Mayor Adrian Fenty’s 2009 summer jobs program is so poorly managed that D.C. Council members said Monday that they might shut it down early.
The Summer Youth Employment Program discussion emerged as the council struggled, behind closed doors, to reach consensus on how to close looming deficits of $190 million in 2009 and $150 million in 2010. Members of the media were allowed to sit in.
“We have herds of kids with nothing to do,” Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells said of summer job participants in his ward.
It is unclear, several council members said, that the summer jobs program is running better than the 2008 version, when the initiative devolved into an epic debacle.
“I don’t see the improvement,” said Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh.
The council in June narrowly rejected a proposal to reduce the nine-week program to six weeks, potentially saving the city $20 million-plus. The resolution fell two votes shy — Wells was one of the members who supported continuing on.
Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans also voted to keep it at nine weeks, “but I’d now like to have the money,” he said Monday.
More than 18,000 youth ages 14 to 21, working for 400 employers at 1,100 job sites, were paid July 15 for the second pay period.
DOES received roughly 500 complaint calls on or around payday, the agency reported.
“There are thousands of kids doing good work and who need this job experience, and it is our hope that our youth are given the support they need to complete the full summer employment program,” DOES Director Joseph Walsh said in a statement.
At-large Councilman Michael Brown told The Examiner that he requested two youths for summer work in his office, but DOES sent him 10. He called the practice “dumping.” Fenty wants credit for putting thousands of youth to work without regard for what they’re doing.
“If these are dollars we can get back, we need to get them back,” Brown said.
Even if the council votes Friday to cut off funding, Fenty will still have 10 business days to act on the resolution. By the time it takes effect, council members acknowledged, the program already would be within its last week.
Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. urged his colleagues to consider the effect on contractors and vendors who have signed arrangements to continue for nine weeks. Also consider, he said, that “Kids depend on this.”
The council generally agreed that the 2010 summer jobs program must be limited to six weeks.
The low-down on summer jobs
» Fenty wants $23.4 million to finance last weeks of summer jobs program.
» Council appears ready to reject proposal.
» Unclear whether the program will continue into next week.
