all I can say is that Gray won last night and this morning I got an email from Zillow telling me that the value of my house has declined by 0.7%. Coincidence?

by JD on Sep 15, 2010 8:29 am • link • report

Of note, I believe, is that, as in 2006, Phil Mendelson gets more votes than any candidate except Eleanor Holmes Norton.

The big question now is who will run in the special election to fill Kwame Brown's seat? Vincent Orange is probably well positioned for a run--even though he's lost two citywide elections now, which I usually take to be the sign of the end of a political career, Michael A. Brown lost twice--once for mayor and once for Ward 4--before cruising to the at-large non-Democratic seat. And Michael D. Brown turned in a respectable showing, and although it appears as if the Mendelson campaign was effective in getting the word out about the difference between the two Michael Browns, Michael D. got significantly more exposure than any other candidate with similar funding and campaign infrastructure.

by thm on Sep 15, 2010 8:31 am • link • report

I've watched the progress this city has made over the last dozen years or so with pride. Now it's time to sit back and watch Vince Gray roll things back to the Barry era.

by Ron on Sep 15, 2010 8:36 am • link • report

Didn't take long for the sour grapes and predictions of gloom and doom to begin. Shocker.

Here's the reality: The economy sucks, and DC's revenues are way down. Fenty offset this by spending down our rainy day fund at an appalling rate, instead of pursuing austerity measures. While all the new libraries and dog parks have made him very popular with some people who see only what they want to see, his "spend now and figure the rest out later" approach has left us in a precarious position.

Unless the economy miraculously turns around, Gray is already screwed. As Fenty would have been had he won. Party til the money runs out, you know?

Frankly, I am not sure I understand why people think Gray would return us the the Barry days. Is this because he's an old black man? If not, then what exactly about his record makes you compare him to Barry? He's demonstrated a lot more concern for fiscal responsibility than the mayor.

I'm glad that he'll be at the reins in the next four years which will undoubtedly be tough times in the ongoing crappy economy and real estate market. But there is no question that he'll be vulnerable in four years barring a huge turnaround in the economy, and Fenty will have a chance to run on the "I told you so" platform.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 9:15 am • link • report

Is there some web service/app through which I can buy Jamie a beer!?

by Rob Halligan on Sep 15, 2010 9:23 am • link • report

If by fiscal responsibility, you mean removing streetcar funding only to be pushed into bringing it back by angry constituents via increasing the district's debt load,I think we have differing ideas as to what constitutes responsibility.

by Rake on Sep 15, 2010 9:26 am • link • report

DC's real estate market is better off than 'burbs, thanks, in part, to continuing strong commercial development in the neighborhoods.

The direction, overall, of the District has been positive. It is an increasingly desirable place to live.

Can Gray do a better job than Fenty? Could Gray have done a better job than Fenty over the last four years?

I voted for Fenty but will certainly wish Gray the best because I want to see the best for the District.

And regarding the libraries: The role of libraries rises in a down economy. Improving their usability for people who rely on them is essential.

by kob on Sep 15, 2010 9:38 am • link • report

@Jamie Not that it matters anymore, but when exactly did Gray demonstrate more fiscal responsibility than the mayor? Was it when he borrowed the money to return the streetcars to the budget? When he refused to move legislation on fee increases, and forced the mayor to enact them himself, but was happy to spend the money? Is it in his pie in the sky plans that don't address budgeting at all?

You are aware that it is the council chair who actually writes and passes the final budget, aren't you? If you've been unhappy with the spending the past four years you ought to be worried about the next four for sure.

by jcm on Sep 15, 2010 9:39 am • link • report

I am not sure I understand why people think Gray would return us the the Barry days. I

Maybe because of the fact that everyone who wanted a return to the old Barry days endorsed him. Gray's going to dance with the ones that brung him. What the hell do you think Gray meant when he ran on a platform of complaining that Fenty had "disrespected" some people in DC?

School reform is dead. Firing all the Barry-era incompetents in city government who've never had a performance evaluation is dead. Infrastructure and transit improvements are dead.

But, hey, at least the city council will get their baseball tickets back.

by Tyro on Sep 15, 2010 9:41 am • link • report

Hhmmmm, the taste of bitter defeat, the morning after an election. Wonderful!

by Jasper on Sep 15, 2010 9:49 am • link • report

The best thing about this whole mess is that either a) Gray will do a 180, and piss all over the resentful lifelong bureaucrats who voted for him in the hopes the spigot would be turned back on; or b) he won't, and I'll get to post snarky comments on GGW for the next four years reminding you guys that we told you so.

Win-win!

P.S.: Glad to see Wells kicked ass, though. That's a relief...

by oboe on Sep 15, 2010 9:49 am • link • report

Personally, I think Clark Ray would be a great choice for Kwame Brown's seat. I hope he runs and takes advantage of the name recognition he's built in his just-concluded campaign.

by Phil on Sep 15, 2010 9:59 am • link • report

Gray has made a whole lotta promises to a whole lotta people. What happens when they realize he can't afford to keep many of those promises?

Last night's biggest loser: Muriel Bowser. She's got a big target on her for being Fenty's hand-picked Ward 4 successor and is up for reelection in 2 years. I'd expect her to be doing tons of community outreach for the next 2 years.

Last night's second biggest loser: the Board of Elections. Updates were slow b/c staff couldn't figure out how to make the Internets work. FAIL.

Next 2 two fun things to watch:

#1 Kwame Brown's appointments as chairs of each of the Council committees (what committee goodies will Marion Barry get? Who gets the contributions-rich committees on Finance and Economic Development? Does Jim Graham continue his oversight of ABRA?).

#2 The politicking to fill Kwame's at-large seat and then the special election next year.

Mayor Gray is going to be looking over his shoulder every day at Chairman Kwame Brown, with his own mayoral ambitions.

It's going to be an interesting four years. One City; Zero Money.

by Fritz on Sep 15, 2010 10:00 am • link • report

@Jamie:

I take it you are not a Keynesian? Because when there is a recession, spending is exactly what the government should do. And I don't think it get's much rainier for the rainy day fund then the worst recession in (most of) our lifetimes.

by Steven Yates on Sep 15, 2010 10:08 am • link • report

@Tyro, are you aware that Marion Barry, also endorsed Fenty four years ago? As did the WTU? And the AFL-CIO? And the Latino Caucus?

Did, somehow, those endorsements mean then, that they expected Fenty to return things to the Barry days? I am pretty sure Fenty made no such promises. And today, Gray has made no such promises, either.

You know it's possible, just maybe, that some people think Gray will be a better mayor, and not that he'll be Marion Barry. Unless you think all those people wanted Fenty to be Barry in '06 I am not sure why you think they would want that now.

But what has Fenty done? Are you aware that Adrian Fenty, taking a page directly from the Barry handbook, appointed an astonishing number of old friends with no relevant experience to high-level positions in his administration?

I think it's incredible that even as Fenty has a clear record of cronyism and sidestepping legal processes, you would think that Gray would do worse.

And you base this on nothing but the fact that a bunch of people who, by and large, previously endorsed Fenty, have endorsed Gray.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 10:14 am • link • report

@ Jaime: The AFL-CIO endorsed Linda Cropp 4 years ago. A few unions including SEIU and ATU 689 endorsed Fenty 4 years ago.

@ Fritz: Graham will have to lobby hard to hold onto his chair of Public Works & Transportation. Kwame Brown chaffed at times while he was on that committee. Chair could end up going to Harry Thomas. Unlikely it goes to Bowser or Wells. I believe Mendelson wants his current chair back so not a likely candidate.

by kreeggo on Sep 15, 2010 10:35 am • link • report

@Jamie

I think that Gray is an intelligent, sensible, solid fellow, but do have concerns about moving back toward "Barry time." Why? Because every group that was invested in the status quo backed Gray and now will want payback.

--The old Barry nomenklatura was solidly working for him.
--Post columnist Colbert King (normally also s sensible fellow) writing that many Gray supporters could never get past the fact that Fenty appointed a Korean female to be schools chancellor and a Caucasian female to be police chief and felt that Rhee wanted to get African-American teachers and students out of the system. Not sure whether this was King expressing his own views or his perception of political sentiment. If the latter, it makes it very tough for Gray to keep either Rhee or Lanier.
--The teachers union leadership was solidly behind Gray
--Even the taxi drivers organized for Gray and were giving Gray supporters free rides to the polls. Why? Because Fenty finally finally dragged our cab system into the 1960s by requring meters, rather than the old scam-friendly zone system. (Never mind that DC cabs are still the worst of any major US city.)

by Bob on Sep 15, 2010 10:37 am • link • report

I will be checking this blog often in the hopes that David Alpert will really hold Grays feet to the fire and be very busy bashing the slow-moving, bloated, old school, DC government he is about to be witness to. (Fool him once.) Those of us who have been here longer and grew up here know what we are in for. Graham stays and Fenty goes? Fenty the cycling, smart car driving Mayor. Out, in favor of the SUV parking ticket ignoring old gaurd. (Still scratching my head over here.)

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=596&sid=1421214

Caption that photo Mr Alpert

by Anon on Sep 15, 2010 10:37 am • link • report

@Jamie - I think Mayor Gray is only 51. (? Did I read that right in the Post this morning?)
@ David Alpert - What? No mention of Baker's victory in PG?

by Tina Jones on Sep 15, 2010 10:42 am • link • report

@kreego: DC labor 2006 endorsements

It doesn't really matter, though. The point is, making a jump from "labor endorsements" to "person will be marion barry" is about the weakest argument I can imagine, and Gray also got endorsements from the Georgetown Current, the Current, DC Chamber of Commerce, The Sierra Club, and the Association of Realtors. Obviously his support is not limited to labor unions.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 10:43 am • link • report

@Tina Jones

Gray is 67 years old.

by Alex B. on Sep 15, 2010 10:45 am • link • report

Thank you Jaime for pointing out that the naysayers' insistence that Vince Gray=Marion Barry has no basis in fact or fiction. Barry, who oversaw the development of the METRO, Pennsylvania Ave (it did not always look so majestic, remember) AND the Verizon Center, was surely a victim of ENORMOUS personal failings that affected his governance, just as Fenty's personal issues affected his governance. Mayor Gray has no such personal history, and the voters who twice elected (and would have again) the true architect of DC renaissance thankfully saw through this annoying fearmongering.

by Neve on Sep 15, 2010 10:48 am • link • report

Gray is 65.

@bob, again, if these organizations are invested in "the status quo" why did they previously support Fenty? The teacher's union was solidly behind Fenty and even supported his initial plans.

There's a place where you can be that is between Fenty and Barry. I don't know why that is so hard to imagine.

It is pretty hard to fault Gray on his dedication and character. I don't know why anyone would assume he'll be any more susceptible to "payback" than any other politician simply on the basis of endorsements. Where is his record of dishonesty? The only thing I know about is that lottery business, from which he recused himself from voting.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 10:52 am • link • report

@Jamie:

I don't think cronyism is the main critique. The critique of Gray is that he'll rollback the atmosphere of institutional accountability that Williams started and Fenty accelerated. Anyone who's lived in DC is familiar with this phenomenon. When you call 311, you get an actual pleasant person, and more often than not, you get some sort of action.

Gray has made it a major part of his platform that one of the central responsibilities of the DC government is to ensure that "no one is left behind." In the past, this meant that the role of DC agencies was primarily to provide a lifetime sinecure for those otherwise unemployable. This was the hallmark of Barry-ism, not steering contracts to his buddies.

Given a choice between moderate informal cronyism, or perverting the government institutions wholesale, I choose the former. Again, my deepest hope is that Gray's campaign promises were made in the spirit of electoral cynicism.

by oboe on Sep 15, 2010 10:53 am • link • report

I think Alpert has finally jumped the shark, now that this blog has morphed from content to propaganda (bike fatalities are up, comrades) to being a personal political tool (i.e. endorsing Gray once it was evident he would win).

Probably because he has run out of ideas, is my guess.

by MPC on Sep 15, 2010 11:11 am • link • report

@oboe, I just don't understand the basis for these concerns. His platform has been one of inclusion, rather than exclusion; process to guide progress. Your opinion seems to equate the desire for process, with a lack of desire for accountability. I don't see, at all, how the two are related.

What has Gray said that makes you think he'll give jobs to everyone who asks? His platform talks of having a cohesive strategy for luring businesses to DC, investing in workforce development and training, transportation infrastructure, green economy. I don't see anything about setasides.

Given your choice, as presented, I would choose the same. But that is not the choice that is before us.

Everyone promises the world in their campaigns. It's a campaign, duh. But it's up to us to look at the individuals and their records and decide who we think is going to perform best with the hand they will be dealt.

The idea that Gray would operate like Barry just makes no sense given what we know about him. He's a consensus builder. That is the hallmark of a good politician. Consensus building doesn't mean "cater to every special interest and get nothing done," it means getting input from stakeholders before you make unilateral decisions - and more importantly, selling your plans to the stakeholders before you force them down anyone's throat.

This is how business works, and it's how the most successful politicians in history have worked. I have no idea if Gray will be good at this or not - but from the standpoint of an approach, it's a good one.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 11:11 am • link • report

@Jamie:

Given your choice, as presented, I would choose the same. But that is not the choice that is before us.

Personally, I think the concerns are overblown, just trying to tease-out what the main Gray critique is.

As far as consensus-building, the obvious difficulty here is that--as is the case with national politics--you can't always achieve some sort of consensus position. Look at the Health Care Reform legislation. It was essentially a moderate Republican bill passed by a center-left administration. But it precipitated national outrage by a sizeable minority who argued it put the very foundations of our nation at risk.

Achieving anything--and I do mean anything--of import in politics requires forcing it down somebody's throat. Doesn't matter if it's outlawing abortions, or building dog parks. Synthesis is not always possible.

by oboe on Sep 15, 2010 11:20 am • link • report

@Jaime. I agree with your analysis of Gray. Was just making a factual correction. Fenty's campaign rhetoric of Gray taking us back to the dark ages versus Fenty a beacon of hope for the future was understandable in that he was trying to get re-elected, but it was not an accurate assessment of Gray.

by kreeggo on Sep 15, 2010 11:23 am • link • report

@Jamie the difference between Fenty's endorsements 4 years ago and Gray's this year is stark. Fenty had broad based support, and won every precinct in the city. Gray's support isn't anything like that. His dependence on a specific portion of the city means he will be beholden to that portion of the city, assuming he wants to be mayor for more than four years.

The lesson from this election is that a failure to spend enough time on your knees in Wards 5, 7, and 8 will get you kicked out of office, even if the vast majority people generally think the quality of life in the city is improving, and the city is on the right track. I don't see why you think Vince Gray hasn't learned that lesson, and won't act accordingly.

Still waiting for a single example demonstrating Gray's fiscal responsibility.

by jcm on Sep 15, 2010 11:27 am • link • report

"Fenty had broad based support, and won every precinct in the city. Gray's support isn't anything like that."

This makes for a rather stark contrast of where Fenty was after four years, compared to where Williams was. Anthony Williams certainly ruffled a lot of the same feathers that Fenty did.

How is it that Williams, who was very pro-business and decidedly un-barry-like, managed to usher DC into a new era while making sweeping institutional changes, without alienating more than half of the population of DC?

Williams certainly got his share of flak, but his approval ratings - even at a time when DC had a greater black population - were never anywhere near as low as Fenty's. At the same time, I think most would agree that the changes in DC during Williams administration were far more dramatic than what we've seen under Fenty.

It seems it is, actually, possible to make substantive changes without pissing off so many people that you can't stay in office.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 11:53 am • link • report

After seeing his performance as CFO, Tony Williams was essentially drafted to run by a group of African-American voters in Ward 7. Fenty's best performance "results"? Making folks forget that Williams laid the foundation for EVERYTHING (including school reform), claiming those "tough decisions" as his own, then having the temerity to be an asshole about it.

by Neve on Sep 15, 2010 12:12 pm • link • report

@jamie - and an example of Chairman's Gray's fiscal responsibility is...

by Rake on Sep 15, 2010 12:15 pm • link • report

Personally, Jamie, I think the difference all comes down to Michelle Rhee. Gray saw blood in the water, already angry that Fenty didn't get along with the council, and decided to exploit it. Combined with anger over gov't employees being fired, it was all a formula for a belief that "Fenty doesn't respect us!" even though the city has improved and benefits have accrued on the other side of the Anacostia. Gray's move was cynical and will ultimately be destructive.

by Tyro on Sep 15, 2010 12:16 pm • link • report

Neve I think you lost all credibility when you cited that Barry was the architect of the DC renaissance.

by Anon on Sep 15, 2010 12:20 pm • link • report

@Tyro:

That's what all the polling bears out. Most DC residents felt that the Administration was doing the right things, but Fenty *personally* got low marks for being "disrespectful."

Obviously, as a politician anywhere, you need to kiss a lot of asses babies, but among an electorate like DC's, where there's a chronic, outsized obsession with "disrespect", it's particularly important.

by oboe on Sep 15, 2010 12:25 pm • link • report

@Rake, sorry it has taken me so long to be your google assistant, here you go:

enty, Gray face off over Alliance dollars

Gray proposes new DC debt cap

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 12:26 pm • link • report

@Anon,

I said WILLIAMS was the true architect. Marion Barry was elected four times, not twice, which clearly served as a lessen to Williams to quit while you are ahead and not run for a third term.

by Neve on Sep 15, 2010 12:27 pm • link • report

And, seriously, can anyone tell me what average citizens have to be "pissed off about" with respect to Fenty? Certainly voters aren't basing their votes regarding anger that fenty gave a few contract to personal cronies. Should we be basing our votes on the fact that a bunch of cab drivers are upset about modern meters being forced to be installed?

by Tyro on Sep 15, 2010 12:28 pm • link • report

@oboe, please. Polling doesn't show that people think Fenty was doing the right things. It shows people think the city was generally moving in the right direction. A ship with no captain can still be moving in the right direction. It's called momentum.

I live in Columbia Heights. If you asked me how I think things are compared to four years ago, what the hell do you think I would say?

Sadly, the fruits of the previous administration's labor, a lower crime rate that exactly matches the national trend, while positive, have nothing to do with Fenty.

As for your mildy racist "disrespect" comment, can you tell me, in what place of business, politics, or relationships, is "respect" NOT important? Would you do business with someone who treats you like a jerk? Do you think that being arrogant is simply a personality trait that exists in isolation, and has no bearing on how you might approach policy?

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 12:31 pm • link • report

@Tyro,

Like it or not, the people have spoken whether you personally agree or not.

by Neve on Sep 15, 2010 12:34 pm • link • report

Neve, do you have a point?

Gray decided to exploit vague feelings of unhappiness to run a divisive campaign in a city that was doing well only because he wanted power for himself. He brought down a good mayor by exploiting divisions only because he wanted to gratify his DUV sized ego. This is not a sign of a good man.

by Tyro on Sep 15, 2010 1:10 pm • link • report

Wow, Tyro. So, basically, anyone who unseats an incumbent must be a bad person?

Alternatively, you could accept reality, which is that a majority of people did not like the job Fenty was doing, and voted him out.

From a year ago," before Gray entered the race, Fenty had an overall job approval rating of 40% and a 51% disapproval rating.

Those are some rough numbers for a populace that is only "vaguely unhappy." Even Obama has a 46% approval rating right now, and it would be quite a stretch to say that Americans have "vague feelings of unhappiness" right now.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 1:15 pm • link • report

@jcm: You should come over to Ward 7, Hillcrest specifically, and meet the well-educated, well-informed and diverse group of people who live here. We drafted Tony Williams to run for mayor, and both Kwame Brown and Vince Gray live in our 'hood. We are a politically savvy bunch who pay attention to what happens in our neighborhood, ward and city.

While I cannot speak for the 100,000+ people who live in wards 5, 7 and 8, I can tell you that I, and many of my neighbors, voted for a variety of reasons. The old vs. new, black vs. white storyline being pushed all over the media just doesn't apply to everyone. Fenty lost me in part because he allowed too many side issues - contracts to frat brothers, baseball tix, non-resident Peter Nickles (to name a few) - define his administration and interfere with his ability to effectively manage and lead this city. And yes, while our neighborhoods east of the river were improved, I pay taxes and expect that improvement to come to my ward just like it has to others. That is the job of government, isn't it? To take our money and use it appropriately? In my mind, you don't earn my vote for doing your job.

But you certainly can lose it. Fenty pushed $85 million in grossly inflated contracts to his frat brothers while ward 7 residents are being told that the city does not have the money to keep a satellite police station open or to underground electrical wires during the rebuild of Pennsylvania Ave. And we are still fighting for a Circulator route east of the river. I know I am oversimplifying these issues, but the point is that squandering tax payer money stinks.

And that is just one example of what ultimately drove me to take a closer look at Gray. When I did, I learned that he has been a leader on many things that matter to me - marriage equality, environmental issues, education reform (full discolsure: I like Rhee). So I am willing to give Gray a chance to do better. He has demonstrated intellectual curiosity and steady leadership during his tenure as council chair. I have no idea how things will turn out, but I certainly hope we can continue to move forward with him as Mayor.

by Maria on Sep 15, 2010 1:18 pm • link • report

As for your mildy racist "disrespect" comment

No! You're a racist!

Your turn... Pfft...

by oboe on Sep 15, 2010 1:19 pm • link • report

Oboe, I'm sorry, I must be mistaken. So when you put quotes around the word "disrespect" when referring to "an electorate like DC's," did you mean "an educated, polite electorate that places a great deal of importance on courtesy in personal interactions," instead of "a ghetto black electorate?"

What crap. You said it, now own it.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 1:26 pm • link • report

Jamie, it was Gray who brought up the "respect" issue and made "respect" of communities "east of the river" to be the centerpiece of his campaign. GRAY owns it, but few people were willing or able to call him to the carpet for it. Gray didn't have to run, but he wanted his baseball tickets and he saw and opportunity to run a division based campaign in a bid for power and a desire to put Fenty in his place.

by Tyro on Sep 15, 2010 1:38 pm • link • report

Folks, you heard it here first.

Gray decided to run for office, to take on the world's most thankless job, mayor of a big city with no state support in a crap economy, because he "wants his baseball tickets" and wants to "put Fenty in his place."

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 1:43 pm • link • report

To be point blank about it, the problem is that Gray was elected on a platform which did not place a priority on low crime, school reform, or responsive government services: none of these formed the basis of his campaign, and it is not what he depends on to keep popular support. And his mayorship and supporters will cultivate an administration where these issues will be allowed to whither on the vine. People get what they vote for, and there is no reason to think that a mayor who was elected on the basis of the claim that crime, good government services, and school reform don't matter is going to make improvements on these metrics. That's the danger here: the city can become objectively worse while Gray can credibly claim to have "delivered" to his supporters.

by Tyro on Sep 15, 2010 1:49 pm • link • report

"crime, good government services, and school reform don't matter"

Reference, please? Certainly that's not what Vince Gray's web site says. This may be what you think, but I've never heard it before. Actually, the major criticism that people who are NOT extraordinarily biased have made, is that Gray's platform is not much different than Fenty's.

"the city can become objectively worse while Gray can credibly claim to have "delivered" to his supporters"

So it's back to the Gray=Barry argument, which has no basis in reality.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 1:54 pm • link • report

Jamie and others, I think the actual argument is that if Gray expects to please the constituencies that got him elected, he is going to have to appeal to the Barry types who supported him. He didn't win by huge, Fenty '06-like margins. His margin was respectable, but it wouldn't take too much slippage to put him below the 50% mark. In order to not be one and done, he will need to either win over the people who didn't trust him (which is what I'm hoping for but not counting on) or deliver consistently to the biggest constituencies that did elect him (which would not be a good thing for the District).

by Nate on Sep 15, 2010 2:41 pm • link • report

@Nate, Fenty got 57% of the vote in the democratic primary in '06, and Gray got 54% this year. That's not a big difference.

Frankly, I think that Gray is LESS likely than the average politician to be subjected to the notion that he has to "please a constituency." He's 65 years old, what's the chance he will even want to serve more than one term? He'll be almost 70.

Besides that, the economy is in the crapper right now, and probably will be for the forseeable future. If it stays bad, he's out no matter what. If it doesn't, it probably doesn't matter what he does, he'll have lots more money to spend and everyone will be happy.

Frankly, even if he has any intention of serving for more than one term, I doubt anything he does short of getting busted smoking crack with a prostitute will have any bearing on his reelection chances in four years.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 2:53 pm • link • report

What crap. You said it, now own it.

I didn't deny it. I was merely taking issue with your slipshod racial mau-mauing. Just go ahead and call me a Nazi so we can end this thread already.

by oboe on Sep 15, 2010 2:54 pm • link • report

@oboe, I would never "disrespect" you that way.

by Jamie on Sep 15, 2010 2:55 pm • link • report

@Rake "@jamie - and an example of Chairman's Gray's fiscal responsibility is...", aside from what Jamie has linked to in support of Gray's better fiscal credentials,
there have been a few times that Fenty has submitted budgets that under-funded legislated programs and then left it up to the Council to identify the needed funding or to decide when programs needed to be cut (see: the Council's defeat of Fenty's request for additional summer youth employment program funding, Gray's one-year moritorium on council earmarks). Although there were exceptions to this (the Council did require the mayor to implement some revenue-generating measures that Fenty had proposed (ie the parking-meter rate hike), Fenty also did not demonstrate a committment to fiscal restraint by okaying the overfunding of the Banneker Ventures contracts. Thus the convential wisdow that, as mayor, Gray would show more fiscal restraint than Fenty.

by DCster on Sep 15, 2010 4:33 pm • link • report

I just want to say that I find it rather upsetting that Duchy Trachtenberg probably lost at least in part due to the transphobic campaigning of her opponents.

by J.D. Hammond on Sep 15, 2010 5:24 pm • link • report

I had the pleasure of passing by the Fenty HQ last night, and couldn't help but notice all the entitled cronies that were in the room. Sinclair Skinner, Omar Karim and the oafish Keith Lomax. (famously known for borrowing and crashing the Mayor's government vehicle.) The most refreshing outcome of this election, is that people like Lomax and the aforementioned crew will have to find work on their own merit....good riddance to those entitled, talentless bottom feeders.

by Denver on Sep 15, 2010 9:55 pm • link • report

@Jamie: process to guide progress? That's usually code for "study everything, do nothing." As a Marylander, I'm concerned, as I fully expect to be funding another Federal takeover in the next ten years. Gray shows a definite aversion to making tough decisions that might mean that somebody ends up not liking him. His flip-flop on streetcars is indicative of this attitude. I'd have far more respect for him if he'd stuck with his opposition, even though I don't agree with him on it.

About the only good I see coming out of this is that maybe Metro can lure Dan Tangherlini back as GM now that Fenty is out.

Then again, my personal motto is that pessimism means that you are rarely *unpleasantly* surprised. My heart wants Gray to succeed, but my head tells me his style won't let him.

by Dave J on Sep 16, 2010 8:43 am • link • report

The cab drivers did not oppose Fenty because of the switch to meters. Every driver will tell you that he (or once in a while she) has embraced the meter because it reduces confusion and conflict with passengers.

The grievances drivers have are as follows:

1) the Mayor set the mileage rate at the lowest in the country

2) the Mayor has denied them representation on the nine-member Commission that governs their very lives; there are supposed to be three representatives of the cab industry

3) the Mayor continues to claim unilateral “emergency” authority over the industry and refuses to revert complete regulatory authority back to the Commission where it belongs by local statute

4) the Mayor shut down the Commission last year for eight months, right when it had unanimously voted to reconvene to raise the fares to parity with surrounding counties.

5) the Mayor has failed to address persistent harassment and abuse by the local taxi hack inspectors.

Justice for DC Taxis

by Justice for DC Taxis on Sep 17, 2010 12:48 pm • link • report

Yes, let's raise the cab fare schedule to Montgomery County levels, but let's also bring in the rest of MoCo's taxi regulations, including medallions and a requirement that your cab smell better than the lower colon of a burro.

DC cabs stink. Literally. The worst taxicab service of any major city in the United States, in my experience.

by Dave J on Sep 17, 2010 2:32 pm • link • report

The cab drivers did not oppose Fenty because of the switch to meters. Every driver will tell you that he (or once in a while she) has embraced the meter because it reduces confusion and conflict with passengers.

It's great that the cab drivers have come around, because, unless you were in a coma during the meter/zone debate, you were deafened by the screeching from cab drivers in protest of the meter system.

by oboe on Sep 17, 2010 2:42 pm • link • report

Be careful what you ask for. In my opinion, "Justice for DC Taxis" would entail tarring and feathering their drivers, then opening the city up to suburban companies like Red Top, who provide clean cabs and operators who have better manners than to subject their clients to religious or political harangues for the entirety of every ride.

Oh, and while we're talking about "justice" the penalty for operating a cab with "dealer plates" (which I've seen *often* in DC) should be summary roadside execution. Alright, in the interests of clemency, we'll reduce that to jail time and a lifetime ban on one's hack license.

by oboe on Sep 17, 2010 2:48 pm • link • report

The solution to dirty cabs is to make it easy for people to complain with a number that is readily available AND to address the fact that there are some companies that don't care what shape their vehicles are in. The individual driver owner / operators tend to take care of their cars. In addition, the notion that medallionized jurisdictions have friendlier cab drivers is laughable. I've been to every major city in the country multiple times, and our drivers are friendlier than elsewhere where drivers do not own their own businesses. As for the protest against the meters it had as much to do with lack of inclusion in decision making and concerns about the rate setting process which proved to be quite valid. The rates were set in the secrecy of the executive branch by a few people and not subject to public review and comment.

by JusticeforDCTaxis on Sep 20, 2010 8:01 pm • link • report