District of Columbia: Norton relays inauguration crowd concerns to PIC

Following a meeting with Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) and federal officials, the Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton released a letter previously sent to PIC Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau outlining her concerns. Norton's office also announced that the Congresswoman will hold an Obama Inauguration Open House for her constituents during the swearing-in and the inaugural parade in her offices at 2136 in the Rayburn House Office Building on Jan. 20th. The Congresswoman, who is chair of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the General Services Administration, also will seek to have some sections of government buildings open on inauguration day to relieve crowd congestion and allow respite for residents and visitors from long walks in the cold weather, and access to restrooms. The meeting concerned both the Mall gathering and the parade, including getting ticket-holders through record-breaking crowds of non-ticket holders, accommodating tour buses nearby, and preparing visitors to make the decision to come to the Mall only if they are prepared for the walks, crowds, weather, and other conditions. Also discussed were official indoor and outdoor "Obama Inauguration Swearing-in Sites" that Norton suggested in her letter, using public spaces such as the Washington Convention Center, FedEx Field, Nationals Ball Park, churches, and other indoor and outdoor sites that can give visitors the same feeling of participation as being on the Mall far from the swearing-in looking at JumboTrons.

In her letter, Norton wrote: "I have no doubt that the campaign's brilliant record in pulling off the largest campaign rallies in U.S. history more than prepares you to do what is necessary here. Particularly considering the serious recession, the District's elected officials, of course, want to encourage as many people as possible to come, especially this year, and to help them have the time of their lives, so they continue to take great joy in Barack Obama's election and will want to return to the District.