by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Winter is not the prime tourist season in Washington, DC, but nonetheless some brave souls are visiting our nation's capital at this time and trying to see the sights - and their explorations are suffering due to the partial government shutdown. The Smithsonian Museums are closed, as is the National Archives and even Ford's Theatre. Tourists still can visit the Lincoln Memorial and several other monuments, but government guides and park rangers are no longer available to provide information and offer assistance.
Everything run by the National Park Service, in fact, is now either closed or operating in a very limited fashion. Snack bars and souvenir shops are closed, trash is piling up, and health and safety concerns are on the rise. And the restrooms . . . well, let's not discuss the restrooms!
Nationwide our national parks are suffering the effects of the partial government shutdown, and, for the most part, that includes many public attractions in Washington, DC - with one glaring exception.
The historic 315-foot clock tower at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, is still being staffed by the National Park Service and is open to the public. The Trump Hotel is located in the Old Post Office building and is currently leased to the Trump organization by the federal government. The clock tower in the building has been maintained as a tourist attraction, although few tourists reportedly visit the sight.
But even with very few tourists expressing an interest in visiting the clock tower, someone in government made a decision to keep it open and staffed while high-demand destinations, like the Smithsonian Museums, were forced to close.
Noah Bookkbinder, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), observed "At the very least this smells funny."
Funny indeed!
CREW has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the General Services Administration (GSA) seeking documents explaining why the tower remains open, how it continues to be funded, and any communications between the agency and the Trump organization.
The Associated Press made this observation:
In would seem that the self-dealing corruption of this administration never takes a holiday. Perhaps that is why Robert Mueller is having so much trouble completing his investigation!
Citizen Journalist
Winter is not the prime tourist season in Washington, DC, but nonetheless some brave souls are visiting our nation's capital at this time and trying to see the sights - and their explorations are suffering due to the partial government shutdown. The Smithsonian Museums are closed, as is the National Archives and even Ford's Theatre. Tourists still can visit the Lincoln Memorial and several other monuments, but government guides and park rangers are no longer available to provide information and offer assistance.
Everything run by the National Park Service, in fact, is now either closed or operating in a very limited fashion. Snack bars and souvenir shops are closed, trash is piling up, and health and safety concerns are on the rise. And the restrooms . . . well, let's not discuss the restrooms!
Nationwide our national parks are suffering the effects of the partial government shutdown, and, for the most part, that includes many public attractions in Washington, DC - with one glaring exception.
The historic 315-foot clock tower at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, is still being staffed by the National Park Service and is open to the public. The Trump Hotel is located in the Old Post Office building and is currently leased to the Trump organization by the federal government. The clock tower in the building has been maintained as a tourist attraction, although few tourists reportedly visit the sight.
But even with very few tourists expressing an interest in visiting the clock tower, someone in government made a decision to keep it open and staffed while high-demand destinations, like the Smithsonian Museums, were forced to close.
Noah Bookkbinder, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), observed "At the very least this smells funny."
Funny indeed!
CREW has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the General Services Administration (GSA) seeking documents explaining why the tower remains open, how it continues to be funded, and any communications between the agency and the Trump organization.
The Associated Press made this observation:
". . . the Trump administration appears to have gone out of its way to keep the attraction in the federally owned building that houses the Trump hotel open and staffed with National Park Service rangers, even as other federal agencies shut all but the most essential services."
In would seem that the self-dealing corruption of this administration never takes a holiday. Perhaps that is why Robert Mueller is having so much trouble completing his investigation!
1 comment:
The government is late paying its water bill to the District of Columbia. How beautiful would it be for the water service at the White House to be turned off for nonpayment?
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