Simply put -Shame on you Mr. Fenty for pulling rank that so many of your constituents cannot do. Maybe it's time for a little class action lawsuit to open up the entire out of bound process - one more time - in the hope of truly keeping it fair and equitable for all.

Your #5 is one of the most obnoxious and presumptuous things I have ever read. I'm sure you know what homes cost around there (rents or mortgages), as you defend it like you live there. Cancelling cell phone and cable bills, selling cars, isn't going to get your average middle or upper middle class person into that district. It's either DC or back to the Midwest for us. Those are the changes we are going to make to get us into a good school district, Marc. But, we'd actually like to stay in DC.

DC is not a democracy & does not have equal treatment of all before the law. Hence, it is not surprising that the people in power - call them kings or commissars, a dictator is a dictator is a dictator - do whatever the fuck they want. Accordingly, mayors and city council members do whatever the fuck they want, & the people who live here either are too ignorant or apathetic to do anything or are like Marc, basically royalists who support any kind of dictator.

Either we have equal treatment of ALL citizens or we don't. If we don't, then it's not a true democracy.

You say, "It is unclear whether Lafayette even accepted any transfer students this year." Have you tried making a few phone calls? I'm guessing this info is publicly available.

I'm not a huge Fenty fan, but I think this is a non-issue, for the following reasons:

1) Lafayette actually did add a 4th grade class this year, which would immediately open up about 25 new slots

2) From what I understand, there is much higher demand from out-of-boundary applicants for the lower grades - kindergarten, etc. The numbers go down as you go up in grade

3) If the Fentys had moved from their predominantly African-American neighborhood in Crestwood to Chevy Chase, which I'm sure they have the means to do if they wish, he'd no doubt be accused by some of moving to a white neighborhood

4) He's the freakin' mayor. He ought to be able to send his kids to whatever public school he wants. Sorry, this isn't a Marxist country where we all need to make sure we have the exact same limited opportunities. If you want to send your kid to Lafayette, then go run for mayor and win. Otherwise shut up. Life isn't fair.

5) A lot of these people complaining about lack of fairness act like they themselves have no control over where they live or what school their kid goes to. If you want to send your kid to Lafayette badly enough, then make the changes in your own life that would make that happen, or accept responsibility for the choices you made in the past that are preventing that from happening. Find a way to move into a neighborhood with a better elementary school. Cancel your $100/month cell phone and $100/month+ cable bill if necessary, get a 2nd job, stay married so you're in a dual-income household, sell your car and use public transportation. Run for mayor and win! Otherwise, stop complaining. The Lafayette neighborhood is largely filled with hard-working, dual-income, two-parent households with dedicated parents who get involved in their kids' lives and education and won't accept an inferior school for their children.

I believe in protecting the privacy of all minor children, however,the concern is Fenty's actions and DCPS allowing him to get special treatment. By Mayor Fenty explaining how he got his children so quickly into a difficult out of boundary school is not violating his children's privacy. It appears this is just many of his avoiding tactics to not answer quesions from the media and residents..."Mayor Fenty, Did you use the lottery system to get your children into this school?" It is a simple yes or no answer that we will probably never get a straight answer on.

I also think there are more important issues regarding..mayor fenty that need more attention.
Not showing up such as Red Line Metro train victims funerals?

Do you really expect that Mayor to send his kids to school at whatever awful school is in his neighborhood?

He's the mayor. We should be glad he's even sending them to DC public school at all. He's not a regular citizen. He has a security entourage. He's the damn mayor. I suppose you're one of those people who will criticize Obama for the same? Get real.

There are hundreds of things to get up in arms about as far as Fenty goes. This is not one of them.