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Fenty, L.A. Leader Discuss School Takeover
Adrian M. Fenty and Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa chat about big-city issues.
(By David Nakamura -- The Washington Post)
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Part of the reason for the fundraisers is to expand Fenty's influence beyond the District and broaden support for the new initiatives he will try back home. Contributions from corporations and charities, for example, could be crucial to Fenty's plans to take over D.C. public schools.
In New York last week, Fenty spoke with Bloomberg, who won control of city schools four years ago and has raised hundreds of millions in private donations for his reform efforts. Fenty has said that Bloomberg's model of reform, in which the schools chancellor reports to the mayor, could be a template for him.
In Los Angeles, Villaraigosa has bid to take over schools, too, but he will have far less power than Bloomberg. Here, the California State Legislature passed a law that gave Villaraigosa power over three underperforming high schools and their feeder schools but allowed the elected school board to maintain authority over curriculum issues.
In addition to Villaraigosa, Fenty and his team met with Police Chief William Bratton and officials who oversee permitting and emergency preparedness.
Asked what other advice he gave Fenty, Villaraigosa said: "Put the best people you can around you, people who want to change the world and make a difference."
Fenty's trips across the country drew some good-natured barbs from D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D), who was often criticized for traveling outside the District too often.
"Good start! Got to start traveling early," Williams said at his weekly news conference.
"You know he's not even in the general election and he's already cross-country. We'll be transcontinental within three months."
Williams said he thinks Fenty is smart to learn from big-city mayors.
"I commend him for going out there," the mayor said. "His effort to go out there and talk to other great mayors, like Mayor Bloomberg, is exactly what he should be doing."
