In a city where the unemployment rate in some communities is as high as 20 percent, a debate over whether a grass-cutting contract to a Baltimore firm should continue is an important public policy discussion. Unfortunately, Mayor Vincent Gray didn’t prompt it directly. Rather, it was instigated mostly by the Washington Post, which has published multiple editorials about the administration’s effort to discontinue its contractual relationship with Lorenz Lawn and Landscaping. Lorenz is one of two companies sharing more than $2 million in lawn mowing business. The other firm — Community Bridges Inc. — is a certified District-based, minority, disadvantaged company; that designation won it preferential points. Still, Lorenz was hired to cut grass in six of the city’s eight wards. CBI was chosen for the other two wards.
Gray decided earlier this year not to exercise the option to continue the Lorenz contract and reopen it for competition. Each year, similar decisions are made without fanfare. It’s possible this case became suspicious because Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas had objected to Lorenz. Thomas is the subject of a criminal investigation for allegedly diverting $300,000 of public money for his personal use. Not surprisingly, whatever he does and says is being scrutinized by the public and media.
Three D.C. Council committees joined forces last week to conduct a public roundtable, examining the contracts and Gray’s decision. Some folks may have considered the problem too trivial for the legislature’s attention. It might have been, if it were just about mowing lawns.
By his actions, Gray was raising legitimate questions: How can he get more residents employed? Should the city spend its contracting dollars only with District-based companies that hire District residents? Under such circumstances, can the city get the best bang for its buck?
ther executives have asked similar questions and reached the same conclusion as Gray. Gov. Chris Christie, for example, has unabashedly declared New Jersey money should be spent in New Jersey.
“[Gray’s] instinct is correct. And his instinct is pure,” Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh told me during a recent interview.
Purity aside, I’m riding with the mayor. Buying local and securing quality, low-cost services aren’t mutually exclusive.
Confession: I shop almost exclusively in the District. I like spending my money where I live — where my tax dollars are likely to circulate to help my neighbors, to build critical public institution and to make the city a better place.
There’s no reason the government can’t make a similar decision — particularly when elected officials have invested millions of dollars in the city’s community college and career-focused high schools. They have argued they want to grow a work force that could satisfy the needs of existing companies. They also want to expand the number of successful small businesses, which experts have documented are responsible for creating many new jobs.
It seems logical, then, that Gray would more closely examine — and possibly reallocate — contracting dollars.
But, as Cheh said, “He has to operate in the open and he has to articulate his goals for everyone to understand.”
Gray also can’t be timid. He may want to take a page from Chris Christie’s book of governing.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
