Photo by JRoseC.Good morning, Washington. Last night, former Maryland governor William Donald Schaefer died; he was 89 years old. Schaefer, who was also the mayor of Baltimore for 15 years, takes with him an interesting legacy. He earns plaudits from many for his role in the turnaround of Baltimore’s downtown area and his involvement in public works projects. Of course, Schaefer’s also the same person who loomed over Maryland politics for more than four decades, once called the entire Eastern Shore a “shithouse,” and, in 2004, said that people suffering from AIDS “brought it on themselves” and suggested that there be a registry of those with the disease. A complicated, outspoken man who held an iron grip on public affairs for decades: is this the same kind of conversation we’ll be having when Marion Barry takes his leave from this mortal coil?
Gray, Council Begin To Spar: After his election to the mayor’s office, It was thought that Mayor Vince Gray — previously the effective Chairman of the D.C. Council — would benefit from a smooth relationship with that legislative body, something his predecessor Adrian Fenty never truly had. But cracks are starting to show in the foundation. Last week, current Council Chair Kwame Brown aired his support for John Boehner’s controversial school vouchers bill in the New York Times; today, Councilmembers Jim Graham and Marion Barry will introduce legislation which would require all deputy mayor appointees to be approved by the Council. Even Barry, a staunch supporter of the Mayor, was surprised to hear Gray’s displeasure with the bill. “He campaigned on accountability and transparency,” Barry told the Examiner’s Freeman Klopott. “What’s he object to?” Could today’s vote on the bill serve as a referendum on where the Council stands on Mayor Gray? It’s possible.
Pepco Approval Hits The Skids: In satisfaction ratings to be released today, Pepco landed last among the 25 largest investor-owned energy utilities, according to the Washington Post. Pepco’s score fell from 70 in the first quarter of 2010 to 54 during the same period this year; the average score for energy utilities was 75 on a scale of 0 to 100. Gee, I can’t imagine why the scores are so low.
Man Shot In Pleasant Plains: D.C. police are investigating the killing of a man on the 700 block of Columbia Road NW last night. Around 10:30 p.m., police found a man suffering from several gunshot wounds. The man was then pronounced dead on the scene.
Briefly Noted: Vince Orange is still rolling in the cash…Unions protest proposal to engage non-union labor for Dulles Metro stop construction…Layoffs looming at Washington Hospital Center…D.C. at 94.5 percent prison capacity in 2010 [PDF]…Traffic incidents at northbound 295, 9th and D Streets NW…Va. politicians still squabbling over redistricting plan…More Metro manners from TBD: “Is it ever OK to sit in one of the priority seats, even if no one in need is around?”…Damn straight.
This Day in DCist: Last year, the Tea Party leaders revealed their support for D.C. retrocession; in 2009, we tried to figure out exactly which of the numerous Metro-related Twitter accounts out there was the real deal.
