David Mallof, 51, a 25-year resident of the Dupont Circle area and a telecommunications consultant, has taken up a cause: to reverse the D.C. Council’s decision to declare public property on the city’s West End, including a fire station and a library, as surplus. The controversial move has stirred emotions on the West End; residents are still fuming that they had little opportunity to comment before the emergency resolution passed.
Why have you taken up this issue?
D.C. is my home. I’m proud of it and I care about the conduct and performance of our local government. That always was my fire station and my library. Even though it’s a secondary fire station for the east side of Dupont, it’s the primary library and fire station for my first neighborhood. At some point, citizens pick up individual issues and run with them. And the twin elements of good governance combined with stewardship over public assets hit my hot button.
What concerns you about the council’s decision?
I’m concerned about two things: the good-government aspects of the District of Columbia, which I think in numerous ways can be improved. And I care fundamentally about the care, transformation and possible disposition of scarce public assets. There is dwindling public resources in our city and the stewardship of those is a generational issue. It’s not a let’s make a deal, ad hoc policy issue.
Why has this issue stirred up the community?
This situation has many levels. It’s about the manner of legislating at the council. It’s about the openness of both the council and deputy mayor in managing scarce resources. It’s about access and cronyism that’s always at play where private parties seek a deal with government.
