Washington: Just Saying No

There was good news and bad news for Washington Mayor Marion Barry last week. The good news is that U.S. Attorney Jay Stephens decided not to seek to retry him on 12 cocaine and perjury charges that deadlocked a jury last month. The decision was a relief to those who feared a second trial would rekindle racial tensions that have cooled in recent weeks. The bad news for Barry is that Stephens indicated he would recommend a prison term, unusual for a first misdemeanor, when the mayor is sentenced next month on the single count of cocaine possession for which he was convicted. Though he is running for the city council, his chances seemed to dwindle after the Democratic mayoral- primary victory of Sharon Pratt Dixon, who campaigned on a promise to end the Barry legacy. That would be good news for Washington.