Is DC Violating its Own Laws?

In Jan 2005, DC City Council unanimously passed the LEAD Act
[Document Here] calling for a Task Force to develop a strategic plan of public/private partnerships to renew the public library system. That Task Force has never been convened.

Specifically, the LEAD Act requires DC to “establish a Library Development Trust Fund to serve as the repository for revenue generated from mixed-use projects involving library facilities,” “into which shall be deposited any revenue generated from: (1) The development of mixed-use projects involving library facilities; (2) The sale or lease of air rights above library facilities; (3) The sale or lease of library facilities or of real property used by or under the control of the DCPL;”

The emergency legislation encompassing the sale of the West End Branch Public Library does not ensure that the Fair Market Value to be paid by Eastbanc will be provided to this Fund, as required by the LEAD Act.

In April 2007, the board of Library Trustees approved a mixed-use policy calling for any mixed-use development project to come from the community, specifically saying they would not consider proposals from developers.

On July 10, 2007, Council members Brown and Evans co-sponsored “emergency” legislation to give public lands to developer Anthony Lanier of Eastbanc in exchange for building a new library, new firehouse and some affordable housing on them. It seems likely that the library will be built over a firehouse and sandwiched under the housing.

The Trustees mixed-use policy AND the 7/10/07 emergency legislation involving the West End Library both seem to violate the LEAD Act.

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