Fenty and eight of D.C.'s 13 council members are about to land in Las Vegas for the International Shopping Center Convention, the largest retail convention of the year.
Fenty and crew left town without telling the press or the public, but of course the secret got out. (We always find out, Mr. Mayor, one way or another...)
Mayor Anthony Williams began these annual trips and, overall, it is considered an important trip for mayor, not a junket.
We could see why Kwame Brown, chairman of the economic development committee, and Jack Evans, chairman of finance and revenue, might be there. But what the rest of the crew, which includes council chairman Vincent Gray and council members Harry Thomas, Yvette Alexander, Muriel Bowser, Marion Barry and Michael Brown?
"If the convention were in Kansas City instead of Las Vegas, the mayor would still need to go. But I don't know how many council members would still go," one D.C. staff member told News4.
And what is everyone going to be doing tonight and Monday? Fenty's schedule lists no public events for Sunday or Monday, WTOP reports.
Speaking of secrets, Fenty has a history of leaving town on the sly, as well as not letting anyone know who is paying for the trips.
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Earlier in the year, after coming back from a trip to the Middle East, Fenty called it a "family vacation." Later, he admitted the United Arab Emirates government paid $25,000 for the trip.
A similar incident happened when Fenty and family travelled to China. That trip was paid for by several Chinese government agencies.
Fenty told the press that he performed official business on both trips, but would not give any details.
So, Mr. Mayor, is what happens in Vegas going to stay in Vegas? Or are we going to have to find out the usual way?
