Jun 08, 2007
School Referendum Really, Finally Not Happening
We know, we told you there would be no referendum on Mayor Adrian Fenty’s school takeover legislation already, but now we’re telling you again. After the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics reversed its earlier decision to approve a referendum petition on the bill, a D.C. Superior Court judge granted a last-minute hearing to activists for the referendum, leaving open the possibility that the judge could rule that the BOEE is not be allowed to…
Jun 07, 2007
Morning Roundup: Moving on Up Edition
Good Morning, D.C. It sure is getting hot in here, and for once, we don’t just mean the weather. The Post reports this morning that the Voting Rights Bill is making some progress in the Senate. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), a co-sponsor of the bill, announced that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which he chairs, will vote on the legislation Wednesday. And in a meeting with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mayor Fenty,…
Jun 06, 2007
No Referendum on School Takeover Plan
The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics changed its tune yesterday and reversed an earlier decision by stating that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s school takeover plan cannot be the subject of a referendum. Once again, it comes down to the Home Rule Charter: attorneys for the election board said in papers filed yesterday that because Congress and President Bush have approved an amendment to the city’s Home Rule Charter that gives the mayor direct control…
Jun 04, 2007
School Takeover Moves Forward
It was a big day Friday for Mayor Adrian Fenty’s school takeover plan. For one, President Bush finally signed the bill into law which will give Fenty direct control over D.C. Schools. Fenty will need to wait until June 12 to assume full authority thanks to congressional review rules, but in the meantime, he is launching an extensive audit of the school system today to track down areas of financial waste and mismanagement. The audit…
May 29, 2007
Referendum Petitioners Accuse Fenty of Delay Tactics
Last week we told you about the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics’ decision to approve D.C. resident Mary Spencer’s petition to try to place Mayor Fenty’s school takeover plan, which amends the District’s Home Rule Charter to give the mayor direct control of the school system, on a special election ballot in August. Now an article in today’s Washington Times “>quotes Spencer accusing the mayor’s office of delaying filing their expected appeal, which would…