A candidate for this fall’s Ward 5 City Council race is urging Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry to immediately withdraw his disapproval resolution for the highly-anticipated construction of Gage-Eckington Park in Northwest Washington, D.C.
“I fully support funding for Gage-Eckington Park and strongly encourage Councilmember Barry to withdrawal the disapproval resolution that he filed last week,” said Kenyan McDuffie, a former staffer to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and U. S. Justice Department attorney. “The construction – – had been held up by contracting issues as well as the back and forth insider politics of Councilmember Harry Thomas, and, now this.”
According to a statement from McDuffie’s campaign, many residents for both Ward 5 and Ward 1 have expressed disappointment with Barry’s resolution. He went on to say that the construction of Gage-Eckington Park is long overdue and that once it begins, it will provide sorely needed access to green space and a central location where the neighborhood’s children and families can find respite.
“Sadly, this is yet another example of ‘politics as usual’ by a DC councilmember vis-à-vis Gage-Eckington Park,” said McDuffie. “The residents of Ward 5 are frustrated with this process and are tired of politics getting in the way of progress in our ward. As Councilmember, I will not engage in these types of political games.”
McDuffie will be competing for the Council seat held by incumbent Harry Thomas. Others vying for the post include Kathy Henderson, Delano Hunter, George Jackson and Tracey Turner.
