Photo by dbking

Looks like the hours of public condemnation have finally convinced Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) to finally walk back his comments Tuesday night that Asian-owned businesses in his part of the District are “dirty shops” that “ought to go.”

Barry issued something of an apology to Washington’s Asian-American community Thursday afternoon. While he acknowledged his words were perceived a slight to the 3.5 percent of District residents who are of Asian descent and the Asian-owned businesses that make up 6 percent of the District’s economy, he did not step away from some of the specific criticisms he made today with respect to carry-out restaurants.

The statement, delivered via a series of tweets, reads:

I’m very sorry for offending the Asian-American community. Although taken out of context by many about the conditions of some Ward 8 carryouts, the comment was meant to convey that some stores need better service to and engagement with the community than what is provided now. To improve food places in Ward 8, owners have to move beyond status quo. Take down the plexiglass, offer healthy food, keep [business] clean and inviting. And anyone NOT from Ward 8, you may want to actually EXPERIENCE the difference of what IS and what CAN BE here in [Southeast]. I admit, I could and should have said it differently. But the facts are still very present in our daily lives here.We are tired of sub-standard treatment, tired of being kept an arms length distance, tired of the lack of community engagement. As stated before, our neighborhoods have made remarkable improvement over the last 7 years. Our retail needs to catch up. It costs nothing to keep the store clean. Nothing to add healthy items. Nothing to know your patrons. Nothing to have the will to do better. I do hope that as much attention focused on my admittedly bad choice of words will be given to the very real and present retail needs of [Southeast].

(Emphasis on certain words are Barry’s.)

So while the former four-term mayor, now on his way to his third term representing Ward 8, is sorry for offending an ethnic group, he’s trying to focus his commentary on a specific type of business. The Post’s Mike DeBonis, who’s been following Barry all day, reports that Barry said his apology is sincere:

Barry says he dictates to his thus-far anoymous tweeter, who proceeds to render the actual tweets. He confirms his apology is genuine.

— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) April 5, 2012

While we’ve been entertained this week and in the past by Barry’s Twitter account, the 76-year-old lawmaker has said that his tweets are entered by a staffer to whom he dictates. But that doesn’t always mean Barry is aware of what he is tweeting in real time:

Me to Marion Barry: “I’m reading your tweets.” Marion Barry: “What do they say?”

— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) April 5, 2012

And that’s a bit disconcerting.

UPDATE, 5:21 p.m.: Barry’s office has sent out a longer version of the statement that went out over Twitter:

My earlier comments regarding the Asian American Business Community have been painted with a brush that was too narrow. They should be taken in the context of my long-standing history of good, positive relations with the Asian American Community in this town. I do not have, nor have I ever had a history of discrimination against anyone, including the Asian American Community.

People should remember that I created the first Office of Asian American Affairs in this City and continue to work very closely with the Asian Community in Chinatown, as well as the Asian Business Community in Ward 8. Many of the Asian American businesses that exist in Chinatown are there because of my strong support.

I am sorry that my choice of words in expressing my discontent with some of the Asian business owners in my Ward offended the Asian American Community and I am deeply apologetic for any harm that I have caused.

It is a fact, however, that there are a number of the Asian owned, neighborhood stores and carry-outs in Ward 8 that only sell highly caloric food and, that unlike some other Asian businessman in Ward 8, don’t reach-out to neighborhood groups, make financial contributions to the neighborhood or, help young people in the neighborhood improve their quality of life.

Ward 8 residents are spending their hard earned dollars in these stores because they are the only stores in the immediate neighborhoods; my constituents want respect, too.

It is to these less than stellar Asian American businessmen in Ward 8 that my remarks were directed, not the whole of Asian businessmen in Ward 8 or, the Asian American population.