D.C. protest costs far less than crony capitalism Re: “Bills rise, patience wanes with Occupy DC,” Dec. 12

So the estimated cost of policing the Occupy DC protests amounts to $1.3 million over two months. Big deal. This amount pales in comparison to the sweetheart tax breaks granted by D.C. officials to politically-connected developers, among them up to $5 million in tax abatements to the Steuart Investment Company to build a high-rise along the H Street corridor, a $900,000 grant to Yes! Organic Market, up to $6 million in tax incentives to cover the cost of an underground garage at the Harris Teeter in NoMa, and a whopping $46 million in tax abatements for a five-star Marriott hotel to be built in Adams Morgan.