Pres. Obama, Mayor Berry and White Flight
*It's quite unsettling to talk to members of Barack Obama's transition teams these days, especially those who are helping with the economics portfolio. Without going into details, the sense I get from them is that they are very worried that the economy will get a lot worse before it gets better. Not just worse... a lot worse.
Marion Berry was one of the first Black mayors of a major city. He had two tenures: 1971-1991 and 1995-1999. During his first tenure, D.C. lost its favorable bond ratings due to the fact major tax based companies left the city. It became hard to sell bonds and borrow money.
I remember Mayor Berry telling us the “white flight”, my words not his, from cities who had voted in Black mayors was not mere coincidence. There is data. I find a curious parallel to the raiding of our treasury due to the fact our Pres. Elect is a man of color to the “get out of dodge” mentality of businesses and organizations who would not tolerate having a Black mayor. Mayor Berry had two difficult tenures. I don’t know how he survived. the Washington Post assigned Tom Sherwood as his bloodhound who, in my opinion, harassed him to no end. There is no question in my mind Tom Sherwood became a wealthy man as Mayor Berry remains, by comparison, a pauper.
As always,
BB
*Tighten your belts folks--the Ride is About to Begin
by EBetty
Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 07:26:09 AM PST
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/11/101258/45/428/671827
Marion Berry was one of the first Black mayors of a major city. He had two tenures: 1971-1991 and 1995-1999. During his first tenure, D.C. lost its favorable bond ratings due to the fact major tax based companies left the city. It became hard to sell bonds and borrow money.
I remember Mayor Berry telling us the “white flight”, my words not his, from cities who had voted in Black mayors was not mere coincidence. There is data. I find a curious parallel to the raiding of our treasury due to the fact our Pres. Elect is a man of color to the “get out of dodge” mentality of businesses and organizations who would not tolerate having a Black mayor. Mayor Berry had two difficult tenures. I don’t know how he survived. the Washington Post assigned Tom Sherwood as his bloodhound who, in my opinion, harassed him to no end. There is no question in my mind Tom Sherwood became a wealthy man as Mayor Berry remains, by comparison, a pauper.
As always,
BB
*Tighten your belts folks--the Ride is About to Begin
by EBetty
Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 07:26:09 AM PST
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/12/11/101258/45/428/671827
posted by BB at 12:57 PM
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