It’s the tale of two cities,” Ward 5 D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. declared Friday during an eight-hour hearing on the nomination of Ximena Hartsock as director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

His assessment came as mostly African-American residents of east Washington talked about deplorable conditions at recreation facilities in their communities — including toilets at the physical therapy center that can’t be used by the wheelchairbound.