Earned Relevance

DC Government, Straighten up, the world is watching!

The who’s who of the free world is expected to descend upon Washington, DC for inauguration week January 19-23.  Never has the city had a greater opportunity to shine and demonstrate that its 60 square miles of power is administered by bright, talented leaders.  Witnessing DC’s recent nonsensical, incessant, jostling over the first 5 a.m., now 4 a.m. City Council amendment to allow bars to serve alcohol past normal hours, does not give us much hope that the world’s visitors will leave with a positive image of the Nation’s Capitol.

Oh, I get it. Local election season is just around the corner and several DC City Council members must be interested in challenging young Mayor Adrian Fenty for his seat.  Must be.

Here’s how the last call scene played out:

- DC Council Chair Vincent Gray was quoted at a press conference saying that the bill would allow the city to cash in on a lot of extra revenue.

A press conference? Really? Such a politician’s “me-too” move. Role out the legislation and keep it moving, Vinny.

-Council member Jim Graham introduced the bill extending last call to 5 a.m. saying the measure would allow the city’s entertainment industry to “engage fully” in inauguration week. The bill passed.

“Engage fully?” Ok, thanks for giving city businesses your final blessing Pope Graham.

-California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein and Utah Republican Senator Robert Bennett wrote a letter of protest to Mayor Fenty and Vinny Gray expressing security concerns during the week-long last call extension.

Huh? Di and Bob, thanks for weighing-in on this, but make sure you loop back around after inauguration week to chide DC teachers for the state of the city’s schools and to give us your thoughts on the city’s rat infestation problem. K, thanks.

-DC Council member Tommy Wells, after initially voting to approve the 5 a.m. extension, introduced an amendment to role back the time from 5 a.m. to 4 a.m. He cited concerns from the community and religious organizations.

Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. Way to flip-flop. I had assumed -silly me -that you and your council members had already “consulted” the community. Or did you only hear whispers from your business community friends? That big HOUR difference was the key; 5 a.m. just didn’t sound right to me either.

We all get that the city’s businesses are facing tough economic times and that the impetus for extending drinking hours during inauguration week was an attempt to cash-in on the festivities.  What the city’s residents and incoming tourists needed from you was a well thought out and investigated plan. Maybe even seek guidance from the City of New Orleans to see how they handle Mardi Gras, as people have suggested. Instead what we got from you was your typical posturing crew making it obvious that we haven’t been paying enough attention to them. Good job, you all have earned your relevance. Not sure it’s good.

Regardless of how inauguration week unfolds in DC, this Washingtontimes.com reader left his comments about how he believes it all will go down.

SteveinArlingtonVA

Most of the action and excitement during Obama’s inauguration week will be in the mostly white, liberal strongholds in DC like Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown. Lots of college kids. Lots of booze. Lots of hot young ladies. Lots of out-of-towners. Lots of hooking-up with random strangers, just like the craziness I experienced during Obama’s election night on Nov 4^th, in Georgetown.

Except this time, it’s going to be all week. And it’s going to be great.