« that question | Main | the orgasm bros. »
September 15, 2004
barry is back
Awww shit, Marion Barry won the seat for Ward 8 yesterday. But I'll have to say, the pissed off voters have spoken, and I can't blame them. In the past 4 years, DC has become largely unliveable for those with lower- and even middle-class incomes, as Brazil and Mayor Williams have become the bitches for real estate and development interests alone. While there have been some token efforts showing that the middle class can move here, and that paltry tax credit that hasn't changed along with the housing prices, DC remains largely out of reach for single people with salaries like mine. If you don't earn at least $60K a year and haven't already bought a home, forget being a single person who wants to live alone. Your only options are shared housing or having to get a significant other at that point.
In other sad news, that really cute candidate for the Democratic at-large seat did not win. 'sob'!
Frikkin' lights are out at work again today. Typing in the dark right now.
Posted by jimbo at September 15, 2004 8:57 AM
Comments
Hmm, that Brooks guy is certainly a wholesome, cute politician. Not as cute as Jimbo though.
Posted by: homer at September 15, 2004 9:20 AM
Fucking Hell!
What is it with you people in DC and Marion Barry?
In his immortal words, "Bitch set me up!".
Um, hello? You're the Mayor. Don't smoke crack.
Um, Hello? He was caught on tape smoking crack - why do you continue to elect this man?
Just a general wonderment from NYC, a place with fabulously ideal politicians (smirk, of course not).
Posted by: Rob at September 15, 2004 10:06 AM
I did not vote for him (he's not in my ward) but I do understand why he was voted for. The ward he lives in has been greatly disenfranchised by the 'progress' in DC that has made it unliveable for large segments of the population.
Posted by: jimbo at September 15, 2004 10:10 AM
Marion Barry!? Is he even still alive? Did his ever wife wise up and finally leave his Whitney-in-office ass?
Posted by: Jeff at September 15, 2004 10:16 AM
I, for one am not happy to see Barry back in politics. In the time he was Mayor, his major accomplishments was to bankrupt the city, and by virtue of that, bring in the control board to meddle even more in local affairs.
While I do laud his efforts to help middle and lower income residents (hell, given the tax brackets here, i think i probably qualify as one of them with the pissant wages I earn), I also have to be a little bit realistic. How the hell can he think he can help people by bankrupting the city? No money = no help.
As far as the housing situation is concerned, this is an issue which plagues most major metropolitan areas, especially in "transitional neighborhoods" that border neighborhoods which are a little more stable/secure/whathaveyou. If it weren't for people moving back in to these neighborhoods, dupont circle would still be the armpit it was twenty five years ago... the same goes for capitol hill, and more recently logan and the U-Street corridor. It pains me to see beautiful neighborhoods which are essentially rows of boarded up houses which nobody gives a damn about.
As far as your comment about making home-purchasing affordable for single people, you also have to realize that you're asking for a lot more than has been traditionally the norm, where people buy their first house after they're coupled. Two incomes usually have more buying power than a single one. Obviously, the barriers to entry into the housing market a higher for a single person who wishes to purchase a place than for a couple who does.
The government does have a compelling interest in ensuring that people of all income levels have access to housing and services which they can afford. Certainly, this administration has probably not done everything they could to help people of all income levels, but at least it's better than doing nothing.
If the city is able to lure in some larger stores/chains into traditionally poorer neighborhoods.. what is going to happen? It's going to make it more attractive to people who already live there, and for people who wish to move to that area. So, houses start being purchased. Are you suggesting that we prohibit people from buying houses?
Grr... okay... sorry this has gotten me so riled up. uhh.. and yeah, he was a cute candidate. :)
Posted by: Nick at September 15, 2004 11:03 AM
Your lights are out?
Also to those who don't know, DC has 8 Wards. Ward 8 voted for Barry. Ward 8 is the SE section of the city across the river. Those of us on the other side in other Wards can't vote on Ward 8 issues.
About homebuying... even couples have trouble buying, especially since the prices have skyrocketed in the city. You can't even get a crackhouse for less than $200K. I lucked out, I got my house before the prices when crazy. Of course, it requires lotsa repairs and it would help to have someone around equally invested in it to stick around between the hours of 11 and 5 to wait for the repair/cable/phone guy. That $5000 tax credit was good when houses were floating around $100K-$300K, now it's just a drop in the bucket.
Posted by: Marie at September 15, 2004 12:54 PM
Wow... Marion Barry is still hanging around? Shocking. It speaks volumes (not sure what it speaks volumes about, but it is volumes anyway) that the people of DC would still want a drug using ex-con in office over who they have.
Posted by: ruggerjohnnyd at September 15, 2004 6:24 PM
Um, Jimbo, in case you haven't noticed, attractive people don't get elected in this town.
Posted by: John at September 15, 2004 9:19 PM
Dont blame Jimbo for Marion Barry!! Only the people in Ward 8 could vote for the Ward 8 democratic nominee. Thats like blaming someone in New York State for Elizabeth Dole being elected in North Carolina. I vote in Ward 2 and Jimbo..are you Ward 2 or Ward 1?
Posted by: GURL at September 15, 2004 10:38 PM
Hmm, I went to Sam Brooks' website, and my gay instincts told me to go straight to the photo section. Suprisingly, there wasn't one. No wonder he didn't get elected!
Posted by: Kevin at September 15, 2004 11:19 PM
Rob, Ruggerjohnnyd - Barry does speak volumes, but not the volumes you think you're hearing. In the context of DC's political history, while Barry being back is bad, it's not unsurprising and does not show some mass psychosis on the part of people in DC. Ah, hell, I said it all here already: http://logancircle.blogspot.com/2004/09/clucking-has-begun.html
Posted by: John at September 15, 2004 11:53 PM
Barry bears watching - he is a master politician. If only Whitney could manage crack and a career as gracefully.
I'm in Ward 1.
Posted by: jimbo at September 16, 2004 1:07 AM
You are invited to check the pages in the field of http://www.debt-consolidation-consultant.info/ http://www.debt-consolidation-consultant.info/ debt consolidation http://www.flowers-leading-site.info/ http://www.flowers-leading-site.info/ flowers http://www.flower-leading-site.info/ http://www.flower-leading-site.info/ flower http://www.credit-reports-4u.info/ http://www.credit-reports-4u.info/ credit reports http://www.credit-report-4u.info/ http://www.credit-report-4u.info/ credit report http://www.mortgage-calculators-ebanking.info/ http://www.mortgage-calculators-ebanking.info/ mortgage calculator http://www.mortgage-4-u.info/ http://www.mortgage-4-u.info/ mortgage http://www.private-mortgage-insurance-ebanking.info/ http://www.private-mortgage-insurance-ebanking.info/ private mortgage http://www.student-loans-ebanking.info/ http://www.student-loans-ebanking.info/ student loans http://www.personal-loan-ebanking.info/ http://www.personal-loan-ebanking.info/ personal loans http://www.loans-4-u.info/ http://www.loans-4-u.info/ loans http://www.health-insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.health-insurancedeals-4u.info/ health insurance http://www.auto-insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.auto-insurancedeals-4u.info/ auto insurance http://www.car-insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.car-insurancedeals-4u.info/ car insurance http://www.insurancedeals-4u.info/ http://www.insurancedeals-4u.info/ insurance http://www.insurance-quotesdeals-4u.info/ http://www.insurance-quotesdeals-4u.info/ insurance quotes http://www.credit-card-applications-4u.info/ http://www.credit-card-applications-4u.info/ credit cards http://www.hotelse-site.info/ http://www.hotelse-site.info/ hotels http://www.hotele-site.info/ http://www.hotele-site.info/ hotels.com http://www.las-vegas-hotels-e-site.info/ http://www.las-vegas-hotels-e-site.info/ las vegas hotels http://www.cheap-hotels-e-site.info/ http://www.cheap-hotels-e-site.info/ cheap hotels http://www.hotel-dealse-site.info/ http://www.hotel-dealse-site.info/ hotel http://www.travel-e-site.info/ http://www.travel-e-site.info/ travel http://www.top-e-site.info/ http://www.top-e-site.info/ travelocity http://www.air-travel-e-site.info/ http://www.air-travel-e-site.info/ air travel http://www.great-e-site.info/ http://www.great-e-site.info/ hilton http://www.car-rental-e-site.info/ http://www.car-rental-e-site.info/ car rental http://www.car-rentals-e-site.info/ http://www.car-rentals-e-site.info/ car rentals http://www.rental-car-e-site.info/ http://www.rental-car-e-site.info/ rental cars http://www.deal-e-site.info/ http://www.deal-e-site.info/ expedia http://www.dating-e-site.info/ http://www.dating-e-site.info/ dating http://www.online-dating-e-site.info/ http://www.online-dating-e-site.info/ online dating http://www.dating-services-e-site.info/ http://www.dating-services-e-site.info/ dating services http://www.dating-site-e-site.info/ http://www.dating-site-e-site.info/ adult dating http://www.adult-dvd-top-shop.info/ http://www.adult-dvd-top-shop.info/ adult dvd http://www.dvd-top-shop.info/ http://www.dvd-top-shop.info/ dvd http://www.digital-camera-esite.info/ http://www.digital-camera-esite.info/ digital camera http://www.digital-cameras-esite.info/ http://www.digital-cameras-esite.info/ digital cameras http://www.golf-e-course.info/ http://www.golf-e-course.info/ golf http://www.golf-clubs-e-course.info/ http://www.golf-clubs-e-course.info/ golf club ... Thanks!!!
Posted by: debt consolidation at December 7, 2004 12:40 PM
highest quality replica jewelry Rolex watch, wrist watch, Replica Watch purchase your affordable realistic ROLEX REPLICA watch today at http://www.pro-rolex-replica-watches.com
Posted by: Rolex Replica at December 9, 2004 2:18 AM