Widespread accusations of corruption in the District bring back memories of Mayor Marion Barry, but the sudden eruption of alleged ethical breaches by the city’s top officials is more intense than at any given moment under Barry’s regime. “It’s frankly unprecedented to have this number of clouds over the council members and the executive branch’s actions,” said community activist Terry Lynch, who has been involved with city politics since he moved to D.C. in 1977. “It does certainly harken back to the old days, although the city is better off now.”
Despite the current series of scandals, city services continue to function and the budget is balanced. By the time Barry’s fourth term ended, the District couldn’t afford to pick up trash or fix potholes, and its inability to meet pension payments had landed it under federal control.
