Dear PoP – Another City Councilmember on the (SUV) hot seat

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

I know you generally try to avoid discussing politics and politicians on your blog but I desparately want to know if your other readers are similarly outraged by the latest revelations about a DC City Councilmember. The City’s Office of Attorney General filed an enforcement action in D.C. Superior Court today against Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas. The complaint contains absolutely incredible allegations and is worth reading; it can be read in its entirety here.

The complaint alleges that Thomas diverted more than $300,000 earmarked for youth baseball programs in Washington, D.C. for his own personal benefit, including a trip to Pebble Beach, trips to casinos, airplane tickets, spending cash, a $690 tab at Love nightclub and a $60,000 Audi SUV. According to the complaint, Councilmember Thomas generated fake invoices and lied about staging sports workshops and camps for the City’s youth. I thought the city council had reached a new low with Councilmember Kwame Brown ordering a second $2,000/month, City-leased luxury SUV because he disliked the interior color of the first. But now we have a Councilmember allegedly stealing money for kids’ recreational activities so that he can buy a luxury SUV? I think Dante saved a special circle for people like this.

All this when the City has been facing a several hundred million dollar deficit. What are we supposed to do?”