Even if you’ve never been there you’ve seen beautiful, even iconic pictures of the Reflecting Pool that stretches from the plaza beneath the Lincoln Memorial towards the Washington Monument. Reflecting Pool. Well, because of Trump and his obsession with the colors of the American flag it’s being repainted ‘flag blue’ and we’re told won’t reflect anymore.
Once again we have Trump taking something in DC that was beautiful and iconic and ruining it. And, as this article from People tells us ruining the reflecting pool by painting it what they call ‘theme park blue’ (the color we see from the work being done is NOT the same deep blue as the American flag) is going to cost a helluva lot more than Trump said it would. Ok, maybe the color in the title pic of this piece is off. Lighting perhaps, or maybe the paint we see hasn’t fully dried. What matters is that it will alter the characteristics of the Reflecting Pool and Trumpy’s plan has hit a speed bump. Preservationists are suing to block the change:
On Monday, May 11, a non-profit called the The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), as well as its founder, Charles A. Birnbaum, sued the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service for changing the appearance of the Reflecting Pool without following “Congressional mandatory procedures.”
According to the complaint, which was obtained by PEOPLE, TCLF is alleging that the ongoing work to paint the Reflecting Pool basin a “vivid blue” alters the landmark’s “historic character.”
“The Reflecting Pool and its surrounding landscape are listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the National Mall Historic District,” the court documents note. “No consulting parties have been notified, engaged, or given an opportunity to participate.”
As with demolishing the East Wing of the White House for his tacky, gaudy ballroom Trump just ignored everything and started doing what HE wanted to do. For all his bluster Trump knows he’s no Lincoln. Or Washington. Hell, he isn’t fit to have shined their boots. Or, as he did at his military prep school pay someone to shine boots and brass for him. His stunt, if he’s allowed to complete it will mar the ability of both the Lincoln Memorial (if one is looking west) or the Washington Monument (if one is looking east) to appear the way we’ve all grown up seeing. I spent the better part of two decades in the DC area and have been to that spot more times than I can remember.
You should check out the link to the People article for more details on the lawsuit that will hopefully force Trump to restore the landmark to what it was. Regardless, I’m enraged that Trump treats it like something else he can make over in his crappy, tasteless style. At least if he gets away with what he’s doing unlike remaking the East Wing fixing the Reflecting Pool will be relatively quick and only cost what the current project SHOULD cost.
Let’s talk about the money Trump is blowing on this. USA Today reports on what this was supposed to cost compared to what it’s (for now) going to cost. Since it’s a no-bid contract to someone who’s done work for Trump before it’s safe to say the eventual cost will be even higher. Let’s go back a bit however. Trump (of course) made claims about the Reflecting Pool having been ‘neglected’ before he came along. He used words like ‘cesspool’ – typical Trumpian exaggeration. However, during Obama’s Presidency an extensive renovation was completed:
Critics, including the Cultural Landscape Foundation, have noted that because the pool underwent a massive $34 million taxpayer-funded renovation in 2012, the new project is an unnecessary use of government resources.
FYI that renovation included fixing stones, sealing the joints and a filtration system. Trump’s claims are pure horsesh!t. However when he announced this project he said it would cost a whole lot less than where the current price tag stands. Back in April he said the cost of the sandblasting, caulking and resurfacing would be $1.5 million. Sure. Not that he really cared because HE or his rich pals wouldn’t be paying for the work. Since the (no-bid) contract was handled by the Interior Dept. taxpayers would be footing the bill. Including the inevitable inflated costs. If you’ve never been there that reflecting pool is huge and my first thought was the cost cited was just a down payment. In a way it was.
Knowing there’d be criticism of a no-bid contract to a firm that had done work for Trump at his personal properties it had clauses built in to account for ‘unanticipated’ cost overruns. Unanticipated my ass! Just like I thought the cost shot up:
The Virginia contracting firm Atlantic Industrial Coatings will now receive $13.1 million to repair the reflecting pool, the Times reported.
The firm previously worked on the swimming pools at Trump’s Sterling, Virginia, golf club and was awarded a no-bid contract last month. The Interior Department reportedly added $6.2 million to the existing contract last week.
So where do things stand? Trump decided to mess around with a national monument that actually helped immortalize TWO of our greatest Presidents. He threw a nice, fat contract to an acquaintance who no doubt will kick back some grift to him. The costs have spiraled out of control and I’m sure the final bill will be far more than a ‘mere’ thirteen million. In the end I’m betting the final cost will be closer to back when under Obama an actual substantial (and effective) restoration project cost. The Reflecting Pool sure as hell didn’t need what Trump has decided to do. Now things are in court. Hopefully the court will block him from carrying through this unwanted and unneeded change. Let’s just hope the pool can be repainted to the color that will allow it to actually reflect again – before the July 4 holiday!
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
What you know who has done to the Reflecting Pool is as distasteful as a shite sandwich. He should be made eat it, served cold, at personal cost equivalent to his install and grift costs, one powder dry mouthful at a time.
We need to know who owns/runs Atlantic Industrial Coatings and how much they donate to which political party. Then they need to show up in public to justify (a) getting a no-bid contract (b) the costs (c) their competence. Of course it’s all part of Trump’s successful distractions from the moribund Epstein scandal …