Once again a new year is upon us, and, once again, it is time to make resolutions. Mine is simple: to learn to control my compulsive chocolate consumption. I make the same resolution ever year and, every year, I quickly break it. This time around, I made my anti-chocolate resolution more out of habit than out of a true desire to quit nibbling Nestl?. After so many years feigning the strength to overcome my greatest weakness, resolving to quit my nasty habit now just seems like the right thing to do.
Apparently I am not alone in my resolution-making foibles. Last Thursday Anthony Williams was sworn in for his second term as the District of Columbia’s mayor. His second inaugural address was a chance for him to reflect on the successes and shortcomings of his first term and set goals for the next—New Term resolutions, if you will.
Williams dedicated the bulk of his speech to outlining his administration’s three broad goals: improving education, offering affordable housing and increasing neighborhood safety. Tackling these issues should be enough to keep Williams busy. The opening of the city’s new technology high school has recently been postponed and fund raising for existing schools continues to falter. George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis recently published a study revealing that demand for new housing in the District greatly outweighs supply. Improved education and affordable housing in the District some time in the near future? Good luck, Mayor.
It will be an accomplishment if Williams even gets to touch these issues. The real problems that characterize the Williams administration have nothing to do with housing or education. The mayor will have to get past the scandal and fraud of his own administration if he wishes to be an effective leader.
In 2002 alone, improper fund-raising activities were uncovered, the Great Southeast Community Hospital filed for bankruptcy under murky circumstances, Williams’ name was taken off the Democratic primary ballot because of improper campaign practices and members of Williams’ administration allegedly embezzled millions of dollars for personal use.
Williams may not have been directly involved in any of these scandals, but his close relation to all of them has left the public questioning his ability to enforce ethical standards within his own administration.
Williams dedicated about thirty seconds of his thirty-minute speech to the scandals: “You may-in fact, will-hear about government waste, fraud and abuse over the next four years. You will hear it because I will not tolerate it in my administration. I have put in place the highest standards for ethics and performance because that is what it takes to maintain the public trust, your trust. You can count on me for that.”
I would like to take the mayor at his word, no matter how confusing it may be, but the his actions do not reflect a leader with a low tolerance for fraud.
The FBI asserts that Gwen Hemphill, Williams’ former Washington Teachers’ Union assistant, used her union credit and charge cards to make personal purchases amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. The purchases included a 50-inch plasma flat-screen television for her home. Still, the mayor has publicly supported Hemphill and has continued to employ her husband, Larry Hemphill
It’s no surprise the post-Marion Barry-Washington is still riddled with corruption. It’s also no surprise that the mayor is pledging to root out the fraud lodged firmly in his administration. Just don’t be surprised when, four years from now, corruption continues to hold back the District from solving its real problems.
Williams’ promise to come down hard on fraud seems to be as sincere as my resolution to cut back on chocolate. At least I don’t pretend that I ever meant to keep mine.
