Who should we elect Mayor of DC next?

[Anonymous]

What is so bad about DC for the middle class? From the outside looking in, you have it all:
1. DC TAG
2. Well timed lights so you don’t get mown down when crossing streets
3. Trees
4. Sidewalks
5. Outdoor and indoor rec centers that are usable
6. School choice
7. Lowish taxes
8. Senior services

What am I missing? Yes, crime but that is up nationwide and happens elsewhere in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

I'd like to see a governor...not a mayor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's like any politician: She sucks up to them when it's expedient for her to do so. Like, say, her push to add housing, which for Bowser is not being done for altruistic reasons but to line the pockets of the developers who are the main funders of her campaigns. Or Vision Zero, which has been a laughable failure that no one cares about anymore except for the same four people who populate the GGW comments section.

The 5 year old girl at 14 and Irving NE who was fatally struck and killed by a driver certainly cared about Vision Zero. Amazing how many dead bodies drivers are willing to pile up just to ensure they can operate with total impunity on DC streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
2. Well timed lights so you don’t get mown down when crossing streets

Yes, DC streets being a hellscape for anyone other that drivers certainly makes life here much more appealing.

:/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's like any politician: She sucks up to them when it's expedient for her to do so. Like, say, her push to add housing, which for Bowser is not being done for altruistic reasons but to line the pockets of the developers who are the main funders of her campaigns. Or Vision Zero, which has been a laughable failure that no one cares about anymore except for the same four people who populate the GGW comments section.

The 5 year old girl at 14 and Irving NE who was fatally struck and killed by a driver certainly cared about Vision Zero. Amazing how many dead bodies drivers are willing to pile up just to ensure they can operate with total impunity on DC streets.

+1. Lots of people care about Vision Zero. The PP is probably just another crazy commuter from VA or MD who think DC is their personal racetrack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we get a competent political moderate? I'm so pessimistic about the way our city is headed, and it's so painful to admit this because I've sunk all my resources here over two decades only to see DC slide back into garbage.

This is how I feel, exactly. I am going on 20 years in the city and am more frustrated than I have ever been. It isn't just crime, but minor annoyances are increasing and making it more time-consuming to live here. I am not ready for a conservative mayor, but a moderate or even independent would be welcome.

Is the complaint that Bowser is too liberal or too conservative?

I think she’s just corrupt and incompetent at running a city, but seemingly highly capable of playing politics to the detriment of everyone. Civic-minded non-ideological competence would be what would be hoped for in my view.

I am the PP and "Civic-minded non-ideological competence" is a good term.

Well now that's something I can get behind. But would that go over with the big donors in DC? There's a lot of money behind Team Corruption.

[Anonymous]

Bowser is only part of the problem. We have a city council full of left wing nut jobs these days. The big picture of city leadership is painfully depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowser is only part of the problem. We have a city council full of left wing nut jobs these days. The big picture of city leadership is painfully depressing.

See, this is a problem. If you keep harping on left wing vs. right wing and we don't acknowledge the money/corruption vs. people split then the money/corruption will always win.

What's really the difference between genuine people left/right? I think many approaches could be merged if we're working towards the same ultimate goals. Especially socially liberal conservatives in DC.

[Anonymous]

Trump for mayor!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bowser is only part of the problem. We have a city council full of left wing nut jobs these days. The big picture of city leadership is painfully depressing.

See, this is a problem. If you keep harping on left wing vs. right wing and we don't acknowledge the money/corruption vs. people split then the money/corruption will always win.

What's really the difference between genuine people left/right? I think many approaches could be merged if we're working towards the same ultimate goals. Especially socially liberal conservatives in DC.

I agree with this- so far the council people I have been marginally impressed with are those that make an effort to listen to and respond to ALL constituents. The follow through isn't always perfect but I have found Henderson and Lewis George good in this regard. Although Lewis George trumpeting the safety "improvements" on Georgia (a "no turn on red" sign) after that little boy was killed was disappointing (no sign has ever stopped someone rom turning right on red who wants to) she seems to somewhat recognize the issues.

Pinto has also been a surprising positive for me although I think she is more in the pocket of donors than the others. Eg she took the time to do a bike ride of city streets with safe streets advocates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, the race of the next mayor is not important, nor is their political affiliation if they can manage. What is frustrating is that as much as dc residents complain, they pay NO attention to their politicians, they don't give to campaigns and they are armchair pundits. The developers give all of the money so Bowser doesn't have to listen to anyone else. It's so frustrating.

How can it be not important? What is important?

[Anonymous]

Karl Racine seems to be entering like his 10th year of not making up his mind:

Appearing on WAMU's "Politics Hour" today, AG Karl Racine said he hasn't decided on his political plans for 2022. He previously registered with the Office of Campaign Finance to run for a third term as attorney general, but he said that's just one option at this point. Other possibilities raised in journalist and political commentator Tom Sherwood's question were a return to private practice and a bid for the mayor's office. "I too sometimes get frustrated with my own self," Racine said, acknowledging his own uncertainty in recent months. "I'm not yet ready to announce my plans. … All the options are on the table." Racine did respond to a recent Sherwood tweet by saying that he hasn't talked to the White House about becoming U.S. ambassador to Haiti, adding that the post generally goes a career diplomat.

https://mailchi.mp/6e8eae428dba/district-links-10886804

[Anonymous]

For Racine it’s either now or never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Racine it’s either now or never.

Yay - more crime!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Racine it’s either now or never.

He will definitely defund the police.