The murder rate in the District of Columbia is down substantially.  The District's dismal schools (a "root cause") are getting better, though they still have a very long way to go.  So naturally the people of the District are poised to fire the mayor.  Robert McCartney reports for the WaPo on "Adrian Fenty, Vincent Gray and the politics of race and class in D.C."

At 39, [incumbent Mayor] Fenty is a post-civil-rights leader who prides himself on being color-blind. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white, rich or poor; the key is that your trash is picked up, your potholes are filled and your kid's teacher is qualified.

That doesn't sit well with some of the old-timers.

Part of the controversy is school chief Michelle Rhee.  She has taken on a very tough job and done it very well, but she's Korean.  Well, if the people dump Fenty, and the new mayor dumps Rhee, she can come to Sacramento.  She gets along pretty well with our mayor.