Anyone been here since the 80s / early 90s? How did smart locals react to Marion Barry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's said that MB did help some -- basically the local contracts leech and chiseler class who moved out to PG County. That's how PG got such luminaries as Jack Johnson and his bribe-stuffing missus. MB disserved the poor souls who stayed behind in DC and actually depended on the DC government for a decent education for their kids and basic social services.

Jack and Leslie Johnson had nothing to do with the DC government.

Wrong, bro! Leslie Johnson in particular was schooled and steeped in the fetid, corrupt, pay-to-play DC political culture.

"Mrs. Johnson eschewed the law firm life that many of her Howard classmates chose, preferring a 9-to-5 job that would let her get home to her kids. She worked for the D.C. government for 27 years, becoming an administrative law judge, a post that paid $91,000 when she retired last year."

Ms. Johnson's "service" with the DC government, from 1982-2009 began under the Mayor-for-Life and continued through three of his mayoral terms and a number of his years on the DC Council.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/07/AR2010120706997.html?sid=ST20101112040

MB's DC was sort of the primordial ooze (or sludge) that spawned the Johnsons' era in PG and, I'm increasingly afraid, the Bowser era of today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's said that MB did help some -- basically the local contracts leech and chiseler class who moved out to PG County. That's how PG got such luminaries as Jack Johnson and his bribe-stuffing missus. MB disserved the poor souls who stayed behind in DC and actually depended on the DC government for a decent education for their kids and basic social services.

Jack and Leslie Johnson had nothing to do with the DC government.

Wrong, bro! Leslie Johnson in particular was schooled and steeped in the fetid, corrupt, pay-to-play DC political culture.

"Mrs. Johnson eschewed the law firm life that many of her Howard classmates chose, preferring a 9-to-5 job that would let her get home to her kids. She worked for the D.C. government for 27 years, becoming an administrative law judge, a post that paid $91,000 when she retired last year."

Ms. Johnson's "service" with the DC government, from 1982-2009 began under the Mayor-for-Life and continued through three of his mayoral terms and a number of his years on the DC Council.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/07/AR2010120706997.html?sid=ST20101112040

Not a bro, but I do stand corrected. Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's said that MB did help some -- basically the local contracts leech and chiseler class who moved out to PG County. That's how PG got such luminaries as Jack Johnson and his bribe-stuffing missus. MB disserved the poor souls who stayed behind in DC and actually depended on the DC government for a decent education for their kids and basic social services.

Jack and Leslie Johnson had nothing to do with the DC government.

Wrong, bro! Leslie Johnson in particular was schooled and steeped in the fetid, corrupt, pay-to-play DC political culture.

"Mrs. Johnson eschewed the law firm life that many of her Howard classmates chose, preferring a 9-to-5 job that would let her get home to her kids. She worked for the D.C. government for 27 years, becoming an administrative law judge, a post that paid $91,000 when she retired last year."

Ms. Johnson's "service" with the DC government, from 1982-2009 began under the Mayor-for-Life and continued through three of his mayoral terms and a number of his years on the DC Council.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/07/AR2010120706997.html?sid=ST20101112040

MB's DC was sort of the primordial ooze (or sludge) that spawned the Johnsons' era in PG and, I'm increasingly afraid, the Bowser era of today.

As someone who has observed DC politics and DC government for a long time, I am also concerned that a lot of the signs of the bad old days are returning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's a "smart local"?

People who lived in Ward 3 and didn't bother to pay their property taxes because there was no reliable enforcement mechanism to make sure they did.

Washington was known as Chocolate City for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Marion Berry had every bit of the charisma Hillary Clinton lacks. i worked for the Ward 3 council member when Marion was on the Council and hadn't yet been elected mayor. He was the biggest chatter, flirt, scammer, and schemer along with being a political genius. He was so bad, he was good.

[Anonymous]

He was great because he gave summer jobs to all and fed the elderly. I will always remember that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was great because he gave summer jobs to all and fed the elderly. I will always remember that.

Yes he did. Those old church ladies would forgive their Marion anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marion Berry had every bit of the charisma Hillary Clinton lacks. i worked for the Ward 3 council member when Marion was on the Council and hadn't yet been elected mayor. He was the biggest chatter, flirt, scammer, and schemer along with being a political genius. He was so bad, he was good.

It's "Barry", not "Berry".

Sounds like you really know what you're taking about

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was great because he gave summer jobs to all and fed the elderly. I will always remember that.

He helped get summer jobs to those who applied for jobs (not "to all"), and if handing out turkeys once a year means he "fed the elderly," then old people in DC must not eat very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was great because he gave summer jobs to all and fed the elderly. I will always remember that.

And gave no-show jobs to many more. DC didn't even know how many employees were on the payroll, even as basic municipal services weren't delivered.

Nostalgic for the Barry era? No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's a "smart local"?

People who lived in Ward 3 and didn't bother to pay their property taxes because there was no reliable enforcement mechanism to make sure they did.

Washington was known as Chocolate City for a reason.

Barry viewed Ward 3 as the cash cow for the District.

[Anonymous]

Been here since 96. White, upper class female. Barry was a fucking corrupt asshole. He and his cronies ran this city into the ground. Control board and mayor Williams best tbing to Happen to dc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marion Berry had every bit of the charisma Hillary Clinton lacks. i worked for the Ward 3 council member when Marion was on the Council and hadn't yet been elected mayor. He was the biggest chatter, flirt, scammer, and schemer along with being a political genius. He was so bad, he was good.

It's "Barry", not "Berry".

Sounds like you really know what you're taking about

As Marion would say: "bitches be bitches."

[Anonymous]

What is the purpose of this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's a "smart local"?

People who lived in Ward 3 and didn't bother to pay their property taxes because there was no reliable enforcement mechanism to make sure they did.

Washington was known as Chocolate City for a reason.

Barry viewed Ward 3 as the cash cow for the District.

Well it is.