DCist: Summer Jobs Hearing Details Fenty's First Major Failure

kd

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:06:15 -0500

I just have to post this: http://www.fee.org/publications/the-freeman/article.asp?aid=2335 This is an article which details how badly the SYEP programs were being run in the 60's, 70's, and 80's! I am all for cutting excessive gov't spending on programs that go nowhere...

tigerflight

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:53:29 -0500

Fenty should apologize to the woman he made take the fall for his poor planning.

Urban_Architect

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:28:11 -0500

I would like Marion Barry to apologize for his existence.

woodstock

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:24:29 -0500

Last time I checked allowing a bunch of real estate developers to use public money to finance their buildings (ie: the charter school system) was Fenty's first failure. And in a city where we're paying middle school students not to fail why is "welfare for the younger generation" a surprise?

erahk0

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:48:36 -0500

ehh, all that said and Fenty would still be the best DC mayor so far.

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:47:13 -0500

Did anyone at the 11-hour Council circlejerk discuss how the program is basically a welfare program for a younger generation?

IMGoph

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:37:51 -0500

marion barry can take anyone to task over anything as much as he wants. all i hear is, "blah, blah, blah"

Hillman

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:30:39 -0500

The Feds pay for this program? Do they cover all the cost? I've always thought this program is basically a political ploy to find jobs for kids in return for votes from their parents. So many stories from so many people of the fraud, waste, and stupidity of this program....

kd

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:04:48 -0500

The SYEP program is terrible. I can't believe no one has figured it out until now. It needs to be rethought and reworked. DC Gov't makes money from the program (b/c it's federally funded, they get $ for each kid that signs up) and then dumps kids into jobs that they don't care about. Of course, there are a few exceptions. But, esp. with regard to recreation centers, they would have 20-25+ SYEPs as "counselors" in certain recreation centers doing nothing but causing trouble for other kids, cursing, starting fights. SYEP has been mismanaged for many, many years.