Five Things Fenty Can Do to Win Back Some Love A little advice for a guy with poll-number problems.
Farewell to Charms: Fenty needs to earn back his man-of-the-people rep.
(Darrow Montgomery)
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Where have you gone, Mayor 142?
With the headline “Fenty approval ratings plummet” splashed across the front page of last Sunday’s Washington Post, there’s no doubt that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty will be hard-pressed to repeat his landmark 2006 electoral performance, when he trounced primary challenger Linda Cropp in all 142 precincts of the city.
Sure, Fenty still has no legitimate competition in the 2010 race, but that’s not likely to last long. Hell, given the findings of the Post and other pollsters, Leo Alexander and his $20,000 war chest (0.7 percent of Fenty’s) might be able to pick up a few precincts. Sulaimon Brown, with even less than that, might be able to do the same on his last name alone.
Like the residents surveyed, LL thinks the city’s pretty much on the right track. But the problem Fenty faces is clear: Black voters just don’t like him, in part because they sense he doesn’t care. And white voters like him less and less, on account of his opacity, arrogance, and nascent cronyism.
The opportunity for Fenty is also clear: It’s just February. The same guy who toppled Charlene Drew Jarvis, charmed the press, and stormed city hall is still in there somewhere, right? He’s just been obscured by three years of “big-city mayoring.” So here are five ideas that LL thinks could help recapture the dynamic go-getter of yore:
Unilateral Ticket Disarmament
Baseball nuts always mark their calendars for that February day when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. D.C. reporters have a similar ritual for Fenty—when, if at all, will he cough up the Nats tickets that he owes to the D.C. Council? People care: The Post poll showed that Fenty’s two-year run of pettiness on this matter has stuck with him. Handing the tickets over this year without a fuss would represent some improvement, but not enough. He could step up by unilaterally renouncing the questionable practice of having government officials occupy luxury sports aeries—a perk typically doled out as political chits. Even better, Fenty could reach out via a sporting event even more dear to this heart: He’s trying to lure the Giro d’Italia to D.C. for its 2012 start. How ’bout an honorary starter role for Vincent Gray?
Get Out of the Can
This reporter never knew Fenty during his pre-mayoral press-charming days, when he was an easygoing, easily accessible go-to quotemeister. Pretty much the only Fenty that LL’s known is Fenty the robot. Hizzoner’s media rigmarole goes something like this: If you want a comment from the mayor, catch him after one of his daily media events, a policy that often yields uncomfortable Sam Donaldson–Ronald Reagan moments. (Those Thursday-morning WRC-TV lovefests don’t count.) The result? Not only does it annoy the reporters, but D.C. residents never get to see a human side of Fenty. They see only a man incapable of candor, someone who talks about doing things “as fast as humanly possible,” “getting you a statement,” and “I gotta go.” Time to go off script for a day or two, Mr. Mayor. LL will be happy to schedule a sit-down at your convenience.
Become the Jobs Mayor
Dunno if Fenty’s been reading the newspaper, but there’s an unemployment problem in this city. December jobless figures hit a record high of 12.1 percent, with east-of-the river figures inching toward 30 percent. What’s Fenty done about it? Beats LL—in a very un-Fentylike move, he’s essentially ceded the issue to At-Large Councilmember Kwame Brown. And, if last week’s Federation of Civic Associations appearance by would-be challenger R. Donahue Peebles is any hint, it’s an issue he can expect to hear about on the campaign trail quite a bit. Tax breaks for big businesses like CoStar and Northrop Grumman aren’t the answer; in fact, without some leadership on closer-to-the-ground employment issues, they’re going to be a campaign liability. LL will refrain from making any policy suggestions—in fact, he’s outright skeptical that any mayor could do much to move the unemployment needle on such short notice—but Fenty ought to take a page from the campaign playbook of Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and run as a “jobs mayor.” And, no, summer jobs don’t count.
Fire Peter Nickles
There’s been one guy at the center of virtually every controversy surrounding Hizzoner—from the travel controversy to the chauffeuring incident to the fishy fire truck disaster. That’s Nickles, his consigliere-cum-attorney general, who has been a legal bulldog for executive interests, but one who has created messes left and right. His no-holds-barred attitude has single-handedly created a level of interbranch intransigence unseen since the early-’90s heyday of Sharon Pratt and John Wilson—and, in a reversal from those days, the Post poll made clear that the people blame Fenty more than the council. Axing his longtime friend and most trusted adviser isn’t likely to happen, and it may not buy him much goodwill in the communities where he most needs help, but doing so—or at least putting a leash on the bulldog—would send a message to the good-government types in Ward 3 and elsewhere that the guy who ran on accountability and transparency isn’t lost for good.
Let Yourself Go
As Fenty’s poll numbers have declined, so has another of his benchmarks: His competition times. The guy’s maintained a grueling training regimen while discharging his chief-executive duties, a habit that’s gotten him nothing but bum headlines—whether for a serendipitously installed pool heater, weekday afternoon bike rides, or, recently, a testy moment on the Wilson pool deck. LL appreciates Fenty’s need for a daily “athletic release,” but the people see him as more obsessed with his workout than his work in the city. So while some politicians have to get into “campaign shape,” it’s time for Fenty to put on a few. If he wants to connect with the community, he needs to ditch the chamomile tea for Rock Creek grape soda. No more dried fruit—more Horace and Dickie’s fish sandwiches. And for chrissakes, next time you find yourself at Ben’s Chili Bowl, Mr. Mayor, no more goddamn turkey dogs. You’re gonna get a chili half smoke—with cheese, Obama-style—and you’re gonna like it.
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Feb. 5 - 11, 2010 (Vol. 30, #6)
Comments
2:24 pm
#6 RESIGN
2:59 pm
Yes,
I concure, just resign and save us the trouble of a vote of no confidence!
5:28 pm
Become the Districts Job Czar and concentrate on lowering 12.1% unemployment rate and put District residents back to work. If you want to be a member of the Obama Administration then follow our President's lead and put the emphasis on JOBS and JOBS DEVELOPMENT. Bring back the contractors who hired 87% of District residents and get rid of those who only "illegal immigrant labor".
And finally remember and espuose to the philosophy that "everyone can't go". Let those who are feeding at your troth and not being respectful to your residents, the Council and honoring the law.
5:51 pm
Streets are cleaner, snow is removed, my neighborhood pool has been the cleanest this year (especially this past summer in 5 years)
That's all I care. He is a jerk, who cares!
6:06 pm
@DC land, then you should vote for Mr. Fenty, that is your right and your should exercise it.
But just know that there are others who don't have a neighborhood pool because it was not placed in the budge, those who don't get their streets cleaned unless they continually call.
Oh, and by the by, the trash in Ward 5 and some of Ward 6 did not get picked up today and when we called we were told that their was a "situation" and that it might not get picked up until next week. So, you see, city services do not work the same for everyone.
6:08 pm
Rock Creek grape soda! Horace and Dickie’s fish sandwiches! Ben’s Chili Bowl! Chili half smoke—with cheese! Perhaps Mike should get his-
White Sheet! Burning Cross! Kloran! White Pride T-Shirt! Confederate Flag and stop all this maddening rhetoric and get over his obsession with Mayor Fenty. Perhaps, the "Five Things Fenty Can Do to Win Some Love" is one of the many reasons why he wont' talk to you and other smut journalist.
6:39 pm
that sorry bastard will not get my vote.
6:52 pm
Ko-jo! Ko-jo! Ko-jo!
8:41 pm
How many "Jobs for DC residents" bills have Kwame Brown and Marrion Barry introduced and gotten passed into law? And how many have actually had an effect on the employment rate?
DC is known as anti-business for a reason. Many of its laws are enacted by people who are on the Council and have never actually held a real job, let alone started and run their own business. Hence the ridiculously high tax rates, the ever-growing burdens imposed on business owners, and the regulatory hurdles to opening up a new business.
If we had Councilmember that weren't lifetime "public servants", we would have far more business-friendly laws and regulations in place. Contrast DC's ridiculous levels of legal hurdles and regulations with those of Virginia. Is it any wonder why businesses are far more likely to set up across the river?
How many Councilmembers have ever said they were going to take an in-depth analysis of DC laws to see which ones served no purpose other than to scare away businesses?
My guess: None.
It's far easier to do what Kwame and Barry regularly do: introduce yet another law requiring companies to hire only DC residents, without ever doing the research to see which of the million other similar laws have actually had any effects.
Here's an easy example: How many banks are chartered in DC? The answer: 2 or 3. Why? Because of an idiotic law introduced by Jim Graham that makes DC chartered banks subject to tons of rules on how they can operate. Why would a bank bother to deal with DC when it can simply get a Virginia, Maryland or federal charter, still operate in DC, and not have to deal with the useless DC law?
I'll give a free baby panda to the first Councilmember who announces his/her pet project will be to review all DC laws to identify which ones are killing our ability to lure new businesses to the city.
8:52 pm
LL, pretty good suggestions. But he should see whether a leash works before firing Nickles. When will we read your "5 things list" for the city council? It needs one too.
9:50 pm
Is the phrase "win back some love" an African-American slang term akin to speaking in Jive? It seems pretty inappropriate to me. I've only heard black teens talk like that.
12:10 am
@CDB...I have heard "young people" of all races speak utilizing this and many more VH1/MTV/BET colloquialisms.
That is what I love about young people, they are interchangable. My children have friends of all colors and nationalities and I wouldn't have it any other way and when I step into my home, I can close my eyes and they all sound exactly the same, as they do at any high school.
8:05 am
@WG: Agreed. Same goes for me, my kids and my home.
9:29 am
Thanks @WG and @TH! @CDB you sound like one of my grandparents, or more specifically someone of my grandparents generation. I can't imagine my grandparents ever saying anything that racist.
And as for "Mike Debonis Possible Racist!," Debonis just quote a bunch of pretty standard things that DC people of all races eat and drink. I'm pretty white, and happen to love Rock Creek grape soda, a clearly DC oriented drink. (because it's made by Rock Creek, get it? Not because of the flavor) The fact that grape soda makes you think black people makes YOU a racist, not Debonis. And have you been to Ben's Chili bowl lately? The U Street crowd is hardly mono-ethnic these days. Geez people, take the tin foil off of your apartment windows and go outside occasionally. The sixties are over. It's a brave new world.
12:08 pm
Wendy~~good points. The fact that contracts are subbed out to folks who use illegal labor is very much overlooked/ignored.
***
I'm a AfAm (non-native) F res of Ward 1 and am grateful that I have city services. I'm not enthralled with Fenty.
Fenty needs to work on police corruption which victimizes wards east of the park that really need the protection.
He also needs to keep VIOLENT juveniles off the streets. The kids who smash the bus stop glass don't need to be locked up at first, they can be rehabilitated. The rapists, murderers have got to go.
Those summer kids in this Corps need to pick trash up off the street.
Peaceaholics needs to be severely curtailed sans strict oversight.
He needs to read Colbert King's articles on education.
12:37 pm
He also needs to give DC United a stadium.
12:44 pm
Nada.
The District needs a Mayor that will put all funds into the city not Fenty and Friends.
Enough Said!
4:14 pm
Could you revisit this article with five serious points? The suggestion that Fenty propose an innovative citywide job creation plan is the only serious suggestion I see in this article. Naturally, there is no suggestion about which path should be taken. Perhaps Fenty can propose a tax credit for homeowners who have their house "greened" (made energy efficient through improvements) if they utilize DC-based contractors. That seems like a way to improve our local economy, protect the envionment and generate jobs (assuming such contractors also get a tax benefit from hiring locally or if the tax credit is tied to hiring contractors with a certain percentage of DC employees).
4:52 pm
If it would have said "Gimme some luv" or "Show me some luv" then one might say it is poor attempt at black humor. Love really didn't get him into office and love will not keep him out. More so the title should be 5 things Fenty could do to lose some hate. Then...the slang verbiage of " Stop Hatin on me...would be more akin to those who live in the not so diverse world.
5:30 pm
I don't care about bed-side manner; I want a mayor who has an unrelenting focus on getting city services delivered competently, efficiently, and on-budget, especially when those services are being sought from the largely indolent bureaucracy that is found in our fair city. This is what Fenty and his predecessor have done and what I care about. I'll leave the style points to Marion Barry and his ilk.
7:35 pm
BELOW ARE noodlez FAVE FIVE DO GOODS FOR FAGGIE FENTY TO GET SOME LOVE.
#1-RESIGN
#2-END HIS DOWN-LOW RELATIONSHIP W/GAYTANIA AND BE SEEN WITH WIFEY ONCE IN A WHILE BY GOING TO MOVIES @ GALLERY PLACE.
#3 -FIRE FLAT ASS RHEE SO SHE CAN MOVE TO CALI AND DRESS UP LIKE A TEEN SCHOOL GIRL TO FULFILL KEVIN JOHNSONS FANTASIES.
#4-INSTEAD OF ENJOYING PERKS W/HIS OWN CHILDREN. INVITE SOME CHILDREN FROM WARDS #7 & #8 WHO MADE HONOR ROLL, WHO ARE STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE AND ARE JUST GOOD ALL AROUND CHILDREN TO THE PHONE BOOTH'S EXECUTIVE BOX TO VIEW EITHER CAPS, WIZ AND G'TOWN GAMES.
#5-RESIGN AND REFUND SALARY BECAUSE HE HAVENT DONE A DAMN THING SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE!
2:22 am
Wendy Glenn writes: Oh, and by the by, the trash in Ward 5 and some of Ward 6 did not get picked up today and when we called we were told that their was a "situation" and that it might not get picked up until next week. So, you see, city services do not work the same for everyone.
DPW is responsible from trash collection and snow removal. The "situation" is that there are two feet of snow on the way, and - as any capable city manager knows - the first people you call out are the mechanics and operators of the snow removal equipment to make sure the stuff is working. And you do that BEFORE the first flakes fall. Even when you do that, up to a quarter of your equipment will have problems in the first two hours.
I'm not criticizing you, but this is telling. You think you are being disrespected or ignored. They are preparing for a disaster. But, most interestingly, the Fenty Administration has failed to communicate this to you.
10:25 am
Preparing for snow sounds like an "excuse" for poor services. It was sunny as hell on yesterday and warm. If you cannot divert some of your fleet to do their regular job and have the others concentrate on 'ANTICIPATED" snow in the next 48 hours then something is wrong.
Further still, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION goes along way at limiting the number of complaints that you will receive. For staff to not be able to state these facts to residents is ridiculous.
2:45 pm
Resign, and in the words from a Chuck Norris movie, "Squeeze your cheeks together real tight, and kiss your ass, good-bye"!
6:55 pm
One of the things King Fenty can do is to come out of the closet and admit who he really is.
7:06 pm
@Noodlez, you are too funny!
10:16 pm
I am bisexual and Fenty dosn't do anything for me. The man ass is as flat as an ironing board and he looks like ugly turtle. Maybe he make's up in the front, but I doubt it. He's small change.
1:23 am
BECOME MAYOR OD BALTIMORE!
10:35 am
If anyone needed to know...muck racking politics is alive and well in the District.
Do you people really forget the 1980's and 90's? When this was murder central? Nobody gave a damn about producing more crack babies than highschool graduates and functional illiteracy was damn near the goal of DCPS?
And yes, Fenty does used canned messages.
These poverty pimps jump on every word he says. He can do no right. They blasted him for hiring Lanier. It worked. Do you hear them saying...oops, you were right?
They just move to the next complaint.
And get this, you people have the nerve to blame racial division in the city on Fenty.
Are you kidding. There has always been one. Last time I checked you can't take the metro to Georgetown. And, you would be stuck in the snow for three weeks in ward 8 if you got 10 inches of snow under Barry/Kelly/Williams.
Really. This irrational personality nitpicking is ridiculous.
1:55 pm
I'm not feeling the LOVE!
2:21 pm
No one cares about ugly turtle looking Fenty. He's a bottom with a flat behind.
3:40 pm
Mike,
Are you serious! How can you—Archie Bunker-- advise Fenty on winning back the African American vote, when your ignorance doesn’t allow you to see beyond stereotypes!
This ain’t the days of “Good Times” and we won’t drink the Kool-Aid or eat the fat back! Bad advise Mike!
Fenty can’t offer African Americans a few glass trinkets and we, like recently freed slaves, will adorn ourselves with worthless promises that will expire the day after the 2010 election.
Fenty will get no love from African Americans at the poll no matter how much so-called “Rock Creek Grape Soda” he drinks.