D.C. Mayor Fenty on 'Bush moving out and Obama moving into White House

I had a chance to catch up with D.C. Mayor Fenty to discuss the 'new guy coming to town' President Barack Obama and what the transition means to him and D.C. Below is also a transcript from a recent interview Fenty did with Politico

The young mayor is how Barack Obama referred to Adrian Fenty in an answer to a question about education reform during the third and final presidential debate in October. But while Obama did not refer to the 38-year-old Washington mayor by name, Fenty was an early Obama supporter who hopes the new first family will be a visible and energetic presence in the nations capital. Fenty also must take on the daunting task of helping to pull off the inaugural extravaganza, despite the millions of visitors expected to flood his city. Politico Managing Editor Bill Nichols and White House reporter Nia-Malika Henderson sat down with Fenty recently to get his thoughts about Obamas Washington.

Q: What does this inaugural mean to Washington, D.C.?

A: Every Inauguration, the city gets an additional boost of energy and everything that comes with that — from revenue, to the feeling of importance, to new people coming into the city — all of which has a great effect on our sense of civic pride and the vitality of the city. This administration is going to be the prototypical example of that. You couldnt imagine ... a city that feels more fortunate to have a new neighbor coming in.

Q: What would you like to see this administration do, as far as interacting in the life of the city? And its been a while since youve had a first family do that to any great degree. I mean, the Clintons took their famous walk on Georgia Avenue, but not much happened after that.

A: My real personal, moral position on this is really that I want Barack Obama to be himself. And I think that though [President Bill] Clinton and [President George W.] Bush had completely different approaches to being president, I think that what people respect about both is that they both were themselves. If Bush had tried to come out all the time and tried to be a man about town, I think people would have thought that wasnt really him, you know what I mean? But if Clinton had been a recluse, the same would have been true. ... I think everyone has to support Obama and his family and whatever is their natural tendency. I do believe that his natural tendency, though, is to be one of the most outgoing and engaging presidents.

Q: What does Obama mean for your administration in terms of policy? Are there particular things that youre looking for? Statehood is the one that everyone talks about.

A: Statehood is the premier D.C. issue, ... though there are a couple of other issues that are very important to the District. We need federal funds to clean up the Anacostia River ...

Q: What about statehood? What do you expect Obama to do?

A: I expect Obama to get behind a pragmatic but aggressive advancement of voting rights. I think anyone who tells you they know what that would be would be lying. I think the minimum people are hoping for is for a full voting member of the House — but beyond that, its just a matter of how far you can go, and thats a matter of not just executive politics, but the politics of the House and the Senate.

Q: Would a very untraditional and reformist approach to education policy by the new administration help the efforts you and Chancellor Michelle Rhee have made in improving the schools in the District?

Absolutely. Absolutely. The muscle of the federal government in coming in and standing up and saying we have to find a new way of rewarding teachers is absolutely necessary right now. The teachers should be paid the most, but they probably should be held more accountable than anyone else, as well.



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[YungEducated]

Man Fuck Fenty.

Should've asked his ass why the fuck he doing for D.C. because from my point of view he aint doing a damn thing. Should've asked his ass why D.C. has the highest Child Poverty Rate, or why half of Black population in D.C. is in jail. Ask him what he has done for the poor in D.C.?? Besides close down projects leaving them homeless with nowhere to go!

[mpjproducer]

Why doesn't he acknowledge his beautiful wife, what a self-centered, ego-inflated ass-hole!!

[JaMaiCanHunNie041789]

fenty can suck a dick

[jpersing2007]

George Bush > Fenty

[kayton621]

Agreed

[mdsoultrain]

my mayor Kermit The Frog...lovin it

[foxxx2001]

I think Mayor Fenty is a homo/jew.

[LTsVideos]

Good interview, BTM. Good job.

[MalcomAP]

THEN IF THERE NOT DOING ANYTHING WHY COMPLAIN AGAIN? Take matters into your own hands get up & rebuild your own communities, obviously they could careless about poor folks you people are complaining about what they ain't doing but I hear no solutions towards what your doing

[YungEducated]

Just what the hell makes u think I dont complain?

Dnt even kno me and u assume that i dont complain? That people dont complain?

Its not that people aint fuckin compain cuz God knows their are alot of people complaining. Its that their ignoring us, we go to these board meetings with them and complain to them then they turn around and dont do shit! and God knows if i would ever b able to get thru wen I call

[MalcomAP]

Well get up & do something about it!! why complain? that's the problem with people stop depending on government to solve your problems