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Archive for May, 2010
Statement of Condolence
The Clark Ray for DC City Council At-Large Campaign today released the following statement re Amanda Hatcher-Lyon.
We celebrate the life and legacy of Amanda Hatcher-Lyon and remember her contributions to the District of Columbia. Amanda was the First Woman elected to Chair the DC Democratic State Party. She also served as Alternate National Committeewoman and was an ANC Commissioner for 4B09. She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. “We are sadden to learn of Ms. Hatcher-Lyon’s passing and offer our condolences and sympathy to her family,” Ray stated. “She was an inspiration to many and will be missed by all and we thank her for all of her contributions to the District of Columbia and the Democratic Party.”
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Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Endorses Clark Ray For D.C. City Council Calls His election “Essential” for Good Government
To the right, and below, please find our gallery of photos of the very successful fundraiser held last evening by the Clark Ray, Democrat for Council-at-Large campaign.
Photos courtesy of Luis Gomez Photos, LLC
The event featured special guest, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The fundraiser was held at the beautiful home of Dr. James D’Orta and was attended by an overflow crowd of more than 150 people.
Guests included a long list of Clark Ray supporters; Former Congressman and environmentalist Phil Sharp, DC Real Estate Executive and politico Ted Carter, GLBT activist Lane Hudson, Dan Katz from Williams and Connelly, Nesra Abaza, Jason Turner, Eric Magwood, Roach Brown, former Clinton-Gore activist Yolanda Carraway, and activists from east and west of the river.
Dr. Jim D’Orta welcomed all of Clark’s supporters to his home and said, “I open my home tonight because I know how important it is that we elect Clark to the Council.” Kathy Silva, leading proponent of Dog Parks for the City said of Clark, “until Clark Ray became Director of Parks and Recreation we had given up on ever moving forward on building the dog parks. Clark brokered the deal that let us move forward with guidelines for the parks. Every dog owner in the city owes him a huge debt of gratitude.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said, “I rarely endorse in primaries and this is only the second time I am doing it this year. I believe it is essential that we elect people of Clark Ray’s caliber and integrity to government. I know of his work with the Clinton/Gore administration and his commitment to the people of the District.”
Former DC First Lady Cora Masters Barry introduced Clark and said, “Clark’s honesty and integrity is what drew me to him. She went on to say, “Clark will be a breath of fresh air on the Council voting on issues not personalities, a true representative of the people.”
Ray talked about his background that has prepared him to be on the Council including the fact that he will be the only member of the new Council who will have successfully managed a DC city agency, its staff and budget. He spoke of his family’s union background and his education degrees and his unwavering support for education reform. He was explicit that continuing reform will require both continuity and total transparency when it comes to budgets and policy. Parents, teachers and the community must be brought into the reform movement.
He spoke of his service in the MPD as a Reserve Police Officer and committed to joining the reserves again when he is on the Council. He called for fiscal austerity and said his first initiatives on the Council will be to take action to change the system of how we deal with violent juvenile criminals now preying on communities. He committed to taking action to close what some call the revolving door, but which Ray refers to as the DYRS “open door”.
Clark Ray Opposes the Imposition of What are Really Nuisance Taxes– Demands that the Council Review the Budget Line By Line and Cut Spending First
Clark Ray, Democrat for Council at-Large disagrees with the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute and states; “I oppose taxing every possible service that people use to make their lives healthier and better to balance the current budget. Before we decide if we need to raise taxes there must be a thorough line by line review of the budget.” Ray adds. “If we start down this road of taxing everything and anything, and don’t cut spending, we will never bring our budget into line.”
Some of the suggested services the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute suggested could be taxed include the following:
Admission to cultural events
Carpet and upholstery cleaning
Chimney cleaning services
Dating services
Day spa services
Diaper service
General house cleaning services
Health clubs, tanning parlors, reducing salons
Household errand/”personal shopper”/gift consulting/management consulting services
Installation charges — other than seller of goods
Kennels
Magazines
Massage services
Packing and crating
Personal instruction (dance, golf, tennis, etc.)
Pet grooming
Swimming pool/hot tub cleaning and maintenance services
Vehicle security monitoring services
While some of the businesses providing these services may be large, there are many small businesses providing needed jobs to District residents. This taxation could have a devastating impact and even could force them to close.
The time has come to take another detailed look at the City’s tax burden on individuals and businesses. We need to look at it in comparison with our surrounding jurisdictions. We do not want to revert back to a District of Columbia that is unfriendly to people and to business. In the long run, it will have a negative impact on our bottom line.
Ray stated; “Nuisance taxes and $3 an hour parking meter charges may be an easy way to try to balance a budget year by year but they never provide the long term solutions that are needed. They are also imposed without taking into account a global vision of what is needed in the District to make current residents want to stay here and others want to move here.”
My vision for the District is based on three cornerstones:
• Guaranteeing an excellent public education for our children,
• Guaranteeing the basic health and safety of all our residents. That includes an appropriate safety net for those in need, the right laws on the books and community buy-in to make our streets safe. It also includes a complete review and revamping of our juvenile justice system; and
• Developing an economic policy, including a detailed review of our tax base, that will allow us to build an economy for the future that will benefit all people in the District fully and fairly.
Ray supports the Council’s effort to amend the Home Rule Charter to allow us to tax the income of commuters who travel daily into DC. It is estimated that this commuter tax could bring in up to $500 million annually. In reality, it is unlikely that Congress will allow this to happen and if it does not pass it will not serve to solve our current budget problems.
Ray stated’ “It is time that we stop playing slight-of-hand with the City’s budget. People need to know exactly where we stand with regard to being able to pay for the services they need and demand.” Ray added, “If there was more trust that the government actually used the money we pay in taxes for the services we want and need, there would be less resistance to any tax increase proposed by the Mayor or the Council. I am running because I believe that I can help restore that trust. The conversation over these issues isn’t one that should happen only during an election. It needs to be an ongoing conversation all year long and I intend to have that conversation with my constituents.”
Statement from Clark Ray, Candidate, DC Council-at-Large on Frank Kameny’s 85th Birthday
I am sorry that I won’t be able to join the many people this Friday evening who will gather to celebrate Frank Kameny’s 85th Birthday.
Frank Kameny is an icon in our community who has been a pillar of strength for so many people in our fight for GLBT civil and human rights. From his early days on the picket line to the long deserved recognition that Frank is receiving this year from everyone including the President of the United States, he remains a man of courage, honor and dignity.
I know Frank Kameny is one of the people that my partner Aubrey and I thank for the ability we have to live our lives as open and out Gay men.
I offer a toast to you on your 85th Frank Kameny; may you live many more happy and healthy years and keep up the good fight for all of us.
Clark Ray Talks DC Politics 5/13/2010 – Moderate-Solutions on Blog Talk Radio
Brandon Macsata on Moderate Solutions with Clark Ray. Moderate Solutions is a national political blog talk radio program dedicated to the debate and discussion about public policy issues from an independent, “centrist” perspective. Moderate Solutions believes that the American electorate can only be best served with viable moderates within both the Democrat and Republican parties. Political moderates – or “centrists” – are paramount to restoring fiscal integrity to the nation’s budget mess, meaningful health care reform, balanced environmentalism and a credible foreign policy. Moderate Solutions recognizes that extremes in both parties, both the radical left and far right, has increasingly tried to dilute an important political constituency – moderates. Political moderates have historically offered reasonable and sensible public policy solutions. Moderate Solutions is not a Democratic blog, nor is it a Republican blog – rather it offers its political and strategic solutions to the ongoing political debate within the body politic, taking to task the extremes of both political parties.
DYRS Must Release the Names of Escapees
Washington, DC – Clark Ray, candidate for DC Council, At-Large, today called on Council to ensure the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) releases the names of juvenile offenders who have escaped custody.
“DYRS must release the names of escapees so that communities affected by violence can work with police to ensure they are recaptured,” said, a former Reserve Police Officer. “We need an Amber Alert for offenders, to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Ray’s proposal would not require the release of arrest records or other sensitive information. It would, however, require that communities be given the identities of offenders who have escaped custody and are still on the run.
Last week, Washington Examiner columnist Harry Jaffe asked: “What will it take? Will an escapee have to shoot up Wisconsin Avenue before Judiciary Committee Chairman Phil Mendelson wakes up?”
“Let’s not wait for the answer to that question,” said Ray. “First, Mr. Mendelson threw up his hands and walked away from the hard work of crafting a workable anti-gang provision, then he wrote to residents that crime is ‘not a legislative issue,’ and now we hear silence when it comes to substantive legislative responses to the latest tragedies.
“Council must also address critical issues such as: whether to give judges more control over sentencing of violent juveniles; whether current facilities for juvenile offenders are sufficient; what new services, education and training might break the cycle of crime for some inmates; what could be done regarding parents to prevent these youths from becoming offenders in the first place, and more.
“Council cannot continue to ignore these dangerous failures that put us all at risk. Our communities cannot be denied the information they need to work with police to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
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Open Letter to the Mayor and DC Council Members
Dear Mr. Mayor and Members of the D.C. Council:
In light of the continuing reports that the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) has been unable to maintain custody of dangerous teens remanded to its care, I respectfully request that the Office of the Mayor, and the appropriate D.C. Council Committees, including the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, disclose to the public the following:
* the number of juvenile offenders currently remanded to the custody of DYRS for violent crime;
* the number of those violent offenders who have escaped DYRS custody over the past three years;
* the number of those violent escapees who are still at-large; and,
* the number of those escapees who were involved in nationally-recognized, outcome-based community mentoring programs.
I believe that the public is entitled to this information so we can know the scope of the danger posed by these at-large violent offenders.
I also believe the public has a right to know whether DYRS is using outcome-based community mentoring programs to reduce recidivism. It would be irresponsible for the Mayor’s office and the Council, which has oversight responsibility on programs involving criminal justice, to keep this information hidden from the community.
Sincerely,
Clark Ray
Candidate for D.C. Council, At-Large
RAY: Council Must Act to Ensure Violent Offenders Remain in Custody
Council Cannot Continue to Ignore DYRS Failures that Allow Violent Youth to Walk in One Door and Out Another and Continue to Prey on the Community
Washington, DC – Today, Clark Ray, candidate for DC Council, At-Large, released the following statement on the arrest, in the killing of D.C. principal Brian Betts, of two teens who had been in custody at a DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) facility but had recently escaped:
“This unspeakable tragedy is another stark reminder that the repeated failures of DYRS to prevent violent youth, supposedly in custody, from returning to the streets to commit more violent crime can have deadly consequences. The DC Council must act to prevent further tragedies, and it must act now.
Although my opponent believes crime is not a legislative issue, I know that the Council can and must act to protect the public from violent criminals. DYRS cannot continue to allow violent youth to walk in one door and out another, and the Council cannot continue to ignore these dangerous failures that put us all at risk. This city deserves better.”
RAY: SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR RHEE’S ABILITY TO MANAGE MUST BE QUESTIONED
Public Education Reform Must Be Public – DC Council Must Demand Transparency
Washington, DC – Today, Clark Ray, candidate for DC Council, At-Large, denounced testimony by Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee that the contract with the teachers’ union she recently announced at a press conference remains unfunded, and that she still does not know how the city will pay for it:
“Chancellor Rhee’s refusal to embrace real transparency has now put the entire public school system in danger. Her demands of secrecy―viewing transparency as an obstacle, rather than as a necessity―have left the city with an unfunded contract and a shortfall of over $20 million, and have left the process of teacher-compensation reform at a standstill. This mismanagement can’t continue.”
When questioned, Chancellor Rhee acknowledged she intentionally excluded the representative of the city’s Chief Financial Officer (CTO) from her senior staff meetings, then purposefully side-stepped the legally-required certification process before announcing the deal. Chancellor Rhee claimed she evaded the required CFO certification because she feared the media might learn details of the deal before she could announce them at a press conference. When confronted about this mismanagement, Rhee’s answer was, “I don’t manage the budget.”
Ray responded, “That Chancellor Rhee has not managed the budget is evident. It is unconscionable that the Schools Chancellor would intentionally exclude the CFO’s office and ignore the budget requirements, then side step the legally-required financial certification process, all because she wanted a good press conference. School reform is not in need of better public relations; it is in need of more open and transparent management.”
Ray continued, “As a result of Chancellor Rhee’s insistence on good press over meaningful transparency, the CFO says he cannot certify the contract, and the Council cannot address it. The Chancellor has announced a deal without any idea how it will be funded. This is a failure of leadership. Our public school children deserve better.”
“Unlike my opponent, I have always supported transparent public school reform, and I applaud the recent progress our public school children are making,” Ray noted. “We should credit Chancellor Rhee moving reform. But we cannot simultaneously rebuild our public schools and ruin trust in the public school system. Public education reform must be public.”
Ray added, “We all know that the Council will only get the transparency it demands. Yet it has demanded very little. When I am on the Council, I will make oversight of school reform a top priority, not an occasional nuisance. I will demand regular reports, not empty rhetoric, from the Schools Chancellor, and I will meet regularly with public school administrators, teachers, and parents. Unlike those who seem content with the Chancellor’s half-answers and blame-shifting, I will be demand full disclosure. Our children deserve no less.”
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