Barry says D.C.'s control board days not his fault

Mayor for Life Marion Barry said on Monday he had nothing to do with D.C.’s financial crisis in the mid-1990s that prompted a federal control board to take over the city’s finances. He stated during a D.C. Council hearing that he was shocked when he was sworn in as mayor in 1995 to learn the city’s savings had been reduced to just $31 million.

Wasn’t his fault the feds took over control of the city’s day to day finances — including power over mayoral budget decisions. It was the previous administration, Barry said.