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The troubled administration of Mayor Vincent Gray reportedly sought the assistance of a high profile crisis intervention manager after a federal probe that remains ongoing, was launched into his 2010 election campaign.
Judy Smith, who has advised Monica Lewinsky, Wesley Snipes and Michael Vick, and serves as executive producer of the the new TV drama "Scandal," touts herself on her website as "America's No. 1 Crisis Management Expert." Scandal, which is loosely based on Smith, stars Kerry Washington.
Smith was contacted by a member of Gray's staff who introduced her on June 15 to the mayor. The two had a breakfast meeting in July, according to a report that referenced emails as sources. But while a Gray spokesperson confirmed the meeting, he also advised that Smith has not been working for Gray, and that she has neither a paid nor unpaid role in the administration.
Former D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown was forced to resign two months ago in the wake of an investigation into his financial affairs. A week later, Smith was introduced to Christopher Murphy, the mayor's chief of staff, by D.C. Chamber of Commerce President Barbara Lang.
Brown's departure has nothing to do with the cloud of suspicion that has hovered over Gray's administration since easy 2011.
While Gray has adamantly maintained that he has not engaged in any wrongdoing, three top aides involved in the campaign that unseated Adrian Fenty, have been convicted in federal court of misdeeds that include some $650,000 in contributions that were improperly handled.
Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr. has been charged with felony counts pertaining to the embezzlement of more than $350,000 from the District of Columbia and failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in income, according to a court document released early Thursday.
The embattled councilman, who assumed office in 2007, is also accused of filing a false tax return.
According to the charging document, from early April 2007 through February 2009, Thomas diverted $353,000 from his nonprofit Team Thomas group for his own personal use. The money, which had been provided by the city, was earmarked for youth sports programs.
The court document also states that as part of the theft charges, Thomas will be required to forfeit a 2008 Victory Motorcycle and a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe that were allegedly obtained using stolen funds.
Thomas, 51, is also accused of not reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in income between 2007 and 2009. Documents allege that Thomas did not report $25,000 worth of income in 2007, $278,000 in 2008 and $43,000 in 2009.
Reports state that Thomas is expected to resign and in doing so, will strike a plea deal with prosecutors that could garner him a lighter prison term.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mayor Vincent C. Gray , who marks a year in office this month, has released a report summarizing major achievements in each of his four major priority areas. Among them are job growth and economic development, quality education for all, fiscal stability and building safe communities. Gray has also focused on the District's self-determination cause and sustainability.
"From Day One, I haven't let anything distract me or my administration from getting results in the priority areas we talked about during the mayoral campaign last year, and I'm proud that we've seen major achievements in each of those areas," Mayor Gray said. "I look forward to getting even more results for the people of the District of Columbia in 2012."
The report briefly outlines significant achievements such as:
• Moving forward with billions of dollars' worth of privately funded development projects – some previously stalled – and the placement of more than 1,400 previously unemployed District residents in jobs through the One City ● One Hire program.
• The continuation of successful education reform and new growth in the District's traditional and charter public schools.
• The proposal and adoption of the District's first structurally balanced budget in years – including funds to replenish the city's crucial reserve accounts.
• The lowest number of homicides in nearly 50 years and funding for 300 new Metropolitan Police officers, reversing a decline in the force.
• Worldwide attention to the District's self-determination cause and a commitment from a key House Republican leader to find ways to increase the District's budget autonomy.
• A new, comprehensive sustainability plan and a commitment to make the District the world's most sustainable city.
• A cutting-edge municipal high-speed fiber network with 100-gigabit-per-second (100G) service – enabling the kind of technology-infrastructure development vital to competing in a 21 st -century economy.
• A significant reduction in the numbers of District special-education students in private placements, enabling students to get the education they deserve in the District's own schools alongside their peers and neighbors – thus cutting down on their commute times as well as extra tuition and transportation expenses for the District.
"We've made a lot of progress this year doing exactly what I promised to do when I ran for Mayor: improving prospects and outcomes for all kinds of people across our entire city," Mayor Gray said. "I'm proud of our efforts, and want to thank my hardworking staff and all of our District agencies for helping make the District of Columbia a better place to live than it was a year ago."
Washingtonians are urged to get ready for the cold weather because it's on its way.
The coldest outbreak for the season so far, will occur this week when temperatures dip to around the low to mid 20s by Tuesday, according to reports, which also state the area could have a brief snow flurry between now and Wednesday.
Temperatures on Wednesday will be the coldest (blustery) all week with highs climbing into the mid 30s.
By Dorothy Rowley
WI Online Editor
Former Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson won’t be forced after all, to answer questions in a lawsuit involving a shooting by a former police officer, according to reports.
The case centers on Keith Washington, who was part of Johnson's security team when he shot two men who had delivered furniture to his home in 2007. One of the deliverymen died and Washington was convicted the following year of involuntary manslaughter as well as other charges. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
WTOP News reports that in a lawsuit filed by the surviving deliveryman and the family of the man who died, Johnson won’t have to respond to questions. The Maryland Appeals Court, which ruled that Johnson had nothing to do with Washington's ability to carry a gun, also noted that Washington's job duties were irrelevant because he had not been on duty when the shooting occurred, according to WTOP.
Johnson is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty last month to charges that include extortion and evidence tampering in connection with a pay-to play scheme that began about a year after he took office in 2002. The scheme ended in November 2010 when Johnson was arrested in an FBI sting at his home.
By Dorothy Rowley
WI Online Editor
Six months into his administration, City Council Chairman Kwame Brown is still defending his preference surrounding a city-issued vehicle.
During a recent radio interview, Brown responded to new allegations that he ditched a 2011 Chevy Tahoe he had been driving for about two months prior to his January swearing-in ceremony, for a fully loaded, black-on-black Lincoln Navigator – just like the one Mayor Vincent Gray has been assigned. But Brown maintains that he rejected the Tahoe because it bore Maryland tags.
"I refused to ride around in a car with Maryland tags on it," an exasperated Brown told the show host.
On the other hand, Brown – whose black-on-black Tahoe resembled the one Gray drove when he was Council chairman – said he never specifically requested a Navigator like the mayor’s.
"First of all I never asked for a Navigator comparable to the mayor's," Brown told the radio show host. "Let me be very, very clear what I asked for. I said I want a black-on-black SUV. And they said 'What do you mean black-on-black?' I said, ‘Look at the mayor’s car, it's black-on-black. Black interior, black exterior.’ That's the only thing I asked for."
The Washington City Paper reports that at least one newly-discovered e-mail from the Department of Public Works suggests otherwise.
However, "It’s an email basically saying that he said that he said that she said that I said something,"Brown was quoted as saying.
By Dorothy Rowley
WI Online Editor
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s announcement that he will be a candidate in the 2012 presidential election could pose a problem for President Barack Obama’s campaign.
By stepping to the plate with name recognition and political experience, Romney will provide the Republican Party a formidable challenger with national repute, according to reports.
"Romney’s strength is in economic issues and that’s where President Obama is having his biggest troubles," Michael Fauntroy political analyst at George Mason bUniversity, told the Washington Informer. "So in that regard, you could probably say Romney is the [president’s] biggest threat."
Romney, a multimillionaire, faces his second bid for the White House. He has claimed that Obama has failed the country by over-spending and not protecting jobs.
Fauntroy said however, that there will be issues coming against Romney that could make it difficult for him to win the Republican nomination.
"So I’m not certain that in the long run he’ll be the nominee,"Fauntroy said.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has also announced his candidacy and Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska – who has held the media captive with her potential candidacy – has yet to say if she will jump in the race.
The New York state chapter of the NAACP has teamed up with the local teachers union to file a lawsuit that will prevent the New York City Department of Education from closing almost two dozen of its worst schools.
But according to an excerpt from a June 4 article Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, the lawsuit has ignited the ire of thousands of black parents and other protesters who have urged the nation’s oldest civil rights organization withdraw from the suit.
The suit also seeks to keep the city from providing space to about 17 charter facilities to operate in buildings occupied by traditional public schools.
However, Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP chapter, has been unyielding, saying that critics of the lawsuit "can march and have rallies all day long. . . . We will not respond," according to the WSJ excerpt. It further states that one of the schools slated for closing – the Academy for Collaborative Education – had just 3 percent of students performing last year at grade level in English. In addition, only 9 percent of the students reportedly attained proficiency in math.
Furthermore, at Columbus High School in the Bronx which is targeted for closing, the four-year graduation rate in 2009 was 40 percent in comparison to a citywide average of 63 percent. The school has also had less than 10 percent of special education students to graduate on time, according to the excerpt.
While the teachers union has been accused of trying to save teachers’ jobs by keeping the failing schools open, both the union and NAACP are being taken to task for wanting to limit better educational options for low-income families that are hard-pressed to afford private schools – or relocate to affluent neighborhoods with decent public schools, according to the excerpt.
A union official said this week that in accordance with an agreement hammered out by both sides, the city and teachers union have two weeks to prepare arguments in their battle over the school closures and charter school co-locations.
The Prince George’s County Department of Family Services, in collaboration with the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, will sponsor a conference on June 17 aimed at engaging men and boys in the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Titled, “Calling All Men: Hands Off! Male Voices Against Domestic Violence,” the roundtable gathering will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Md. Author and activist Janks Morton will serve as keynote speaker.
Among topics of discussion will be: “Legal and Judicial Concerns in Communities of Color,” “Battered Men: The Secret Side of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,” “Communication: That’s Not What I Heard!!,” and “What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like?”
A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided for the event which free and open to the public. However, due to limited space, registration -- which begins at 8:30 a.m. -- is required. To RSVP, call (301) 265-8405.
Daphne Gipson / Courtesy photoA woman whose face was slit open eight years ago after a 70-pound granite boulder was dropped onto the car in which she was riding, still seeks justice.
Daphne Gipson and her new husband Brian, were driving northbound on I-95 in Spotsylvania County, Va., on June 7, 2003 -- returning home from their Florida honeymoon when the boulder crashed from an overpass. Gipson’s face was crushed in the near-fatal incident and no one was ever charged. But with tragedy having changed the Rochester, NY., couple’s lives changed forever, their marriage eventually dissolved.
Gipson’s mother, Wanda Dudley, has accused the Virginia State Police of failing to conduct an in-depth investigation.
She told WUSA9 news during a recent interview that she believes a group of students who attended a nearby high school, were responsible for the mishap.
“The people who did this, you know who you are and so do we,” Dudley said. “We want you to go on and turn yourself in.”
Meanwhile, Gipson, who was pregnant when the boulder was dropped, lost her unborn child. She also lost sight in one eye and struggled to regain her memory. She said that she has since endured 13 surgeries and has more to face.
“I was supposed to die and I didn’t and I’m glad,” Gipson told WUSA. “But imagine yourself going through something like I did. I wouldn’t want to [put] that on anybody.”
WI Online Editor
Officials at Eddie Long’s church in Lithonia, Ga., had been paying each of the four men who accused the disgraced bishop of having sexual relations with them, $40,000 annually before charges were filed, according to information a source close to the situation provided to the Redding News Review (RNR).
In an article recently posted on Black America Web (BAW) -- and which credited a report by RNR editor Robert "Rob" Redding Jr. - while Long gave a private apology to the men, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church settled the lawsuit they brought against him, for nearly $25 million. The unnamed source said that Long refused to give a public apology, which ended up costing him more, according to RNR.
Meanwhile, other reports state that in the midst of the lawsuit and allegations New Birth has suffered a financial strain.
As a result, some of the church’s staff have had their work hours reduced, programs have been cut and membership has slackened.
The Rev. Bernice King -- youngest daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. -- also recently resigned her post as an elder at the megachurch.
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