Peeling the layers of the onion

Given the extremely close relationship that Councilmember Jack Evans has with the real estate interests in the city, one needs to consider that frame of reference when considering the news in the Examiner that "Evans’ bill would end 2 agencies."

According to the article:

D.C. City Council Member Jack Evans, D-Ward 2, is seeking to dissolve two public organizations charged with major redevelopment work in sections of the District, including work along the Anacostia Waterfront.

Evans, who chairs the finance and revenue committee, introduced legislation Tuesday called the National Capital Revitalization Corporation and Anacostia Waterfront Corporation Reorganization Act of 2007. The bill seeks to transfer the assets of both organizations back to the District and would revert all of their power to the mayor’s office. Council Member David Catania, I-at large, signed on as a co-sponsor.

Catania and Evans complained the agencies have become barriers to getting things done in the District, saying the organizations have too often clashed or engaged in what Evans referred to as “turf wars.” Evans also accused the agencies of being unresponsive to the council, adding that the legislative body should have more oversight.
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There is a greater likelihood with openly tendered contract opportunities that non-DC-based firms can win contracts. Probably local developers figure they can get their way more working with Council and the Mayor. After all, the odious bill that resulted in a public-private "partnership" with the Florida Market sailed through Council--after being tacked on to another unrelated bill.

Tacking bills onto other bills without renaming the legislation in this fashion is illegal in Baltimore. We need to make it illegal in DC.

Note that the bill, which didn't call for a public proposal and contract review process, would have been illegal had it been contracted as written through normal DC Government procurement laws, regulations, and practices.

I'm all for more oversight, but it appears as if oversight takes a back seat to deal-making in situations such as these.

Granted, I think that we need to ensure that instrumentalities like the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation and the National Capital Revitalization Corporation have public meetings, oversight, and fair and transparent contracting practices.

For the most part they do. And when it comes to contracts they are likely to handle these situations more fairly than City Council. If City Council would adopt the same kinds of contracting standards adhered to by the instrumentalities, maybe it'd be worth considering this bill.

That doesn't mean that I love what the instrumentalities do. And there needs to be a way to have citizens that are "less connected" involved in the boards of these organizations.
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Note that this is the same kind of tension of government instrumentalities and the political process that has existed ever since the first such corporation was created to build Central Park in the 1860s.

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