Vote on Trump's White House ballroom postponed amid deluge of criticism
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An oversight commission received more than 30,000 feedback submissions mainly in opposition to the proposed ballroom.
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'Gaudy' - Vote on Trump's White House ballroom postponed amid deluge of criticism 18 minutes ago Share Save Ana Faguy Washington Share Save A vote on President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom has been postponed after a commission overseeing changes received more than 32,000 comments, mostly in opposition, from the public. They included accusations Trump is seeking a "gaudy, personalized palace", undertaking "personal vanity project" and "a complete razing of American history". The East Wing of the White House was demolished in October to make way for construction of the ballroom, which would be larger than the existing White House and seat 1,000. Trump administration officials have said demolition was more economical than renovating the East Wing and noted many presidents have made changes to the White House. Nearly 100 people were scheduled to speak at a public forum on Thursday hosted by the National Capital Planning Commission . The panel had been scheduled to vote during the forum but delayed the vote given the volume of feedback. "We're going to take the time to deliberate, and we're going to have a final vote on April 2," NCPC chairman Will Scharf said at the beginning of the meeting. The NPCC is a government commission that oversees planning for federal buildings and land in Washington DC. The commission's executive director had recommended approving plans for the ballroom, saying the White House was responding to changing times and the "longstanding need" for permanent space to "host diplomatic and other state events". That recommendation will be considered by the commission, along with the comments submitted by members of the public. Everyday Americans as well is historians and preservationists weighed in, including supporters. "The reasons I've been exposed to of why President Trump wants the East Wing changed and every reason I've read was a good and firm reason," one wrote, encouraging the commission to back the project. Among points of frus...
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