A good overview of political connections and hardball tactics:

When then-Mayor Kasdin opposed rezoning of the property for the high-rise, Peebles spent $50,000 of his own money, launching a direct mail and cable TV campaign against him, and raised an additional $70,000 for Kasdin's political opponent. Kasdin won reelection, but Peebles got his new zoning. Says he: "I couldn't allow him to bully me."

Just remember, when a public servant stands up to a monumentally wealthy luxury developer, that's "bullying".

Apparently, not all public officials merit such animosity:

Peebles offered a 15-year, $48 million lease on two buildings, which would have netted him $20 million. But the deal was leaked to the media and Barry backed out after the D.C. financial board accused him of cronyism.