Undecided Voter

[Anonymous]

I really can't decided who to vote for. While I like that Fenty is young and has some new ideas, I really like Gray's stance on charter schools.

I know that both of them have done some pretty crazy things this election, and I'm old enough to know that you don't get this far in politics without getting a little dirty. I guess I'm just trying to find the right man for the job. I just can't figure out which one is "better" - sadly, I just may not vote.

[Anonymous]

Fenty is corrupt. He ordered the head of DCHA (Housing Authority) to give contracts to some of his fraternity brothers. When that person (Bill Slover) refused to break the law, Fenty fired him. The contracts went to his frat brothers who promptly subcontracted the job out and skimmed the taxpayer profits off to line their own pockets.

Cronyism isn't a new idea, but Fenty's brazenness about it certainly takes it to a new level.

The story resurfaced on Friday because of a letter that Bill Slover wrote and the Washington Post printed:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/09/mr_fenty_and_the_banneker_cont.html

You can read more about the background here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061102735.html

VOTE GRAY.

[Anonymous]

How do we know Gray is not corrupt?

I am so pissed at Fenty for being effective on many levels but for being corrupt and arrogant.

Another Undecided Voter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do we know Gray is not corrupt?

I am so pissed at Fenty for being effective on many levels but for being corrupt and arrogant.

Another Undecided Voter

In our judicial system, you get the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty. Fenty has been proven guilty, Gray has not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fenty is corrupt. He ordered the head of DCHA (Housing Authority) to give contracts to some of his fraternity brothers. When that person (Bill Slover) refused to break the law, Fenty fired him. The contracts went to his frat brothers who promptly subcontracted the job out and skimmed the taxpayer profits off to line their own pockets.

Cronyism isn't a new idea, but Fenty's brazenness about it certainly takes it to a new level.

The story resurfaced on Friday because of a letter that Bill Slover wrote and the Washington Post printed:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/09/mr_fenty_and_the_banneker_cont.html

You can read more about the background here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061102735.html

VOTE GRAY.

That's like saying "Vote Gray. 33% less sleaze or your money back"

Aside from what you are voting AGAINST, what are you voting FOR?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fenty is corrupt. He ordered the head of DCHA (Housing Authority) to give contracts to some of his fraternity brothers. When that person (Bill Slover) refused to break the law, Fenty fired him. The contracts went to his frat brothers who promptly subcontracted the job out and skimmed the taxpayer profits off to line their own pockets.

Cronyism isn't a new idea, but Fenty's brazenness about it certainly takes it to a new level.

The story resurfaced on Friday because of a letter that Bill Slover wrote and the Washington Post printed:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/09/mr_fenty_and_the_banneker_cont.html

You can read more about the background here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061102735.html

VOTE GRAY.

That's like saying "Vote Gray. 33% less sleaze or your money back"

Aside from what you are voting AGAINST, what are you voting FOR?

That's my issue. They both seem pretty sleazy. Do you vote for the lesser of two evils?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fenty is corrupt. He ordered the head of DCHA (Housing Authority) to give contracts to some of his fraternity brothers. When that person (Bill Slover) refused to break the law, Fenty fired him. The contracts went to his frat brothers who promptly subcontracted the job out and skimmed the taxpayer profits off to line their own pockets.

Cronyism isn't a new idea, but Fenty's brazenness about it certainly takes it to a new level.

The story resurfaced on Friday because of a letter that Bill Slover wrote and the Washington Post printed:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/09/mr_fenty_and_the_banneker_cont.html

You can read more about the background here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061102735.html

VOTE GRAY.

That's like saying "Vote Gray. 33% less sleaze or your money back"

Aside from what you are voting AGAINST, what are you voting FOR?

#1 You haven't proven anything sleazy about Gray. I haven't even heard a credible accusation of sleaze by the next mayor. Fenty is the only one with proven sleaze.

#2 I am voting for someone who believes that children in charter schools are entitled to public buildings just like children in DCPS, just as the law states. Gray believes that too. Fenty does not. He would prefer to break the law and award those buildings to his developer frat brothers. Sorry, almost 40% of the public school children in this city attend charters. You need to look out for their interests too.

[Anonymous]

can someone please define "proven" to me? can someone also tell me why Fenty isn't being prosecuted?

[Anonymous]

I am supporting of Gray. I started with Fenty. My main concern is Fenty's lack of support for charters. I am also concerned that Fenty has a whole education infrastructure that you never hear about. It's not just about Michelle Rhee. There is also a Deputy Mayor of Education and a State Superintendent of Education that I cannot figure out what they do. Gray has been very vocal about the discrepancies in the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula. DCPS is able to get more money under the funding (hiding money in other agencies) while the charters do not have the ability to do so.

I was glad that Bill Slover from the Housting Authority finally wrote a letter to the editor (wash post) regarding the contracts scandal. There is no way the Mayor's friends could have legitimately gotten those contracts without the Mayor's involvement. They would not have qualified. You should read his letter. He calls Fenty a liar. Because I know a great deal about this issue, I believe his account of the situation is right on the money.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:can someone please define "proven" to me? can someone also tell me why Fenty isn't being prosecuted?

Here is a set of facts as best we know them:

1) The Fenty administration directed Parks and Recreation projects to the D.C. Housing Authority in order to bypass the need for DC Council approval of contracts;

2) An "independent" review panel was set to oversee competitive bids. The panel had five members, three of whom were Fenty admin staffers;

3) The panel considered "bids" that did not include pricing proposals;

4) An inexperienced firm owned by a Fenty frat brother was selected. Pricing was worked out by a Fenty admin staffer. This pricing was more generous to the Fenty's frat brother's firm than is normal for such contracts;

5) The chairman of the D. C. Housing Authority which oversaw the "independent" bidding process objected to the abnormal pricing structure. Fenty removed the chairman from his position;

6) Fenty's frat brother's firm subcontracted the project work, in at least one case to another Fenty frat brother who was not qualified to do the work. That frat brother kept the vast majority of the funds (and now drives a brand new Porsche) using a small amount to subcontract for the actual work.

"Sleaze" is not a legal charge. Hence, I don't believe once can be proven sleazy. But, this set of facts looks pretty sleazy.

Here is another set of facts:

1) Vincent Gray had his home remodeled by a large construction firm that does millions of dollars worth of business with the DC government;

2) Gray was not invoiced for the work until a local media outlet began investigating the work (it appears the work had been finished for about 2 months at that point);

3) Gray was then invoiced for and paid market rates for the work.

This also looks pretty sleazy, though no public funds were involved and ultimately Gray paid a fair price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fenty is corrupt. He ordered the head of DCHA (Housing Authority) to give contracts to some of his fraternity brothers. When that person (Bill Slover) refused to break the law, Fenty fired him. The contracts went to his frat brothers who promptly subcontracted the job out and skimmed the taxpayer profits off to line their own pockets.

Cronyism isn't a new idea, but Fenty's brazenness about it certainly takes it to a new level.

The story resurfaced on Friday because of a letter that Bill Slover wrote and the Washington Post printed:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/09/mr_fenty_and_the_banneker_cont.html

You can read more about the background here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061102735.html

VOTE GRAY.

That's like saying "Vote Gray. 33% less sleaze or your money back"

Aside from what you are voting AGAINST, what are you voting FOR?

That's my issue. They both seem pretty sleazy. Do you vote for the lesser of two evils?

That is what I did in the last Presidential election.

[Anonymous]

OP here - see, this is why I can't decide, no one can actually say anything positive about either of them. Anytime you bring them up it's just about which laws they've broken or what bad things they've done. Not what the platforms they have...sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can someone please define "proven" to me? can someone also tell me why Fenty isn't being prosecuted?

Because, to date, the Attorney General and the various city vendors and city officials have stonewalled the investigators. However, after Fenty loses on Tuesday, the finger pointing and ass-covering will begin.

The Bill Slover case is the tip of the SS Fenty iceburg.

[Anonymous]

To add to Jeff Steele's comments....

In the case of the Fenty situation, the Mayor himself provided an explanation in the September 1st Washington Post debate. However, as the link provided suggests, not only did Slover try to follow the law by pushing review of the contracts back to the Council, but even if, as was suggested, he failed to do this, he didn't have the power or authority to do what the Mayor and Attorney General suggested. This case simply implicates the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and the Attorney General in corruption at the highest levels of DC Government.

In the case of Gray, he claims that the contractor failed to get a permit. This is generally something that falls under a contractors purview. To wit, how many cases like this did the DC Government pursue? Exactly 1, Vince Gray. Why have none of the other permit scofflows been pursued? Do we really think there aren't others out there?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:T
In the case of Gray, he claims that the contractor failed to get a permit. This is generally something that falls under a contractors purview. To wit, how many cases like this did the DC Government pursue? Exactly 1, Vince Gray. Why have none of the other permit scofflows been pursued? Do we really think there aren't others out there?

The permit issue pertains to Gray's fence. That is distinct from the payment issue. There was nothing sleazy about his fence. Careless maybe.