DC Councilman refuses to Back Down

By telephone this week, DC Councilman Harry Thomas told me that he's not backing off statements to the Washington Post that the DC Council should have an African American Caucus.

In a city where the current Mayor is a product of black and white parents, The Council Chairman is African American, and whites hold a majority of seats in the legislative body, Thomas' comment, made a couple of weeks ago, caused some heart burn for his fellow lawmakers.

Chairman Vincent Gray, who's elected at large and soundly defeated a white challenger Kathy Patterson, declared himself, "a representative of all the people".

Ward two Councilman Jack Evans, who is white and obviously upset, with the thought of black Council members segregating themselves to discuss legislation, asked "What's next, a gay caucus, cause there are two openly gay Council members"? A women's caucus?

But Harry Thomas, who's called "Tommy" and holds the Ward Five seat once occupied by his late father, refuses to back down. Councilman Thomas told me that he is motivated in part by the gentrification of once predominantly black neighborhoods.

"Look at what's happening to African Americans and their communities". "Look at U street where condos are now going for $400,000. Who can afford that amount? "Not us,we need an agenda" says Thomas. The first year legislator says he understands that his comments are making a lot of people in the District uneasy.

Mayor Adrian Fenty refused to be drawn into the controversy.This week he told me that he doesn't weigh in on Council business.