Bill Overview
Title: Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of the Interior to (1) remove the brass plaque bearing the name Senator Francis G. Newlands from the grounds of the memorial fountain located at Chevy Chase Circle in the District of Columbia; (2) remove from the south end of the memorial fountain's face, the stone, tablet-like projection bearing the name of Francis Griffith Newlands and a related inscription; (3) remove the name Newlands Memorial Fountain carved into the upper face of the memorial fountain's coping stones; and (4) offer the items removed to the descendants of Francis Griffith Newlands for a 60-day period, and if not claimed within that period, direct the removed items to be maintained by the National Park Service as federal property and accessioned into the Rock Creek Park museum collection.
Sponsors: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with an interest in the Francis G. Newlands Memorial
Estimated Size: 5000
- The bill concerns the removal of physical elements associated with the Francis G. Newlands Memorial in Chevy Chase Circle in D.C.
- Individuals directly affected include descendants of Francis G. Newlands, if they wish to claim the removed items.
- Visitors and local residents of the surrounding area in D.C. could experience a change in the aesthetic or cultural value of the memorial and its space.
- Historians or tourists interested in the history of the area or Francis G. Newlands might be impacted by this decision.
- There could be an impact on local governance as stakeholders in cultural heritage management assess changes.
Reasoning
- There is a diverse range of people who may or may not be affected by this policy. The impact is likely to be most direct on descendants of Francis G. Newlands who have a historical or familial connection to the memorial. They may face emotional impacts based on their family legacy. In terms of visitors and local residents, the effects could range from negligible to modest depending on personal attachment to the fountain or its history.
- Given the budget constraint of $20,000 in the first year, the policy seems more a matter of symbolic change rather than physical disruption of daily life, leading to potentially low individual impact but moderate cultural significance.
- The wider population might have limited awareness or engagement with this change, as such, the indirect impact overall on historical and cultural interests is likely to be minor. Local historians or cultural stakeholders might face clinical or narrative impacts, adjusting publications or interpretive narratives.
- Overall, it is uncommon for individuals to be heavily affected, as estimated about 10,000 individuals with an interest in the memorial will experience varying levels of impact. Given the nature of this task, wellbeing scores may shift slightly due to cultural shifts rather than immediate personal wellbeing concerns.
Simulated Interviews
Local historian (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone dedicated to local history, I see this as an opportunity to further explore the narratives around race and heritage that were glossed over in the past.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Retired (Chevy Chase, MD)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The fountain is part of the neighborhood's identity, removing the name may change that sense of history,
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Education Consultant (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Removing the plaque supports revising history to be more inclusive and honest, which is a step forward in educational contexts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate student (Boston, MA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a microcosm of how America is re-evaluating its historical narrative, which is critical for my research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Descendant of F.G. Newlands (Albuquerque, NM)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The removal feels personally targeted against my family legacy, we're losing historical respect.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Small business owner (Chevy Chase, DC)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I doubt this will impact my business, people still visit for the fountain itself, not the name carved on it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act fits into a larger cultural reevaluation, which I support. It's interesting how communities react to symbolic changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Local government official (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supporting this policy helps us ensure a meaningful and inclusive public space that represents all people.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Veteran and community activist (Virginia)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While not directly impacting veterans, I'm concerned overall with how we handle historical memories.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Cultural anthropologist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This action fits within broader processes of reconciling past and present cultural narratives which are essential for societal growth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000 (Low: $15000, High: $30000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The scope of the removal project is narrow and localized, significantly limiting the cost implications.
- Potential long-term storage by the National Park Service, if not claimed, involves minimal additional costs.
- This act focuses on an aesthetic and historical change rather than economic or social impact at a large scale.