Does DC need a black mayor?
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Anonymous
| Last weekend's Washington Post profiled the two prosecutors who have been bringing down a number of the city's long-time political elite for corruption. This has brought up concerns, especially with the demographics changing, that Vinent Gray could be the city's last black mayor. Please explain to me why Washington, DC needs a black mayor? If the country can elect a black man President, or predominantly black localities like Detroit can elect a white mayor, why does the DC mayor need to be black? |
Anonymous
| Nope. But they can't be Evans or Wells white. Maybe Catania. |
Anonymous
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Because DC is Chocolate City.
Used to be you couldn't get elected without the black vote. Not sure if that has changed, but DC took a lot of pride in being chocolate city, and a lot of people still hold onto that identity. I very much doubt Gray will be the last black mayor. Actually, I think he stands a good chance of being re-elected. We're a long way from Marion Barry, but he hasn't screwed up significantly enough to not be re-elected, especially with a ton of people running against him. |
Anonymous
| Long-term, the demographics are against it. When I arrived here an "Mayor for Life" Marion "Bitch Set Me Up" Barry was in charge, the city's black make-up was 70 percent. Now it is down to 50 percent, while other ethnic groups are rising in population. |
Anonymous
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PG is now "Chocolate City."
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Anonymous
Who ever said that the being black was a prerequisite? |
Anonymous
| do I need a hole in the head? |
Anonymous
Agree with this. If it's Gray vs Catania, my money is on Gray and I will most likely be voting for him as well. (I'm white FWIW) |
Anonymous
Why? I'm actually legitimately curious. I am probably voting gray or abstaining from the primary (which surprises me!), and I'm thinking Catania in the general, but I would love to hear why you prefer Gray. |
Anonymous
Are you asking he'd this question because she is white? Would you ask this same question if she had not identified herself as white? |
Anonymous
| Focus on the politics not the ethnicity |
Anonymous
| How about electing a Republican? New York had Giuliani - and then Bloomberg and look at the renaissance in that town. |
Anonymous
I would ask either way. I am curious. Given the demographics of the city, however, my assumption is that the pp is in a similar socio-economic position as am I. (I would never assume the inverse as the demographics of non-whites in the city are much more diverse). Given that, I am especially curious, but I would be either way because I have not yet heard very much head to head comparison on this issue and I have thus far come to my tentative decision only through what I have personally seen and I would like to hear more perspectives. |
Anonymous
|
I am white and vigorously support Grey. Here is why:
- Kaya Henderson - kept Rhee methods but better (still needs improvement though) -More money to affordable housing -City in good fiscal shape (much better than what Fenty left) -Streetcar is coming -bkeshare expanded -Sustainable DC I could go on, but the "I am not him" won't do it in this election and none of the candidates provide an alternative to the status quo. Catania as a gay white male won't be electable in November either. |
Anonymous
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Does the U.S. need a white president?
Of course not. And neither does Washington need a black mayor. |