Marion Barry Lies in His Own Bed

DC is Crime Central

Published on January 3, 2006 By singrdave In Current Events

Marion Barry has served in the city of Washington DC for so long that it's a clear connection between his leadership and the state of affairs in the District...
He's made his bed and he's now lying in it.

From today's Washington Post:
D.C. Council Member Marion Barry reported to police last night that he was robbed at gunpoint inside his home by youths who had earlier volunteered to help him carry in his groceries.
"It's quite an experience to have a pistol pointed in your face," the former mayor said on Channel 4 this morning.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that Barry reported the robbery and said they were investigating it.
After helping him with groceries, Barry told Channel 4, "They left, then eight to 10 minutes they came back. . . . They had a pistol and pushed me in the kitchen and took my money," Barry said.
"Obviously, I'm traumatized," said Barry, 69. "To have a pistol cocked in your face is not something you cannot feel emotional about," said Barry.
"I hope that people out here will just hunt them down and let the police know who they are," Barry said.

I hope that he's not too shaken up by this, but you gotta admit the man has brought this kind of lawlessness upon himself. His incredible lack of credible leadership, in addition to his numerous criminal charges and convictions, has driven the District to be an unlivable place.
Let's take a quick look at the checkered past of Marion "Peanut Butter and Crack Sandwich" Barry:

Barry served four terms as mayor and was elected to the City Council from Ward eight in 2004.
Barry was videotaped by the FBI smoking crack cocaine in a downtown hotel room in 1990.
He served a six-month prison sentence the following year, then was elected to a fourth term as mayor in 1994.
On Jan. 18, Barry is scheduled to face sentencing misdemeanor charges stemming from a guilty plea to charges that he failed to file his federal taxes in 2000.

Comments

singrdave

on Jan 03, 2006

shadesofgrey

on Jan 03, 2006

I'm no Barry fan, but I think you went a little over the top with:

has driven the District to be an unlivable place

Yes, certain areas of DC are undesirable (Anacostia, anyone?), but other neighborhoods are cleaning up quite nicely. I am very comfortable (as a single, white female) walking around areas of southeast on my own (barracks row, potomac avenue). And if the area is so unlivable, how come I can't afford to live in even the slimy neighborhoods?

On a side note--The Capitol Lounge, a long standing DC Hill staffers oasis, burned down in August. The place was decked out with political posters, pins and other memorabilia. The place was entirely gutted, in fact, all the liquor bottles exploded--but the poster of Marion Barry was untouched. There's a pictures floating around of it on the web somewhere--I'll try to find it!

Lee1776

on Jan 03, 2006

I think it is well known that Barry has all the good drugs. They most likely stole more then money, but Barry would have a hard time writting stolen drugs on a police report. If your wanting to rob someone at gun point for just money, I'd beleive there would be a more profitable place to do so.

Dr Guy

on Jan 03, 2006

I saw the story. kind of funny. he said they were helping him, and then helped themselves to his cash!

singrdave

on Jan 03, 2006

I am very comfortable (as a single, white female) walking around areas of southeast on my own (barracks row, potomac avenue).

I am surprised to hear that. Honestly I am. I was warned even before I got out here not to live in the District. Don't be swayed by the cheap housing or the proximity to historic places. It was a "Yikes" city. The "Murder Capital of America" nickname also may have contributed to my prejudice... I was told I'd be better off living in Delaware or Pennsylvania and commuting in than living in the District.
I'm glad that you have found it so nice. I have driven around, and it actually seems like it's pretty clean and somewhat decent, but like you I could never afford to live anywhere nicer than a crack house on the corner. House prices are insane out here in the East.

terpfan1980

on Jan 03, 2006

You mean the Anacostia area that Marion Barry has screwed up deals to build a new stadium in and help clean up and "urban renewal" in???

I agree with Singrdave's original statement. Barry had helped to make the city a laughing stock and make parts of it virtually unlivable.

That the situation has improved so much is a testament to the financial control board (implemented by congress) and to current Mayor Anthony Williams. He too may be a bit of a buffoon, but he's worlds better for the city than Marion Barry ever was, and galaxies better than Linda Cropp could ever hope to be.

shadesofgrey

on Jan 04, 2006

Barry had helped to make the city a laughing stock and make parts of it virtually unlivable.

They may have been--notice I said "cleaning up well." And you are right, the current conditions are because of Williams (notice too that I said I wasn't a fan of Barry)...but my point was, this isn't the mid-90s in DC. The area is nicer and safer and it's time to stop hanging onto old nicknames. I too was told that DC was the murder capital of the US, and yes, there are still a lot of murders going on--but I believe that other cities have since taken away the crown. Loads of previously sketchy neighborhoods are now thriving (I think Chinatown is a great example)--and it would be a shame for people to miss out on the city because they are stuck in the past.

I am surprised to hear that. Honestly I am.

Maybe I'm just crazy, but I love Barracks Row/Eastern Market neighborhood, and am really looking forward to the revitalization of H Street, NE. I think the city has a lot more to offer in these neighborhoods than in the uber-ritzy Cathedral area.

Moderateman

on Jan 04, 2006

side note, if it was a white politician convicted of crack smoking he or she could not get the dog catchers job.

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