Mayor Takes Wilder to Task for Wary Remarks on Statehood
D.C. Council member Hilda H.M. Mason's political affiliation ws incorrectly stated yesterday. She represents the D.C. Statehood Party in an at-large seat on the council. (Published 3/24/90)</br></br>Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's skepticism about statehood for the District of Columbia has drawn the ire of Mayor Marion Barry, who sent Wilder a letter today urging him not to "join others who are engaged in rather careless and thoughtless stereotyping of the District."</br></br>In the letter, which the mayor's office released, Barry said he was writing to "express my deep disappointment" with Wilder's comments Monday at the National Press Club in Washington. Wilder said that he would be reluctant to support statehood until the city "showed that it has its fiscal house in order."</br></br>Barry's letter, sent by facsimile machine to Wilder, offers a vigorous defense of the city's budgets, which Barry said were balanced eight of the last nine years during his administration. (The city ended fiscal 1988 with a deficit.) Barry also took a shot at members of Congress who criticize the District for being irresponsible while allowing the federal deficit to balloon.</br></br>Wilder's press secretary, Laura Dillard, said the governor had read Barry's letter but declined to characterize his reaction. The letter "doesn't require any comment," Dillard said.