A tale of two leaders: an Obama transparency vs. a Fenty cloud

February 28, 8:45 AMDC Ward 5 Community ExaminerRobert Vinson Brannum

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(Official White House and DC Government photos)

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama submitted his 2010 federal budget to the Congress and to the American people. By March 20, 2009 D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is required to submit a 2010 local budget to the Council of the District of Columbia and to District residents.  This is where the similarities of President Obama and Mayor Fenty end.

Unlike President Obama who has engaged a "team of rivals" to get the best ideas and thoughts to help him solve America's problems, Mayor Fenty has gathered a cadre of appointees and has told them he did not want to hear the word "no", thus by mayoral edict "don't bring him no bad news." Unlike President Obama who has been speaking forcefully and openly to the American people to prepare them for a federal budget in the face of a world recession, Mayor Fenty has been silent on the recession's impact on the District and its pending deficit.

The American people praise President Obama for making transparency and accountability in government benchmarks for his Administration. Mayor Fenty’s administration has been criticized in the community for its secrecy - except to his favored reporters and editorial writers. Mayor Fenty's message and information machine is so tightly controlled, District agencies are directed not to hold press conferences unless Mayor Fenty himself is able to attend.

President Obama urges the best use of government resources and challenges the Congress against continuing unnecessary spending for favored projects. Mayor Fenty has seemingly placed the entire District up for sale to symbolize no developer's offer to buy District government properties will be denied. President Obama initiatives are viewed as bold and purposeful. Mayor Fenty's decisions are seen as haphazard and ignoring the principle of citizen participation.

In community meetings and neighborhood walks across the District, Mayor Fenty makes statements which imply he can do whatever he wants and whenever he wants, regardless of District law or the Constitution. This is not just dangerous government leadership; it is also a frightening display of administration hubris. Despite having a war chest of funds to finance his re-election, Mayor Fenty is overdrawing his community bank of trust account. Lately, among Mayor Fenty’s strongest admirers is a growing recognition the Mayor Adrian M. Fenty of today is not the Councilman Adrian M. Fenty of a few years ago – at least to them.