Mass Firings at DC Parks and Recreation

[jsteele]

Mike DeBonis is reporting in Washington City Paper that at least 10 DC Parks and Recreation managers were fired today:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/04/24/mass-firings-at-parks-and-rec/

This is an incredible story when you put the pieces together:

Starting on February 23, Michael Williams was fired from his position as associate director for athletic programs of DPR after a controversy surrounding Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's twin sons. The boys, who are 9 years old, were playing in a basketball league for 8 and unders. Williams ordered them moved to the proper league and also demanded their paperwork be completed (their applications had "Mayor's Son" written on them instead of the required documentation). Williams is now suing the city.

Then, last week, DPR Director Clark Ray -- by most accounts was doing a excellent job -- was fired after being dragged into Dan Tangherlini's office on a Sunday night. Clark was tied up in the Williams affair. Fenty replaced Ray with Ximena Hartsock, the former principal of Ross Elementary who has been managing afterschool and weekend programs for DCPS.

Now, today, at least 10 DPR managers fired and apparently will be replaced by Harsock's team from DCPS. Terrific. I can't think of a better way to fix the school system then by putting school officials in charge of parks as well. Why not give the control of DPW next?

Might have been better to let Fenty's boys be superstars among the 8 year olds.

[Anonymous]

I was pretty disgusted when I first read the story about Fenty's sons. But this story really shocked me - and these lines really sum it up:

"Once again we are witnessing the flagrant disregard of our City’s workforce….These are individuals with families, children, mortgages, and obligations. They are our neighbors and our fellow residents, and include many hardworking childcare service providers.”

[Anonymous]

I teach at Marie Reed and 5 of my students participated in the DPR after school program this fall. I escorted my students for a week and decided to stay with them in the afternoon instead. The DPR's program is not only low quality but also unsafe. DPR needs to shape up.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I teach at Marie Reed and 5 of my students participated in the DPR after school program this fall. I escorted my students for a week and decided to stay with them in the afternoon instead. The DPR's program is not only low quality but also unsafe. DPR needs to shape up.

I'm not 100% sure what program you are describing, but if it's what I think it is, it was already being removed from DPR's jurisdiction.

[Anonymous]

In recent weeks, I've talked to a lot of people who were big Fenty supporters who are SO disappointed in him. I feel the same way. He was elected with massive city-wide support, and it seems he's just frittered away all his political capital playing stupid games with the City Council. And his consigliere Peter Nickles only makes things worse.