Fenty contracting scandal

[Anonymous]

Anyone else completely outraged over the latest Fenty scandal, involving an end-run around the Council to steer contracts to his buddies? I think it's the last straw for me. Fenty was so beloved as Ward 4 councilmember; I thought that he'd continue the Williams tradition of hard work and competency. Frankly, this is also making me reconsider my feelings about Michelle Rhee--I've been on the fence about her for a long time, but

[Anonymous]

eek, sorry, hit post by accident.

Regarding Michelle Rhee, it seems like a lot of her justification for changes is "Trust me, and don't ask questions." A year ago I bought this, because I thought that changes needed to be made quickly, and if the price was loss of transparency, it was a price I was willing to pay. But now I see her as part of an administration that uses lack of transparency to use my tax dollars to line the pockets of its friends.

[Anonymous]

Yes, after reading the article in today's Post, I am officially done with Fenty. That would be $82 million in contracts for all the pet recreation projects, right? The pool for his own training, the baseball fields for his sons ... all undertaken by his friends in a no-bid process.

I voted for him but I won't make that mistake again.

[Anonymous]

For lack of a better term, Fenty is what I call SHADY.

[Anonymous]

This might deserve its own thread, but since it is an offshoot of the contracting scandal, I'll put it here.

In response to criticism of the contracting mess by CM Cheh, AG Nickles called her an "angry woman" and said she “has no idea what she’s talking about” and that it's "stupid" for her to make such comments.

For the AG to be acting as Fenty's spokesperson on this strikes me as well outside his job, and the remarks seem unprofessional and sexist. Kwame Brown called for an apology, by the way. I hope other CMs will join him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This might deserve its own thread, but since it is an offshoot of the contracting scandal, I'll put it here.

In response to criticism of the contracting mess by CM Cheh, AG Nickles called her an "angry woman" and said she “has no idea what she’s talking about” and that it's "stupid" for her to make such comments.

For the AG to be acting as Fenty's spokesperson on this strikes me as well outside his job, and the remarks seem unprofessional and sexist. Kwame Brown called for an apology, by the way. I hope other CMs will join him.

Oh, I know, I saw that this morning and couldn't believe my eyes. Wow, talk about dated sexism! The old "angry woman" line. Sheesh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:eek, sorry, hit post by accident.

Regarding Michelle Rhee, it seems like a lot of her justification for changes is "Trust me, and don't ask questions." A year ago I bought this, because I thought that changes needed to be made quickly, and if the price was loss of transparency, it was a price I was willing to pay. But now I see her as part of an administration that uses lack of transparency to use my tax dollars to line the pockets of its friends.

Michelle Rhee has lots of friends... the replacement principal of Oyster being the wife of one of her 'Director of Operations'; the teacher producing businesses she taps being from the world she sprang from....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This might deserve its own thread, but since it is an offshoot of the contracting scandal, I'll put it here.

In response to criticism of the contracting mess by CM Cheh, AG Nickles called her an "angry woman" and said she “has no idea what she’s talking about” and that it's "stupid" for her to make such comments.

For the AG to be acting as Fenty's spokesperson on this strikes me as well outside his job, and the remarks seem unprofessional and sexist. Kwame Brown called for an apology, by the way. I hope other CMs will join him.

Oh, I know, I saw that this morning and couldn't believe my eyes. Wow, talk about dated sexism! The old "angry woman" line. Sheesh!

Dined with Mary Cheh as one of her constituents; she seems like she could get tough and brawl on issues--seemed positively merry that night. That is a tired line.

[Anonymous]

What else is new. I expected this from Fenty. I know that there is more unethical practices to be reported regarding this mayor, however, the Washington Post is in love with Fenty and refuse to do actual reporting. I was actually surprised to see them actually print the contract scandal. As to your question regarding Nickles acting as his official spokesman, well, unofficially he is. He is Fenty's godfather, appointed to be the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, but spends most of his time advocating on behalf of Fenty instead of the best interest of the Distict. He is also an official appointee required to have DC residency but has yet to move into the city. Nickles comments about Councilwoman Cheh was a slip of tongue reflecting most likely his sexist beliefs. How dare Cheh, a constitutional law professor disagree with Nickles on legal issues. She is after all only an angry woman making stupid comments. Ugh!! How fast can we get rid of Fenty and his entire fracked up crew. I am just afraid that we don't have any viable contenders and Fenty will get reelected by default. Ugh again

[Anonymous]

Ok. Didn't Nickels say that the contract should go to the council?

Save me the false outrage. Skinner is a piece of excrement that pimped the system. People not associated with Fenty do it all the time. In fact, talk to someone that donated to Fenty that hasn't gotten any business. He is not stacking the deck for friends.

DC is so small that everyone knows Adrian. He grew up in the District. Skinner got over and when it was brought to his attention...Fenty shut it down.

Now, why won't those council members that voted to cut the schools budget to spite Fenty admit that they are why the 230 teachers got fired?

Oh, that's right, everything is Fenty's fault.

Like Obama and the Republicans, when a politician faces an opposition that wants he/she to fail, despite the needs of the citizens, things get screwed up. Tension escalate.

This fight between the council and the executive is not one way. It takes two to tango.

[Anonymous]

You are well misinformed.

One, Fenty is no Obama

Two, Peter Nickles is saying that not only are the contracts legal, but binding. The law is to be used against future contracts. Laughable.

Three, the DC Council did not cut the school budget. The schools received the same funding ias the previous fiscal year, despite a decrease in student population.

Four, I too grew up in DC and do not know everyone. That's like saying that if you attended GW or HU you know the entire student body at GW or HU. Ludicrous

Five, if one was to accept your absurb rationale, well Skinner did not grow up in DC, so how does that relate to Fenty knowing everyone because he is homegrown. BTW--I don't know Skinner, but I do know that his name was not on the ballot. So, you should save you excrement description for the one that has engaged in business with this person and whose name was on the ballot.

Six, If you are saying that just because violating the law and giving sweet heart deals to your friends at tax payers's expense is done all the time, well Fenty ran on doing things different. He hasn't, for he has merely escalated to corruptness of DC politics.

[Anonymous]

Anyone see the full page ads promoting DC tourism in some major magazines? I saw one in Gourmet (ahhh poor Gourmet) - there's a full page ad of Fenty running, with a Fleet Feet shirt on no less, promoting DC for tourism. Do you think his parents paid for that product placement?

[Anonymous]

Did anyone see today's opinion page of WP. There is a cartoon by Toles depicting Fenty as "King Fenty".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone see the full page ads promoting DC tourism in some major magazines? I saw one in Gourmet (ahhh poor Gourmet) - there's a full page ad of Fenty running, with a Fleet Feet shirt on no less, promoting DC for tourism. Do you think his parents paid for that product placement?

That 'product placement' on Fenty's part I have heard about before; just WRONG on every level. And seriously, does Fleet Feet seem like it is hurting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are well misinformed.

One, Fenty is no Obama

Two, Peter Nickles is saying that not only are the contracts legal, but binding. The law is to be used against future contracts. Laughable.

Three, the DC Council did not cut the school budget. The schools received the same funding ias the previous fiscal year, despite a decrease in student population.

Four, I too grew up in DC and do not know everyone. That's like saying that if you attended GW or HU you know the entire student body at GW or HU. Ludicrous

Five, if one was to accept your absurb rationale, well Skinner did not grow up in DC, so how does that relate to Fenty knowing everyone because he is homegrown. BTW--I don't know Skinner, but I do know that his name was not on the ballot. So, you should save you excrement description for the one that has engaged in business with this person and whose name was on the ballot.

Six, If you are saying that just because violating the law and giving sweet heart deals to your friends at tax payers's expense is done all the time, well Fenty ran on doing things different. He hasn't, for he has merely escalated to corruptness of DC politics.

Well Done!