Fenty calls for Metro overhaul, says he trusts Obama on D.C. voting rights
On NBC4's "Connecting with the Mayor" segment Thursday, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) said Metro's recent deaths and injuries and basic problems with services show that the transit agency needs an overhaul. "We've got to get this under control," he said. "Well, you know, I'm not a transit expert, but the standard has got to be a lot less injuries and deaths that have been resulting from manual error."
Fenty said the District would be willing to provide more funding, but he said "management," not just money, is needed to improve Metro's operations.
On another note, Fenty said he was not disappointed that President Obama did not include a plug for D.C. voting rights in his speech Wednesday. He said he believes the president remains supportive of voting rights. "We need Congress to tee it up, but I think he's going to help push it over the edge at the right time."
-- Nikita Stewart
By
Christopher Dean Hopkins
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January 28, 2010; 11:00 AM ET
Categories:
Mayor Fenty
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Nikita Stewart
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Voting Rights
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transportation
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Posted by: concernedaboutdc | January 28, 2010 11:29 AM | Report abuse
Surprisingly, Bob McDonnell said it best in his response to the State of the Union address: "As our Founders clearly stated, and we Governors understand, government closest to the people governs best."
Of course as a Republican, he will refuse to concede that his statement supports DC's desire to get out from under the despotic constitutionalism of the District Clause.
Posted by: citizenw | January 28, 2010 2:55 PM | Report abuse
How can President Obama in good conscience push for DC to become a state with a petty brat like Fenty as the leader? If the mayor doesn't follow the law and is not held accountable by anyone, what type of example is he?
Posted by: southyrndiva | January 30, 2010 9:17 PM | Report abuse
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Fenty ought not dance too close to the rails when criticizing Metro and their safety record.
Why? Because he presides over a city that does not have an approved State Occupational Safety and Health plan. What this says is that the D.C. Government, as a whole, is just not that concerned about the occupational safety and health of it's employees in that they have no standards or rules in place to enforce it.
Virginia and Maryland, yes, their governor's have room to talk, they have federally approved state OSHA plans in place.
The Mayor and Council need to put up or shut up. Start the leadership turnaround at WMATA but kicking Jim Graham and Neil Alberts OFF the board.