Judge extends tree-cutting block at East Potomac Park
The judge's decision to extend the injunction is a practical move to keep the status quo while the courts sort out the merits. East Potomac Park is a public space used by golfers and walkers alike, and once mature trees come down, they are not coming back. So it makes sense to hold off until the legal questions are answered.
What I find interesting is how this case ties together two very different constituencies: preservationists who want the park left alone and golfers who use the existing course. They usually have little in common, yet both want to stop a project that would change the park's character. The opposition appears to stem from a genuine attachment to the place.
I would want to know what the administration's actual plans are. The president has talked about a course, but there has been little detail about funding, design, or environmental review. If the project is serious, there should be a public process. If it is just talk, then the injunction is a minor speed bump. Either way, the court is doing its job by making sure the trees stay until someone makes a convincing case for cutting them down.