Fenty Isn't Czar Of the Rent Czar

The D.C. Council giveth and the council taketh away.

Although the council confirmed Peter J. Nickles as attorney general, it also put the brakes on Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's ability to hire and fire the city's rent czar.

The council passed the Housing Regulation Amendment Act to "make the position of rent administrator a term appointment subject to active approval of the council."

In other words, only the council can hire and fire for the position, essentially putting the job out of the mayor's reach.

In September, Fenty fired administrator Grayce Wiggins. His office said it could not reveal the cause because it was a personnel matter. But the move raised the ire of advocates for renters who saw Wiggins as an ally.

It also frustrated council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), who introduced the legislation Tuesday.

In addition to the Housing Regulation Amendment Act, the council passed the Housing Trust Fund Stabilization Amendment Act, also sponsored by Barry, which calls for finding ways to decrease the number of people waiting for affordable housing and to create "inclusionary zoning," essentially requiring builders to provide more affordable housing.

The legislators then made sure they drew some clear boundaries for Allen Y. Lew, executive director of the school system's modernization office.

The council wanted to make it clear that Lew could not get involved in the workings of other agencies, namely, the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Lew had overreached when he tried to take on projects in the recreation department, the council said.

"We created that office primarily for the development of school-based facilities," said council member Harry Thomas Jr., (D-Ward 5) who sponsored the legislation.

"Allen Lew has been successful, but our concern is that they not dilute their efforts and wind up all over the place," Gray said.