Washington gets a facelift

Yesterday, I was awake at 6 a.m. and decided to check out the beautification and construction projects underway in Washington as the nation prepares for America's upcoming birthday.

The Columbus Fountain at Union Station has water flowing through it for the first time in 19 years. Lafayette Square is undergoing a major renovation. And a UFC arena is being erected on the South Lawn of the White House.

The Columbus Fountain at Union Station has water flowing through it for the first time in 19 years. Lafayette Square is undergoing a major renovation. And a UFC arena is being erected on the South Lawn of the White House.

I would prefer the administration not divert funding from other national parks to spruce up Washington. To be fair, the arena is being funded by Freedom 250 and the UFC. Freedom 250 is a public-private partnership established by the Trump administration to celebrate America's semiquincentennial — and Trump's birthday.

America250 was established by Congress 10 years ago to plan and stage events commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary. It's a bit like a mother and a stepmother planning and hosting two different birthday parties at the same time and in the same place.