Back in the days when Marion Barry was mayor, we used to call the 13-member legislative branch the ”Marionettes.” With his swagger, his goodies and his charisma — and occasionally the back of his hand — Barry had complete control of the city council.
Now, barely halfway through his first term, I think it’s fair to ask whether Mayor Adrian Fenty has turned the D.C. Council into his very own “Adrianettes.”
The question came to mind after I reviewed the shenanigans at Tuesday morning’s breakfast, which preceded what was supposed to be a crucial day of making laws. The table was set by Barry, now the council member for Ward 8. Though his district lies across the Anacostia River, he was proposing a homeless shelter for 150 men in center city, which happens to be the domain of Ward 2 council member Jack Evans.
Evans reddened. Barry had not consulted him. He also knew that housing hundreds of homeless under one roof was a failed strategy. Then he invoked John Wilson, whose name adorns City Hall. Wilson, whom I knew and adored, committed suicide when he was council chairman in 1993; for many years he represented Ward 2. In many ways, Evans was his acolyte.
Evans pounded the table and looked at Barry: “What John would have said is ‘Don’t [mess] with my [stuff].’ ”
The room went silent. “Now,” Evans said, “Jack Evans wouldn’t say that.” A few council members laughed.
Chairman Vincent Gray then asked Barry to withdraw the bill. Victory to Evans — and Fenty.
Gray and some council members have been trying to lasso Fenty for months, ever since the mayor decreed he would close the homeless shelter at Franklin School, a historic brick structure in the heart of downtown. Gray and some allies protested and threatened to issue subpoenas. They never did and failed for two reasons.
First, Fenty, backed by the progressive advocates in Housing Now, wanted to quickly find permanent and supportive homes for the men and women who sleep on grates and in shelters, which is both sound and sensible. Second, Gray never had the votes to oppose the mayor.
Fenty spent six years on the council and learned how it works — and how to control it. As mayor, he doles out goodies in the form of paving and buildings and fixing schools. He never coddles council members, but he’s close enough with key legislators to win a showdown. He probably can count on Evans, Ward 4’s Muriel Bowser, Jim Graham of Ward 1, at-large member David Catania, Ward 3’s Mary Cheh and Tommy Wells of Ward 6.
Gray can count on Barry. The rest are in play.
Gray plays council chairman as an amiable conciliator who wants to do well by his native town. This is admirable, but in the bump and grind of power politics, the chairman must be an enforcer, as was Wilson.
Vince Gray is no John Wilson. But in controlling the council, Fenty may be as good as Barry, back in his day.
