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Sworn In as Mayor, Fenty Vows 'Greatness' for District, Schools
Adrian M. Fenty takes the oath of office at the Washington Convention Center. Looking on are his wife, Michelle, sons Matthew, left, and Andrew and parents Jan and Phil Fenty.
(By Nikki Kahn -- The Washington Post)
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Gray, who has not endorsed Fenty's plan, said in his speech that he shared Fenty's commitment to improving the schools.
"We cannot support the status quo when failure has become the expectation of so many of our young people," Gray said. "The question of school governance will be debated. I commend you, Mayor Fenty, for having the courage to raise it."
Even as Fenty and Gray were describing a message of inclusion, however, some observers pointed to one sign at the Convention Center that seemed to contradict the unity message. Event staffers had set up a red velvet rope around the few hundred best seats and barred anyone who did not have a formal invitation from passing through. Those without tickets were relegated to the rear or the sides of the ballroom, even though many empty seats remained in the center section.
"I can't believe this," said Ward 8 activist Hannah Hawkins. "As hard as I work for this city, this is another form of discrimination between those who have and those who have not."
William Lightfoot, co-chairman of Fenty's inaugural committee, said planners wanted to ensure that there were enough seats for the invited guests and allowed people to pass after the event began.
For the most part, however, the day was one of smiles, hugs and newfound optimism. After the ceremony, Gray led his first council meeting, formally assigning committee chairmanships. Fenty played host to an open-house for residents to see his new "bullpen" office on the third floor of the Wilson Building, where he will work alongside 30 deputies.
"With the sunset of one administration, and the dawn of another, significant progress has given way to a new set of expectations," Fenty said in his address. "That is why our administration pledges not just to maintain the pace, but also to focus passionately on unrealized challenges."
Staff writers Hamil R. Harris, Elissa Silverman, Nikita Stewart and Yolanda Woodlee contributed to this report.
