Another Birthday Bash, Another Campaign for Fenty

By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 4, 2008

In December 2006, Adrian M. Fenty used the occasion of his 36th birthday to throw a big party for himself and his supporters at the St. Colleta special education school. It was a sort of thank you to those who had backed his resoundingly victorious mayoral campaign. Last year, Fenty (D) stepped it up, renting out a wing of the Washington Convention Center, although the turnout was a bit sparse.

This year? The mayor has launched his reelection bid for 2010, so it's back to business. He's advertising a birthday party Saturday evening at the Northwest home of Chris Donatelli, a developer who gets plenty of city business.

What does a second-year mayor want for a gift as he turns the big 3-8? How about some campaign cash? "DONATE NOW!" says the button on the bottom of the birthday advertisement on the mayor's reelection campaign Web site.

Also from the site:

"The time has come to engage the residents of the District of Columbia about the future of the city and the leadership that will represent them moving forward. We are proud of the progress we've made since January 2007, whether it's beginning the critical reform of DCPS or bringing more development into our great neighborhoods. We cannot rest on the improvement we've fostered thus far and will continue to work with all residents to make the District a world class city."

Catering to Hardy Partyers

The D.C. Council decided this week to allow bars, nightclubs and restaurants in the District to serve alcohol until 5 a.m. -- three hours later than usual -- and remain open for food around the clock from Jan. 17 until the morning after President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in Jan. 20.

The bill was the brainchild of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and was introduced by Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who represents the nightlife-heavy neighborhoods of Adams Morgan and Mount Pleasant.

The council approved the bill, 9 to 4. Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) was the only one who objected to the extra hours. But Graham, Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) and Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) also voted against the bill, which originally excluded nightclubs at Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's request, after it was amended to include them.

The legislation quickly drew the ire of civic leaders who said the council did not seek public input. The new rules could create more noise and problems for residents, said activists who have fought for tougher restrictions on bars.

"I see the potential for why you'd want to do it, in terms of this being a historic election, but to just throw this down on neighborhoods?" said Bryan Weaver, an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Adams Morgan. "To have 3 1/2 days of 24-hour service without any input from the community. There's going to be hell to pay from a lot of neighborhood associations."

But Andrew Kline, general counsel for the restaurant association, said Obama's inauguration is a once-in-a-lifetime event that is worthy of special rules. He said that spontaneous celebrations broke out on city streets until the early hours after Obama won Nov. 4.

Kline said it was important for the council to pass the legislation quickly, because bars and restaurants are in the process of booking private parties for inauguration week.

The move is not without precedent in other cities. During the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in the summer, eight bars and restaurants were allowed to remain open two additional hours.

A Game of Tags

So many decisions for a president-elect. Whom to pick for the Cabinet? Where to send your kids to school? And now, what license plates to use on the presidential limo?

If the D.C. Council has any say, President-elect Barack Obama will be using the special D.C. "Taxation Without Representation" plates, which call attention to the city's lack of voting rights in Congress.

The 13 council members sent Obama's camp a letter today urging him to use the plates. From the letter:

"As you ride down Pennsylvania Avenue, during the Inaugural parade after being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009, displaying the license plates would send a clear message to the entire nation and the world about your support for this issue and remedying this injustice."

Early in his campaign, Obama told Mayor Adrian M. Fenty that he supported voting rights for the city. Under a bill that was blocked by the Senate after being passed by the House, the District, which is overwhelmingly Democratic, would get a House seat and an additional seat would be awarded to predominantly Republican Utah for political balance.

As WTOP reporter Mark Segraves has noted, Bill Clinton used the tags as president, but George W. Bush removed them.