Trump made an arts commission all White, all male and almost entirely mediocre
Philip Kennicott, The Washington Post
Feb. 11, 2021
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The Commission of Fine Arts, c. 1915. Clockwise from left: Charles Moore, Peirce Anderson, Edwin Blashfield, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., Daniel Chester French, Colonel William Harts , Thomas Hastings and Cass Gilbert.Commission of Fine Arts
A photograph taken a few years after the 1910 founding of the Commission of Fine Arts shows its seven members and the commission secretary at a moment when the capital of the United States was being radically redesigned as a grand, monumental city. All of the members are White men and all are dressed in suits and ties. Among them is Daniel Chester French, the sculptor who created the giant statue of the 16th president that commands the inner sanctum of the Lincoln Memorial; Cass Gilbert, the architect who designed the Supreme Court building; and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., a landscape designer
Biden removes Trump appointees from boards that shape the District Peggy McGlone The Biden administration has removed key Trump appointees from several federal agencies that oversee the look and feel of D.C. neighborhoods and buildings and city officials are pushing for more. Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio sent an unusual letter to Biden’s personnel director last week, asking for a review of Trump’s last-minute appointments to the National Capital Planning Commission and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Because these two boards are responsible for approving development in the city, the new members could impede Washington’s progress toward racial and economic equity, climate change and affordable housing, Falcicchio wrote in a letter obtained by The Washington Post.
Biden removes Trump appointees from boards that shape Washington D.C.
Peggy McGlone, The Washington Post
Feb. 10, 2021
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Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio adjusts his mask during the District s Daily Covid-19 Response update news conference on Friday, May 22, 2020. Washington Post photo by Toni L. SandysToni L. Sandys/The Washington Post
WASHINGTON - Biden administration has removed key Trump appointees from several federal agencies that oversee the look and feel of Washington D.C. neighborhoods and buildings - and city officials are pushing for more.
Washington s Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio sent an unusual letter to President Joe Biden s personnel director last week, asking for a review of Donald Trump s last-minute appointments to the National Capital Planning Commission and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Because these two boards are responsible for approving development in the city, the new members could impede Washington s progress toward equity, climate
AL JAZEERA
Online harassment campaigns can escalate into a tangible and life-threatening event like when pro-Trump extremists stormed the Capitol in Washington D.C. (Video first published January 8.)
OPINION: The January 6 storming of the US Capitol was described as violating hallowed ground and American democratic values. It followed former president Donald Trump signing the Executive Order on Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture on December 18. The order directs that federal public buildings “uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, ennoble the United States, and command respect from the general public . classical architecture shall be the preferred and default architecture for Federal public buildings”.