Panel reviewing Trump’s White House ballroom project gets an earful from the public

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal panel reviewing President Donald Trump’s plans to build a ballroom at the White House got an earful Thursday from members of the public. Most speakers said they opposed the project and criticized it as too big and unnecessary.

Only one of the 28 people who addressed the National Capital Planning Commission during the first two hours of public comment at its March meeting spoke in favor of the project.

“It’s ugly. It’s just ugly. It’s too much,” said Kye Rowan, who described herself as an “ordinary citizen” with no architectural background.

Other speakers asked the commission to properly deliberate before making a decision.