Call me a moth to Marion Barry’s flame: The council member’s constant display of his addictions, his brushes with the law, his mixing of public funds with his private pleasure — they all draw me back to the well of Barry’s ever-flowing fountain of news, most of it embarrassing for him and the city.
Some of it, perhaps, illegal.
What has set me off this time is not the facts dribbling out about his using public funds to lure in a potential lover. We shall let the federal and local authorities ferret out the details over the $60,000 contract the Ward 8 council member served up to Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, his love interest at the time. Let’s stipulate to the facts that Donna fits the profile of many Marion women: three decades his junior; married (to someone else); in need of cash; a bit of a Barry sycophant.
Nor am I perturbed that the former four-term mayor steered millions of dollars in earmarks to his constituents in Ward 8. From Congress to state legislatures to the D.C. Council, earmarks are accepted as a form of legal graft.
Barry’s blaming gays — in particular at-large Councilman David Catania — for the investigations that are digging into his deals? Not surprised. Blaming others for his troubles, namely white folk or “the man” — is straight out of Barry’s playbook. The fact that “the man” in this case is homosexual men is mildly amusing.
What has me heading toward Barry’s flame once again is the way he rationalizes his largesse. In an interview with another reporter this week, Barry explained his directing earmarks thusly: Distressed by Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans’ desire to direct $10 million for renovation of Ford’s Theatre, Barry protested and wrung $8 million that he could bestow on worthy projects in the downtrodden precincts of Ward 8.
I use “worthy” in the most contemptible way; the projects Barry funded were worthy only of qualifying as rip-offs. Take the National Association of Former Foster Care Children. The name itself invites guffaws. Employees contend the group’s executive made off with much of the nearly $300,000 Barry handed over.
So here’s the difference between a contract from Barry and one from Evans — or, better yet, Mayor Adrian Fenty. In his 16 years as mayor and another 10 or so on the city council, Marion Barry’s trademark is spending public funds and expecting little in return. He gave billions in contracts to build public housing, which crumbled thanks to shoddy construction. He financed scores of nonprofits to help the unemployed, yet unemployment always rose. He spent millions on summer jobs for kids, who pocketed the cash and did no work.
At least Fenty and Evans give public funds to bona fide organizations that will not squander the dough. It’s called accountability, a theory Marion Barry has never, ever grasped.
Regardless of whether the feds take Barry down, his true crime is promising to help his needy constituents yet betraying them by giving money to unworthy organizations.
Higher forces will judge him for that.
E-mail Harry Jaffe at [email protected]
