Adrian Fenty’s team of volunteers offered their suggestions Monday as to how the District’s presumptive mayor should direct his administration, recommending overhauls of education, public safety and technology and major investments in health care and human services.
During the Internet-based seminar for hundreds of Fenty supporters, the chairs of 14 pre-transition committees laid out their recommendations for the transition and beyond. Fenty is widely expected to romp in today’s general election, allowing the formal transition to start Wednesday morning — with future City Administrator Dan Tangherlini at the helm.
“What we have to start out with is probably further along than a lot of other cities have when they’re finished [with the transition] and are ready to run their government,” Fenty told his backers during the “Webinar.”
The reports call for massive change across the spectrum. Among them:
» Education — Hire a deputy mayor for education who will implement accountability mechanisms, assume control of state education functions and lead accelerated school modernization efforts. Improve special education, early childhood education and vocational programs while containing costs. Consider “expanded mayoral control” and “forcefully” use statutory authority over the schools.
» Public safety — Accelerate recruitment and training of new police officers; enhance police relationships with communities; overhaul juvenile justice at Oak Hill and separate emergency medical services from the fire department.
» Health care — Enhance HIV/AIDS education; improve coverage for the poor and create a separate EMS system. “Anyone can see that when you send a fire truck to deal with someone who’s having a heart attack, our government is not being managed properly,” said Robert Malson, co-chair of the health care working group.
» Economic development — Review staffing levels and employ online access to permits and other records at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Generally improve DCRA technology to broaden e-business opportunities.
» Affordable housing — Adopt mandatory inclusionary zoning rules and establish new downtown homeless shelters.
Of the hundreds of proposals, some won’t work in the District, Fenty said. But many will be implemented, in some fashion, during his tenure. It’s a revamping of the government that won’t come cheap.
“We think we have enough money,” Fenty said. “We just need to spend it more wisely.”
Other Fenty work groups
» Arts
» CAPStat (government-wide
database accountability system)
» Environment
» Technology
» Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and transgender; Latino; Asian-Pacific Islander; Women and girls
» Democracy and voting rights
