CHANGE MY LOCATION
Local
California News
Multimedia News
Fenty fires veteran from youth advisory council
SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED
Related Topics: WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Mayor Adrian Fenty has sacked a veteran employee of his $300,000 per year youth council after leading members of the group complained that they were being used as propaganda by the mayor, The Examiner has learned.
Janice Ferebee was fired as director of the D.C. Youth Advisory Council and replaced by Sean Gough.
“They didn’t really tell us anything,” said Connell Wise, 18, the council’s parliamentarian. “They said they wanted to go in a new direction. I’m not really sure what direction we’re going in.”
The council was formed under Fenty’s predecessor, Anthony A. Williams. Though funded through the mayor’s office, it was supposed to be an independent organization that gave young Washingtonians a voice in District affairs.
The group had foundered and hadn’t had a quorum for years, but when it was revived under Fenty and Ferebee, critics complained that it was being used as a propaganda arm of the Fenty administration.
Council members complained publicly that they couldn’t spend their own money and instead of organizing youth events and testifying on legislation that affected the city’s youth, they were handing out T-shirts at Fenty’s public events.
The youth said they were embarrassed after D.C. Council Member Yvette Alexander, D-Ward 7, introduced a bill that would create a youth council — without knowing that such a council was already supposed to exist.
Sources familiar with the mayor’s office said that the mayor and his aides were outraged at being publicly challenged and cracked down further on the council’s activities.
“We were supposed to go on the radio,” said Council Chairman Howard Brown. “The executive office said, ‘No, you guys will have to chill out.’ ”
Fenty spokeswoman Carrie Brooks declined to discuss Ferebee’s removal, saying that it was a personnel matter.
Brown said he’s disappointed in Ferebee’s removal.
“Here was a director who was doing a good job and she disappears,” he said. “It kind of sucks to see it fall apart and nobody cares.”
bmyers@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:01 PM MST on Sat., Jul. 5, 2008 re: "Critics: $300K youth advisory council 'just PR'"
Report as inappropriate
7:54 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 17, 2008
re: "Fenty fires veteran from youth advisory council"
Report as inappropriate
9:11 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Critics: $300K youth advisory council 'just PR'"
Report as inappropriate
9:02 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Critics: $300K youth advisory council 'just PR'"
Report as inappropriate
8:27 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Critics: $300K youth advisory council 'just PR'"
Report as inappropriate
3:06 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Critics: $300K youth advisory council 'just PR'"
Report as inappropriate
2:41 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Critics: $300K youth advisory council 'just PR'"
Report as inappropriate
1:44 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008
re: "Critics: $300K youth advisory council 'just PR'"
Report as inappropriate
Topaz Murphy Terry said:
I am a native washingtonian, and work in Youth Development. After reading this article, and the follow up article, I tried to contact the DCYAC to ask if there was any way I could support them. I haven't gotten a response. I hope the program doesn't die because of some fear of criticism.
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
It sounds like they had a lot of money, didnt' do anything, no one knew they existed. Your article sounds like all of them just plain anti- anti-fenty anti-constructive suggestions. I have no doubt Fenty is interested in the young and will do what it takes to help them out.
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
McWeiss, GDS parent said:
I think its a wonderful idea to have this kind of youth involvement. Who is Howard Brown? does he work for Mayor Fenty or is he one of the kids on the youth council? How do kids get involved in this organization? In what way do they advise our government? On what issues? I would like to think that they weighed in on the schools debate.
29 agree | 32 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Cindy in DC said:
Washington's youth need a voice. It seems like every other day that some kid is being killed in the streets.
34 agree | 16 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
He seems like such a good guy, maybe he has been too busy cleaning up the school mess. I hope he doesn't let the youth down. We'll see if he is sincere.
26 agree | 16 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Marcus, 24, SE native said:
we remember when this was started. Its about time they started doing somethin. No one thought it would work because we knew Mayor Williams didn't care. Fenty will do right by them.
33 agree | 27 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
They did speak at the youth hearing last month and I believe that they will again.
34 agree | 35 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Washington DC has a poor reputation when it comes to the rights of youth. Maybe these kids should speak at Vincent Grays Saturday youth hearings.
33 agree | 26 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree