Outlook

In the run-up to the primary elections this week, Washington Post staff writer Michael Grunwald reports on what the ambitions of mayoral candidate Adrian M. Fenty could mean for the District, and how Fenty's campaign style contrasts with that of his main opponent, D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp.

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washingtonpost.com: Read Michael's story:

A Good Deal for the District?Adrian Fenty and the Politics of Ambition

(Post, Sept. 10, 2006)

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Michael Grunwald: Thanks for playing, everyone. This was my first foray into D.C. politics; I'm on the Post's national staff, and like many D.C. residents I've been somewhat oblivious to the politics of my own city. But this is really a fascinating mayor's race. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about it, and of course about my rookie mistakes.

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Washington, D.C.: Great article yesterday, thanks. It really highlighted the differences in these candidates.

I think Cropp erred from the start in claiming the mantle of continuity, in contrast to Adrian Fenty as the candidate with the vision and the energy to take D.C. to the next level. After Mayor Williams, a fine mayor but way short on inspiration, people seem to be hungering for a visionary and leader. I think that's why Fenty will win.

Michael Grunwald: Thanks for your kind words. I see what you're saying, but it's hard to see what choice Cropp had other than claiming the mantle of continuity; there's nothing about her that suggests radical change. And it's understandable why she thought the mantle of continuity would be a powerful sell: Things are going pretty well in the District, and she's been a central player in the restoration of the city's fiscal sanity. She knows that some neighborhoods feel left behind by the Williams administration's focus on downtown, and she's tried to suggest that she'll extend the progress of the last eight years to the entire city. But Fenty is more of a natural fit for that message. It would have been hard for her to run as the change candidate; she would have had to renounce her record of genuine accomplishment. Don't you think?

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Washington, D.C.: I am not impressed by either of the reported "frontrunners." Could you discuss why Marie Johns has not gotten any attention from the Washington Post? I have noticed many Marie Johns' signs and even heard my friends tell me they were voting for her at a recent dinner party. The Post does not even seem to recognize her as a candidate....odd considering the fact that they have given Orange and Brown so much coverage. Please enlighten me Mr. Grunwald.

Ron, Ward 2 near Dupont Circle

Michael Grunwald: Well, I'm not on the metro staff. But I'll admit I had a similar thought last Sunday, after watching Fenty and Johns at a black church. Johns knew all the words of the hymns, and she knew when to stand up and clap; there was one point where Fenty was the only person around the pulpit who was sitting down except for the piano player. And then Fenty gave a speech that didn't include a shred of information about his record or his resume or his life; Johns gave a really interesting three-minute talk about how she grew up poor, benefited from affordable housing and health care, and became a top-flight executive. I remember thinking that it must be really annoying for her to watch this 35-year-old kid kicking her butt.

But the polls suggest that you and your friends are in a very small minority. This really seems like a two-candidate race, which is why Johns hasn't gotten much attention. I don't think Orange and Brown have gotten too much ink, either--except when Brown dropped out.

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Arlington, Va.: Why would an ambitious politician want to be mayor of D.C.? It's not like being mayor of another major city, where it can lead to being a governor or a senate run.

Michael Grunwald: This is a great question. D.C. isn't much of a stepping stone these days, which is one reason I suggested that Fenty's grand ambition -- which a lot of people seem to find somewhat distasteful -- may be for the city as much as himself. Maybe he wants to be remembered as the mayor who made the District great.

It's an interesting question, because while it's obvious that Fenty is a master of the personal touch, I might be the only reporter who didn't get the sense (despite all of Fenty's talk about how door-knocking is his idea of euphoria) that he's a Clinton-like figure who's attracted to politics because he loves the glad handing and personal validation. But as you could see, I wasn't particularly impressed by his weirdly empty answer when I asked him why he was attracted to politics. So I don't know.

Then again, if he gets elected and does a great job, his motivations wouldn't really matter, right?

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Trying to remain optimistic in D.C.: Fenty appears to represent a sense of hope, that he'll actually try to deal with some of the economic inequality throughout DC, but in reading the Sunday Style section regarding the declaration of eminent domain over the Skyland Shopping Center, one was left with a sense of hopelessness. Sure, it might not be the most beautiful strip of shops, but its businesses are making money. So, since some Hillcrest residents think "It's not good enough for me" (actual quote), those owners and business are pushed out? I know I'm oversimplifying the situation, but it was just so enraging to read that blatant classism and to hear that it's likely to be rewarded by a $130 million publicly funded project to create yet another cookie-cutter town center that could be found in any of our local suburbs. So, will anything really change or is this just going to continue to be the pattern until the entire city is gentrified and half the population pushed out, regardless of who is mayor?

washingtonpost.com: A Tough Sell:SE's Shabby Skyland Shopping Center Faces An Upscale Battle Against Development (Post, Sept. 10, 2006)

Michael Grunwald: That was a fascinating story by Lynne Duke, and yes, I do think you're oversimplifying the situation. I understand the fears about gentrification--I wrote a big piece in Outlook two weeks ago about affordable housing, and maybe we can link to it--but it's often a sign of neighborhood health. I don't know this shopping center, but I'm not willing to dismiss out of hand the concerns of residents who don't want a "raggedy" mall with a "gentleman's club" in their neighborhood. One of the challenges for the next mayor will be to continue the city's progress while accommodating its poorer residents; Fenty and Cropp both talk about this.

Of course, since it's my chat, and I'm allowed to bang my spoon on my high chair, I can't resist pointing out that the city could have a lot more gentrification without forcing as many people out if it got rid of its arcane height restrictions. Maybe we can link to that one, too.

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Washington D.C., of course: The Post campaign coverage this year has been fairly extensive, but long on personality, style and about the candidates' home/family and short on actual issues. Education is supposedly the biggest issue to most voters, but I don't recall any in-depth reporting on where they stand. Fenty's position papers, on his Web site, are the most in-depth.

Michael Grunwald: I haven't followed every bit of the coverage but my sense is that the Post has done a lot of issues coverage, and I know we've published issue guides. (Links, maybe?) One problem is that the candidates are all pretty ideologically similar. I went into the weeds of one education controversy in my story, trying to sort out whether the D.C. school modernization bill was a great Fenty triumph or an illustration of Fenty's uselessness.

Incidentally, Cropp's education position papers on her Web site are just as in-depth as Fenty's.

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washingtonpost.com: Housing Crisis Goes Suburban (Post, Aug. 27, 2006)

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Washington, D.C.: Cropp seems to have run despite her preference to retire gracefully from elective office, mainly because she just didn't think Fenty would make a good mayor and none of her more acceptable (to her)Council colleagues would step into the breach. Frankly, I think Vince Gray would make a better mayor than Council chair.

As to Fenty, if he governs with half of the energy and commitment that he's putting into running, he'll probably do fine. As you suggest, and a la Bill Clinton, being responsive to constituent problems and needs is a good thing.

Michael Grunwald: I've heard this too. Cropp says she has the fire in her belly but she doesn't seem to want it as badly as Fenty. And yes, there's something to be said for energy in the executive. I think Alexander Hamilton already said it.

The question is whether the energy that made Fenty such an effective ward heeler and mayoral candidate would make him a good mayor. I did quote one of his constituents complaining that he's good at low-hanging fruit like trash-traffic-trees, but not so good at big issues like public safety-education-economic development.

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washingtonpost.com: D.C.'s Fear of Heights (Post, July 2, 2006)

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Washington, D.C.: Hi, It's CM Jim Graham here. Thanks for the article. I just want to make something clear. I know VERY WELL in substance why I have endorsed Adrian Fenty. Aside from his widely acknowledged interest in improving D.C. government services, I know we can count on him for support on all manner of HUMAN WELFARE issues. I have sat next to him for six years, and our voting patterns are virtually identical. Best, Jim

Michael Grunwald: Thanks for this. I should say if it wasn't clear that Graham was quite effusive about how principled, unflappable, and glamorous he thinks Fenty is. For example, he told me a story about Fenty imploring him to protect a homeless shelter that was going to be moved because of a deal with the Corcoran; Graham didn't vote Fenty's way, and now he thinks Fenty was right.

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Washington, D.C.: Ah, the Congressionally-imposed height restrictions...one of my peeves, too. They make the downtown look boxy, bland and boring, and they limit jobs, a livable city and the tax base.

Michael Grunwald: Yes! Thank you! Why isn't this obvious to everyone?

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Anonymous: You point out that Williams has been a capable but uninspiring mayor. What do you make of the Cropp commercial in which she sits next to him and glows to his endorsement, and then proceeds to say that the next mayor will have to do a better job of "reaching out to ALL neighborhoods"? Seems like more of a slap at him than a grateful thank you.

Michael Grunwald: Yes, this was fascinating, wasn't it? If you'll forgive my newbie analysis, I guess this was Cropp's way of trying to reach out to the mayor's supporters, while still signaling to disaffected voters--particularly blacks east of the river--that she recognizes the last eight years weren't perfect. It's a tough square to circle, but Fenty has a similar task: He was willing to run against Williams, and he's the Change candidate, but he has to persuade the mayor's supporters that he doesn't intend to abandon fiscal responsibility and the progress of the last eight years.

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washingtonpost.com: D.C. Primaries: D.C. Mayor (washingtonpost.com)

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Washington, D.C.: Great article. The city's "arcane height restriction" is a matter of federal law, and has been so for almost 100 years.

Michael Grunwald: I know! It was a response to that hideous, out-of-scale, monstrous Cairo apartment building, which is, of course, one of the most beautiful buildings in Washington. We wouldn't want to have any more like that!

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Bowie, Md.: Is it just me or is Adrian Fenty difficult to understand? Does he have a speech impediment?

Michael Grunwald: Hmm. Maybe I didn't spend enough time with him but I didn't get that at all. I wonder if he's being judged harshly because other prominent black politicians are such great speakers. Fenty isn't Barack Obama, but I thought he sounded fine. A little awkward, maybe, but he's got a wonderfully goofy grin. Some people say he's slick, but I didn't get that sense at all.

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D.C.: I think we have a sense of how Cropp would handle a $100 million shortfall in the DC budget (negotiate a backroom, but balanced deal), but no sense of how Fenty would cut services or deal with unions or layoffs. Any thoughts? His supporters only talk about his administration spending more on schools, more on housing, more on police and more on potholes. When the real estate revenues disappear, he's going to have trouble filling all those potholes. Think that'll be fun?

Michael Grunwald: No, I don't think that would be fun at all. And I think you're very insightful to raise this point. I'm not sure it necessarily cuts to Fenty's disadvantage--maybe an outsider would have an easier time making the tough calls if the revenues fall apart--but you're right that he hasn't really addressed it.

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Height Limit: On the other hand, we have trees on our streets and avoid that canyon effect from tall buildings lining the streets. We have a beautiful skyline that allows one to see major monuments and government buildings. I would hate to see the height limit removed.

Michael Grunwald: We don't have a beautiful skyline! We have a beautiful Mall, and an otherwise lousy skyline. Maybe we should just have a one-story height limit--then everyone could see the Mall!

OK, I'm being unnecessarily snide, and I wouldn't cry if we kept some kind of height restriction around the Mall. And I should point out that one famously unopinionated editor at the Post thinks the height restriction is great for the District. But he's wrong, even if he is my boss. This city needs big buildings around its metro stops.

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D.C.: On the shelter near the Corcoran: Fenty and Graham agree because, of course, the new shelter is to sited in Petworth, at the crossroads of their Wards.

In fact, the infamous Mr. Skinner prowls those same streets where the shelter's slated to move!

Michael Grunwald: Well, they didn't agree at the time of the deal; Graham supported the deal, and Fenty opposed it. But you've exposed my rookiehood.

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Eastern Market, D.C.: Michael,

Why not Jack Evans? I don't know much about him personally, but he would seem to be the logical heir to Williams; he's very pro-business, of course, and appears to have the necessary "gravitas," which both Fenty and Cropp lack. Is it because he has no ambition in that direction or that he's white and from the rich Northwest?

Michael Grunwald: You're moving beyond my area of expertise, but my sense from my reporting over the last couple weeks is that the white-from-Northwest-DC thing is more of an obstacle for Evans than the lack-of-ambition thing.

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Worried in Washington: I hope I misunderstood your message. As a working mother and the wife a man starting a new business in Washington, I found your description of Linda Cropp demeaning and offensive. The idea that all she does is "herd cats" is degrading. As a woman with kids, a husband and a job, I spend a great deal of time "herding cats!" I have to make sure that all of the people I am responsible for are taken care of every day.

To take care of the people in my life, I need this city to work. I cannot afford to take a chance on a guy who, as you point out, has no ability to legislate, work with other members of the city counsel and is not even a good lawyer. What is he good at? According to the Washington Post, he is physically fit, charismatic and has vision. That is not comforting to me. We need a mayor that can legislate, who can work with the members of the city council and balance a budget. Did you or any of your colleagues ask Mr. Fenty how many budget committee meetings he attended this year?

I hold deep respect for Linda Cropp. As Chair of the City Council, she gets things done (as you also point out in your article). She knows how to work with the city council, balance a budget and legislate. Your paper seems to think that is not relevant. According to the Washington Post, we need someone more charismatic with new ideas. Hmmm, how about President Bush, he is charismatic, has many new ideas and looks good in a track suit.

This city is far from perfect, but we are much better off since Linda Cropp has been Chair of the City Council. I want her to have a chance to build upon that progress. I do not want someone who has to start from scratch, with no track record.

I have been terribly disappointed in this paper's coverage of the mayoral election. I feel as if you have lost touch with the needs of Washington, D.C.. This city is made up of real people who need a real mayor, not a guy that looks good in a track suit!

Michael Grunwald: I think you did misunderstand my message. Herding the cats on the council was no easy task; I gave her a lot of credit for her work in helping to bring back the District.

As for the editorial page endorsement, I had nothing to do with that, and neither did anyone on the Metro staff.

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"Affordable Housing": I am so sick of that argument.

Look folks, it's very, very simple.

1. DC has X amount of land. You can do the math to come up with the total square footage/mileage. There is no factory producing extra land.

2. Any attempts to build upward get NIMBYs whining. Any attempt to transfer federal land over to build upwards gets NIMBY whining. (See the Soldier's Home, where the neighborhood feels entitled to all of the land being made into a neighborhood park.)

3. Increasing gas costs and commute times are driving people inwards.

OK, so here's your choices people. Either stop NIMBYing, allowing for upward building as a pressure release valve on housing costs (it is a major city, people), or watch the gentrification as people are priced out.

"Affordable Housing" simply raises the bar on who gets hosed, and is a guilt sop for the very well off. They can afford whatever price. But it drives up the cost of non-subsidized housing stock (again, they aren't making more land), and prices out the middle that makes too much for a subsidy, but too little to buy the priced up remainder. With the added insult of paying more in taxes to pay the subsidies!

Michael Grunwald: Another commenter who shares my distaste for NIMBYism. Although I think affordable housing is a vital argument; the dense development and skyscrapers that urban NIMBYists hate would promote affordable development throughout the city by eliminating artificial restrictions on supply, even if the particular developments are luxury condos.

But I'll stop rambling. Thanks for all your great questions. And of course: Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!

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