well expand the scope of Ellington to 6th grade and make it a magnet arts middle + high school for the entire city.

that's a great idea.

Could certainly help provide a rationale to finish the damn thing.

agreed!
or somehow link it with Fillmore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much of this overrun can be attributed to the Georgetown and Burleith neighbors, who bitched so much about parking that they ultimately created a requirement for the underground parking. NIMBYism is a big reasone why this project cost so much.

BS.

It is pretty obvious that the location was far from optimal for the school.

Who lobbied for it to stay there? Who approved it, despite those logistical challenges and likely financial overrruns?

THAT's the problem.

The school has thrived there for decades. This was a perfectly wonderful place for it to stay. The cost overruns aren't because it stayed in the same location. There are lots of reasons for them, none really excusable. One reason is the neighbors nonsense about parking and the fear that - heaven forbid - a teacher or student from the school might park on their precious public street.

The parking around the school is two hour parking, so a teacher or student could not park there during the school day, unless they have a zone 2 sticker.

I take the metro and bus to work... a teacher can do the same... what gives them more? The school should also charge them for parking. If I drive to work and park in the garage is it $20 a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much of this overrun can be attributed to the Georgetown and Burleith neighbors, who bitched so much about parking that they ultimately created a requirement for the underground parking. NIMBYism is a big reasone why this project cost so much.

BS.

It is pretty obvious that the location was far from optimal for the school.

Who lobbied for it to stay there? Who approved it, despite those logistical challenges and likely financial overrruns?

THAT's the problem.

The school has thrived there for decades. This was a perfectly wonderful place for it to stay. The cost overruns aren't because it stayed in the same location. There are lots of reasons for them, none really excusable. One reason is the neighbors nonsense about parking and the fear that - heaven forbid - a teacher or student from the school might park on their precious public street.

The parking around the school is two hour parking, so a teacher or student could not park there during the school day, unless they have a zone 2 sticker.

I take the metro and bus to work... a teacher can do the same... what gives them more? The school should also charge them for parking. If I drive to work and park in the garage is it $20 a day.

Companies find offices with easy access.

Duke E. thought it was more fun to waste millions of taxpayer money to build a mausoleum with no metro access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much of this overrun can be attributed to the Georgetown and Burleith neighbors, who bitched so much about parking that they ultimately created a requirement for the underground parking. NIMBYism is a big reasone why this project cost so much.

BS.

It is pretty obvious that the location was far from optimal for the school.

Who lobbied for it to stay there? Who approved it, despite those logistical challenges and likely financial overrruns?

THAT's the problem.

The school has thrived there for decades. This was a perfectly wonderful place for it to stay. The cost overruns aren't because it stayed in the same location. There are lots of reasons for them, none really excusable. One reason is the neighbors nonsense about parking and the fear that - heaven forbid - a teacher or student from the school might park on their precious public street.

The parking around the school is two hour parking, so a teacher or student could not park there during the school day, unless they have a zone 2 sticker.

I take the metro and bus to work... a teacher can do the same... what gives them more? The school should also charge them for parking. If I drive to work and park in the garage is it $20 a day.

Sure they could. But let's not blame the teachers for a $100+ million cost overrun on this school. Honestly, how big role do you think teachers have in planning and contracting for this renovation?

[Anonymous]

I'm pissed. Maybe Congress is on to down thing trying to take away our budget control.

[Anonymous]

The parking thing isn't unique to Ellington. DCPS says they must install one at Murch because of zoning, and will be destroying a playground to do it. Doesn't Janney have one too?

Now supposedly the city is saying no more underground parking garages but in the initial waves of building they were de riguer (similar to kilns at elementary schools).

[Anonymous]

All DC public schools have parking except for 4.

And yes, it's part of the teacher contract - parking access.

Given the specifics, there are a lot of reasons I support parking for teachers and staff. I know not many jobs in DC provide parking, but I think it's needed for teachers/staff.

But let's be real - blaming Duke Ellington's problems on teacher parking is a major red herring designed to deflect attention from the real problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The parking thing isn't unique to Ellington. DCPS says they must install one at Murch because of zoning, and will be destroying a playground to do it. Doesn't Janney have one too?

Now supposedly the city is saying no more underground parking garages but in the initial waves of building they were de riguer (similar to kilns at elementary schools).

Underground parking isn't always a waste of money. It depends.

What is clear is that it is a waste of money in this case. The school should have been moved to a more central, metro accessible location.

The reason it was not is because its political backers like the prestige of the current site and saw the sensible suggestions to move it as being part of The Plan.

That's as far as I can determine. It is a total scandal, reminiscent of Barry- era DC.