Azaleas come in an amazing number of colors and flower configurations. Diversity of the colors and presentation isn't what we're talking about here.
What we're talking about is a move by the National Arboretum to cut down 10,000 azaleas, replace them with some not very well thought out something, and reduce the burden on the Arboretum and it's staff by making the place less attractive.
Yes, it's true, the Arboretum is in a fairly unattractive section of the city. On the back lot away from the main buildings are sometimes found drug paraphernalia, evidence of sexual encounters and discarded beer and wine bottles. Female staff generally don't like to go back there unless accompanied by a male co-worker.
Yes, it's true, the new 9 million dollar Arboretum building that is being built, may not have enough bathrooms to support the crowds that come in every spring to see the azaleas flower. The Arboretum may still have to rent Porta-Potties for the spring rush.
Yes, it's true that during the azalea flowering, the neighborhood is filled with out-of-state cars and the increased police presence and outsiders disrupt the recreational pharmaceutical market.
What we have is a plan by self serving people (Arboretum administration) to reduce their workload by making their product less attractive to the people who pay their salaries. In private industry these people would be out of a job or work for Comcast.
Watch this short video and come back and discuss.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District's Delegate to the House of Representatives has promised hearings.