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Why not? These are not people who have what is traditionally regarded as a "real job." Rather they are "concerned citizens" and "local activists" appointed by the DC government who lacking any real worthwhile justification for their existence, need to invent reasons for why their roles are necessary and important.

The church was in no conceivable way "historic," nor is a 9th floor some kind of affront to the historicity of the district. But if we admitted that, we might start believing that HPRB's role should be reduced, rather than expanded, and many of the members would start to feel less useful and less important. Their only role here over the 9th floor was to engage in some juvenile chest-thumping. And part of it, let's not forget, is jealoousy-- the developers will be making additional money by renting out the 9th floor, and for a bunch of non-working members of the HPRB, this seems like an affront to the very nature of society, and thus the developer had to be "put in his place." There exists in DC a certain hostility to the process of making a living, and as such, developers here are considered the enemy, by building something and making money off of it. Do not forget the hostility to the tenants of the building, which may include businesses (perhaps profit-making ones) which people on the HPRB consider an unacceptable instrusion and a vulgar violation of L'Enfant's vision.

Quite frankly, I'm getting the impression that the bruhahaha that went on in the HPRB has just been a self-esteem exercise for people who lack anything better to do.

by Tyro on May 28, 2012 11:49 am • link • report