DC News Roundup

With Council Chairman Vincent Gray moving ever closer to his installation as mayor of DC, news abounds about the structure and content of his new administration.  Here is a brief collection of the important items of the last week:

Gray names chief of staff and city administrator, gives others walking papers

In the largest set of personnel moves since the departure of Michelle Rhee, Vincent Gray chose Gerri Hall to serve as his Chief of Staff and Allen Lew to stay on as City Administrator.

Gerri Hall is a former executive at Amtrak and is currently a vice preseident for human resources at Sodexho, a food services provider.  GW students will be familiar with the corporation as the manager of the J-Street and Mount Vernon dining halls.

Allen Lew currently serves as the director of the District's Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization, an office created in the Fenty administration to oversee school reforms.  In his new role of city administrator he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of city departments.

Despite a petition drive by some DC residents to keep him on, Department of Transportation  director Gabe Klein submitted his resignation Wednesday.  Klein spearheaded the implementation of smart-growth strategies in the city, and was particularly well-liked by cyclists and public transit advocates.  

City budget announced; H St. streetcar preserved, broad cuts elsewhere
Vincent Gray and the rest of the DC Council announced the city's budget for FY2011 on Tuesday, closing the $188 million dollar gap, but leaving potential future deficits unaddressed.


Deep cuts were made to welfare and social programs, but a vulnerable transport project, the H St. Streetcar, avoided the cull.  Funds were also allocated for job traning programs and a rainy-day fund.


The specter of future deficits remain, however.  Estimates of the 2012 budget leave it anywhere from $375-500 million dollars short.  While the council avoided tax hikes this year, they may become inevitable in the future.