So what can we do to make this happen?

by Adam L on Sep 16, 2010 2:31 pm  

Man, I wonder who appointed those two in the first place. I bet he'd keep them on.

by Matthew Yglesias on Sep 16, 2010 3:00 pm  

Anyone care to take bets on this? David? After all, you can always speak to the insiders, as you noted. ;)

by John on Sep 16, 2010 3:08 pm  

Quickly, merge Arlington and DC -- and redo the election. I'm sure Fenty would win this time...

by charlie on Sep 16, 2010 3:14 pm  

@Charlie

Don't you mean, re-merge?

by Adam L on Sep 16, 2010 3:26 pm  

"I can't imagine having better folks in those jobs than they do now." We completely agree."

You're kidding, right? What Matt said.

by zib23 on Sep 16, 2010 3:29 pm  

Even though I have occasionally complained about DDOT's frequent missteps, I think Gray should keep him. In fact I think that Gabe Klein, who is long on vision, enthusiasm and initiative, but maybe a little short when it comes to good planning and implementation, would do even better under the more process-oriented leadership that we expect of a Gray administration.

I've already emailed the almost-mayor-elect saying as much.

by Jamie on Sep 16, 2010 3:34 pm  

Or maybe they're so good Grey will promote them to be Deputy Mayors. That's the rumor I'm hearing. That will be alot better than the kids Fenty had as Deputy Mayors.

by crin on Sep 16, 2010 3:56 pm  

i would add Christophe Tulou at DDOE to the list of keepers. that agency has a lot to do and suffered a bit in the long interim between Hawkins and Tulou. DDOE appears to be getting a lot done lately.

by danvironmentalist on Sep 16, 2010 4:02 pm  

Yeah, I can imagine that listening to Arlington County officials about appointments is right at the top of Vince Gray to-do list. It's unfortunate for Fenty that his many of his most ardent admirers seem to live outside the District.

by Paul on Sep 16, 2010 4:28 pm  

The question that baffled me with the recent election is that if people support Harriet Tregoing, Gabe Klein, and Michelle Rhee's improvements with public education, then why not vote to re-elect Fenty?

by Ben on Sep 16, 2010 5:21 pm  

@Ben - Most people (outside of this transit policy wonk circle, anyway) haven't heard of either Gabe Klein or Harriet Tregoing, and Michelle Rhee is despised by more people than loved.

If everyone who worked for Fenty was as anonymous as Gabe Klein and Harriet Tregoing are, he probably would have been re-elected. You don't make news for doing your job well in government - you make news for being a jackass, like Rhee and Nickles often did. That trinity of jackassery is what killed him, and the fact that he happened to have hired some competent people too doesn't cancel that out.

by Jamie on Sep 16, 2010 5:33 pm  

@Ben - many people did vote Fenty for precisely the reasons you say. He won wards 1,2,3 and 6 by significant margins (roughly 60/40). Gray won the election because he won the other Wards in a landslide (roughly 80/20).

by Different Paul on Sep 16, 2010 5:36 pm  

Tregoning should be elevated to Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development. She's excellent at her job, and could really balance the ra-ra attitude of DMPED with a more long range vision and planning emphasis for the city.

by Wil on Sep 16, 2010 5:42 pm  

I agree, the idea of Harriet Tregoning as DMPED would be fantastic, if she were willing.

by Andrew on Sep 16, 2010 6:47 pm  

Think about the majority of Gray voters. Do you think that they care what a gay, white man thinks?

by mch on Sep 16, 2010 6:59 pm  

I would say the opposite. Keep Rhee, Lanier and Rubin. Klein means well, but manages poorly. Tregoning has so intimidated the professional staff at OP that everyone is afraid to express an opinion that may contradict her dogmatic views in the slightest. Morale is terrible there and staff feels that their professional integrity has been compromised. During meetings they look like they're reading in hostage videos. Send Harriet back to Maryland.

by Bill on Sep 16, 2010 9:24 pm  

Well, that does it. I'm writing in Fenty in November.

by David C on Sep 16, 2010 10:38 pm  

You know what would guarantee these folks staying? A Fenty reelection.

by Fritz on Sep 17, 2010 9:35 am  

@Bill, now you're just making things up.

by crin on Sep 17, 2010 9:46 am  

I completely agree with Bill about the intimidation of OP's professional staff and a noticeable lack of morale, and I would add the loss of high levels of creativity which staff had under other leadership. H.T. comes across as cold, calculating, and as an selfish opportunist. Flatly, she should go. Certainly, Gabe has room for improvement of his management skills, but it is a very large agency, and he has not been there a long time. Some of those problems are system and will take time to remedy. Definitely keep Lanier and Rubin.

by DonovanCB on Sep 17, 2010 12:08 pm  

Also keep Linda Argo! She's done a fantastic job at improving DCRA -- an agency that many thought could not be improved.

by Dave A on Sep 17, 2010 12:25 pm  

Did you say keep good ole boy, snuff tucking, spit cup in hand RUBIN. (Please). Linda Argo may have made improvement's in certain area's of DCRA, but in other very important area's like Housing Inspection, Compliance and Construction management, she seem's to be at her witt's end, take a look around town at the amount of unsantioned housing that's going up and you'll know what I'm talking about. It's gone wild.

by another native on Sep 17, 2010 9:47 pm  

Gabe should stay Linda Argo is so ditsy....even in meetings she should go. OP needs a major overhaul....some of their staff need to go also. They need to comeback down to earth and realize that holding 50 meetings a week doesn't mean you are being productive.

by DC chic on Sep 30, 2010 8:38 pm