Bowser Protects Slumlord Supporter

[jsteele]

An interesting article in the Washington Post this morning:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-housing-complexs-decline-raises-questions-about-management-politics/2014/07/13/ab99317a-076d-11e4-bbf1-cc51275e7f8f_story.html

Apparently, the former head of the Ward 8 Democrats is the President of the Board of a housing complex in SE that is horribly mismanaged, has lots of missing funds, and hasn't paid it city-backed loan for three years. The board president is a political heavy-weight known to bring in a lot of Ward 8 votes. She was a Gray-supporter until the Gray administration started looking into problems with the housing complex. Then, she switched allegiance to Bowser.

While the city has declared the housing complex in default of its loan and taken control of it, Bowser has questioned administration actions and tried to arrange private meetings between her supporter and administration officials. The city's housing official has asked Bowser to hold a hearing in the issue -- she chairs the committee with oversight over housing -- but she has failed to do so. Bowser or her staff have repeatedly contacted administration officials regarding the legal grounds under which the property was seized, the implication being that Bowser believes the Administration overstepped its authority.

The article ends with the board president, who lives rent-free but is facing eviction, saying that she is just trying to hold on for a few months because she believes the next mayor -- who she apparently believes will be Bowser -- will be more sympathetic to her.

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone involved in DC politics who isn't corrupt? Seriously! I think if we looked closely at each member of city council we would find corruption or/and unethical behavior. It seems honest (and some may argue intelligent) people do not run for political office. In the almost 10 years I have lived in DC, I have been shocked at the people getting elected. I dislike Bowser but Catania isn't much better.

[Anonymous]

I just posted a link to the same thing. I think Bowser is part of the go-along-to-get-along old DC political culture, and Catania has demonstrated his independence from it.

[Anonymous]

This stuff is all too common. Either DC voters will wake up, or else it is time to stop complaining about the status quo, as represented by Bowser.

[Anonymous]

This really does describe the old DC political culture ... just trying to hang on long enough for Bowser to get in and a renewed run at the spoils.

[jsteele]

This story gets worse as more details come out. The former management company collected $300,000 in rent money prior to the April 1 takeover of the building by the DC government. That money has disappeared, as mentioned in the Post article. What was not mentioned is that the company that collected the money is primarily owned by Bowser's East of the River campaign coordinator. No wonder Bowser doesn't want to hold a hearing on this: she would be investigating her own campaign staff.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I opened this post expecting the title to be overblown hyperbole. Much to my surprise, the post completely lived up to its subject line.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:This story gets worse as more details come out. The former management company collected $300,000 in rent money prior to the April 1 takeover of the building by the DC government. That money has disappeared, as mentioned in the Post article. What was not mentioned is that the company that collected the money is primarily owned by Bowser's East of the River campaign coordinator. No wonder Bowser doesn't want to hold a hearing on this: she would be investigating her own campaign staff.

This is very disturbing and could become a huge campaign issues -- particularly because she tried to run against Gray as the "ethical" alternative.

[Anonymous]

Politics and ethics are practically polar opposites nowadays and the prevailing sentiment among citizens as well as the practical reality of the political landscape nowadays makes it virtually impossible for public officials to be simultaneously ethical and effective in the 2K. This is disturbing but it is far from surprising.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:This story gets worse as more details come out. The former management company collected $300,000 in rent money prior to the April 1 takeover of the building by the DC government. That money has disappeared, as mentioned in the Post article. What was not mentioned is that the company that collected the money is primarily owned by Bowser's East of the River campaign coordinator. No wonder Bowser doesn't want to hold a hearing on this: she would be investigating her own campaign staff.

This is very disturbing and could become a huge campaign issues -- particularly because she tried to run against Gray as the "ethical" alternative.

At a minimum Bowser should demand an explanation for the missing money or fire her EoR Coordinator. Ethically, that is the right thing to do. But, politically, I don't know how Bowser can justify keeping a guy on staff who apparently misplaced $300,000 of rent money belonging to people she hopes will vote for her.

[Anonymous]

Wow. This seems like just the kind of thing to shake the supposed inevitability of Bowser. Will the Washington Post fall in line and endorse her with this hanging out there? Will the affluent NW people who think the Mayor of DC must be black vote for Muriel despite this?

[jsteele]

A follow-up with more information:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/gray-campaign-accuses-head-of-park-southern-nonprofit-of-double-dealing-in-election/2014/07/14/9b208914-0b6a-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html

Back in April, I wrote about my theory that the Ward 8 Democrats Straw Poll was the turning point of the primary and put Bowser on the path to victory:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/374998.page

According to the latest Post article, Bowser's ability to get support from Rowena Joyce Scott, the Board President of the Park Southern housing complex, was key to that victory. The owner of the property management company before the takeover, Phinis Jones, is Bowser's East of the River coordinator and a major fundraiser for her. So, Bowser has close ties to and is in political debt to the two major players in this affair. Indeed, Bowser may owe her primary victory to them.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:A follow-up with more information:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/gray-campaign-accuses-head-of-park-southern-nonprofit-of-double-dealing-in-election/2014/07/14/9b208914-0b6a-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html

Back in April, I wrote about my theory that the Ward 8 Democrats Straw Poll was the turning point of the primary and put Bowser on the path to victory:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/374998.page

According to the latest Post article, Bowser's ability to get support from Rowena Joyce Scott, the Board President of the Park Southern housing complex, was key to that victory. The owner of the property management company before the takeover, Phinis Jones, is Bowser's East of the River coordinator and a major fundraiser for her. So, Bowser has close ties to and is in political debt to the two major players in this affair. Indeed, Bowser may owe her primary victory to them.
[/quote

In a sense, Scott is Bowser's Sulaimon Brown.

[jsteele]

Today was the last Council session before the Council's summer recess. Catania offered an amendment to allow the Council to investigate the Park Southern situation during the recess. Bowser and Barry objected and Catania withdrew the amendment. Clearly, Bowser and Barry have no interest in having light shed on Bowser's supporters' involvement with hundreds of thousands of missing dollars and hundreds of building residents suffering from maintenance issues.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Today was the last Council session before the Council's summer recess. Catania offered an amendment to allow the Council to investigate the Park Southern situation during the recess. Bowser and Barry objected and Catania withdrew the amendment. Clearly, Bowser and Barry have no interest in having light shed on Bowser's supporters' involvement with hundreds of thousands of missing dollars and hundreds of building residents suffering from maintenance issues.

Bowser and Barry -- the '14 DC dream team.