Dearly departed U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen supposedly uttered the famous line: “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you are talking about real money.” The Dirksen Center disputes the senator uttered such words, but the line has stuck, and it still counts, more than ever. Take Mayor Vince Gray’s plan to hold a community meeting next month at the convention center, for a cool $600,000.
Now, in the larger scheme of the D.C. budget, $600k might be considered chump change. Amid $10 billion, what’s a few hundred thousand green backs?
Let’s check.
Rookie police officers pull down around $50,000 a year. Throw in the cost of training and benefits, and you could hire around 12 cops for that kind of money.
What about teachers? The base salary for a first-year teacher with a doctorate degree is $60,128, according to the DCPS. Why not use the $600K to hire more teachers? The average cost to the city for a teacher, including benefits, is $90,681, I am told. So we could hire six teachers — plus plenty or erasers or some sweet gym equipment.
Snow season is upon us. At least it should be, according to the calendar. If spring should turn abruptly into winter, and we get a two-foot dump of white stuff, wouldn’t it be nice to have a few more dump trucks in the garage? You can score a decent dump truck for $20,000. How about we buy 30 trucks instead of gathering to chat for a day?
The mayor likes to talk and listen. He’s into convening panels, requesting reports, perhaps reading them. And as a true legislator, he is comfortable in the arena of holding hearings. His One City Summit, scheduled for February 11 at the Washington Convention Center, is one big, fabulous hearing. He has invited everyone to sign up and talk and talk. To break into small groups. To hear government officials explain what the government is doing for them.
For $600,000. Really?
Let’s suggest alternative ways to exchange views with the citizenry.
In the digital age, the mayor could have what they call a “webinar.” Sounds wonky, but isn’t Gray’s “summit” for wonks? How many Washingtonians, beyond professional wonks, can devote a Saturday in February to meeting and gabbing about the government? Got kids? Got athletic events? Gotta sleep off a week of work? Those folks probably can better connect online.
If the mayor wants to meet face to face with his constituents, how about a street corner? Politicians across the nation invite interested people to meet with them on whatever topic they might desire to discuss. Why not take a page from Marion Barry’s play book and talk to folks in their neighborhoods — or in bars?
No way Gray can call off his summit and devote the dough to cops, teachers or trucks at this point. People will come and talk, and Gray will feel as if he’s connected.
At $600,000, the cost of feeling good is too high.
Harry Jaffe’s column appears on Tuesday and Friday. He can be contacted at [email protected].
