This is getting fun, now. Further comments from the Brookland listserv after the jump.

First, from our friend the original poster (note, I suspect one or both of these were meant to be private but were mistakenly posted to the public listserv):

[Redacted], see what I am dealing with here. This is a guy that rather have the DC
govt. crap on him for decades to come, than say NO, our central square, with
trees and open space is fine, it is planned. We do not need anyone to crowd
their construction business on it. There are numerous acceptable alternatives
that many residents have suggested.  But the city likes to put on “dog and pony
show” to fulfill a farsical sharade called “the stakeholders”.
I used to think I was just some uncivilized raving extremist , but Debra Cain
explained to me that “I AM A STAKEHOLDER”. And I can spend my precuious
evenings, instead of making a living,  being lead around by the nose at the
Noyes Elementary School.  And if I open my mouth and practice free speech , this
supportive neighbor is going to take it upon himself to squelch me. I have never
said an uncivil word in this place, because this is my way., I call it sarcasm.
Despite  many abusive email directed at me. For five years I campaigned for a
quiet , truely civil neighborhood without inane, constant sirens, and I made a
difference. There was a real fear that  Brooklanders were going to attack my
house  carrying torchs. Atleast I can tell when I’m being screwed. Anyone who
pays their taxes, including me , to this government is  a complete patsy. The
biggest problem in this city, district, capitol or whatever you want to call it,
is that the residents will accept anything, and lose anything,  and
smile  while being ripped off.  And this little fact from the board of
elections is really good!
History of Voting in DC
Citizens of the District of Columbia gained the right to vote in presidential
elections with the passage of the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution in 1961
making the 1964 presidential election the first time that DC residents voted for
President of the United States. Before that (since 1936), DC residents voted
only for party officials and delegates to the Democratic and Republican national
conventions. Isn’t that something, even women got the right to vote for
president in the 1920’s.
Seems to me ward 5 has had a series of  councelmen that do not provide much to
the residents, do not protect our interests and really do not even know the
conditions in the ward. Look at the sidewalks and streets.  Vincent Orange was
actually  very arrogant about this. When we elect a councelmember solely
dedicated to our well being, it  will ly be too late.
I really wonder what we would find if a graduate planning class ,from an outside
university,  looked at the way Brookland will be changed forever with these
numerous construction projects. I for one support building on Dupont Circle, on
Faragut Square , on Mcpherson Square and on the Canal in “Tony” Geargetown and
many more obtuse memorials for  ”the Mall”. I also suppoprt a coherent area wide
plan to renovate derelict properties, one is on my block,  Randolph Street,,
expand upward over comercial properties and alleys, , develop the dozens of
church parking lots which surround the metro and any decent proposal not
destroying the character of OUR COMMUNITY. This has to be done at a prudent pace
to avoid overdevelopment , traffic congestion, ,  ground water  and flooding
problems and pollution.. All development, all over the place is not sensible
planning, especially not on the only little green space with beautiful mature
trees that buffers our
community from the metro.and can provide  many valuable uses and recreation.
“Ryan” was nice enough to respond to my email. He explained that  paving over
the city is preferable to paving over elsewhere, which I probably differ on.
“Ryan” added
“Metro is not particularly wasteful. Given its funding constraints, it
provides an amazing level of service. And we should be anxious to work
with Metro, a public service funded by our tax dollars, to ensure that
we’re maximizing our investment.”
“Finally, a word about commons. Tastes differ, obviously, but when I
think commons, I think of a gathering place, where people go to eat
and drink and be around other people. I don’t think empty lots that
people rush through on their way home. No one gathers near the Metro
station because there’s nothing to do there and no reason to go there.

“Ryan ” also added,
“Metro is not particularly wasteful. Given its funding constraints, it
provides an amazing level of service. And we should be anxious to work
with Metro, a public service funded by our tax dollars, to ensure that
we’re maximizing our investment.”

“Ryan” thinks metro is doing a good job. I guess he has never been to the
subway in NY. When I moved here from the Bay area, in 1983, I found metro very
complex, think about the visitor who cannot read english., The broken fare
machines,  so many broken elevators and escalators out of service.concerned me
when I heard that Bechtel had built the system but I was reassured it wasn’t one
of their Nuclear Plants, just all looks and no brains! Yes I do agree we should
work with METRO. Someone  with common sense needs to say NO to these insipid
programs , constant overkill,  holograms, contests, annoying door
marimbas, bobblehead POPE comercials and on and on,  are a WASTE. We need bus
drivers who do not speed and  kill pedestrians, not strobes on buses,  safe
subway doors , personnel that clean our strations, and other  desperately needed
improvements.  Of Course, Mr. Catoe is from L.A., where cutsy gimicks
probably pass for
management.
Finally “Ryan”,  the grassy “commons” in the middle of our neighborhood has
mature trees. Yes, it was imbicilic to plant a row of fruiting plums along the
walk, and  even more imbicilic to cut down every other plum tree in an effort to
curtail muggings, but these  large trees are beautiful, provide shade, and clean
the air, birds and squirrels live there,  this is not an “empty lot” Why you
think this is an empty lot, may  say something about you. The district govt has
done little to serve us, except the farmers market which is Brookland CDC, , no
benches, no bandstand, no concert series, no movies,  no fountain, because we
are less than 2nd class citizens in NE. The people on Dupont Circle are 2nd
class citizens, but know how to get priveleges. Hoprfully we won’t get an ugly
statue in the middle of a tiny patch of dying grass called our little plaza..
I will always support your efforts to speak, and if I am too wordy please edit
my emails and send them back to me corrected.  Sincerely, thankyou.

Then there’s this message of encouragement to the poster above:

Please keep caring and writing about these things. Those people who
haven’t put in their hours struggling to get the city to do what is
right don’t understand the frustration and anger that has to be vented
somewhere. If speaking and writing accomplished anything perhaps you
and I would be more concise and rational in our arguments but I find
that yelling, ad hominim attacks and complaining,complaining
complaining ( as well as a few good scandals) are the only things that
get any attention.
I like Brookland the way it is.
I can’t say I like all the new residents who are trying to turn this
into the neighborhood they really wanted to move to but couldn’t
afford. This is where I really want to live.

Nice to see that we’re all interested in an open and honest, fact-based discussion of what’s best for the neighborhood and the city.