DC Council chairman opposed to Commanders stadium plan accepts the deal is inevitable – Washington Examiner
Washington D.C. Council chairman Phil Mendelson has shifted his position regarding the proposed plan for a new Washington Commanders stadium, acknowledging that a deal appears unavoidable despite his earlier skepticism. Initially, he believed the council would reject the deal presented by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Commanders, but now he suggests that an agreement will be reached, potentially involving public subsidies, even though he personally opposes public funding for private ventures. He emphasized the need for due diligence to ensure the best deal for taxpayers. The proposed $3.7 billion deal includes a cost-sharing arrangement where the Commanders would cover the majority of construction costs, while the district would contribute $500 million for infrastructure and an additional $181 million for parking. A recent poll indicated that a majority of D.C. residents support the stadium plan, highlighting the divided opinions among local leadership and constituents. However, Mendelson criticized the timeline set by the mayor as unrealistic, asserting that the council had not been adequately consulted about the proposal’s progress.
DC Council chairman opposed to Commanders stadium plan accepts the deal is inevitable
Washington, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson indicated that a deal to build a new Washington Commanders stadium appears inevitable, a shift in rhetoric from when he indicated it wouldn’t go through late last month.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Commanders announced a deal last month to build a new stadium in the city, presenting the proposal to the city council. In an interview with Fox 5 shortly after, Mendelson said he didn’t believe the council would vote to pass the deal. He’s now changing his tune, saying Wednesday that a deal will be reached.
“I do think that there will be some public subsidy. We will reach a deal,” he said in an interview with WTOP. “I do think the deal can be improved.”
“My personal view that we should not use public tax dollars to subsidize a private entity, namely, the stadium, is not the majority view,” Mendelson conceded. “The prevailing view in the council is that we need to do our due diligence, scrutinize the proposal, and make sure it’s the best deal possible for the district, and for the taxpayers.”
However, Mendelson said Bowser’s timeline was unrealistic and likely wouldn’t be met.
“It’s not going to happen as quickly as the mayor had promised. The mayor apparently negotiated a deadline for the council without any consultation with the council. The mayor announced this, as we know, several weeks ago — we still don’t have a proposal. She could have submitted it to us already. So these delays are not our doing,” he said.
MOST DC RESIDENTS WANT PROPOSED COMMANDERS STADIUM AS CITY COUNCIL TEETERS
As part of the $3.7 billion deal between Bowser and the Commanders, the two would split the cost to build the stadium, housing, shops, parks, and recreational sports facilities. The Commanders would pay $2.7 billion for vertical construction, while the district would pay $500 million for horizontal construction and $181 million for parking.
A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll of 651 Washington, D.C., residents found that 55% support the plan compared to 39% who oppose it.
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