Asked to respond to yet another poll tracking his sinking popularity, particularly among African-Americans, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said he first wanted to review it more closely. Smart move. Respondents to a Washington Post poll seemed confused. Some said they love what Fenty has done in their neighborhoods. But they hate the man who brought those improvements. Those folks could have been cast alongside Faye Dunaway in that movie classic “Chinatown.” Remember the scene where Jack Nicholson is slapping her and she still can’t decide whether to describe her child as her daughter or sister.
Truth be told, there was sizable opposition to Fenty in 2006 in black communities; it was split, however, among several candidates. For example, in Precinct 110, one of the largest in Ward 7, Fenty won 791 votes; but 724 individuals voted for his opponents. In Precinct 122, in Ward 8, he won 224 votes; 200 voters turned away from him.
Many of those who voted against him in that last mayoral race have remained ardent critics. But he has lost initial supporters — black and white — by permitting minor missteps and grievances to metastasize into dissatisfaction.
Can he turn things around? Does he need to turn anything around?
Folks I spoke with earlier this week said yes to both questions. I developed a short list of their suggestions:
» “Bring back ‘Yo Adrian,’ ” said Terry Lynch, director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations. That was the guy people loved. He was everywhere. “He was personable and would take the time to connect.”
» “Show up at some art functions, an exhibit, a theater production, or participate in the Big Read,” the citywide reading project, said E. Ethelbert Miller, a writer and chairman of the Institute for Policy Studies. That strategy did wonders to humanize former Mayor Anthony A. Williams. After he served briefly one night as conductor of the Washington Symphony Orchestra, people suddenly saw him as a fun guy.
» “Have the press corps over for beer and chips,” said one District government official. Good relations with the media can be incalculable. Through their relentless reporting, Dubai, Nationals tickets and bike rides in Virginia became issues of importance to District residents. Imagine what the press can do to advance a reform agenda, like improving contracting and procurement, on which taxpayers spend $1.5 billion annually.
» “Stop treating the council and other politicians like ball court competitors; leave the athletic mentality at the gym,” said Lynch.
» “Remember that humility is a great asset in the black community,” said Bernard Demczuk, African-American history scholar at George Washington University. “The more human, humble and appreciative you are, the more the black community loves you.” Blacks believe in redemption. “If you’ve made a mistake, apologize in a genuine way, reach out and ask forgiveness.”
That latter strategy worked for Marion Barry. It also could work for Fenty.
Jonetta Rose Barras, host of WPFW’s “D.C. Politics With Jonetta,” can be reached at [email protected].
