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Mayor Vincent Gray

Mayor Vincent Gray has been touting his “One City” mantra since his election last year. He said the economic successes west of the Anacostia River haven’t extended eastward, where most residents are black and poor. “My intention is not to pit one part of the city against another,” Gray said during his State of the District speech in March.

But some are skeptical, saying that “One City” efforts will be to the detriment of those west of the river. Harry Jaffe, in criticizing Gray’s leadership in a Monday Washington Examiner editorial, wrote:

… I suspect that “One City” really means Gray intends to move more services and government offices east of the Anacostia River, to Gray’s home turf, at the expense of the city’s white, western wards. There’s talk, for example, that Gray might close the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Georgetown, so residents living west of Rock Creek would have to renew their licenses and handle other chores downtown or at Penn Branch, east of the Anacostia. So — one city based in Ward 7? If “One City” is code for moving even more services east of the Anacostia, just say so.

To this, D.C. political guru Chuck Thies sent out this tongue-in-cheek tweet:

Shorter Harry Jaffe:Hey white people, Mayor Gray is gonna make you go to the ghetto to register your car. Be scared! http://t.co/dFnZtlAn

October 18, 2011 11:24 am via txtReplyRetweetFavorite

@ChuckThies

Chuck Thies

What’s your take: do you think efforts to lessen racial and economic disparities will be at the expense of west of the river folks?

Harry Jaffe says no people making over $200K live in Cleveland Park. A 25-yo couple w/2 lawyers makes over $200K. Lots in CP @TBDNewsTalk

May 11, 2011 10:36 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@ggwash

Grtr Grtr Washington

This is in response to Washington Examiner columnist Harry Jaffe’s appearance on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt.