Some disappointed people believe that U.S. Diane Watson (D-Culver City) failed miserably when she bobbled a chance to make a significant positive impact on the lives of about 50 Culver City Middle School students.
Four dozen Middle School students have a prearranged trip scheduled for next week with Social Studies teacher Rick Garcia.
Each year, Mr. Garcia escorts dozens of children during Spring Break on an educational tour of some of our country’s historic areas.
This year’s trip will include stops at Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestown, and various sites in our nation’s capital city.
School Board member Scott Zeidman is one of the chaperones for the trip.
“When I saw the itinerary for the trip,” Mr. Zeidman said, “I noticed that there was a reference to the White House, but no scheduled visit.
“I figured that I would contact our Congresswoman, Diane Watson. I wanted to see if she could assist us either in getting into the White House or the Capital for a public tour.”
On Feb. 5, Mr. Zeidman contacted Ms. Watson’s office. He spoke with the Congresswoman’s press secretary, Lois Hill Hale.
In an email message on that date, Mr. Zeidman confirmed the telephone conversation and wrote to the Congresswoman’s aide:
“…The children would love the opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Watson at any day and time at Congresswoman Watson's convenience. (Tuesday, April 7, 2009, through and including Friday, April 10, 2009.) In addition to meeting with Congresswoman Watson, the children would relish the opportunity to tour the White House. We would greatly appreciate any assistance that you can provide in making this dream a reality…”
Having not heard back from the Congresswoman, Mr. Zeidman telephoned her office in early March.
He but did not receive a return telephone call. He emailed Ms. Hill Hale last week, on March 23, seeking the status of his now 45- day-old request.
The Congresswoman’s office explained that the request would be in the hands of the Congresswoman’s Special Director of Projects, Alice Holmes.
Beginning of a Sad Ending
This week, having not heard from Holmes, Mr. Zeidman attempted once more to reach her. “I called the DC office, trying to find out from Ms. Holmes about our request,” he said.
“I was told that Ms. Holmes couldn’t help me, and that the children couldn’t visit the White House.
“After I asked a few questions, the Congresswoman’s representative told me that there was nothing that he could do.
“He said I should have contacted them a month ago. When I explained that I phoned and emailed more than a month ago, on Feb. 5, he told me there was nothing that he could do, and then he hung up on me.”
“I called back. I asked to speak directly with the Congresswoman.
“I was told that she was at her Los Angeles office. I asked to speak with the Chief of Staff or the Director. Neither was willing to speak with me.
“So I phoned Congresswoman Watson’s Los Angeles office, only to be told that the Congresswoman was not in Los Angeles, but rather that she was in D.C.
“Obviously, someone associated with Congresswoman Watson was less than honest, or perhaps just confused, about her whereabouts.”
Is Distance a Problem?
Yesterday, the Congresswoman’s office called back Mr. Zeidman and promised that the children could view the outside of the White House from the street, and that the children could see the outside of the Capitol.
“Great,” said Mr. Zeidman. “We could live on Pluto, visit D.C., and view the outside of the White House and Capitol from the street.
“As her constituents, and having given her 60 days’ notice of the trip, you’d think that the Congresswoman or her staff would have tried to do something, anything, for these kids, other than tell them to hit the street and look from afar.”
“I feel bad for the kids. I was hoping that they could do really something special in addition to the great itinerary planned.
I’m also disappointed that the Congresswoman, the woman we have elected to represent us, doesn’t seem to care enough about her constituents’ children to try and accommodate them in any manner.” Congresswoman Watson’s office did not return a call.
