The East of the River Academy, part of the District's summer jobs program, was closed last week after reports that its students had spent the first month with nothing to do.

D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) spoke to reporters yesterday morning in front of the P.R. Harris Educational Center in Anacostia, where the academy had been meeting until Friday.

"The city illegally and irresponsibly shut this program down," Barry said. "These young people have been done an injustice."

Yes Marion, we understand that your idea of a "job" is to sit on your ass and do nothing while getting paid for it. Most of the rest of us don't agree.