Bowser Endorsed by Barry - Need I Say More?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ward 8 stands as a monument to all the reasons why people avoided or left DC. And in fact, those who can, still continue to flee Ward 8. Affordable living? What about jobs or other prospects? 3 hots and a cot is "affordable living" too, but who wants that? If the idea is artificially sustaining a populace, but nothing else, sorry, that doesn't cut it.

When was the last time you were there? I assume you are making your statements based on personal experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's Barry done for Ward 8?

Though it hardly seems possible, Ward 8 has actually become MORE segregated in the last 20 years, it's one the most segregated Ward in the District. Single moms and teen pregnancies have INCREASED in Ward 8, highest in the District. Poverty has INCREASED in Ward 8, as incomes have DECREASED in Ward 8. Number on food stamps has INCREASED, even as population declined.

What's Marion Barry every done for anyone other than his friends and political cronies? He sure hasn't done anything for his constituents.

Barry has never been interested in desegregating this little fiefdom. Segregation is the only thing that keeps his business going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's Barry done for me lately? Nothing, other than serve as a perpetual monument of embarrassment for the city. Marion Barry, with his history of corruption, is the reason why many others consider DC politics to corrupt and for DC voters to be a laughing stock. He alone is responsible for this, far more than any other DC politician.

Do you live in ward 8?

Shouldn't matter. Council is supposed to be working for the WHOLE CITY.

Not true. At large council members and mayor works on behalf of the whole city. Ward Councilmembers work on behalf of the constituents who elected them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ward 8 stands as a monument to all the reasons why people avoided or left DC. And in fact, those who can, still continue to flee Ward 8. Affordable living? What about jobs or other prospects? 3 hots and a cot is "affordable living" too, but who wants that? If the idea is artificially sustaining a populace, but nothing else, sorry, that doesn't cut it.

When were you last in Ward 8, and where?

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of jobs, big businesses and more govt in ward 8. Barry has been instrumental with getting many businesses to come and continue to come to ward 8. Have you been living under a rock? He's been able to do so for big business because ward 8 IS the most affordable while still accessible part of the city. It is affordable not because of self segregation but deep rooted racism that keep folk from crossing the river. I say this as a white person that lives in Ward 8 by choice and yes I voted for Barry and will continue to do so until there is someone else that proves they can do more for our ward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's Barry done for Ward 8?

Though it hardly seems possible, Ward 8 has actually become MORE segregated in the last 20 years, it's one the most segregated Ward in the District. Single moms and teen pregnancies have INCREASED in Ward 8, highest in the District. Poverty has INCREASED in Ward 8, as incomes have DECREASED in Ward 8. Number on food stamps has INCREASED, even as population declined.

What's Marion Barry every done for anyone other than his friends and political cronies? He sure hasn't done anything for his constituents.

Barry has never been interested in desegregating this little fiefdom. Segregation is the only thing that keeps his business going.

You say this with your prejudice ignorance. Barry is well past his prime and he, along with others, is the poster child for why we shoud have term limits for our politicians. However, your statement above reeks with ignorance. If he was interested in maintainign segregation, why as mayor was he the one who pushed for the revitalization of the U Street Corridor. He was instrumental in pushing for the Reeves Center and other projects to go up over there, along with destabilizing Clifton Terrace. Everything else followed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's Barry done for Ward 8?

Though it hardly seems possible, Ward 8 has actually become MORE segregated in the last 20 years, it's one the most segregated Ward in the District. Single moms and teen pregnancies have INCREASED in Ward 8, highest in the District. Poverty has INCREASED in Ward 8, as incomes have DECREASED in Ward 8. Number on food stamps has INCREASED, even as population declined.

What's Marion Barry every done for anyone other than his friends and political cronies? He sure hasn't done anything for his constituents.

He hasn't done anything recently, but he has in the past when most people didn't care or want to live in DC. He is well past his prime and someone else needs to be elected in ward 8, but it's east to pick on Barry when you weren't living in DC for the last 20 years or more. At one time Barry was the only one that cared. As they say, you have to know your history.

I did live in DC when Barry was mayor and his tenure was a disaster that ushered in the control board. That said, I don't think that Barry's endorsement matters a whole lot. Plenty of Ward 8 residents are voting for Catania because he's been there for them, and has been a longtime worker for better schools and healthcare. Voters aren't sheep; they're perfectly capable of deciding who's got the smarts and stuff to move Washington forward and address some of our longtime challenges. And some people who loathe Barry, especially some of the old Fenty loyalists, are backing Bowser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of jobs, big businesses and more govt in ward 8. Barry has been instrumental with getting many businesses to come and continue to come to ward 8. Have you been living under a rock? He's been able to do so for big business because ward 8 IS the most affordable while still accessible part of the city. It is affordable not because of self segregation but deep rooted racism that keep folk from crossing the river. I say this as a white person that lives in Ward 8 by choice and yes I voted for Barry and will continue to do so until there is someone else that proves they can do more for our ward.

I work near Navy Yard, and recently visited W8. Ate at Nourish and checked out the art gallery, drove around historic Anacostia, and then drove to Congress Heights. I am not convinced about your first sentence. The only influx of fed jobs (other than JBAB) is at St E's, its going slowly (only USCG is actually there so far) and is so far having little spill over impact. Ditto the city agencies in Historic Anancostia. Private sector jobs? Where? Again only at St E's and moving very slowly. And a handful of retail jobs.

The people reluctant to cross the river, despite the radical difference in rents between Anacostia and Navy Yard/Hill are generally people willing to live in places with large numbers of AA residents - places like Hill East, Kingman Park, Petworth, even Trinidad - where they are called "clueless transplant interlopers" by some.

In fact the reluctance comes from crime, real and perceived , the lack of amenities, the unattractiveness of so much of the housing stock, and in many areas the lack of connectivity by bike and walking (which makes the metro stations less valuable.) I am not sure what CM Barry is doing to change that, or if that is his goal. If I were a resident of W8, I would be looking for an alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many DC kids are enrolled in private vs public, anyway?

Does anyone really give a crap who Barry endorses? I mean really. "I was going to vote for Bowser, but fee, I really dislike Barry so now I won't."

I know a certain demographic sees him as symbolic of all that is/was wrong with DC, but did you actually live here when he was mayor? Do you live in Ward 8?

You are missing the point. Barry is beloved in nice parts of town. He's the toast of the Palisades.

Barry is understood just as Bowser is understood.

Catania is less understood and that scares people looking for a quiet life with no bumps as they head down MacArthur Boulevard.

Pure trolling. I don't know anyone WOTP who talks this way. Yes, I am aware of some aging former Peace Corps types whose you-know-what liberal guilt predisposes them against a white and former republican candidate for mayor of DC. But I have never met anyone in the WOTP demographic who would celebrate Barry or vote for him as mayor were he running. They may have a sense of humor about him, but they would not actively support criminality and incompetence in government. Think back to his protests at Alice Deal MS when those same people were trying to (and eventually succeeding at) turning around their local middle school. Nice try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many DC kids are enrolled in private vs public, anyway?

Does anyone really give a crap who Barry endorses? I mean really. "I was going to vote for Bowser, but fee, I really dislike Barry so now I won't."

I know a certain demographic sees him as symbolic of all that is/was wrong with DC, but did you actually live here when he was mayor? Do you live in Ward 8?

You are missing the point. Barry is beloved in nice parts of town. He's the toast of the Palisades.

Barry is understood just as Bowser is understood.

Catania is less understood and that scares people looking for a quiet life with no bumps as they head down MacArthur Boulevard.

Pure trolling. I don't know anyone WOTP who talks this way. Yes, I am aware of some aging former Peace Corps types whose you-know-what liberal guilt predisposes them against a white and former republican candidate for mayor of DC. But I have never met anyone in the WOTP demographic who would celebrate Barry or vote for him as mayor were he running. They may have a sense of humor about him, but they would not actively support criminality and incompetence in government. Think back to his protests at Alice Deal MS when those same people were trying to (and eventually succeeding at) turning around their local middle school. Nice try.

Yes! And it's been said that the quickest way to get IB parents to take a serious look at Hardy for their kids would be for DCPS to arranGe for Barry to protest changes at Hardy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many DC kids are enrolled in private vs public, anyway?

Does anyone really give a crap who Barry endorses? I mean really. "I was going to vote for Bowser, but fee, I really dislike Barry so now I won't."

I know a certain demographic sees him as symbolic of all that is/was wrong with DC, but did you actually live here when he was mayor? Do you live in Ward 8?

You are missing the point. Barry is beloved in nice parts of town. He's the toast of the Palisades.

Barry is understood just as Bowser is understood.

Catania is less understood and that scares people looking for a quiet life with no bumps as they head down MacArthur Boulevard.

Ha! DC residents looking for a quiet life in their neighborhood want bumps. Speed bumps, that is, and lots more of them!

[Anonymous]

The fact is, Ward 8 lags FAR behind the rest of the city in terms of jobs, opportunity, investment, advancement, economics, et cetera - and in many key statistics, like segregation, teen/unwed births, et cetera is going backwards. Anyone here defending Barry must be one of his cronies who's directly benefited, because the remaining 99% of Ward 8 is clearly suffering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Post in today's editorial says don't worry that she doesn't know anything, she'll hire people who do. What am I missing here???!!. So how are schools going to get better when the so called captain doesn't know how to navigate and set the course?

We're going back to the roaring '80's and '90's with cronyism, dysfunction and eventually a control board. And anyone who wanted better schools EoTP ought to just move NOW!

If you truly think Catania (or really anyone) knows how to 'fix' the schools, you're as uninformed as you think Bowser is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Post in today's editorial says don't worry that she doesn't know anything, she'll hire people who do. What am I missing here???!!. So how are schools going to get better when the so called captain doesn't know how to navigate and set the course?

We're going back to the roaring '80's and '90's with cronyism, dysfunction and eventually a control board. And anyone who wanted better schools EoTP ought to just move NOW!

If you truly think Catania (or really anyone) knows how to 'fix' the schools, you're as uninformed as you think Bowser is.

Accept the current mediocrity or worse. Don't aspire for better. Don't want a better public school system. Vote Bowser. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Let's be honest, when you inform the status-quo on who not to vote for, they will just do the opposite. Remember, the world said don't vote for Marion Barry and what happened? The city said don't vote for Fenty and see what happened. So, you have a gentrified group tell native washingtonians don't vote for Bowser because of Marion Barry. Well, y'all done bumped your head. You might as well have said vote Louise Farrakhan for that matter and waited for the uproar.

Get over-it the percentage of whites may have increased but the percentage of registered white voters has not made a serious dent in the outcome. The average senior citizen building is filled to the rafters with African-Americans and all it takes is one yes mam and yes sir and the votes will pour in for Bowser.

You know how this city operates and it will never change regardless how many gentrified people move here to the Chocolate City.