Beltway Area Indymedia

On July 18, Jack Evans and representatives of Eastbanc were first protested outside and then jeered inside the Foggy Bottom/West End ANC meeting on the proposed sale and demolition of West End Library.

Although Eastbanc is offering to build the library first(before demolition), they have a history in West End of broken promises, Last time they build something there, they promised to rebuild the movie theater they demolished. They never did. They promised street-level retail, but it sat emply for five years after two eyars of construction dust and noise.

As Eastbanc representative Joe Sternly entered the building, I approached him and asked how he could justify turning a library into condos. He refused to answer after sitting silent for a few seconds, then asked "are you the radio man?"

He then went on to accuse Dial Tone's show on the subject of being all lies-but when asked to name specific falsehoods again refused to answer!
Well, at least he listens to the radio, even if he can't stand to hear unpleasant truths aired. He calls the truth lies and lies the truth, it seems from what people inside the hearing later said.

His firm's record of broken promises speaks for itself and establishes that his people-not ours-are the liers here! One speaker inside, in fact, bluntly accused Mr Lanier(also from Eastbanc) of lying to the media. His history of broken promises was then recited-and the promises read out from old Internet posts.

Jack Evans was asked how much money he took from Mr Lanier and other Eastbanc reps(the answer is:all he legally can in campaign contributions), and hemmed and hawed and said it didn't matter-and then whined about his integrity being questioned!

Well, integrity is everything in politics, and this dirty Eastbanc deal to demolish West End Library(and replace it only if they meet their promises this time) brought out with no public notice proves he has none. He is a slippery eel, better at deflecting questions than providing honest answers. With Evans the eel and Fenty the Rat, we just keep getting bitten, with five libraries already shuttered in DC.

Mr Lanier stated his firm was going to buy the library at market rate. Did he also buy Fenty and Evans at market rate?

If you've had enough of library closures, at 10:30 AM on Friday, July 20, the case of Benning Library is being heard in DC Superior Court before Judge Retchin. Issues are prevention of demolition prior to a community input process-and prior to an environmental impact study.

Audio: 6 min 16 seconds