Washington, DC -- Today, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) issued the following statement on the passing of Mayor Marion Barry:
I was saddened to learn of the passing of my D.C. Council colleague. Marion Barry was a strong advocate for Ward 8 and devoted his life to the residents of Washington, D.C. His strong passion for making our city a great city was only surpassed in effort by his incredible commitment to ensuring that the poorest of our residents were never forgotten. It has been an honor for me to sit next to Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry on the dais and serve with him on the education committee for the past two years. I learned a lot about my beloved city from him and a lot about him. I will forever respect what he has done for this city in spite of his many challenges over a 40-year career. As Dr. Maya Angelou stated, “Marion Barry changed America with his unmitigated gall to stand up in the ashes of where he had fallen and come back to win.” My thoughts go out to his family and loved ones as we all mourn the loss of a true D.C. hero.