Criteria For Supporting a Candidate in DC

Choosing a candidate to support for office in DC is a little different than choosing one in other places. As everyone knows, DC isn’t a state; though apparently not everyone understands what that means. 

DC was granted home-rule in 1974, but the legislation gave us only partial control of our government. Congress retained the right to review all legislation and budgets, for thirty days. During that time, they can reject legislation fully or just make changes. Recently, they have used that power to turn down legislation when the council revised our criminal code and screwed with legislation regarding how we tax our own residents. They have messed with our budgets as well. We have seen what happened when the felon in the White House took control of the MPD for thirty days, allowed under the home rule legislation, and how he has full control over the DC National Guard; and the implications that has had. We have no representation in the Congress, just a delegate. That person has been given a vote in committees when Democrats controlled the House, but even then, no vote in the full House. That all has severe implications for our elected officials. They must be aware of these things when they speak out, and when they propose and pass legislation. I personally saw that close-up when we fought for marriage-equality in the District. Those of us leading the charge worked with the Council on legislation to first recognize gay marriages from other states. Only after that legislation went through the review period without being stopped, did the Council move to pass marriage-equality in the District. Then we held our breath for the 30-day review period. There have been other instances where congress stopped crucial legislation and put amendments onto our bills, like stopping us from spending certain money on needle exchange during the height of the AIDS crisis and stopping us from spending federal money on abortions.  

So, when deciding whom to support I want to be sure a candidate understands the implications if they attack congress and the President, especially when Republicans are in charge. Fact is we have been screwed even by some Democrats. In today’s world, until we get rid of the felon, and Democrats take back both houses of Congress, all our elected officials, but particularly our Mayor, will be walking a tightrope. Beating your chest, and simply attacking what they are doing, is not the way to go. Again, we are not in the same position as cities like Portland, Minneapolis or LA. We saw that again when the courts said the National Guard had to leave those cities, the President couldn’t send them in, but DC was exempt from that decision because he can send them here. The President, not the Mayor, controls the National Guard in DC. 

Once I am comfortable a candidate understands all that, my criteria for supporting them of course includes many other things. I am a liberal, born in New York City. I taught public school in Harlem and was a member of the teacher’s union. Then went to work for progressive Congresswoman Bella S. Abzug (D-NY). After that served as Coordinator of Local Government for the City of New York, during the time of the financial control board there.  Then came to DC in 1978 to work for the Carter administration. I have been an activist all my life in the areas of civil rights, women’s rights, disability rights, and finally LGBTQ rights. I am a community and Democratic activist. All this impacts my decisions regarding candidates. I want to hear consistency from them. I don’t have a problem with people changing their mind on issues based on principle but do have a problem when it seems like they do so based on which way the wind is blowing. Like those who screamed ‘Defund the Police’ until the community they thought wanted to hear that in DC, actually told them they wanted more police, not less. They simply wanted them better trained, held more accountable, and more community oriented. 

I want a candidate to support statehood for DC, but while fighting for that, they should speak out for budget and legislative autonomy. They must support Mayoral control of the DC National Guard, and a full 4,000 member, well trained, MPD.  They must understand how MPD works with federal law enforcement like the FBI, park police, capitol police, and the secret service. They need to reject working with ICE. They need to support more affordable housing, but not city owned housing, which has proven to be a failed experiment. They need to pledge to work to end homelessness providing decent, and available, shelters around the city for both individuals, and families in need. I want a strong education Mayor who supports teachers, and works to expand accountability for charter schools, holding them to the same standards as the public schools. We must have strong programs for both college bound students, and those who want another path, including internships and apprenticeships. Strong support for UDC, healthcare both affordable and available for all, and rental and food assistance when needed. There needs to be a strong focus on reducing the cost of childcare.  A focus on the ARTS, libraries, and recreation centers, across all wards of the city.  A focus on the environment, and affordable and accessible transportation. Of course, for me it’s a given they must support, and speak out, for the full panoply of rights for the LGBTQ community.

Looking at that list clearly means the city needs to raise the money to pay for all of it. Any candidate running for office who says they don’t support a strong, and vibrant, business sector, is either naïve, or just dumb, and will not have my support.  A vibrant business community provides jobs, and in the long run the taxes that pay for the things we all want government to provide. 

Once again DC is in a different place. We don’t collect taxes from those who work here but live in Maryland or Virginia. So, we have to be smart about the businesses we encourage to locate here and encourage them to hire DC residents, who then will pay taxes here. DC has developed a strong sports economy. That will be enhanced by the new RFK site, and includes the teams at the Capital Center, Audi Field, and Nats Stadium. Together they bring millions of people into DC, who spend their money here. When groups like the Working Families Party, who suggest they are anti-business, endorse a candidate, I am wary of that candidate. We can’t be anti-business in DC. I look at some candidates trying to replicate Mamdani’s victory in New York City by promising the moon. What they don’t seem to realize, or pretend not too, but voters must understand, is we in DC, our council and mayor, can’t promise what a New York City mayor does, hoping the Governor and Albany, will help him out. In DC we don’t have an Albany to help us out. There is no Governor coming to the rescue, it’s just us, and what we can negotiate with our Albany, which unfortunately consists of the President and Congress. Some may remember in 1995 we had the Control Board foisted on us. It was lucky at the time the President was a Democrat, Bill Clinton, and he named the Board and Chair, first Andrew Brimmer, and then the incredible Alice Rivlin. Can you imagine if Congress did that today who Trump would name to control our city.  

So, we can’t only dump on them, and attack them, at least the Mayor can’t, as she/he/they have to often ask them for help, and stave off their gratuitous attacks. As a columnist, and private citizen, I can attack the felon and his Republican sycophants in Congress all I want. I do and will continue to do so. But those we elect need to understand some constraint. The need to understand sometimes they are walking that tightrope when dealing with the White House and Congress. 

I urge everyone to look closely at all the candidates, and then when you decide who you want, make sure you VOTE!