What’s Wrong With Vince Gray?
It only took Mayor Vince Gray six years to go from running a non-profit for troubled teens to being the city’s top elected official. But after that rapid rise, it’s only taken him two months to cut short his own honeymoon and become a political punchline.
So what happened? How did a guy who looked like a pro while easily dispatching a much-better funded incumbent in September come to look like a lost little lamb by March?
At least part of the problem is that people with questionable backgrounds who want city jobs are clearly attracted to Gray—and the mayor doesn’t know how to push them away.
First it was Reuben Charles, an entrepreneur who quickly became Gray’s go-to-guy during the campaign but had left behind a string of sour business deals and unpaid debts in the Midwest. The rumor mill was pretty certain that Charles was going to be Gray’s chief of staff, until the then-mayor-elect was blindsided by more reports of Charles’ unpaid debt problems.
Next comes Sulaimon Brown, whose rapid transformation from annoying seventh-tier mayoral candidate to the Gray administration’s chief accuser has been nothing short of remarkable. (For the two of you reading this who don’t know Brown’s backstory, here is the CliffsNotes version: Brown runs for mayor on a platform advocating that Gray be mayor. Brown gets a $110,000-a-year job with the Gray administration. LL suggests Brown’s hiring is a bad idea, given his legal problems and other issues. Brown is fired the next day and has to be escorted out of his office by police. Brown goes on the attack, accuses the Gray camp of making illegal payments to his campaign and promising him a job.) Gray has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in l’affaire Sulaimon, and has been helped by Brown’s increasingly erratic behavior. But by the same token, the crazier Brown acts, the more one has to wonder why the Gray administration ever hired him in the first place.
Joining Brown in the category of never-should-have-been-hired is Talib Karim, a Gray supporter who was the chief of staff at the same agency where Brown worked. Karim resigned last week after LL wrote about court records that indicated he used physical force against his wife.
And then there’s Howard Brooks, the current man of mystery who stands accused by Brown of being the Gray aide who slipped him envelopes of cash. Brown doesn’t have a shady background—public records show he’s lost a couple of business-related lawsuits, declared bankruptcy, and has a couple speeding tickets—but his behavior since being accused by Brown does not inspire confidence. First, Brooks denied to The Washington Post ever calling Brown. Then when he was confronted with phone records showing multiple calls between the two, Brooks told the Post he was lawyering up and wouldn’t answer any more questions. He’s since been ignoring reporters’ calls.
Reports this week on Brooks’ past business enterprises and their links to Gray also cast doubts on the mayor’s claim that he doesn’t know Brooks well.
Gray shouldn’t be held personally responsible for everyone who joins his team. He’s the mayor, not the head of human resources. But he needs to find someone who’s looking out for his political interests, and quickly.
“They’re leaving him hanging out there,” says Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, an avid Gray supporter who says the constant scandal drip coming from Gray’s office is “kind of depressing.”
Other Gray supporters, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Gray’s inner circle has let him down by being politically tone-deaf. “Ultimately, he’s put his trust in some of the wrong people,” says one supporter. (Some of the finger-pointing has centered on Lorraine Green, Gray’s campaign and transition chairwoman, who Brown has also accused of giving him cash. Green denies Brown’s claims.)
For proof, look no further than the hirings of the progeny of Gray’s backers. The children of Gray’s chief of staff and his communications director, as well as Brooks’ son and Green’s daughter, all landed new jobs with the Gray administration. Gray says the new hires have been qualified, but for a guy who ran on a platform of ending cronyism in city government, he should have known how bad those hires would look. Or he should at least have someone working for him to tell him how bad it looks.
“That may not have been the best decision,” says Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander, another strong Gray supporter.
So what can Gray do to get out of this hole? One thing that’s frustrating his supporters is the way Gray seems to have lost his message mojo. Rather than making news, he’s now only reacting to the steady stream of bad headlines coming his way. Gray’s tried to turn the page by announcing that Kaya Henderson will be permanent chancellor of the D.C. Public Schools, but it hasn’t been enough.
Perhaps more dramatic news is needed. Maybe he could buy a Smart Car?
* * *
COMBINE THIS!
It’s not as sexy as Sulaimon or the Lincoln Navigators, but there’s a corporate tax reform issue looming that just might highlight Gray’s problem of listening to the wrong people.
Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi has been pressuring District lawmakers for a while to adopt a corporate income tax policy known as combined reporting. The law would require multistate corporations, like Comcast or Pepco, to pay taxes on profits they make in the District, rather than shifting money around to other states. If the District were to enact combined reporting, it would join 23 states (of the 45 with a corporate income tax) that have combined reporting—and raise an additional $23 million the next fiscal year. Which might come in handy, given the buckets of red ink D.C. budgets have been dipped in lately.
Opponents, who include the well-connected lobbyists of large corporations and the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, say combined reporting can be overly burdensome and unfair. Supporters of combined reporting say the law not only helps the District’s struggling finances, but also levels the playing field for smaller businesses that exist in the District alone and can’t take advantage of out-of-state loopholes.
Or, as the wordsmith Gandhi put it to LL in a statement: “Combined reporting can provide a far more accurate picture of a unitary enterprise’s true income within a taxing jurisdiction because it minimizes distortion from income and expense shifting all too common in separate entity jurisdictions like the District of Columbia.” (The CFO is clearly not the message maven Gray is looking for.)
To find a good example of why combined reporting is needed, supporters say, look no further than the District’s unreliable electric utility Pepco. Records indicate that there have been years when Pepco’s not had to pay state income taxes, despite being profitable. A Pepco spokesman says the company, which operates in D.C., Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey, opposes combined reporting because it could lead to higher electric rates.
In 2009, the D.C. Council actually approved combined reporting, but it still needs to pass enabling legislation, which Gandhi has already drafted, that spells out exactly how the law will be implemented.
At a recent news conference to convey the good news that the District’s budget gap was only (“only”) going to be $322 million and not several hundred million worse, Gandhi passed out revenue projections that made clear the District would lose $100 million over the next four years if the council didn’t act on combined reporting.
Joining Gandhi in support of combined reporting is Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, who heads the finance committee and is the council’s biggest budget hawk.
“I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t do it,” says Evans. When asked to describe the pitch he gets from lobbyists opposed to combined reporting, Evans says they say “it’s not fair and all that other kind of crap.”
(Sure enough, when LL asks Chamber of Commerce President Barbara Lang about combined reporting, she says, “I just think it’s unfair.” She believes the legislation would allow the District to tax income that wasn’t made in D.C., which supporters of the legislation say is false.)
One might think that with the support of Gandhi, the guy most elected officials in the District see as the last word on all things financial, and Evans, who is opposed to pretty much every other type of tax increase, combined reporting would breeze into law. One might also think, after listening to Gray repeatedly talk about shared sacrifices, that the mayor would be jumping at a chance to make corporations pay their fair share.
But that’s not the case. Gray hasn’t given any indication whether he’ll include combined reporting and the revenue it will generate in the budget he’s supposed to release on April 1. “That’s a decision that’s yet to be made,” Gray said earlier this month at a news conference.
It could be that Gray is being his normal deliberative self. Evans said last Friday that Gray’s budget folks had told him “it’s right on the line.” (Opponents of combined reporting are convinced Gray will include it his budget, while supporters are convinced Gray won’t. This way he’s sure to please someone!)
Or it could be that Gray, as Evans took the rather unusual step of suggesting to LL, is trying to accommodate the business community that backed him. Multistate corporations that oppose combined reporting were generous donors to Gray’s campaign, transition, and inauguration funds. He appointed Lang to head his transition team’s economic development committee. And let’s not forget that there are dozens of multistate corporations represented by a class of well-connected lobbyists who seem to thrive no matter who is in power. (Take, for example, David Wilmot, a top-paid lobbyist who is on expensive retainers for Comcast, AT&T, and Wal-Mart.)
So will Gray cave to the pressure of the people who supported him? We’ll get our answer when his budget comes out. It’s worth noting that Gray didn’t waste any time pissing off the unions his detractors said he’d be beholden to.
Yet there’s also reason to believe Gray’s looking for a way to make his business backers happy. Asked at a news conference whether he supported combined reporting in theory, Gray wouldn’t answer: “I don’t want to get out ahead of myself.” That could be Gray being cautious, but LL’s got his suspicions.
Got a tip for LL? Send suggestions to lips@washingtoncitypaper.com.
Photo by Darrow Montgomery
6:34 pm
If Marion Barry endorses you, run the other way and do the just the opposite. the minute he suggested Chairman Gray should become Mayor, Vince should have stayed put!
6:40 pm
What is wrong with Vince Gray is Lorraine Green!
Ms. Green and others are part of the problem!
It is sad that he will not break free from these
controlling people!
Vince Gray.....they are NOT your friends! Friends
do NOT let you make a FOOL of yourself!
Why did you hire all these crazy friends and family
of these people? It looks really bad when you were
preaching about Fenty!
Once you drop these people.....you will start the
DAMAGE CONTROL process!
Vince MAN UP and take a STAND against the madness!
7:04 pm
Fire Crystal Palmer and Lorraine Green's daughter tonight!
7:14 pm
Let's consider some of Gray's friends:
- Lorraine Green = pay-off queen
- Howard Brooks = pay-off king
- Crystal Palmer = wife of Harold Brizil (remmeber him?) The foolish Councilmember
- Marion Barry = bigot and drug addict
Sulaimon Brown = Gray's hired attack dog
Do you miss Fenty yet?
7:15 pm
A lot could be said about this but essentially the people Gray relied on to get elected chose a path and employed tactics that are contrary to effective governing.
He won the battle, but can't hold the ground.
7:16 pm
first let me say that there are 60,000 ex-offenders in the district. and this last elections this group really became active. these people paid there dept and now are asking 4 a fair chance at the table. and most of all they are becoming political active. 60,000 voting block is something that anyone running 4 office is going 2 enbrace. this group work their butt off 4 both candidates and any job that one receive is well deserve just like anybody else. look at the dirt thats being thrown around,one guy had a fight with his wife,one guy had a charge that was dropped,one didnt check the box that ask have u been arrested within the last 10 years,her last conviction was 9yrs 10month. i hope u get where i am going. these 60,000 have voting right and we all better get use 2 it. who out there havent heard about all the ex-offenders in D C. so dont nut up now like this is news,we cant ignore this group any more. sorry if thats not what u want 2 hear. this group do pay lots of taxes in this city.
7:18 pm
People=strategists, not voters.
8:34 pm
Look out for us GAYS like me, Dr. Clifford Thomas,karate teacher at Bladensburg Rec Center in PeeGeeCee,Md. I bee's a thug,lazy,call peeps names and take advantage of the lil voters too. Vinnie babee I came from Eastern HS in the early 60's and 70's and I am late 50's born and can hand dance with the same sex of course.
9:13 pm
@Ward4forever don't forget Cherita Whiting.
9:41 pm
@INSIDER, Your's is a very accurate and insightful veiw of a very touchy subject, fact is that in this town a very deliberate and focused effort was lodged against young african american youth a long time ago and continues to this day. Unfortunately we have ourselves to blame for not lodging an equally inspired effort to combat this attack, mainly because we didn't want to believe it is there, on average, by the time the majority of young black males in DC reach 18 yrs of age they have been introduced to the judcial system in one form or another, most with felony arrest of some sort. Compare that statistic against any other race in the country. I commend earlier and present leaders for they're attemps to correct the effects of the atrocities of the conspirators that exist and continue the perpetuation of this mentality in this fair city. Fact is, although we say it, most people don't really beleive in giving a second chance to returning citizens, not really. Lets get to work on changing that.
9:59 pm
Don't forget Cherita Whiting is right! Why Mendo hired her is beyond me. She goes from being an admin ass to a special ass? Ha!
I don't know, LL, seems like you were having a mini-apology tour for Gray in the column there. The problem with Gray is that he was never the better candidate, he was just the not-Fenty candidate with some cred.
10:02 pm
Best game show quotes in the first 100 days:
Vince Gray - Name That Tune - "I can name that tune in, let's see, two months and seven days..."
Sulaimon Brown - Double Jeopardy - "What is, payback?"
Kwame Brown - Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - "I do!"
Cherita Whiting - Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? - "Hell naw, a 10th grader either!"
Howard Brooks - The Price Is Right - "Where's my d--- $10 million dollars?"
Lorraine Green - Let's Make a Deal - "Behind Door Number 1, my two kids with DC government jobs!"
DC Voters - The Weakest Link - "Mayor Gray, you're the weakest link. Bye! Bye!"
10:02 pm
@Insider and Anothernative - Give me a break. There's a difference between helping hacks get jobs they're qualified for and giving hacks high paying jobs for which they are nowhere near qualified to do.
10:05 pm
Mr. Gray has been friends with Ms. Green and Mr. Brooks for years. That's why they were the two trusted to hand off money to Mr. Brown. They never would have revealed it. The three of them has been robbing this city for years.
Now Mr. Brooks is looking for his friend Mr. gray to grant him $10 million. Mr. Gray has been trying to get the city to pay this guy the money for the last two yrs. I don’t know which one is dumb or dumber
I guess Mr. Brooks is afraid Mr. Gray may be in trouble, why else would he allow his attorney to send documents demanding $10 million from the city. Even Mr. Brooks’s business partner denies the city owes them $10 million. Maybe they’re not just partners in crime but drug buddies too. I would rather believe that they are high when making these bad decisions instead of be just plain stupid.
None of the people involved are exercising any intelligence.
10:14 pm
What is wrong with Gray?
Well, it depends on who you ask.
If you ask his CLOSE FRIENDS...Not a damn thing is wrong is with Gray he is just perfect for us to screw over.
If you ask the VOTERS..Everything.
If you ask GOD...Gray needs to let those people GO.
Start with those four women!
10:25 pm
You morons voted this clown into office, fools!
10:29 pm
I think most people would agree that those who have committed crimes and done their time deserve a chance to re-enter society, and that includes getting a job.
But not any job. Ex-felons need to prove themselves, and they need to be qualified to do those jobs, and people will always complain if they are given jobs that are not open to the general public Just like everyone else.
Saying that this is about people having a problem with ex-felons getting jobs is an oversimplification.
10:40 pm
Vince Gray is a very weak person. First, attempting to be WHITE at GW years ago was a very obvious character flaw. The voters of the district have elected a moronic person that ranks below Washington, Barry, Dixon, Williams and Ms. Fenty.
11:03 pm
I'm hoping that Vince Gray's hiring of Bob Bennett is his first step toward finding better advisers and advice. The mayor seems to be surrounded by leeches! Vince is either way too trusting of people and, therefore, gets taken in easily by them -- or else he's not being totally truthful. I'm hoping, for the sake of our city, that it's the former.
11:25 pm
What's wrong with VG? He is an old school high-yellow negro. As many are viewing him now as passing for white. He's our male version of imitation of life eith lorraine green in the role of mammy.
12:16 am
Have you guys noticed, Alan Suderman is writing dirt on everyone associated with Mayor Vincent Gray except for Cherita Whiting? Is Alan friends with this woman or what? Cherita Whiting is a convicted felon and she's alleged to have lied on her DC employment application. What's up with that Alan?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/8/aware-of-felony-gray-gave-dc-job-to-campaign-worke/
12:17 am
LOL@Color Struck; you ain't right. LOL LOL LOL
1:23 am
@DN, I can see that this has obviousely got caught in the narrow passage of your frontal lobe, fact is that my attemt at an appeal to civility had absolutely nothing to do with hacks as you are referring to I'm assuming Brown and Brooks, but to the much broader context of African American males as a whole. I'm going to ask you to try and stretch the bounderies of your way of thinking and try and step out of your box for a nanosecond to try and be objective on this.
1:42 am
I'm going to ask you to try and stretch the bounderies of your way of thinking and try and step out of your box for a nanosecond to try and be objective on this.
6:55 am
Anothernative,your definition of objective could never pass through your deleted frontal lobes. Futhermore,does your computer have spell check?Obviousely attemt
8:22 am
What's wrong with VG, first stop dying his hair. Secondly, stop getting giddy about his glory days at Dunbar of which during his era was a haven for high yellow negroes. The darkies had to go to Armstrong. Thirdly, please stop all of those hand dancing as recreation references; he is not the reincarnation of steppin-fetch it.
9:02 am
Vince Gray is a good man with strong morals. I've never doubted that. But he's allowed the worst elements of DC politics to take hold and they're dragging him down. If he fires Green, she'll jump on the Suli train and blame Gray. This is the right thing to do, but all of you Gray detractors will simply say- look another person taking swipes at him, he must be the devil. If he doesn't fire her, he'll sink deeper and deeper.
He just needs to plant firm feet into the ground and take on all of this head first. He'll get through only by making the tough choices now.
9:12 am
Adrian Bent-Me, Vincent Gray is NOTHING. What are you mixing with your orange juice ?
9:24 am
There are a few things wrong with Vince Gray:
1. He lacks the vision to be an executive level leader, preferring to slag through endless process and analysis (except when it comes to school chancellor) - real execs set a vision and drive a team to complete it. What is the One City Vision? Is that part of the 200 day plan?
2. He has surrounded himself with relics of failed administrations past, and folks looking for a no-show government job (see Brown, S., Karim, T., Whiting, C)
3. He is too wedded to the "old school", DC machine politics that failed to accomplish anything of note in almost 40 years, culminating in a Control Board.
4. He failed to realize that the nuts and bolts of governing are different than campaigning. It's easy to say you'll be the anti-incumbent, it's hard to formulate a plan and govern effectively. Vince has struggled here (911 debacle, lack of any defined plan / agenda for his first months in office - heck, we don't even have a complete cabinet yet)
I'll say this for Vince - at least he was smart enough to retain a good lawyer...One City, the implosion continues.
Hey, at least Brooks's kid resigned!
9:35 am
This all started with the transition teams who all tried to cash in on their support for Gray, many of whom are questionable characters with ties to The Barry era like Tom Downs They all wanted something personally, and when only 10% "got something" they are revolting. the people who did get something got it big, all making $110k. The real story is all of the contracts and special deals getting pushed through now like that old lottery contract.
Go back a little more, Gray had some excellent people on his team as Council Chair like Rob amiller who he inheritedd, and some real doozies who I think most people know about. He is a very bad judge of character, and when he does get someone good its by accident. He lost some amazing people from the Fenty administration like the head of Contracting and Procurement, David Gragan fir example. Anyone with ethics who was doing a grat job had to go because they would not play ball with Gray's friends who came to the party to get paid. Thy gave hm the advice they wanted to, he acquiesced.
Very sad era for D.C.
9:59 am
God I miss Fenty. Gray needs to go!
10:00 am
Aside from re-appointing competent folks from Fenty's Administration (Kaya Henderson, Lanier) and letting his staff hire cronies and family, Gray hasn't really done anything terribly original or creative. That's very disappointing. With today's economic crisis, and the potential of modern technology, we need a leader willing to be bold and innovative to solve current challenges. We thought we were getting someone wise enough to do that, but instead we may have just gotten someone to old to address the modern realities. Ooops!
10:00 am
It really should go without saying (but I'll say it) that this shut is EXACTLY what Fenty supporters predicted. But even we didn't think it would happen this fast. The thing is, yes Fenty had a cast of unsavory characters who used the levers of cronyism, but they were fucking bush league at that game compared the Gray's cohort. Those guys are hardened pros with years at the major leagues of cronyism and pay-for-play. This is the crew that has felt denied access to the pig trough ever since Williams was elected. With Gray they hoped the spigot got turned back on, and that's clearly exactly what happened. I still think Gray is a smart and good guy, but he doesn't have the character of a mayor and his mayoralty is going down in flames before it even got ff the ground because of it. He was the perfect council chair. I wish we realized that too. Now we've got an incompetent mayor and an even more incompetent council chair. Prepare for a wasted four years.
10:19 am
What's wrong with Gray? It's a Sharon Pratt redux-- all the same players, all of the same no-nothingness mixed with patronage, ego and a bizarre inability to take an effective stand on anything.
11:14 am
Unqualified under the Fenty administration? There were many. You have folks like Ximena Hartsock, Summer Spencer (by the way I liked her), Kelly Valentine (received paid administration leave and is under FBI investigation) and Rhee on and on and on.
Now, these rabid, acolytes, Fenty zombies who pounce on bullshit without giving the administration a chance won’t see that. Nope they won’t admit that former convicted folks like Ron Moten got million dollar contracts (tax-payer money), and were unsavorily characters who Fenty hung around.
Look we gave Fenty a chance. Fenty won every ward in the city. This shows that voters in all wards were willing to give him a chance. It took about 18 months to maybe two years before you heard any real grumblings.
These bullshit stories have their the Fenty zombies attention an avenue to vent their pent up frustrations of a lost from November by marginalizing black folks.
11:39 am
Tony- Vince has dedicated his life to improving this City. Whether you agree with the man's policy or approach is one thing, but to discount his life's work is simply wrong. He's got a long-standing record as an accomplished leader (he was the council chair prior to this). What was Fenty's executive experience prior to being Mayor? Answer me that. Fenty's entire administration was plagued with horrendous behavior and there is no one in this City who can really defend it. Many of you will choose to ignore it because you perceived progress under his helm. Your perception was tainted because you're new to the City. Those of us who were born and bred here knows better. Fenty wasn't progress. He was our local W. Bush. He got on a gravy train created by his predecessor and was steering us right off of a cliff. I am grateful every single day knowing that he's no longer Mayor of DC.
I am disappointed in what's been happening with Gray though, but it's because of poor decisions made by him. There is shadiness surrounding him, but he's not a shady person. Fenty was the epitome of shadiness. Who's going to deny that?
11:42 am
"At least part of the problem is that people with questionable backgrounds who want city jobs are clearly attracted to Gray -- and the mayor doesn't know how to push them away." ... 'Ultimately, he's put his trust in some of the wrong people,' says one supporter."
ie: LeroyThorpe.com ?
11:44 am
"Colorstruck" you need to get your facts straight! My Dad was just as "high yellow" as Vince Gray, but he went to Armstrong. It was the high yellow blacks with connections or money that went to Dunbar. The fact that you bring race in to this at all means you miss the real problem. Gray has never been a real manager and to succeed he must surround himself with people that know how to make a city run, not his cronies. All your so called friends and cronies are going to do is get you in trouble.
12:02 pm
Jamnew- "Gray has never been a real manager"
He was Chairman of the City Council and a damn good one. Before that he was an executive of a non-profit. His resume is filled with leadership roles. Why don't you compare it to Fenty's and see.
Fenty surrounded himself with ex-cons who received millions from the City- Moten.
Fenty surrounded himself with cronies that received millions from the City- Karim
Fenty put in powerful positions, friends and family members who earned 6 figure salaries as well- Jannarone, Albert, Santos, his wife, her best friend, Nickles
Gray should be more conscious about what's happening, but I don't think he's the driver behind any of it. He should be accountable for the missteps though and knowing Gray, he will be.
12:05 pm
Yet there’s also reason to believe Gray’s looking for a way to make his business backers happy. Asked at a news conference whether he supported combined reporting in theory, Gray wouldn’t answer: “I don’t want to get out ahead of myself.” That could be Gray being cautious, but LL’s got his suspicions.
ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!
HE DID ANSWER YOU. HE JUST DIDNT GIVE YOU THE ANSWER YOU WANTED SO THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO PERPETRATE AND PROGRESS THIS BULLSHIT.
ALAN SEWERMAN EQUALS THE TOM CRUISE CHARACTER IN "A FEW GOOD MEN" HE WANTS MAYOR GRAY TO ADMIT THAT HE ORDERED THE CODE RED!
ALSO WHO KNEW MCKENNA WOULD BE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MAN IN DC. THE SNYDER GUIDE LED TO LAWSUIT, WHICH LED TO WCP NEEDING TO INCREASE CASH FLOW, WHICH LED TO GINNED-UP STORIES ABOUT MAYOR GRAY QUESTIONABLE HIRES (THAT ARE IN NO WAY OR EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE QUESTIONABLE AND OVERPAID PIECES OF SHIT FAGGIE FENTY WAS FUNNELLING MONEY TO), WHICH LED TO TABLOIDISH SLANT, WHICH LED TO . . .
1:01 pm
Oh Noodlez- when will you ever be happy? I think you will find happiness if you stop reading City Paper and go away. The Washington Times and Examiner are waiting for you!
1:11 pm
Everyone is missing one thing.....Brown would not be crying foul if he had not been thrown under the bus. Vince Gray has to take responsibility for what has happened. Okay, he hires the same lawyer that represented Bill Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky situation. Bill was guilty as hell and so is Vince Gray.
Fenty, Barry and Gray are all the same. DC deserves so much better.
1:28 pm
first let me say that there are 60,000 ex-offenders in the district. and this last elections this group really became active. these people paid there dept and now are asking 4 a fair chance at the table. and most of all they are becoming political active. 60,000 voting block is something that anyone running 4 office is going 2 enbrace. this group work their butt off 4 both candidates and any job that one receive is well deserve just like anybody else. look at the dirt thats being thrown around,one guy had a fight with his wife,one guy had a charge that was dropped,one didnt check the box that ask have u been arrested within the last 10 years,her last conviction was 9yrs 10month. i hope u get where i am going. these 60,000 have voting right and we all better get use 2 it. who out there havent heard about all the ex-offenders in D C. so dont nut up now like this is news,we cant ignore this group any more. sorry if thats not what u want 2 hear. this group do pay lots of taxes in this city.
-----------------------------------------------------
1. Sounds like people like you would fit perfectly in the Gray administration
2. Why don't all you convicts get a real job (as a laborer or whatever) instead of wanting to suckle off the city's teet?
3. You write on a 6th grade level, at best.
4. The sooner y'all move to PG County, the better.
1:38 pm
Geographer1 that answer was sooooo 4th grade.
Al are you going to take my comment out of "awaiting moderation mode"? Or are selecting comments now like stories?
2:15 pm
@Tony, Find something constructive to do or go sit in a corner in time out, but first delete Deez nuts out of your mouth so you can think straight. If you can't get past typo's you're going to be stuck for a long time sport.How about setting bias to the side just long enough to comprehend a thing or two in these relatings.
2:18 pm
Southeast Ken...maybe the Southeast should trigger it for me but what part of any article did you not understand Sherita Whiting did not lie on her app. she checked yes and it was stated in other reports as well as at the Hearing Bowser held on DPR Bowser even reviewed the documents during the hearing. I live in ward 5 but attend alot of events in ward 4 and it doesn't seem as though a person trying to hide something would be as vocal as she has been. Also it was stated that she did graduate from another school and Jeff Anderson reported what he reported how he reported it for news! You act as if she is the only felon in DC...NO. and certainly not working in DC Government, everyone knows DPW/Howland hires felons the day after the return and they should be hired hell it is better than them continuing going down the wrong road. It is really sad to see a man bashing of a woman who you probably don't know.
2:24 pm
Gray is wise to hire a good attorney. Fenty did not need to hire his own attorney, because he had Peter Nickles to "investigate" things and then say everything was hunky dorey. Gray can't get away with that.
2:47 pm
Hello Alan Suderman, the Washington Examiner is now reporting on Cherita Whiting a convicted former felon getting a $65,000 position under the Gray administration. My question to you Alan, why haven't you reported one article on Cherita Whiting lying on her DC application about being convicted of a felon? Are you personal friends with Ms. Whiting or her father Chuck Brown?
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/03/gray-aware-felony-hiring-whiting-report-says
2:53 pm
@dcresident, no one is bashing Cherita Whiting. From my understanding, Ms. Whiting is alleged to put others dirt out in the public. Now she's under the microscope, the public haven't heard one word from this woman on any blogs. I don't have a problem with ex felon getting a job, but if they alleged to lie on an application, then it's a problem.
@dcresident, I guess it's ok to bash men like S. Brown for alleged wrong doing? Women want equal rights and to be treated equal to men, but when things get tough, some are accused of picking on women.
No I don't know Cherita Whiting, but I have seen her on the news and in public. When I saw this woman's 12 inch finger nails curled up, this told me a lot about her. As Madea say in the movies, she's ghetto as hell.
2:59 pm
@dcresident; why would the Washington Times report a so called slanderous article regarding Cherita Whiting if it wasn't true? Can they not be sued? The Washington Times is not the National Enquirer.
In the Washington Times article, it quotes Cherita Whiting as saying, not she didn't check the box that stated, have you ever been committed a felon? Ms. Whiting was quoted, it was on a need to know basis.
With all the scandal surrounding Vince Gray with allegations, I wouldn't be surprised if someone in the Gray administration made a change on Ms. Whiting's application to not suffer another scandal.
3:04 pm
@dcresident; another article about Cherita Whiting. I haven't seen one article written in the City Paper regarding Ms. Whiting's appointment at $65,000. and her qualifications.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/02/politics-vs-programs-dc
3:14 pm
Southeast Ken, I read the Washington Times article you provided. The article states, both D.C. At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson and Mayor Vincent Gray wasn't aware of Cherita Whiting past criminal history. According to the article, Ms. Whiting lie on a previous application about being convicted and serving time in prison for a felony. It appears, Ms. Whiting have several run ins with the law in the past. I don't have a problem with an ex convict getting a job once they serve their time. But I am concern what type of job they apply for and they type of crime they committed. If a person has stolen money in the past, would you hire them as a bank teller or if a person was a covicted pedophile, would you hire them working with children?
3:18 pm
Correction: I am serving fish dinners down at the church and I wasn't paying attention to what I was writing. LOL LOL
Southeast Ken, I read the Washington Times article you provided. The article states, both D.C. At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson and Mayor Vincent Gray wasn't aware of Cherita Whiting's past criminal history. According to the article, Ms. Whiting lied on a previous employment application about her being convicted and serving time in prison for a felony. It appears, Ms. Whiting had several run ins with the law in the past. I don't have a problem with an ex convict getting a job, once they serve their time. I am concern with the type of position they apply for and the type of crime they have committed. If a person has stolen money in the past, would you hire them as a bank teller or if a person was a convicted pedophile, would you hire them working with children?
3:32 pm
I'd like to give a shout out to LL and Washington City Paper for some excellent reporting. The WashPost et al. have to acknowledge you in their reporting (and rightfully so). Excellent investigative journalism. I'm happy to see (read) it thrives somewhere!
3:42 pm
Southeast Ken, you are right but yesterday's article says that Mendelson & Gray both knew of her past. So the Times writer got some explaining to do. Mendelson hired her first so he had the paperwork first, he said he didn't have a problem with her past now yesterday's article says Gray hired her also knowing so she did I guess do the right thing and I agree a person will a money issue should not be handling money and the first report said she is not working with money but gang prevention stuff with kids. So maybe she is good at it and can reach one of these kids she can talk from both sides and most kids relate to someone who can instead of someone seeming like they are talking down to them with no understanding of what they have been through. That ex-offenders office would be good to since she has over 10 years clear maybe she could inspire someone else as well but the Times reported many things one day then many others another day
3:47 pm
Speaking the Truth So Help Me GOD.
Gray just like Fenty never deserved the role as the Chief Executor of District of Columbia. Not eliminating, Fully-Loaded Kwame Brown, the most unintelligent of all Chairman's of City Council.
People of colore must learn not vote based on your personal likes of an individual, as oppose to their competence, character and integrity in leading a specific role of service.
Gray and Fenty are officials, who remain unable to hold up their zippered pants when comes down to dealing effectively with the rights and wrongs of upper Blacks, Whites and Jews in DC.
In addition, tonly give to their friends, as it relates to the social needs and fabrics of this city.
Because, Gray sleeps with old-ass Linda Greene, use to sleep with Lorraine Green, friend of old-ass Linda Boyd this women have a personal history. However, are non-comparable with the sophistication of an Alexis Herman or Alexis Roberson.
Now, Cherita Whiting claims to be the daughter of Chuck Brown, who has secured his talent for events of Harry Thomas (under investigation for Team Thomas) and Vincent Gray (soon to be investigated by the FBI) at a stipend capacity.
Also, one's would wonder why one of these elected officials would have stooped so low to sleep with the ghetto claw fingered Black smoky breathe female.
See, people must understand, why she and her real gangster X-offender frind, Ron Moten are still close.
Note, since Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown has been booked and secured for the Black legislators, they do not want to remove her from employment knowing she lied on her application.
Maybe, Councilmember Muriel Bowser will stand up as a female leader and take on this outcome?
The real issue for 2011 is not Marion Barry, but Vincent Gray, Kwame Brown and Harry Thomas. Barry was sanctions. But other officials who violated the law as Ms. Jim Graham and Mr./Mrs. Jack Evans have yet received their equal punishments.
, and Gray's hos
3:58 pm
I don't have a problem with Cherita being hired. But at an excepted service "Special Assistant" position? Really. Is the administration sure about this?
People in those positions are political operatives, their duties could be anything. They're easy to hire, easy to fire, and only the trusted should be there.
4:24 pm
Al when are you going to release my comments under Remember This Guy?
4:25 pm
What do the people want? Mayor Gray to hire all white people like Fenty did? Will people be satisfied then? Trust and believe not all of them were qualified either.
4:30 pm
Southeast Ken it was good talking with you but these other people who hide behind made up names to try and slander others GET REAL go to her and say all of this why speak about it on a blog not man/woman enough add an extra prayer for yourself tonight because while you are trying to tear another person down you are losing out on living your own life.
5:02 pm
@dcresident; agreed. I don't know Ms. Whiting, S. Brown, and others Mayor Gray or his administration hired. I don't have anything against Ms. Whiting personally because I don't know the lady. I was playing the devils advocate due to the City Paper constantly writing articles on Sulaimon Brown and not Cherita Whiting.
I agree with Drez, I questioned Ms. Whiting's appointment as a special assistant at Parks & Rec. making $65,000. yearly. This isn't a regular civil service position. As a DC voter, resident, and taxpayer, I am concerned with these hires and salaries due the District's $666 million deficit.
5:06 pm
@Daddy Grace Fish Sandwich; I would love to have a good old crocker, porgie, or spot fish sandwich today. There's nothing like a good hot bone fish sandwich on Thursday and Friday afternoons. LOL
I use to drive to the southwest water front to buy fresh fish to fry at home.
5:12 pm
CHARLIE SHEEN for mayor! I would rather see Charlie Sheen as mayor of the District than to see Barry, Fenty, or Gray.
At this point in the District history, I don't think Charlie Sheen could do any worse than the fools we had running the District in the past and the present.
5:12 pm
I see folks don't have much to say about the Kelly V. Report. Oh... that right...the rule are aren't the same for the Fenty admin.
5:20 pm
@Really; what is the Kelly V. Report? Can you please educate us on this report?
7:07 pm
@Southeast Ken see second story on the LL's front page
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2011/03/10/mess-of-an-agency-was-a-mess-reports-auditor/
7:40 pm
@Really; thanks.
7:56 pm
Who cares about Kelly V? Fenty fired her last summer.
7:59 pm
Really? 64 comments over Vince Gray? LOL @ Daddy Grace Fish Sammich. WHo knew the comments section of Loose Lips was popping off like this
8:07 pm
Add the following names to the list of Gray's close friends, associates, and backers others have mentioned:
BRUCE BEREANO- covicted felon, disbarred lawyer, disgraced lobbyist
DOUG JEMAL- convicted felon, tax deadbeat
HARRY THOMAS- loud mouth slush fund lawbreaker under AG investigation
REUBEN CHARLES- google him
DON PEEBLES- arrogant rich bud being sued by DC for fraud
DAVID WILMOT- appointed to transition team (google his disgraceful group home fiasco
These are a few of his favorite friends. So nothing about his first couple months as mayor should come as any surprise. Fasten your seatbelts, there will be lots more to come.
9:15 pm
TH!
The Trout report supposedly will come out tomorrow!
You win the bet, though it's been so long that I don't remember what it was for anymore.
9:54 pm
Really, in case you haven't noticed, the Fenty administration is OVER. Just because folks are up in arms about this ONE CITY disaster doesn't mean we all want Fenty back. Tony Williams would do nicely. Heck, even a Control Board is a better look than Vince...
10:21 pm
Jamnew, did I not say dunbar was a haven...therefore when your yellow daddy didn't enter he went where the darkies attended school and that was at armstrong....your own words to enter dunbar you must have "connections" so you validated your family history of not being well connected... as for using the race stigma, well I must have thrown a rock into a pack of dogs and you go"t it...yelp!!!
9:32 am
@Skrilla...I let go when folks stop bringing up the Barry days which has been over for how long.
Hypocrisy 101 given by Drez….who states who “cares about Kelly Valentine”
So who cares Drez says about:
Valentine who was an unqualfied agency head With an annual salary of $147,848 (note that it's more than 110k)
What about the firing Really?
-Well “A Fenty spokesman did not respond to a question of whether Valentine would continue to draw a paycheck while on leave.
So Really what’s the knock on Kelly V?
-Kelly V mismanaged by failing to record and remit an estimated $8.7 million in deducted health and life insurance premiums
-Valentine gave lucrative contracts to her friends. Contracts ranging from health insurance coverage and private investigations were handed off to companies with ties to Valentine, according to whistleblowers.
-Well boys and girls and Drez Ms. Kell V asides from the FBI and the inspector general, city Auditor Deborah Nichols (see report in Al’s story with 2 counts) and the finance office's integrity team have also begun probes.
Anything more interesting with the Kelly V firing?
-of course… Fenty loyalist Chip Richardson will move from Fenty's general counsel to ORM's interim director.
Richardson represented Fenty before he was mayor when he was admonished by the D.C. Bar Association for legal malpractice.
Richardson also played a major role in the Fenty administration's ill-fated attempt to donate firetrucks to the Dominican Republic, and has also been admonished by the D.C. Bar Association for failing to pay $28,000 in child support payments.
So according to Drez it’s ok for certain folks (crooks) to draw $140k salary, It’s ok for certain loyalist to get a job in administration, it’s ok to use public funds to give to your friends, it is ok to fail to pay childsupport and still hold a job?
http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/beleaguered-dc-risk-management-head-ousted (hat tip to Al)
9:57 am
@ Really
I don't know nor do I care about KV. What I know is that she was fired nearly a year ago, and that for some reason you're living in the past.
I don't care because it's over.
I care about VG because it's the here and now.
Get it?
10:38 am
Anothernative,it very taxing comprehending your DRIVEL!
12:40 pm
Screw-ups of his predecessors aside, nobody can dispute that the Gray we are seeing now isn't the one who ran for office. Something is wrong. I think this is a combination of a bad team, poor judgment and just plain old true colors coming to the surface. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt going into the new term (even though I did vote for Fenty) but all of my worst fears about him are already coming true. What we have is a mess on our hands and nobody can deny it or give him pass, regardless of what Fenty, Williams or even Barry did in the past. This is the now and he has to step up and fix this.
1:24 pm
Yeah Drez...a couple of months and $8.7 million...don't mean NOTHING! wow....
$8.7 is screw-up?
If you don't know your past..then you dont know your future.
8:18 pm
@Tony, If you didn't comprehend anything else, you figured out the Deez nuts in your mouth part, didn't you.
8:24 pm
Anothernative, what is your gender?
5:40 am
Anothernative,you getting your talking points from Dr. Dre and Snoop. Have a good day.
1:57 am
Are citizens of the district receiving any tax refund checks from the district?
6:59 am
vince gray.need too step down.he use brown to get in.now the tag.arrest not right.how you do that to people yet you had brown to do your dirty work.at least be who you are.everytime somebody color get higher up,they find a way too mess up.what you need to do is too stop the cocanie that gone on ,now your talk about ciggrett but your cant stop the cocaine.nobody talk about that.at lesae mayor berry.are who he is.nobody will every take his place.he care about the people of DC,