Gray's Town Hall Meeting in Ward 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Fenty raised nearly 5 million dollars. Seventy-five percent of that money were donated by people and corporations located outside of the District of Columbia. The majority of his campaign chest came from donors in NYC. Does it bother you that NYC residents and companies were attempting to buy and influence the lives of Washingtonians?

WHAT???!!? How did I miss this? np here. Can someone help me find a link to the most coherent donation info on the Web, to verify this?

I don't know if all those numbers are correct or not, though they seem believable. The best source for campaign finance info is DC's Office of Campaign Finance. You can search contributions here:

http://ocf.dc.gov/dsearch/adv.asp?type=pcc&paymenttype=con&searchtype=rec

Just enter "Fenty 2010" as the Committee Name. I didn't feel like adding everything up, but there were pages and pages of maximum donations from New York. So, the claims above could well be true.

And what, exactly, did the people of New York expect from Fenty in return? How are those donations at all analogous to those of the teacher's union, who have made it very clear to Gray what they expect -- and better get -- in return?

Exactly. Raising money from developers and wealthy people outside of the District is less problematic than from the teacher's union in my opinion. I"m happy to have more development in the district. Expensive condos --> higher tax base --> better fiscal position. The teacher's union, on the other hand, has been the biggest impediment to reform.

And Jeff, why does it make a difference that the teacher's union spent the money directly rather than giving it to Gray? The fact remains that they spent $1 million trying to defeat Fenty.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Exactly. Raising money from developers and wealthy people outside of the District is less problematic than from the teacher's union in my opinion. I"m happy to have more development in the district. Expensive condos --> higher tax base --> better fiscal position. The teacher's union, on the other hand, has been the biggest impediment to reform.

And Jeff, why does it make a difference that the teacher's union spent the money directly rather than giving it to Gray? The fact remains that they spent $1 million trying to defeat Fenty.

You answered your own question. The ATF spent its money trying to defeat Fenty. Gray benefitted, obviously, but that was secondary to the union's interest. The union would have campaigned against Fenty regardless of who was running against him. As a result, Gray is not as beholden to the union's interest as many of you would have it.

Expensive condos don't always result in a higher tax base. One reason developers are so keen to contribute is because they can later get sweetheart deals that result in tax abatements or other savings. And, when things go bad, the developers never seem to suffer. They city is left to deal with half-finished projects and empty buildings. Go see this article:

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2010/09/full_list_of_properties_sold_at_dc_tax_auction.html

The District attempted to sell a number of properties at a tax auction. Several of these were owned by Doug Jemal who was a big player during the Williams administration. According to the article:

"the tax office auctioned the liens on 2,717 properties, but fewer than half — 1,265 — actually sold. The sale generated about $11.2 million, much less than the $35.9 million due to the city in delinquent real property taxes as of Sept. 20.

So, the city is actually out nearly $25 million. Out of state investors see the District as a piggy bank, not their home. Their commitment to the city lasts as long as their profit margin. When that goes, so do they. So, I am much more comfortable with a Mayor who is beholden to local interests.

[Anonymous]

And the lazy and incompetent elected Vince Gray -- someone who promised to represent their interests and who will do so, if we do not take dramatic action to stop him.

Dramatic action? What exactly are you suggesting? A coup? Viva la Revolution! To the barricades!

I was (am) a Fenty supporter, but you need to take a few deep breaths, calm down, and stop making other Fenty supporters look bad. Stating that "the lazy and incompetent" elected Gray is ignorant, and far from the truth. Many people with whom I work and socialize (all gainfully employed, tax paying members of society) support Gray, for a variety of reasons.

[Anonymous]

9:42, Fenty did not treat me badly. Have you ever considered that I voted for Gray because I actually know what's in the Education budgets, OSSE, Deputy Mayor and DCPS. Do you? I've seen the budget line by line - not what is published! I know where the money goes. I know what contracts we were forced to do. I know what Michelle Rhee has gotten away with. I know about overspending and the lack of fiscal accountability by DCPS.

What do you know - NOTHING!

[Anonymous]

Hey everybody, stop and think for a minute. Both Fenty and Gray received votes from intelligent, well-informed people and from people who know little and voted their prejudices. Both Fenty and Gray are intelligent guys who think they can do best for the City. And both of them are politicians who want to further their careers.

The fact that you happen to prefer one is no reason to turn the other into a bogeyman. And it's certainly no reason to turn his supporters into bogeymen!

So calm down and quit making an ass of yourself . That is not addressed to any particular poster, but at each of when we write one of those ad hominem (or ad feminam) diatribes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey everybody, stop and think for a minute. Both Fenty and Gray received votes from intelligent, well-informed people and from people who know little and voted their prejudices. Both Fenty and Gray are intelligent guys who think they can do best for the City. And both of them are politicians who want to further their careers.

The fact that you happen to prefer one is no reason to turn the other into a bogeyman. And it's certainly no reason to turn his supporters into bogeymen!

So calm down and quit making an ass of yourself . That is not addressed to any particular poster, but at each of when we write one of those ad hominem (or ad feminam) diatribes.

I call BS. Gray only won less than 20% in my ward so more than 8 out of 10 people voted for Fenty. So a clear landslide of the most productive people in the District voted for Fenty. We all know that Gray was able to win because of the demographics in a few other wards that put him over the top. They're going to be asking for their prizes soon, so higher taxes in DC here we come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I call BS. Gray only won less than 20% in my ward so more than 8 out of 10 people voted for Fenty. So a clear landslide of the most productive people in the District voted for Fenty. We all know that Gray was able to win because of the demographics in a few other wards that put him over the top. They're going to be asking for their prizes soon, so higher taxes in DC here we come.

How do you measure "production"? I live in Ward 4; my husband & I both work, we send our son to public school. The families on our block are:

* a firefighter
* a DPW worker
* a construction worker
* a retired Metro bus operator
* two Fed employees

Which of us is not "productive"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey everybody, stop and think for a minute. Both Fenty and Gray received votes from intelligent, well-informed people and from people who know little and voted their prejudices. Both Fenty and Gray are intelligent guys who think they can do best for the City. And both of them are politicians who want to further their careers.

The fact that you happen to prefer one is no reason to turn the other into a bogeyman. And it's certainly no reason to turn his supporters into bogeymen!

So calm down and quit making an ass of yourself . That is not addressed to any particular poster, but at each of when we write one of those ad hominem (or ad feminam) diatribes.

I call BS. Gray only won less than 20% in my ward so more than 8 out of 10 people voted for Fenty. So a clear landslide of the most productive people in the District voted for Fenty. We all know that Gray was able to win because of the demographics in a few other wards that put him over the top. They're going to be asking for their prizes soon, so higher taxes in DC here we come.

We know there's at least one voter in Ward 3 whose only "productive" endeavor is bitching and whinging all day on the internet.

[Anonymous]

I think we also know this "productive" Fenty fanatic has an unhealthy obsession with the ramming of dicks into mouths. I wonder if his wife knows about his latent homosexual tendencies.

[Anonymous]

I know I should be ashamed to admit this, but I'm kind of enjoying watching this person completely lose his shit over the election. I keep checking back just to see what else he/she/it vomited up next.

It's a little bit like watching a caged monkey fling its own poo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey everybody, stop and think for a minute. Both Fenty and Gray received votes from intelligent, well-informed people and from people who know little and voted their prejudices. Both Fenty and Gray are intelligent guys who think they can do best for the City. And both of them are politicians who want to further their careers.

The fact that you happen to prefer one is no reason to turn the other into a bogeyman. And it's certainly no reason to turn his supporters into bogeymen!

So calm down and quit making an ass of yourself . That is not addressed to any particular poster, but at each of when we write one of those ad hominem (or ad feminam) diatribes.

I call BS. Gray only won less than 20% in my ward so more than 8 out of 10 people voted for Fenty. So a clear landslide of the most productive people in the District voted for Fenty. We all know that Gray was able to win because of the demographics in a few other wards that put him over the top. They're going to be asking for their prizes soon, so higher taxes in DC here we come.

Ha ha, you are either crazy or a troll or maybe both!

Oh I know! We should just let Ward 2 and 3 run the city because clearly the people who live there are so much more deserving than the rest of us!

No actually I think I know the right place for you pp. They still have ruling monarchies in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Now, on your way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know I should be ashamed to admit this, but I'm kind of enjoying watching this person completely lose his shit over the election. I keep checking back just to see what else he/she/it vomited up next.

It's a little bit like watching a caged monkey fling its own poo.

No, I think you have the right attitude. We've been playing into this poster's game by actually responding with real arguments. Time now to laugh and enjoy. That will really drive him/her crazy!

[Anonymous]

Geez PP, I'd be happy with him moving to MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I call BS. Gray only won less than 20% in my ward so more than 8 out of 10 people voted for Fenty. So a clear landslide of the most productive people in the District voted for Fenty. We all know that Gray was able to win because of the demographics in a few other wards that put him over the top. They're going to be asking for their prizes soon, so higher taxes in DC here we come.

How do you measure "production"? I live in Ward 4; my husband & I both work, we send our son to public school. The families on our block are:

* a firefighter
* a DPW worker
* a construction worker
* a retired Metro bus operator
* two Fed employees

Which of us is not "productive"?

Hmm they all work for the govt. Which one is really productive?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I call BS. Gray only won less than 20% in my ward so more than 8 out of 10 people voted for Fenty. So a clear landslide of the most productive people in the District voted for Fenty. We all know that Gray was able to win because of the demographics in a few other wards that put him over the top. They're going to be asking for their prizes soon, so higher taxes in DC here we come.

How do you measure "production"? I live in Ward 4; my husband & I both work, we send our son to public school. The families on our block are:

* a firefighter
* a DPW worker
* a construction worker
* a retired Metro bus operator
* two Fed employees

Which of us is not "productive"?

Hmm they all work for the govt. Which one is really productive?

You are really incredible. The construction worker most likely does not work for the government. If your house catches on fire, I think you will hope the firefighters who respond will be productive. But, I'm curious, what is your profession? Can you tell all of us the productive role that you play in our lives?