Today’s release of attorney Robert S. Bennett’s report on the financial misdoings of Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry comes as a breath of fresh air in the what seems never ending saga usually referred to by the public as “what has Marion Barry done this time?”
Bennett found that Marion Barry personally benefited from a contract that he gave his ex-girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, and that “substantial financial benefits” were given to close friends and allies through the use of Council earmarks, many to illegitimate groups formed by Barry’s employees and friends.
Although these findings do not surprise me, they make me long for a day when Ward 8 leadership is elected on the basis of who plans to do the most Good for the ward, rather than who will best perpetuate a lazy and uncreative status quo.
I have been in Anacostia for almost three years now, and have done my best to bring the neighborhood and the city up via social media, good press, community involvement, and hammer to nail construction. When I talk to people about this part of the city I usually highlight the positives – the galleries, the reviving housing stock, the coffee shop, the development plans – while also acknowledging the negatives. Stereotypes exist for a reason, but it is our responsibility to stand for a more just representation of the statistics, images, and people that make up a collective reputation.
This is why it is so difficult to be part of a ward that unabashedly allows for the continued political leadership of ruthlessly selfish people, Marion Barry and many others included. But no matter how hard it is, this city Will. Not. Get. Better. unless new people keeping running for office, keep answering the same old questions about why someone should move to Ward 8, and keep fixing the broken windows that are giving us a bad rap. Change does not happen on its own. It takes a long, patient practice of moving small stones to finally move a mountain. These things take time.
I am a proud Ward 8 resident, but I am not a proud Marion Barry constituent. I believe in forgiveness, but I do not believe there is a right to political longevity, especially in the face of legitimate charges or felony convictions. I hope you that you will join me in publicly condemning the way that Marion Barry has relentlessly embarrassed the District of Columbia, and fought more for his own preservation than for the benefits of those he has sworn to serve.
To Ward 8: keep your chins up, revere the good, and raise your voices for positive change. The wave is on its way.
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11 comments:
Barry really is an embarrassment to all of the city, especially Ward 8. I really don't understand why the hell he's been reelected so many times. What has he actually DONE for any of his constituents?
Excellent post! What you say you have tried to do, you have been doing faithfully and genuinely. Your frustrations with your councilman are justified. Let's hope that your neighbors will finally be able to see that voting in a representative who has little to no regard for the community (but only for his own self-interest and status) is not a thumb-of-the-nose to the "establishment," but rather a sad show of disregard for themselves and the well-being of the whole community. Thank goodness that doesn't have to be the end of the story--thanks to folks like you.
My prior comment had an unfortunate typo. In a nutshell I agree with you totally and said as so on my blog. This is insane!
Given your multi-year effort in trying to re-position Anacostia and Ward 8's image, why don't you take a more active role in the political process? Either begin exploring a run for the Ward 8 seat yourself, or identify similar-thinking peers in the community and draft one of them to be the next Ward 8 Council Member.
Like many politicans, the Honorable Marion Barry, time has passed him (two terms ago). But like many people in Ward 8, we are relunctant for change, as so by Council Member Barry receiving 90% of the vote in 2008. Or maybe another face in Ward 8 just hasn't emerged yet that the people trust. Regardless I believe Ward 8is moving in the right direction, you do, have to keep your head up high, and continue to push for change.
The question not becomes, who is next? An "ABB" campaign (Anybody But Barry) does not solve the problem as there are no viable candidates on the horizon who can move the people of Ward 8 to come out and vote the way that Barry has. I would love to see a discussion of possible candidates on this blog.
As long as the "have nots" outnumber the "haves" in Ward 8, Barry has a shot. Looking at it a different way, Barry served ALL of Black DC well during a time when NOBODY was looking out for black people (civil rights era). This is a reality. This happened way before gentrification was on the radar.
Now, this does not excuse inappropriate behavior, but this is important to understand when considering that many in Ward 8 still struggle. There is Barry. There is also what Barry represents. What he represents is what keeps him viable.
I am not a Barry supporter, but I understand Black people in urban environments who feel marginilized by greater society....
This is going to sound harsh but I think it just needs to be said. Ward 8 is entirely too lazy when it comes to politics. Barry's folks support him not because of "all the good he does for them" because the truth is he doesn't do anything and hasn't for years and even they know it. What I hear 95% of the time from folks who alleggedly support him is "who else are we going to vote for?" or "you can't beat him". That is lazy. Instead of backing this curropt candidate find a better candidate - and I can think of a great one CHARLES WILSON who ran against Barry in the primary and came in 2nd. Charles is in the community and is of great service. He is definetly probably more recognizable to the "haves" and he new folks because we participates in a lot of the organizations and events that we attend and contribute to and that have honestly had a bigger impact them some of the more tired organizations in the community. Not to say that Charles hasn't connected or attempted t connect to every day citizens or the current political base but I do think that progressive folks are in a better state of mind to accept change and one thing Ward 8 in general has a hard time accepting is change. I think a lot of folks in Ward 8 don't understand that doing "nothing" and by that continuing to back Barry is doing something continuing to hurt their community.
Can anyone name anything concrete with verifiable results that Barry has accomplished in the past 3 years? I doubt it.
Even with poor health Barry still clings to his CM seat in order to collect a paycheck. He does not care about Ward 8 and some of the residents are lazy indeed but many are afraid of change. Afraid of diversity (social and economic). As long as Barry has a seat in ward 8 things will be "Hood and Understood". Until all the residents in ward 8 really know they deserve better, Barry will continue to collect his pay check.
Let's face the facts. There are many in Ward 8 that rather have nothing than be forced to work for it. Barry is seen as the one that is willing to give them something. A couple of years ago, the Post wrote an article on Barry. He was riding through SE giving away money to a couple of people that asked. Even now, if you ask a black person why they love Barry so, they will usually mention the summer job that he GAVE them.
That is not empowering people. In fact, that serves to harm more than help. But that is the black community today. Many of them would rather be given than go out and get. The ones that are truly ambitious and motivated move away.
If change is to come to Ward 8, it will have to come from the whites and others that are moving there.
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