When faced with having to flaunt how well downtown Washington is doing amidst a backdrop of union protesters, the Downtown BID is backing down.
The economic and development booster announced Wednesday afternoon it is canceling its annual State of Downtown Forum scheduled for the Newseum Thursday morning rather than face a hoard of unfriendly faces before everyone’s had their morning coffee.
The protest is over the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace AFL-CIO union’s desire to joining the BID’s safety/hospitality and maintenance employees group known as SAMs.
In an email to attendees Wednesday, BID Executive Director Richard Bradley explained the reasoning: “Unfortunately, we discovered the AFL-CIO posted a call-to-rally to be held in conjunction with the event,” he said. “The Downtown DC BID senior staff and board members felt it would be unfair to subject participants and attendees to what could possibly be an uncomfortable environment and felt it was in the best interest of our guests to cancel the event.”
Instead, attendees will be mailed the annual report and the BID is hosting a media briefing in its H Street office Thursday morning.
