Missteps in Crash’s Aftermath Dull Fenty’s Luster
With shouts of “Praise the Lord!” more than 1,000 worshipers flooded a Baptist church in the District on Tuesday to honor Dennis Hawkins, one of nine people killed in the Red Line train crash last month. But when Pastor A. Michael Black introduced the next speaker listed in the program — someone from “Executive Office of the Mayor” — a worried hush swept over the sanctuary.
No one came forward.
A day later, a sort of instant replay occurred at the funeral for crash victim Veronica DuBose when the minister’s call for an aide to D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to speak was again met with no reply. The aide had apparently left the church.
In the days that followed, the mayor and his staff were noticeably absent from a string of memorials, funerals and wakes. Seven of the nine people who died were D.C. residents. Fenty showed up at services for train operator Jeanice McMillan, but he was an hour late and was wearing a light-colored summer suit that some said was inappropriate.
Welcome to the party. What took you so long?
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