District of Columbia Council members said Mayor Adrian Fenty has galvanized the city in his first 70 days in office in the same way he did to win the election in November.
Council members said they feel Fenty, who spent six years as the Ward 4 representative, has gotten a good handle on the District’s large bureaucracy adding that his energetic approach sends a positive message to residents.
“I think he’s moving in strides,” Council Member Kwame Brown, D- at large, said. “Everywhere I am I see him. He seems to be responsive. His people seem to call back.”
Before Fenty “there just wasn’t a great sense of urgency,” Brown said.
Council Chair Vincent Gray said he speaks with Fenty on a weekly, if not daily, basis, but the BlackBerry-wielding mayor hasn’t devoted a sole device to the chairman as he has done with Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier.
“What I think he has exuded is a charisma that rallies people,” Gray said.
Fenty also got applause for his sensitive handling of a lawsuit growing out of last year’s murder of New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum. Fenty stood with the family in front of their Northwest home to announce steps to improve fire and police services that will prevent the errors that resulted in Rosenbaum’s death. The family agreed not to press for the $20 million they had sued for if the city would correct the culture within the District agencies that led to his death.
Fenty does have detractors. He endured criticism for the number of appointees he has held over from Mayor Anthony Williams’ administration.
But Gray and council member Phil Mendelson, D-at large, also pointed out a few troubled nominations that Fenty has made.
“I think its been a mixed bag as far as nominations,” Mendelson said. He has adamantly opposed Fenty’s nomination of former Board of Zoning Adjustment Chair Geoff Griffis to the Zoning Commission. A number of council members have indicated they would oppose Griffis.
The administration also failed to ask Board of Education nominee Herb Scott about his finances. Scott admitted a tax liability to the council during a hearing that has since been cleared. Fenty withdrew Scott’s name hours before the council was scheduled to vote on him.
Fenty also angered a lot of residents over his school takeover legislation. Some critics disagree with the bill, while others are angered that he has pushed for a vote before aspecial election to fill vacant council seats in Wards 4 and 7.
But Gray pointed out that even if those members were seated, opposition votes might make little difference. At least nine of the 11 current members have indicated support for the bill.
