Norton to Meet With National Park Service After Finding Poor Lighting on Mall - July 14, 2006
July 17, 2006
Norton to Meet With National Park Service After Finding Poor Lighting on Mall Last Night
July 14, 2006
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will meet at 1 pm today with National Park Service (NPS) officials after her trip going the full length of the Mall last night to the Lincoln Memorial. She was very concerned about lighting on the Mall. In some places where pedestrians would be likely to go, there is no lighting at all. For example, Norton said that she was shocked that people using the walkways between the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial would find themselves on a beautiful walkway designed to get them there but without any lighting whatsoever. Norton said she had already scheduled the meeting with Park Service officials on other matters, but what she saw last night concerning lighting would get priority at the meeting. Norton works closely with the Park Service on many matters and has found NPS to be very responsive. She said this problem needs an immediate response after the second crime spike during D.C.’s tourist season.
The Congresswoman was pleased at the ample number of uniformed Park Police officers she saw throughout the Mall on horseback, on scooter, on bicycle, on foot and with canines. “I have no doubt that this kind of coverage cannot and will not last, as it did not last before, without permanent additions to the Park Police,” Norton said. The Park Police has just cancelled a class for budgetary reasons, although there is still time to work with appropriators. “The second spike in crime in a few weeks sends its own powerful message, particularly when those most likely to be assaulted are the constituents of my colleagues,” Norton said. “Robbing Peter to pay Paul by taking officers from other thinly covered, dangerous park areas is an obvious, temporary fix that guarantees more crime if we do not act. We have acted to bolster the Capitol Police. It is time we allow our Park Police to take care of our constituents.”
What: Poor Lighting on the National Mall
Who: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
John Parsons, Associate Regional Director, National Park Service
When: Friday, July 14, 2006, 1 pm
Where: 2136 Rayburn HOB