The D.C. Council usually casts its first vote on the budget at its last Tuesday meeting in May, but this year the council chairman had to push the vote forward a day because several members will still be in Las Vegas trying to attract retailers to the nation’s capital.
Six council members — Harry Thomas, Jack Evans, Michael Brown, Marion Barry, Yvette Alexander and Vince Orange —are heading to Las Vegas for the massive retail convention this weekend. The convention starts Sunday night and runs through Tuesday.
“The vote was pushed because not everyone will be back,” said Evans, who is coming back on Monday. The council members pay for the convention out of their office budgets, which they spend at their own discretion each year. Evans said he’s spending about $600 on his hotel and airfare.
It’s the 13th year city officials have made the trip to Sin City for the convention. They credit the annual journey with bringing Home Depot, Target, Best Buy and other national retail stores into the District.
“We work had and have a real presence at the convention,” Evans said. “Thank God there are so many of us that go and are willing to do this. It’s extremely important for the city for us to go out there.”
