Vince Gray: Bust
Those who've been watching the various follies of the D.C. Council over the past several weeks now know: This is the wrong guy for the job.
First, the whole Victor Reinoso thing. Gray, showing a streak of pettiness that unmatched even among the ranks of D.C. councilmembers, refused to call a vote on Fenty's choice for deputy mayor of education. The rationale? That he needed more evidence, or someshit, that Reinoso is qualified for the job.
Know what, Vince? If you need more evidence at this point on Reinoso, then I want some evidence that you're qualified for your job. You've seen the guy's resume, you've had him in for a hearing, he's been around town for quite some time, so on and so forth. Are you doing some investigative reporting on the guy during your summer break? Gonna interview some people at the Federal City Council about the guy? Um, Mr. Golden, can you tell me whether Mr. Reinoso showed up for work on time each day?
Hey Mr. Chairman: Give this guy an up-or-down vote and let the mayor get on with his schools reform plans. Jeez, you gave the mayor the education portfolio, and now you want to hold back his point man because you need more information? Did you boast on your campaign that you had management experience?
Other disasters: Let's sell off the city's West End holdings without a public hearing. And let's put in place another meaningless ban on single sales. Poor H Streeters who want just one.
This never would have happened under a Patterson council!
Photograph by Darrow Montgomery
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6:11 pm
"...and let's put in place another meaningless ban on single sales."
Way to throw that one out there and then link to an article that says nothing about the value (or lack thereof) of such a ban. The post you direct your readers to makes the incredibly nuanced argument that "Sometimes you just want one," instead of actually addressing statistics that would indicate whether or not a moratorium has an effect.
As someone who lives just off of H Street, I can tell you from personal experience that the majority of litter, public drunkenness and public urination that result from drinking on the street is due to the purchase and consumption of singles and half-pint liquor bottles. The evidence is out there on a daily basis for anyone who cares to do more than pontificate and actually take a look.
The day I start seeing six-packs littering the streets and drunks carrying liter-bottles of liquor into the alley with them when they relieve themselves is the day I admit the moratorium was a failure.
For now, though, I tend to believe that the the 3-year moratorium that was passed this week is going to have a big, positive impact on the daytime habits of those who have nothing better to do than to hang out (and frequently pass out) along H Street every day.
9:12 pm
Now now Erik Wemple, there is no need to bust poor Vincent's balls like you are.
12:05 am
Erik Wemple, the editor of the Washington City Paper has called the chairman of the DC City Council Vincent C. Gray every word in the book except “Competent”.
It seems that Mr. Wemple is trying to see who is a bigger snob, he or Chairman Gray.
The said fact is, Mr. Wemple has bought into the Fenty lie that he will be able to have any real impact on our schools.
Mr. Wemple, you can dress a turkey in a suit, but it is still a turkey. In other words, Fenty may in fact make the appearance of our schools look better but he will have no impact whatsoever on the test scores of our children.
It is a shame that Mr. Wemple backed out of going to New York as he would not have been missed.
3:13 pm
Let me see in the few months that Victor has been in office.
There was the plagiarism embarassment. And the testimony on the plagiarism embarassment was hilliarious.
There was the ED Build issue of a 57 more or less no bid contract to former board employees.
There was the dust up with Dorothy Brizill that at the very least can be said was handled badly
And the hearing came off like a high school students that did not study for the examine.
Yes this screams qualified. The only things shown for certain is that people cannot look a gift horse in the mouth
. Victor at this point has not demonstrated any reason to be confirmed. Instead of saying that he should be thrown out--the chairman has allowed him to re-do his homework and come back later.
But the spoil DC brats cannot see it that way--and is demanded a grade now, knowing full well he would fail.
May I remind you that Patterson did not endorse a takeover she went on record as being opposed to. She also went on record as wanting to keep Janey so before you look to the grass on the other side of the fence, make certain you put on your glasses.
You sound pety for someone in newspaper industry. Quite not up to snuff.