marion barry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much as I dislike Marion Barry, I suspect a lot of damage to the public schools had already been done before he became mayor.

I'm the pp who mentioned the schools, and yes, you're right -- but he was on the council at that time, I think, and was a huge player in driving the patronage system that has devastated the District. I read several histories of DC public schools recently, and they all agreed on that.

9:22 again. I'm sure you're right about that. I just didn't want a lot of the other culprits to get off.

[Anonymous]

Great book called D.C.: Dream City written by a local journalist (I think). Read it years ago, but it REALLY explains the appeal of Barry to the constituents who continue to support him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great book called D.C.: Dream City written by a local journalist (I think). Read it years ago, but it REALLY explains the appeal of Barry to the constituents who continue to support him.

Written by two local journalists: Harry Jaffe & Tom Sherwood.

[Anonymous]

Hizzoner has been arrested *again*: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/05/marion.barry.arrested/index.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Now, it is full of uppity white folks who make ignorant comments like - DC has the lowest HS graduation rated in the country.

Angry much? I am a native Washingtonian and I am black...the sad truth is DC has an abysmal HS graduation rate. Its a sad legacy from the Barry years.

Data from research conducted on a cohort of 9th grade students from DC public schools AND DC charter schools showed the following:

Of every 100 students who enter 9th grade in DCPS and DC charter schools:
• 43 graduate from high school in the District within five years,
• 29 enroll in postsecondary educational programs within 18 months of
• graduating high school, and
• 9 attain a postsecondary degree within five years of enrolling in college.

Data is from the 2006 report, Doubling the Number for College Success, www.doublethenumbersdc.org.

And I don't appreciate your use of the word "uppity".

Yes--damage was done before he became Mayor. Was he Superintendent of schools once?

[Anonymous]

I really miss Tony Williams. Hoping HE will run for president in 2012 as a 3rd party candidate --not convinced he was a straight-up Democrat, which is fine by me.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Hizzoner has been arrested *again*: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/05/marion.barry.arrested/index.html

B*tch set him up.

[Anonymous]

It's telling that an officer who was new in town and didn't recognize Teflon Man detained him this time. Of course, we all could have predicted the course this incident took (speedy release) and also know exactly what the judge will do. What is it going to take to get rid of this guy? (From public office, of course!)

[Anonymous]

He had a busy day. We saw him at the Palisades Parade. Afterwards he cornered some poor young woman at the fair. She looked so visibly uncomfortable that we almost intervened. She fled before we got over to the table.

He must not have been invited to a BBQ later. Marion Barry + time on his hands = one bad combo.

Couldn't believe this story when I heard it this am. He seems quite stiff and frail by the way. He was dressed in eye popping yellow, not traditional for the 4th, but the better to catch the eye of the ladies I guess.

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/05/AR2009070501056.html?hpid=topnews

Whoah -- now the ex is saying that she didn't ask the police to arrest him for stalking. Can't tell whether Barry is a predator or a victim but one thing is for sure, wherever he goes, needless drama follows. They sound like quite a couple, these two!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Now, it is full of uppity white folks who make ignorant comments like - DC has the lowest HS graduation rated in the country.

Angry much? I am a native Washingtonian and I am black...the sad truth is DC has an abysmal HS graduation rate. Its a sad legacy from the Barry years.

Data from research conducted on a cohort of 9th grade students from DC public schools AND DC charter schools showed the following:

Of every 100 students who enter 9th grade in DCPS and DC charter schools:
• 43 graduate from high school in the District within five years,
• 29 enroll in postsecondary educational programs within 18 months of
• graduating high school, and
• 9 attain a postsecondary degree within five years of enrolling in college.

Data is from the 2006 report, Doubling the Number for College Success, www.doublethenumbersdc.org.

And I don't appreciate your use of the word "uppity".

I'd like to see this research data seperated between DC public charter and non-charter schools.
Would they be too ashamed to show the difference?
Where to find that data?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i don't even know why i am bringing this up, but....

is anyone else stunned that a member of the city council has his wages garnished by the federal govt for nonpayment of taxes? and that DC itself will likely soon be taking steps to garnish his wages--the wages he earns as a city official. i just CAN"T get my mind around it.

and he hasn't filed his 2008 taxes.

i don't know why i am even trying to understand it, but i am.

I just can't figure out how he can manage to show his face in political leadership position again - I would think being arrested for drug use (albeit many years ago) was enough to never be elected to a political position again. Combine that with tax evasion - how is he getting relected?

[Anonymous]

Ok- more inappropriate nonsense from Hizzoner: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070702123.html

This time, he handed a consulting job to the girlfriend while she was the girlfriend so she could dip into our pockets, too.

Can I sue him if no one else's charges ever stick?

[Anonymous]

Oh my, you must read the official statement of the ex-girlfriend. You know what? I think he has reaped something of what he sowed. She's a drama queen! Those two deserve each other.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Official-Statement-from-Donna-Watts-Brighthaupt.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think to understand why Marion Barry keeps getting re-elected, you would have to understand DC. When Marion Barry was mayor, he cared about the black people in DC - in particular he gave them jobs. Now, DC has turned white and gentrified and no one cares about the black people who have lived in DC all their lives - they are simply too busy trying to ship them out to PG County. It is funny that white people used to run from DC and now they are moving back in after they determined it was "cool" to do so. And the most recent mayors have encouraged it. Now, it is full of uppity white folks who make ignorant comments like - DC has the lowest HS graduation rated in the country. I don't expect you to understand it - you are too wrapped up in your own world and probably don't notice black people on the street.

You talk about how white people don't "care" about black people in DC?? Take a look at DCPS (I am a teacher). The federal spending per student is one of the highest in the country. something like $20,000/year. What was done with the money each year? Who ran DCPS? White people? When you care about your people, your community, education is the # 1 priority.