The D.C. Council to Mayor Anthony A. Williams: Lose the new ceremonial key to the city.
A week after Williams unveiled the memento, which costs $2,000 apiece and is handed out to visiting dignitaries, the council introduced a resolution advising Williams to order a cheaper souvenir.
John Dreyfuss, a Georgetown sculptor, was selected by the D.C. Arts Commission four years ago to design a new key to the city.
(Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)
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The cost of the key, which was designed by a Georgetown sculptor, is more than 20 times what New York, Chicago and San Francisco spend on their ceremonial keys.
"It looks fiscally irresponsible," said council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), who initiated the resolution that was co-introduced by all 12 of her colleagues. "If every kid had textbooks and all of our social needs were taken care of, maybe. But that's certainly not the case."
The nonbinding resolution will be considered by a council committee before being sent back to the full body for a vote. But Schwartz said she would prefer that the mayor ask for a new key before the council revisits the issue.
"I hope the mayor will get the message from the introduction of the resolution itself," she said. "He would be well-advised to do so."
Sharon Gang, a mayoral spokeswoman, said Williams (D) had no comment.
With Williams's blessing, the D.C. Arts Commission four years ago enlisted John Dreyfuss, a Georgetown sculptor, to craft a design to replace the antique-style memento District officials had handed out.
Dreyfuss said his mission was to craft a high-tech design to convey the District's evolution into a modern city.
The cost includes $850 for casting, $700 for laser engraving, $200 for a stainless steel plaque and $130 for a presentation box.
New York City spends $60 apiece on its ceremonial keys.
Gang was unable to provide the cost of the District's previous key, which was last ordered during the administrations of Marion Barry and Sharon Pratt. She said she was unsure whether any of the old keys are still around.
The unveiling of the new key prompted criticism from the leader of at least one District organization: Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, which provides community services.
"For $2,000 a month, we can house a homeless family, or we can put up signs for small businesses on Georgia Avenue," said Lynch, who initially expressed his criticism of the key in a letter to the council last week. "It's the wrong way to spend taxpayer money."
Council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4) said that although the cost of the key "is not going to make or break the city," the council was fulfilling its obligation to the public by expressing a position.
"We should be frugal with the public trust," Fenty said. "The council made a point. It's time for the mayor to go back to running the city."
