Graham Gives Up Taxi Oversight

Ward 1 D.C. Council member Jim Graham is relinquishing his lead role in oversight of the city's taxicab industry, despite an earlier determination from Council Chair Vincent Gray that Graham should keep taxis in his portfolio as chairman of the public works and transportation committee. Graham has asked Gray to transfer taxicab oversight powers to the Committee of the Whole.

In a letter to Gray today, Graham wrote, "Though I have committed no crime, nor am I reportedly the target of any investigation, I want to ensure that Taxicab Commission oversight continues without any distractions relating to the Ted Loza indictment."

Loza, Graham's chief of staff, was arrested in a federal bribery sting on Sept. 24. So why did Graham wait until now to make this change, instead of doing it at the beginning of the month? His spokesperson told the City Paper that he was trying to figure out who would take over the responsibility. But given that the Committee of the Whole is run by Gray, and Gray was the one who was so sure that Graham should keep the job, it seems like there must be more to that story.