Marion Barry has passed away

[Anonymous]

Okay Barry and Catania were the only Councilmembers to look out for the underprivilege. Now there is not one person sitting on that dais who will look out for the elderly and poor.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Okay Barry and Catania were the only Councilmembers to look out for the underprivilege. Now there is not one person sitting on that dais who will look out for the elderly and poor.

Not true. For all her faults, Anita Bonds looks out for the elderly, and Elissa Silverman will look out for the poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
PP here. Exactly I'm a 31yo AA male, who is a native and a Ward 8 resident. Perhaps I need to take my ass to Worldstar HipHop where I belong, huh?

No. What you need to do is tell all of your neighbors to start posting here. We are in desperate need of perspective. I would love to have more input from EotR.

And the tell all your neighbors to vote for a new Councilmember who is ethical. transparent and will work hard to achieve real results for the ward -- versus another demagogue who spouts feel-good rants that only feed the grievances of some but nothing else.

That doesn't only work for ward 8 and includes west of the river.

Barry was a master politician and this is urban politics 101. He represented the poorest ward and he realized that sometimes his best weapon against the well monied folks WOTR was his soapbox. He KNEW that whatever he said would be news and he sometimes used that to get attention for him and his ward. I live in W4 and I have good friends who live EOTR and I would have loved to see a little of that "soapbox" in my CM - now the honorable mayor. But then again, she had a bankroll backing her so she could afford to say very little.

I remember when he was mayor and DC had something like 6 working snow plows. Things got so bad that we finally got the federal control board.

I remember when he took a taxpayer-funded trip to the Carribean and brought 30 "body guards" along - they were actually his friends and family members. Ironically, Barry bilked the city on the taxes he owed.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
I remember when he took a taxpayer-funded trip to the Carribean and brought 30 "body guards" along - they were actually his friends and family members. Ironically, Barry bilked the city on the taxes he owed.

Can you please provide a source for this beyond your memory? I think some posters are confusing their memories with their imaginations.

Additionally, can you show that he "bilked" the city on taxes? He was charged with failure to file taxes by the IRS, but I'm not aware of any DC charges or accusations. Moreover, since taxes were most likely withheld from his paycheck, a failure to file is not the same as a failure to pay. In fact, he may not have received a refund that he was owed.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I remember when he took a taxpayer-funded trip to the Carribean and brought 30 "body guards" along - they were actually his friends and family members. Ironically, Barry bilked the city on the taxes he owed.

Can you please provide a source for this beyond your memory? I think some posters are confusing their memories with their imaginations.

Additionally, can you show that he "bilked" the city on taxes? He was charged with failure to file taxes by the IRS, but I'm not aware of any DC charges or accusations. Moreover, since taxes were most likely withheld from his paycheck, a failure to file is not the same as a failure to pay. In fact, he may not have received a refund that he was owed.

Yes I can: it was March 1988 when he and his entourage vacationed in St. Thomas at taxpayer expense under the flimsiest guise of "official business."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dc/barry/barryyears0522b.htm

But you are right Jeff; you are right. It was only Barry any 17 of his friends, not 30. I was wrong. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, its the next day. MB one of the worst things that ever happened to DC. RIP, and may his like never come again. "Bitch set me up !!"

Do you feel better now? Are you happy that you have demonstrated your lack of class?

My concern about this thread has never been about Marion Barry. He's dead. My concern is for the great number of Washingtonians -- some of who read this site -- that are understandably upset by his passing. Why would you want to kick them when they are down? They are your neighbors and the people with whom you will need to work if you want to improve this city. Do you think that demonstrating your complete and utter lack of class will have any positive impact whatsoever?

Are you aware of what goes on on YOUR site every day? People kick their neighbors and demonstrate a complete lack of class in every forum of this site, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

[Anonymous]

If you are white and grew up in NW like me then you might remember the Barry years as a joke with poor city services. He was a source of embarrassment and symbolized the dysfunction in the DC government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
PP here. Exactly I'm a 31yo AA male, who is a native and a Ward 8 resident. Perhaps I need to take my ass to Worldstar HipHop where I belong, huh?

No. What you need to do is tell all of your neighbors to start posting here. We are in desperate need of perspective. I would love to have more input from EotR.

And the tell all your neighbors to vote for a new Councilmember who is ethical. transparent and will work hard to achieve real results for the ward -- versus another demagogue who spouts feel-good rants that only feed the grievances of some but nothing else.

That doesn't only work for ward 8 and includes west of the river.

Barry was a master politician and this is urban politics 101. He represented the poorest ward and he realized that sometimes his best weapon against the well monied folks WOTR was his soapbox. He KNEW that whatever he said would be news and he sometimes used that to get attention for him and his ward. I live in W4 and I have good friends who live EOTR and I would have loved to see a little of that "soapbox" in my CM - now the honorable mayor. But then again, she had a bankroll backing her so she could afford to say very little.

I remember when he was mayor and DC had something like 6 working snow plows. Things got so bad that we finally got the federal control board.

I remember when he took a taxpayer-funded trip to the Carribean and brought 30 "body guards" along - they were actually his friends and family members. Ironically, Barry bilked the city on the taxes he owed.

When did this happen. I was born in 1963 and don't remember this, so please be so kind and provide the source of this memory. As I said, I am 51 and I could have forgotten this saga in DCs history. I am waiting for your source.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I remember when he took a taxpayer-funded trip to the Carribean and brought 30 "body guards" along - they were actually his friends and family members. Ironically, Barry bilked the city on the taxes he owed.

Can you please provide a source for this beyond your memory? I think some posters are confusing their memories with their imaginations.

Additionally, can you show that he "bilked" the city on taxes? He was charged with failure to file taxes by the IRS, but I'm not aware of any DC charges or accusations. Moreover, since taxes were most likely withheld from his paycheck, a failure to file is not the same as a failure to pay. In fact, he may not have received a refund that he was owed.

Yes I can: it was March 1988 when he and his entourage vacationed in St. Thomas at taxpayer expense under the flimsiest guise of "official business."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dc/barry/barryyears0522b.htm

But you are right Jeff; you are right. It was only Barry any 17 of his friends, not 30. I was wrong. Sorry.

Damn PP, the article does not state that he took 30 of his friends and family to St Thomas at taxpayers expense. Believe me, if he had done that, the love-hate relationship the media had with him would have stated exactly what you lied or misrepresented in your earlier post. He along with 17 high ranking government officials went to the island on business. I hope you know that city council members continuing to take thes junkets, just like elected officials in every major city, state and federal government. They do this to bring business and partnerships to their area.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I remember when he took a taxpayer-funded trip to the Carribean and brought 30 "body guards" along - they were actually his friends and family members. Ironically, Barry bilked the city on the taxes he owed.

Can you please provide a source for this beyond your memory? I think some posters are confusing their memories with their imaginations.

Additionally, can you show that he "bilked" the city on taxes? He was charged with failure to file taxes by the IRS, but I'm not aware of any DC charges or accusations. Moreover, since taxes were most likely withheld from his paycheck, a failure to file is not the same as a failure to pay. In fact, he may not have received a refund that he was owed.

Yes I can: it was March 1988 when he and his entourage vacationed in St. Thomas at taxpayer expense under the flimsiest guise of "official business."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dc/barry/barryyears0522b.htm

But you are right Jeff; you are right. It was only Barry any 17 of his friends, not 30. I was wrong. Sorry.

Where does it say that DC paid for the trip? In the book "Dream City", a letter is quoted saying that the government of the Virgin Islands will cover all costs. You "remembered" 30 bodyguards who were friends and family funded by taxpayers. Now, it is 17 District officials (no family at all, not clear if there were friends) with no evidence of who paid. That's quite a memory you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I remember when he took a taxpayer-funded trip to the Carribean and brought 30 "body guards" along - they were actually his friends and family members. Ironically, Barry bilked the city on the taxes he owed.

Can you please provide a source for this beyond your memory? I think some posters are confusing their memories with their imaginations.

Additionally, can you show that he "bilked" the city on taxes? He was charged with failure to file taxes by the IRS, but I'm not aware of any DC charges or accusations. Moreover, since taxes were most likely withheld from his paycheck, a failure to file is not the same as a failure to pay. In fact, he may not have received a refund that he was owed.

Yes I can: it was March 1988 when he and his entourage vacationed in St. Thomas at taxpayer expense under the flimsiest guise of "official business."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dc/barry/barryyears0522b.htm

But you are right Jeff; you are right. It was only Barry any 17 of his friends, not 30. I was wrong. Sorry.

Damn PP, the article does not state that he took 30 of his friends and family to St Thomas at taxpayers expense. Believe me, if he had done that, the love-hate relationship the media had with him would have stated exactly what you lied or misrepresented in your earlier post. He along with 17 high ranking government officials went to the island on business. I hope you know that city council members continuing to take thes junkets, just like elected officials in every major city, state and federal government. They do this to bring business and partnerships to their area.

If you really believe this I've got a bridge to Anacostia to sell you

[Anonymous]

Worst DC mayor ever (and that's saying a lot).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, its the next day. MB one of the worst things that ever happened to DC. RIP, and may his like never come again. "Bitch set me up !!"

Do you feel better now? Are you happy that you have demonstrated your lack of class?

My concern about this thread has never been about Marion Barry. He's dead. My concern is for the great number of Washingtonians -- some of who read this site -- that are understandably upset by his passing. Why would you want to kick them when they are down? They are your neighbors and the people with whom you will need to work if you want to improve this city. Do you think that demonstrating your complete and utter lack of class will have any positive impact whatsoever?

Are you aware of what goes on on YOUR site every day? People kick their neighbors and demonstrate a complete lack of class in every forum of this site, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

According to press reports, in Barry's "beloved" base, Ward 8, there's been at least as much scheming, posturing and preening to succeed Barry as grieving him. You would think that folks would wait for the funeral, at a minimum!

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, its the next day. MB one of the worst things that ever happened to DC. RIP, and may his like never come again. "Bitch set me up !!"

Do you feel better now? Are you happy that you have demonstrated your lack of class?

My concern about this thread has never been about Marion Barry. He's dead. My concern is for the great number of Washingtonians -- some of who read this site -- that are understandably upset by his passing. Why would you want to kick them when they are down? They are your neighbors and the people with whom you will need to work if you want to improve this city. Do you think that demonstrating your complete and utter lack of class will have any positive impact whatsoever?

Are you aware of what goes on on YOUR site every day? People kick their neighbors and demonstrate a complete lack of class in every forum of this site, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

According to press reports, in Barry's "beloved" base, Ward 8, there's been at least as much scheming, posturing and preening to succeed Barry as grieving him. You would think that folks would wait for the funeral, at a minimum!

Actually, the story said no such thing. The story was disappointingly short on facts and didn't name a single "schemer". It quoted one person saying people were "positioning" themselves. The number of people and the extent of their positioning was not described. But, apparently, it is not enough that this thread be used to bash Barry, now the entire Ward 8 needs to be slammed as well.

[Anonymous]

I read a story where the author said that Barry didn't bring corruption to Washington, referring to members of congress running DC as their plantation and personal thiefdom, but he did change who benefited from the corruption. And I think that is exactly it. Love him or hate him, he will always be Mayor Barry.