This gets to the heart of why the Ward 8 Dems are struggling for buy-in from most in the community, especailly amongst new and returning Ward 8 residents who have never bought into or who have rejected the "Marion Barry is Ward 8's only savoir" state of mind. It's generally understood that as in most things Ward 8 related, that the Ward 8 Dems are snug under Barry's thumb (or foot) and most progressive people truly looking for progress and change in Ward 8 aren't too comfortable with that position. I suppose it's not too suprising that most of the Ward 8 Dems are reluctant to condemn Barry's actions considering at least one of the Ward 8 Dems leadership, Mary Cuthbert has a felony conviction of her own for stealing goverment funds, has threatened to "beat my ass", and is at the heart of a battle within her own ANC regarding the waste or possible mismanagement of ANC 8C funds. I suppose a pot really can't call a kettle black. This is another reason why Ward 8 needs new leaders, leaders who aren't afraid to stand up and speak out. What are the Ward 8 Dems waiting for? A notorized letter from Barry highlighting his crimes and authorizing them to be outraged?
Oh well. Excerpt and a link to the Washington Informer article below:
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Ward 8 Democrats Support Barry - for Now
Local
By James Wright - WI Staff Writer
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Leaders of one of the key organizations that has helped Marion Barry in his quest for political power are standing by him as he weathers the latest controversy but their patience is wearing thin.
The Ward 8 Democrats, considered one of the city's most active political organizations, gathered at the Matthews Memorial Baptist Church in Southeast, Sat., Feb. 20 to host a Black History Month Program with Colby King, a columnist for the Washington Post, as the keynote speaker.
But instead of celebrating the achievements of African Americans, the conversation quickly turned to an embattled Barry, who represents Ward 8 on the D.C. Council.
“I am sick and tired of being an unwilling member of our Ward 8 city councilman's reality show,” Phil Pannell said.
Pannell, a well-known political activist who has served as president of the Ward 8 Democrats and is the current president of the Congress Heights Community Association, said that he has had enough of Barry's antics.
Barry faces possible censure from his colleagues due to a recently released report by Special Counsel Robert S. Bennett who alleges that he used his influence to benefit his friends and associates financially through the city budget's earmark process. Barry has also been accused of awarding a $15,000 city contract to a former girlfriend, Donna Watts and taking a portion of the money.
Other members weren’t as harsh as Pannell.
“I still support him but we need to get all the ends,” Mary Cuthbert, a longtime Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the ward, said.
“I have no problem with Marion Barry. I have never had a problem with Marion Barry, but we need to see how the ward feels after he responds to the report.”
Barry and his attorney Fred Cooke must respond to the allegations by Tue., Feb. 23.
Sandy Allen, who represented Ward 8 on the council from 1996-2004, said that she “still supports him but will see when he responds to the allegations.”
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5 Comments:
Well said! When I first moved here someone mentioned going to one of those meetings and when I heard they were serious about endorsing Barry I was like "hell no".
Ward 8 really is like a plantation in so many ways.
I have to disagree with you Mr. Advoc8te. It wouldn't be a waste of your time to attend a Ward Eight Democrats meeting because this discussion and the blogs that it has generated is the very reason we ask Mr. Colbert King, who no one can say is under the thumb of Councilmember Barry, to address us! Like you, we want to move our Ward forward, but using criticism as a reason not to attend is a cope out! I challenge everyone to get involved and add action to your words!
Jacque D. Patterson
President, Ward 8 Democrats
Jacque. Thanks for commenting. This is why I started the blog - so we can all engage in a dialogue. That said a few things:
1) Mr. Advoc8te is in fact a Miss Advoc8te (all the best people are female - lol). It's all good. :)
2) I need to correct a statment. I have attended two Ward 8 Dems meetings. My feelings of the meetings and basically this goes to most Ward 8 meetings is that a 2 hour meeting may actaully have about 4 1/2 minutes of really productive information or action. The other 113 1/2 minutes is filled with a lot of talk, accusations, excuses, doubletalk, etc. In short speaking for me and MY experience it is a total waste of my time - UNTIL the Ward 8 Dems (or any organization for that matter) can prove to me that they are of the business of getting down to business - not self promotion.
I would rather spend my two hours committed to the work of the community and spent in the company of folks who are clear in what they want to do and how they want to do it. Not calling anyone out by name but that is not always the case here. We have too many Ward 8 "leaders" more concerned with promoting their own political agenda and believing their own hype that they forget the basic principle of service - to serve. I think (again my opinion) that too many Ward 8 organizations are too concerned with "looking like" an important organization than actaully doing important work. I've heard of "fake it till you make it" but this is ridiculous. We have more Ward 8 "leaders" more concerned about looking important than doing important things. More concerned with wearing sharp suits than raising the economic standing of our community and who's idea of "community outreach" is to obsess over the font of their latest business card - btw why does everyone in Ward 8 have a damn business card for each of their organizations - it's a joke!
As a successful organization you can't be more concerned about sending out press releases and parties than you are about the objectives you are trying to accomplish.
Have the Ward 8 Dems made some progress? Perhaps but not nearly enough. We spend so much time with in-fighting in our organizations that I honestly question how much work in it's current state can be accomplished. How can we resolve this current issue plaguing our community when we are too busy working as individuals instead of a team. Right now I have no doubts that Barry is somewhere engineering some plot that will have the focus transferred from him to someone else. While we are busy fighting amongst ourselves he continues to keep stepping.
Now that is a damn shame.
Well said Advoc8te!
This is great discourse! I'd rather fight in-house than out in the WCP streets.
I first knew of Pannell when I stepped on an ACC boat affair w/ MB. MB walked right passed him without a ticket nor $$. I felt uneasy following him and asked why didn't they speak. At this time I'm getting my W8 news outside of Fairlawn through MB. So he gives his position on the man. Over a year later I hear two outstanding accolades and positive stories on Mr. Pannell -both without him in the room. Then It was suggested that if anyone should run for Councilmember it should be Mr. Pannell. I'd witness similar contradictions of others. I concluded that as far as MB is concerned, If ya ain't for Barry you're against him.
Then I became one of 'those' people. I knew I wasn't against him, I only disagreed w/ his style of leadership and thought as a citizen under this leader, I should have the right to voice. I had his ear - I could voice my opposition 1 on 1. He has the media and a petty Our Gain Machine behind him; he would ignore and could drown a voice out.
As a Gemini, I'm split on how the makeup of W8 can position itself. I know MB is comfortable with the fact that most communities don't have a civic association so he rarely concerns himself with those blocks. And he feels why waist his time with the stronger Civic Associations of a 'trusted' 35 or less participation rate. "Why bother?"
MB is loving it when the new W8 branches off to form their own groups. When the branch off, they won't infiltrate the old guard = A divided W8 to fall to him everytime.
On the other hand, if I felt alienated when I attempt to excercise my civic rights and contribute to an established organization [as I did at the last 3 DC Delegate Dem Conventions), I don't blame a 'mover' for forming their own. And if its successfully effective, how can anyone display dismay?
I'm not a Dem, but was honored to hear from J. Patterson to contribute in anyway - not as a Dem, but as a W8ian(?).
To those who complain - Politics 101:
If you want the Republican party to change, you'll need to join and change it from within; If you wanted VA to become a blue state through and through, you have to coalition and move to districts in need of your vote; and if you want the W8 Dems to blend its stripes, you must not only join, but participate. And the W8 Dems must speak up a little louder that it welcomes diverse thinkers and new ideas. The push & pull will be rough, but I speculate worth it in due time.
AND have a timer, mediator, or something to rein in on those people who want to take the floor! If I'd been on my game, I'd of shut 'em up in 2 minutes flat and dared them to get up again - member or not if its directed to me. Long and drawn out opinions, ideas, debates and discourse (kind of like what I'm posting now) could be hammered out on a secured community outlet like this - then you can wrap it up at the actual meeting.
If I said something perplexing/puzzling, I welcome any comment, question or vent. I do my best to help you understand - never hesitate to come forth for the good of W8.
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