Comments on: 17th St. Festival unites area to promote business

By: Michael Romanello

Michael Romanello — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:40:28 +0000

If commenter marmett would like to begin a discussion of Dupont Circle history, I will be happy to jump in with some historic documents to support Mark Lee’s contentions…Hi Rick! : )

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:28:38 +0000

I’ve had a few intense disagreements with Mark (hi, Mark!) but his column is exactly right. Easier for “marmett” to claim a distortion of facts and neighborhood history than to provide specifics. I moved to the neighborhood in 1991, I’m involved in the community, and I find Mark’s column above to be an entirely accurate overview. Congrats to UNA, their 17th Street Festival, and the new momentum it’s all providing in building bridges in the community.

By: Rick Rosendall

Rick Rosendall — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:09:53 +0000

Commenter marmett’s claim is supported by no examples, in contrast to Mark Lee’s observations. I’d say Mark is tart, not bitter. Juding by the evidence on this page, it is marmett who is bitter. As a neighborhood resident for nearly three decades, I have observed a small number of people behave as if they are entitled to have their delicate sensibilities catered to at the expense of all other stakeholders. They are perfectly happy to force good merchants and business owners to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in delays and legal expenses in response to routine, endless and usually groundless complaints. They remain resolutely deaf and blind to the likely alternative being replacement of locally-owned businesses by chains whose owners live far away. They deserve such a result, but the rest of us do not. Cheers to Mr. Rutgers , the Urban Neighborhood Alliance, and the other constructive groups for their efforts. I have an overscheduled weekend ahead, but I look forward to dropping by the 17th Street Festival.

By: marmett

marmett — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:02:15 +0000

Mark Lee seizes every opportunity to rewrite neighborhood history according to his biases and stir acrimony. Long-time bitter community member.