DC Mayor Adrian Fenty is at it again. After firing hundreds of workers and contracting out services at DC public schools, Mayor Fenty is now setting his sights on unilaterally privatizing hundreds of jobs at the DC Department of Mental Health Community Services Agency. Mayor Fenty's attacks on workers have to stop. Tell DC City Councilmembers – who are meeting tomorrow morning – to pass emergency legislation to stop the Mayor's attempts to privatize public services.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing you to voice my concern about the Fenty Administration's move to privatize hundreds of positions at the DC Department of Mental Health (DMH) Community Services Agency and other DC government agencies.

Earlier this year, DMH Director Steve Barron, with the blessing of Mayor Fenty, recommended privatizing the outpatient mental health services currently provided by hard-working, highly competent DC government employees. Barron's decision came after he hired the private consulting firm, KPMG, to conduct a highly flawed study that - not surprisingly -- recommended the outsourcing of mental health services to private companies.

Now, Barron and the Fenty administration assert they have the authority to move forward with the implementation of this ill-advised plan - beginning as soon as January - without Council review.

Please support passage of emergency legislation that would stop Mayor Fenty from contracting out any public services without public input and the review of the City Council. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
November 14, 2008