Abusing His Powers? Mayor Fenty's Response

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Mayor Adrian Fenty told 9NEWS NOW on Tuesday that he didn't know that bikes are not allowed on the Clara Barton Parkway, just outside the District, in Bethesda.

Fenty and his biking team were caught on tape by WTOP on the parkway with the Mayor's police security detail tagging along using sirens, slowing traffic and running a red light or two along the way.

Critics say it is just the latest example of Fenty's abuse of power.

The young Mayor and the DC Council have fought over baseball tickets, commission appointments, teacher firings, and $82 million in government contracts that the Fenty administration steered through the independent DC Housing Authority to developers, thus avoiding a law that says city contracts valued at more than $1 million had to first get DC Council approval.

Fenty said he couldn't explain why the contracts, some of which went to close associates, were not submitted to the Legislature.

The Mayor said the Housing Agency has now decided to submit the contracts, for Recreation Department construction projects, to the DC Council.

Fenty supporters say privately that much of the criticism of the Mayor is prompted by politics. Three of the DC Councilmembers are exploring possible runs for Mayor.