Dear PoP – SUV Scandal

Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

“Dear PoP,

I am absolutely livid that we, as DC taxpayers, are paying nearly $100,000 per year to lease four luxury vehicles for Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown. Why do our elected officials need the most expensive luxury cars available, especially when Washington is facing a $400 million shortfall. (As a point of reference, top-of-the-line Mercedes S-Class sedans only cost $1,300/month to lease, whereas the brain trust’s Lincoln Navigators almost cost $2,000/month….) I was wondering if your other readers are similarly outraged?”

The Washington Post reported:

“Several weeks after Kwame R. Brown was elected D.C. Council chairman in November, city officials were asked to order for him a “fully loaded” Lincoln Navigator L with a DVD entertainment system, power moonroof and polished aluminum wheels.”

I imagine (and certainly hope) most readers are similarly outraged. This is outrageous. And quite frankly embarrassing for our city. What do you think Chairman Brown needs to do to make this right? Zip car or metro for a year?