Jewish Council on Community Relations Mayoral Candidate Forum

For the first time in its history, Sixth & I Historic Synagogue hosted a Mayoral forum. And for the first time in this campaign season, the candidates were so serious that even moderator Scott Thurman expressed his surprise at their decorum…for the first hour, at least.

Early in the evening, we heard some thoughtful responses to how the city is doing better – with Fenty touting youth education and crime reduction, and Gray pointing out the new community college and universal pre-K.

There were other issues though. While DPDC’s coalition members have been fighting for increased funding just to meet the demand for social services like disability assistance, protection for survivors of domestic violence, and , Fenty made a point to be proud of how he has created a “record reduction in revenue”, assuring voters that “we’ve been able to spend less and do more. We’re spending less of your dollars than when we took over 4 years ago.”

As Fenty talked about the victories of Michelle Rhee over the past years, he challenged Gray in the greatest showdown of the night – would he commit at the table to appointing Rhee?  While the mayor shouted “yes or no? Yes, or no?” Gray reiterated that he wouldn’t make a commitment until after Election Day.

And so the evening continued with the same commitments we’ve heard thus far:

Gray is committing to enforcing first source employment laws as well as living wage laws.

Fenty plans to continue his work with WIN and the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund.

Gray and Fenty both want to create workforce housing for the significant percentages of emergency workers living outside of the city.

But the real questions remain:

• What about real affordable housing in the city to house the fifteen thousand people on the affordable housing wait list?
• What about the hundreds of people living without interim disability assistance?
• What about the budget deficits that remain and will prevent job training from being funded?
• What about the 7,000 newly unemployed DC residents?

Stay tuned to our blog for the next two weeks, when experts weigh in on the issues that matter in this election cycle.

Check out a video clip on youtube of Mayor Fenty and Chairman Gray respond to a question on enforcing the living wage act.