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Press Release Published: Jan 13, 2012

Issa Statement on DC Mayor Gray’s Letter Regarding McPherson Square Campsite

WASHINGTON- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., issued the following statement about District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray’s letter to the National Park Service regarding the Occupy D.C. encampment at McPherson Square.

“Mayor Gray’s description of the conditions at the McPherson Square Occupy DC encampment is a blunt assessment of the situation created by the National Park Service’s decision to ignore laws designed to protect the public,” said Chairman Issa. “The public health and safety situation is in itself disturbing and the refusal to provide documents about the Park Service’s decision making leaves a lingering perception that long-standing prohibitions against encampments have been ignored to avoid a politically embarrassing situation for the Administration.”

“The city is trying its best to protect the health, welfare, and safety of people in and around the campsite,” Issa continued. “In this situation, the National Park Service has so far been more interested in making excuses than protecting the public.”

 

The Interior Department has until January 24th to respond to the Oversight Committee’s request for information related to the McPherson Square camping decision and their coordination with local officials.

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Related Documents
Name Document
Request for information from the Interior Department