Rhee rallies voters for Fenty

DC One of Ten Jurisdictions To Receive Race to the Top Funds

Md. and D.C. among winners of second-round Race to the Top grants

 Maryland and the District joined eight states as winners of $3.4 billion in coveted education grants, federal officials said Tuesday morning.

Bloomberg Endorses Fenty

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Knocking on doors to welcome new parents

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Fenty's Followers

Adrian Fenty receives Washington Post endorsement

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"Next Week's Election is the most critical one I have ever seen" says Fenty supporter Claire Bloch

Dear friends,

Over the years, I have written to many of you with my unsolicited opinions about who is the best candidate in various DC elections.  This year is no different, though in the 23 years I have lived in the District, I can honestly say that next week’s election for Mayor is the most critical one I have ever seen.

In this election for Mayor, voters will decide whether we continue the positive changes that we have seen in this new century, or whether we turn back to the 1990’s—a time when this City was stagnant, at best.  Back to a time when we were known as the murder capitol of the world, when the children in our public school system were warehoused, not educated, when our agencies were in receivership, and when the Nation’s Capital was an embarrassment. 

Today—thanks to Mayor Adrian Fenty and his predecessor, Tony Williams—Washington DC is becoming a world class City.  As the Washington Examiner wrote in this week’s endorsement of Mayor Fenty, “On matters of substance, which will determine whether Washington becomes a truly livable place for residents of all races and in all wards, Fenty has a decidedly positive track record.  Under Mayor Fenty, Washington suddenly has a palpable sense that the city's major institutions and neighborhoods are finally moving in the right direction.  People haven't felt this way for decades.”

Unfortunately, many of Fenty’s detractors perceive that his arrogance is a more important marker than his achievements.  I disagree.  I also know that while Fenty may not always have the best people-skills, he is not arrogant.   He is a compassionate public servant who cares deeply about this City, it’s citizens, and it’s businesses.  As his wife Michelle recently said, her husband isn’t arrogant—awkward maybe—but not arrogant. 

Vince Gray is a nice, deliberative man.  But while his campaign promises to create one undivided city, his candidacy has done quite the opposite.  Gray’s campaign has tried to define this election as a choice between a man who supports the poor versus one who only supports the rich—a man who supports African Americans against a man who doesn’t care about them.  It is a dishonest and destructive claim by Gray.  It certainly is not evidence of a candidate trying to bring people together.

In his four years as mayor, Adrian Fenty has renovated parks, recreation centers and schools across D.C.  The beautiful new facility at Deal Middle School in Ward 3, is only one of ten neighborhood schools that have been renovated under Fenty’s watch, and there are seven more in the works.  Sousa Middle School in Ward 7, H.D. Cooke Elementary School in Ward 1, and the Walker Jones Education Campus in Ward 6 are all examples of state of the art facilities that Mayor Fenty has brought to neighborhoods across the City.  Twelve recreation centers have been built or modernized in the past four years, and another dozen are in the works.  These are reasons to be optimistic about the future of this City.  These are reasons to applaud Mayor Fenty.  These are why Fenty deserves four more years.

And there’s so much more that the Fenty administration has done… Crime is down, city services are reliable, potholes are repaired quickly, it is easier to bike in the City—and to take a taxi, and strong women leaders are making smart decisions (Police Chief Cathy Lanier, Deputy Mayor Valerie Santos, Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Housing and Community Development Director Leila Edmonds…to name a few.)   I could go on and on with reasons to re-elect Fenty, but I’ll stop here.

Mayor Fenty has been endorsed by The Washington Post, The Washington Examiner and Mayor Anthony Williams.  These endorsements uniformly urge citizens to continue focusing on progress rather than personality.  As Mayor Williams recently said at an event for Mayor Fenty,  "It's not about who's on your holiday card list. It's about who's delivering for this city,"

So, I hope you will join me in voting to continue this City’s great progress.  This election will be close, and every vote will count,  Please come out to the polls on September 14^th vote for Adrian Fenty.

If you would like to vote early, this link will give you information on where an when: http://www.dcboee.us/

If you would like to read more about Mayor Fenty’s accomplishments, click on this link: http://fentyreelect.com/accomplishments.php

The Washington Post endorsement can be read at this link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073003145.html

The Washington Examiner endorsement can be read at this link: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/Why-Fenty-deserves-and-DC-needs-four-more-years--102302259.html

Also, please feel free to pass this e-mail on to friends and neighbors around the City. 

Thanks so much,

Claire

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CLAIRE BLOCH

202-425-6527

Cast an Early Vote for Progress and Results: Information on Early Voting

D.C.’s early voting laws are new this year, and we want to make sure you know exactly when and where to vote leading up to the primary. Get out and vote early to show strong support for Adrian Fenty!

Here are the locations where you can vote each day leading up to the primary: 

Monday, September 6th – Saturday, September 11th

One Judiciary Square, 441 4^th Street NW, 8:30AM-7:00 PM

Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Ave NW, 8:30 AM-7:00 PM

Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue NE, 8:30 AM-7:00 PM

Hine Junior High School, 335 8^th Street SE, 8:30 AM- 7:00 PM

Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Ave SE, 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM

Monday, September 13th

One Judiciary Square, 441 4^th Street NW, 8:30AM-4:45 PM 

Tuesday, September 14th

PRIMARY DAY: Citywide voting from 7:00AM to 8:00PM

Check the  DC Board of Elections website to find your polling place.

Please contact our office at 202 525 5970 or campaign@fentyreelect.com if you have any questions. Vote Fenty to keep DC moving forward for residents. We’ve come too far to turn back now!

First Lady Michelle Cross Fenty Opens Up at Ward 4 Women For Fenty Event

Wow---As I look around the room I see the faces of so many friends and loyal supporters---you are our strength! I am happy to be here in my home ward-Ward 4-can we hear it for ward 4? Is ward 4 going to deliver 4 more years?  As many of you know Adrian and I have lived here happily for the past 13 years---thank you ward 4 for your support and your faith.  

As you all know-- I am usually not the person to give the speeches- so I am not quite in my element- .  I believe you also know that I chose at the outset to maintain my professional career, take care of my 3 young children and balance as much as a public role as my busy schedule would dictate.   And while I have not been very vocal or visible for these reasons I believe it is time to take advantage of my limited spotlight tonight to say a few very important things.

As concerned parents, I know you care that our public schools are no longer failing our children, and you also care that DC’s dedicated teachers have the chance to finally be paid what we all know they are truly worth.

As businesswomen in our own right, we all know that our government is working towards making this city the hub of thriving business and development so that District residents can be fully employed. 

As concerned neighbors we all know that our neighborhoods are the safest they have ever been in decades.  I also know that you are all excited about the creation of thousands of affordable housing units including the creation of the Housing First program which provides permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families.

As women leaders- I know that you appreciate a Mayor who has appointed many of the best and brightest women to leadership roles within the government and I know that you are all filled with pride, just as I am, when I watch these fine women make significant strides in education, public safety and economic development just to name a few.    Four years ago, would any of us have believed that we would have Chancellor Michelle, Chief Cathy, and Deputy Mayor Valerie? 

As mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins and friends, I know you all understand that it takes a compassionate leader to ensure that our weakest, youngest poorest and those least able to help themselves are given a strong voice so that their plight is   not forgotten.

As proud residents of this ward and of this entire city, I know that you all appreciate all of the steps we are taking in the direction of becoming a World Class City.

Our Mayor is a catalyst –ladies and gentlemen-speeding up much needed change in our City.  

But with all of the exciting changes that have truly transformed this great city, we all know that change has not been easy.

I often get asked—what is it like from your view.  I understand the question.  Yes, I have a front row seat … and yes I’ve learned a lot about politics in the last few years.  It’s tough, you need a thick skin and a good sense of humor.

I thought it would be good if I were able to give you a small glimpse into the Adrian Fenty- the person that I know.

I get to see the devastation on the Mayor’s face when he comes home from visiting a mother in the hospital after her child has just died.  

I get to see how disappointed he is when he talks to a group of unemployed young adults who can’t understand why and how the DC education system gave them a diploma but didn’t give them the tools they need to compete in the global economy.

I get to see him and hear him with his three phones perched on his lap at 3am in morning, having been up the entire night with his team, talking, texting, emailing his staff to figure out how to clear snow from our streets and get this city moving after  a record breaking snow storm threatened to immobilize us.  I assure you ladies and gentlemen-he is human!

What is most painful- is that there are people out there who believe that the Mayor does not understand their issues.  It’s absolutely heartbreaking to think that so many District residents feel disconnected from a mayor  born and raised in DC, who is married to me, and is raising our 3 children in the city where he’s spent most of his life.   He doesn’t just understand – he’s like everyone else here.  He’s lived with most of this issues and they are a part of who he is.

I know  that my husband fully understands the frustrations and problems of the people who feel like their neighborhoods never see any benefits regardless of who runs the city.   It is for this reason that it was so important for him to build a state of the art recreation center in ward 7 so that families in those communities could have a safe place for the kinds of activities many of us take for granted..    It is for this reason why it has been so important to work on lowering the crime statistics in all neighborhoods so that regardless of where you live –you have the same opportunity to be able to walk around and feel safe.   It’s why the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights said there had been a sea change in the separate but unequal school facilities since 2007 – because my husband will not tolerate a school system where all the nice schools are only in the nice neighborhoods, the way it’s been for decades in this city.

It’s hard for me to see my husband reduced to a one dimensional fictional  character – that has no semblance of  reality.  It’s shocking to hear people use “arrogant” as an adjective to describe him.   I would say awkward perhaps, definitely moving at a 1000 miles per hour means less time for subtle conversation.  But arrogance assumes that his directives of improving schools, lowering crimes, improving city services did not originally  come from the people, it assumes a lack of understanding of the basic tenet- that as Mayor he serves only at the pleasure of the people.  

It’s even harder ladies and gentleman to hear the reckless manufactured calculated and mean spirited aspersions cast on my husband, me and our family.   I have known Adrian Fenty for the past 16 years.  He is the most honest and honorable person I know.  If you remember anything today I want you to remember this.  The allegations on the contract steering are unequivocally, absolutely, categorically false.  My husband has treated the office of the Mayor with honesty integrity, character and fortitude.    

And I wonder …why the hate and the anger towards someone who in his heart of hearts has only one mission – and that is to effectively serve all of the constituents of this great city.

So as we close in these final two weeks, I have come to recognize a simple yet important truth …. I recognize that Adrian Fenty’s heart is with this City-the entire City- his city—I know that his dedication and commitment  to all of  the people of this City is  unflinching- because despite the stinging barbs, the relentless criticisms, the manufactured misconceptions, the political miring of issues- he gets up every single day-says goodbye to our two sons our baby daughter and me -closes the door tightly behind him and braves the political hail storm holding  steadfast---to this one important truth… that there is nothing he would rather do than serve All of the people of  Washington DC. 

Thank you all for joining us on this mission--- We appreciate the privilege of serving—and with your help we look forward to another four years!