Barry Demanding Answers on Payroll Pandemonium
District youth are getting a tough lesson about the working world, thanks to the District government. Hundreds of young workers in the city's summer jobs program are frustrated because they have been underpaid, and worst, not paid at all. (Some have actually been overpaid, too, and that, of course, is a teachable moment about honesty.)
Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) has been leading the charge against the District's Department of Employment Services and demanding that the problem be repaired immediately. Barry has called for an audit of the program and plans to hold a news conference this afternoon to demand government action. Barry said his office was swamped with calls from parents and young workers last Friday when the payroll pandemonium broke out.
Barry, who instituted the summer jobs program when he was in the first of his four mayoral terms, said he will have some of this summer's workers with him this afternoon at his news conference.
City officials have said they are working overtime to make sure that everyone is paid.
By Marcia Davis |
July 22, 2008; 7:51 AM ET
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Posted by: DCD | July 22, 2008 9:20 AM
Maybe he should call for an audit of a program that is nothing more than a free paycheck to 19,000 kids, while teaching them next to nothing and requiring minimal work effort.
Posted by: Gandalf | July 22, 2008 9:23 AM
2 weeks ago right after the 4th of July we had 10 of these summer works on our street with DPW. For close to 30 minutes they hung out, curses, jumped up and down on private property and did NO work. I saw them several more times over the next two days and I never say them pick up any trash. When their supervisor was asked if instead of loitering the kids could actaully pick up the trash we were told "no - you will have to log a ticket with the city"
What type of lesson is THAT for our youth?
Posted by: Ward 8 Resident | July 22, 2008 12:02 PM
Doesn't Barry want free crack for all?
Posted by: charlietuna666 | July 22, 2008 11:36 PM
Marion is afraid his legacy will be laughable. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah a ha ha haha haha ha hahahah, Marion Barry.
Posted by: john | July 23, 2008 7:44 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Will he also call for an audit of Metro? I hear they pay dubious accident claims just on the say-so of the alleged victim, without any corroborating evidence . . .