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... or Anthony Williams is reinventing a new Washington. This expansive plan is authored and enforced through the mayor's office. Mayor Williams asks the people of D. C. to come together and work together to improve the quality of life in the District for both its citizens and the local business community.
The mission is simple: giving the citizens of DC the best city in America. 9 What at first seems like political rhetoric actually has a multifaceted plan and vision of making Washington the city it wants to be. In a TQM style, the mayors office has approached Washington's problems in a wide to narrow scope approach. This begins with the Mayor's Vision for Washington. This Vision, making Washington the 'best' city in America, has tiers of goals established by the Mayor's Office: Strong schools, safe streets, clean communities, affordable housing, and reliable transportation; Access for all people to health care where our senior citizens and children at risk receive quality services; A wealth of social and cultural growth opportunities; Vibrant economies downtown and in the neighborhoods; True inclusion, a seat at the table for all; Taking advantage of the District's truly unique assets-tourism that is second to none, unique partnerships with federal agencies, a strong regional economy that lacks only a vital urban center; and Empowering men, women, and children of all communities to solve problems together.
Coming together, working together, succeeding together. In a few years, Washington has made real progress towards the more tangible goals established by the mayor's office. The following chart depicts some vital statistics in Washington's continued progress: CRIME City Stats Natl. Avg. Rank Violent crime (per 100 K population) 526. 6 506 190 Property crime (per 100 K population) 3, 990 4, 329 136 EDUCATION City Stats Natl. Avg.
Rank Spending per pupil $ 6, 825 $ 5, 387 36 Student / teacher ratio 18. 1 16. 95 227 Number of 4 -year colleges 25 4. 03 6 Number of 2 -year colleges 8 2. 77 22 ECONOMY City Stats Natl. Avg. Rank Cost of Living Index 124 104 300 State and local taxes% 21. 25 % 10. 35 % 328 Recent job growth (past 12 months) 3. 29 % 1. 68 % 70 Projected job growth (10 years) 16. 54 % 15. 09 % 121 Unemployment rate % 2. 4 % 4. 24 % 30 Auto insurance rates ($ per year) $ 1, 100 $ 829 285 Hospital beds 12, 709 2, 602 10 Air quality index (higher is better) 62 65. 9 211 Water quality index (higher is better) 48 52. 0 176 Number of teaching hospitals 20 3. 88 7 QUALITY OF LIFE City Stats Natl. Avg. Rank Leisure Index (100 is best; 0 is worst) 59 19. 42 17 Arts Index (100 is best; 0 is worst) 56 11. 48 4 TRANSPORTATION City Stats Natl.
Avg. Rank Mass transit availability 24. 43 8. 03 18 Number of airline flights 578 139 19 Regardless, there still seems to be a bubbling revolt in Washington. Williams noted that the only people in the U. S.
denied voting representation are, "minors, convicted criminals and DC residents. " This stems from federal control of the federal city, equaling Congressional oversight of all spending, taxation, and use of funds. The people of DC are infuriated that Congress maintains this control while the residents of DC have no Congressional vote. 10 This has led to the city actually filing suit. There are two suits on the table. One challenges the Court to allow the District to become a state, or for its residents to become part of an existing state, such as Maryland.
The other suite demands that Congress provide the DC representative with a vote in the House. Efforts from within Washington groups include giving DC two members in the House and two members in the Senate. An additional option, not officially supported, would be to remove Federal taxation from DC residents. They would still not have representation, but they wouldn't be taxed, either. 11 The city and residents of Washington, DC are making their point on this issue known in a unique way. On the morning of November 4, 2000, thousands lined up outside the District's DMV office to get the new, official plates for their vehicles. The old plates have been in use since 1997 and bear the slogan Celebrate and Discover.
The new plates look the same, but the slogan across the bottom of the plate reads, Taxation Without Representation. Mayor Williams, Delegate Norton and several city officials were on hand November 4 with city vehicles being the first to sport the new plate. Two capital cities. Two centers of world power.
two worlds apart. Moscow and Washington are two very different cities with different leadership structures, especially with regards to municipal leadership. In Washington, the mayor is what the west would consider 'just a mayor', truly the political leader and manager of the city, but nothing like Moscow's mayor. In Moscow, the mayor runs a near dictatorship, ruling almost every detail of the city.
By virtue of being the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov has been reserved a seat on the national stage. The formation of the Father Russia party only solidifies this to a national voice. The Mayor's office not only dictates local taxes, but also makes official opinion on Chechnya, Yugoslavia, and international trade. This illustrates a key point about the city Moscow itself. Moscow, as Moscow is the center of Russia. The city represents a nearly mythical image in Russian life.
It is Moscow that is the fulcrum of Russian culture, money, and power. American would have no such of Washington. Granted, it is the federal center of American politics, Washington still owes its power to representatives from throughout the country. This is as opposed to a very concentrated, central power from Moscow that flows down to the citizenry as opposed up from the citizenry. Both cities have had major economic and planning issues in the last decade. Their leadership has definitely taken different approaches.
For Moscow, there has been a level of endorsed underground economics, filled with shady deals and understood corruption. But no ne wants this changed, especially as long as Moscow continues to prosper. For Washington, autocratic leadership and results haven't been so easy. Dealing with American norms of municipal leadership, processes have been slow and balanced. Whereas in the Muscovite world, Mayor Williams can not decree that there be Christmas spirit.
He can of course do ribbon cuttings, tree lightings, and declare a festive day in Washington, but never proclaim that every street be lit and every tree be trimmed. Marion Berry lead a downward spiral for Washington's crime, education, and overall standard of living. Once reelected following the cocaine scandal, an aurora of incompetence again shined above DC. Finally, with the election of Anthony Williams, DC seems to have a definite vision and plan for moving towards this vision.
Crime, pollution, and a decaying infrastructure have slowly headed to a Washington that has been selected as one of America's best largest cities. These changes came about at an 'American pace', with the authorization of a city council, referendum, etc. Changes in Moscow come about as Yuri Luzhkov pleases, with the wishes of the underground. With an extensive underground connection and a system of favors and patronage, the wheels of Moscow run like a mafia organization. Moscow has the same problems as Washington, such as a infrastructure, crime, and education. But Moscow has also had to deal with the collapse and establishment of an entirely new government and economic model.
When Luzhkov took the reins of Moscow, he entirely took control. Dealing directly with Yeltsin, he took control of companies and land, and the entire political machine. By doing so, his city retains control only known in the Soviet Union, but still alive in Moscow, the capitol of the 'New Russia. ' There is no way, even with eminent domain, Washington DC's municipal offices would imagine fitting control of property and businesses. Then Luzhkov makes a national stance as leader of his own party; no third party candidate could stand a reasonable chance of winning the mayor's office in DC, let alone establishing their own party.
One of the greatest likeness / differences the executive officials of DC and Moscow deal with is the push / pull of the federal center and the regions. In Russia, Moscow boasts of its position on the hierarchy of national politics. Moscow is the center of Russian influence, and by commandeering businesses, and taxing regional businesses headquartered in Moscow, the city has set itself as different from the rest of Russia. Moscow is a city that is on top of the food chain. While most of Russia starves (and some parts of Moscow), Moscow taxes regional companies, keeping the money in Moscow, spending the money on roads and skyscrapers. In Washington, the people are crying "taxation without representation." There is a great fear in crowning Washington as a city above other cities.
They don't even have a voting voice in the chamber that oversees much of its funding. Rather than dealing with CEO's and mafia bosses, the mayor's office deals with a city council, Congressional oversight, and he continued reinvention of a plagued city. In short, Washington, regardless of who lives there and what goes on, is still just a city. Moscow is a Russian Mecca; the home of all power and good things. It is one of the only jewels in a very tarnished Russian crown. Both Mayors know their positions, and both use their power accordingly.
For Anthony Williams, it is the fight for better schools and an expanded Metro. For Yuri Luzhkov, it's bulling President Yeltsin into exempting Moscow from major legislation, or condemning Allied bombing in Serbia. These truly are two different worlds, with two very different types of leaders with two very different jobs, regardless of their titles. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Taxation Without Representation Quality Of Life
