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Tag: dc council

  • DC mayor warns of imminent tough budget cycle as costs rise, revenue stays modest – WTOP News

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    During a morning session with council members Tuesday, Bowser and other city leaders said while revenue has been modest, costs are soaring.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser this week described the possibility of difficult decisions ahead, as the city works on its spending plan for fiscal year 2027, her last as the District’s leader.

    During a morning session with council members Tuesday, Bowser and other city leaders said while revenue has been modest, costs are soaring.

    Keeping all services and programs in place this year in next year’s budget would require a $1.1 billion revenue increase, City Administrator Kevin Donahue said. However, according to city documents, revenue growth is modest. In fiscal 2027, revenue is projected to increase by $9.6 million.

    And if President Donald Trump signs a measure that passed Congress, preventing D.C. from opting out of the Trump administration’s tax cuts, hundreds of millions more could be at stake.

    “I did budgets during the recession,” Donahue said. “This is as hard as anything that we did in the recession.”

    Costs of all kinds are projected to increase, including agency overtime spending, contributions to WMATA and Medicaid and child care costs. With some cases of one-time funding set to expire, there are $700 million worth of programs funded in the fiscal 2026 plan that aren’t funded in the fiscal 2027 plan.

    Bowser’s budget proposal is expected this spring, and she said it’s hard to know exactly which programs and services may be reduced or cut.

    “The best way to answer is to look at our overall budget just like you would do in your own household budget, and the areas where there’s the largest spending and the most costly types of programs are the ones that could more likely sustain decreases,” Bowser told WTOP.

    During the presentation earlier this week, Bowser and other agency heads highlighted examples of programs that could be vulnerable.

    For one, the city’s child care subsidy program, which offers eligible families support with child care payments, has a deficit of $32 million, according to Antoinette Mitchell, D.C.’s state superintendent of education. It could increase to $42 million without changes.

    There are 7,380 kids in the program and almost 300 providers. One idea could result in paying providers the same rate, instead of three different rates. Using a waiting list, Mitchell said, would enable the city to cap enrollment.

    There are many programs, Bowser said, that are “emblematic of some of the issues that we will go into in this budget formulation — more demand, higher cost equals greater total program cost. And so the question for all budget makers is, what do you do with that when the demand and the cost and the inflation outpace your ability to pay for it?”

    Wayne Turnage, D.C.’s deputy mayor for health and human services, said changes in eligibility for programs offering health care to low income residents have resulted in some savings. But, Donahue said, “a 2% or 3% inflationary pressure in health care, because the base spending is so high, translates to sometimes a $10 or $100 million spending pressure.”

    While Bowser proposes the city’s budget, final approval is up to the D.C. Council.

    In the coming weeks, Bowser said, “My biggest concern is that all policymakers take our decision seriously. It’s not good enough to say, ‘I want more, I want more, I want more,’ without a strategy to pay for it.”

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Scott Gelman

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  • DC Council chair announces nominee to fill McDuffie’s at-large seat – WTOP News

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    A former staff member for council member Kenyan McDuffie has been nominated to take his seat. McDuffie left the seat to run for mayor.

    There’s a new nominee to the D.C. Council and she’s no stranger to the District.

    A former staff member for council member Kenyan McDuffie has been nominated to take his seat. McDuffie left the seat to run for mayor, explaining his motivation for doing so in a recent interview with WTOP.

    D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson announced Monday that Doni Crawford was his nominee to fill the vacancy created by McDuffie’s departure.

    “I am honored that the chairman selected me as his proposed appointee,” Crawford said.

    She’s a former staff member who worked under McDuffie. She also was a committee director on the Committee on Business and Economic Development.

    “Nearly 10 years ago, I came to the city with a simple belief that government done right can help people build better lives,” Crawford said Monday. “I believe in a D.C. where every resident has the opportunity to thrive, and where our economy remains competitive with the region.”

    There will be a vote by the D.C. Council on Tuesday to decide whether to confirm Crawford. She needs at least seven votes to be appointed to the at-large seat.

    “I know I must earn the trust of residents, and I’m ready to do that through listening, collaboration and service,” she said.

    The person appointed to the at-large seat will be in the position through the special election in June.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Kenyan McDuffie announces run for DC mayor in sit-down interview with WTOP – WTOP News

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    The former D.C. Council member laid out his vision for the District, promising to work for an economy that will lift locals and to be a fighter for Home Rule and residents’ rights.

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    Kenyan McDuffie announces run for DC mayor

    Saying his city is “at a crossroads,” former D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie announced his run for mayor.

    During a sit-down interview with WTOP, McDuffie promised to work for an economy, with a touch of populism, that will lift residents citywide and to be a fighter for Home Rule and the rights of D.C. residents who feel like their rights are trampled by the federal government.

    McDuffie recalled his roots as a mail carrier, a job he said, “changed my life.” From there, he paid his way through Howard University, became a lawyer and worked as a prosecutor before entering politics.

    “My entire service has been about fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves, and delivering on the promise of our city,” McDuffie said.

    “I know that there are people who are looking at the country right now and really struggling with what we’re seeing. They need somebody who brings a level of experience to be able to make that fight, but also to do it in a smart way.”

    He joins a growing field of candidates, which includes his former colleague, Ward 4 Council member Janeese Lewis George. Others include Regan Jones and Robin Gross running as democrats and James McMorris and Rhonda Hamilton running as independents.

    McDuffie spoke with WTOP from the living room of his family home — where he grew up and has been in his family for generations. He also has a pair of faded, yellow seats from the old RFK Stadium.

    Below are his full answers, lightly edited for clarity, to the issues he was asked about.

    • WTOP’s John Domen:

      Democrats nationwide want someone they feel will fight for them against the Trump administration. As someone who has played a significant role in how things go around D.C., how would you fight for them? Would you be willing to fight and stand up for D.C.? How do you view the Trump administration’s role in influencing your job?

    • Kenyan McDuffie:

      “I’ve spent part of my career fighting where law enforcement have engaged in racially profiling residents, where they’ve engaged in excessive force. I know how to fight and deliver a just city. And those are the types of things that residents are clamoring for right now. They want somebody who both knows how to fight, but not just fighting for fighting sake; the ability to build bridges across the city; to bring people together; to put solutions in place that address these really tough issues is what people are looking for right now.”

    • Domen:

      Mayor Muriel Bowser has been criticized for her approach to President Donald Trump and his administration. Her defense is limited home rule, and she doesn’t have much of a choice. How do you judge the way that she’s approached that, and how would you handle that?

    • McDuffie:

      “In my conversations that I’ve had with residents all across this city, they want to make sure that there’s a leader in the office of mayor who protects home rule, but also understands that we have to fight to protect our residents’ rights. Everybody across the District of Columbia — whether you are an immigrant, really trying to figure out how to make the ends meet in a city that’s becoming increasingly unaffordable, or you’ve been here for 30 years and are disgusted what we’re seeing coming out of our federal government. We’re going to champion those values that people really care about, because I know that largely Washingtonians who are here want to look out for their neighbors. They want communities that aren’t being torn apart by federal law enforcement.”

    • Domen:

      How would you bring clarity to the confusion that exists right now between Metropolitan Police Department’s relationship with federal law enforcement?

    • McDuffie:

      “I grew up at a time, where … in the 1980s and 1990s, the National Guard had descended onto communities across the District of Columbia because of the high levels of violence. And it’s going to be important to make sure that the communication with the Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement happens to solve crimes. We want to make sure that we hold violent offenders accountable. On the other hand, what we don’t need is the federal overreach that we’re seeing right now that are targeting families and showing up in places where people gather, where communities have safe spaces. It is unacceptable, and we need to fight against that. And I will.”

    • Domen:

      What’s the biggest problem facing the city right now? What are the first topics you would be able to tackle once you take office on day one?

    • McDuffie:

      “People want a more affordable city, and they want a government that works. What I would deliver on day one is open, transparent government, a focus on making Washington, D.C. the most affordable city in the United States and also delivering on basic services. We want to make this government more efficient. We want to make it more streamlined.”

      “We want to eliminate the red tape for people who want to start a business. We also don’t want to continue to prey on folks with traffic tickets and enforcement in ways that communities have been plagued by increasing costs. We know that there are folks in this city simply trying to figure out ways to get to work favorably, simply trying to figure out ways to make money, to take care of themselves and their families, and we want to lighten that load for them,” he said.

      Later in the interview, McDuffie said he promised to deliver details about his policy prescriptions as he meets with city residents during his campaign.

    • Domen:

      Is it easier or harder to raise a family in D.C. now?

    • McDuffie:

      “I’m going to fight to make it easier. I know having grown up in this city, both myself and my wife, as we’re raising two daughters in this city, that families want to be able to have schools that are quality in their neighborhood. … So we need to make sure that we’re looking at the things that are increasing costs across the District of Columbia and attack those head on. We know that housing is a big deal for residents across the District of Columbia right now, for example. … I’m going to lower the cost to build so that we have housing that supports every resident across this city, regardless of income and regardless of ZIP code. Whether you own or operate the restaurant, or whether you work at the back of the house, we’re going to make sure there’s a place for you, if you want to call the District of Columbia home. Whether you are new to the city and just got here three weeks ago, or you’ve been here for 30 years, we’re going to make sure that you can afford to stay in Washington, D.C.”

    • Domen:

      One notable candidate in the race is Ward 4 Council member Janeese Lewis George. She is self-described as a democratic socialist. How do you contrast your campaign and what you would do as mayor with hers?

    • McDuffie:

      “As somebody who has seen the challenges facing the District of Columbia over the years, I went down to the council with a mandate to deliver solutions to some of our most intractable issues, so I’m proud of actually, the record that I’ve developed on the council where I have fought discrimination in employment and housing. I have fought to put funding in a budget to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to build affordable housing across the District of Columbia. … I think the difference between myself and any candidate who runs for mayor is both the ability to fight for what’s right, to fight for the things that residents across the District of Columbia deserve from their government, to feel the impact in their ordinary lives, but also to deliver a future that is brighter, to allow residents right now who are pushed to the margins and in the shadows to come into the light. I’ve developed that record over time. I know how to get things done, to build bridges across differences, and that’s what D.C. needs today.”

    • Domen:

      Favorite restaurant?

    • McDuffie:

      “Always got to go with the staple like Ben’s Chili Bowl because of his history and my love for the Ali family, and what they’ve been able to do over the decades. It really has served as an introduction in many ways for people in the District of Columbia. And so I love Ben’s Chili Bowl. I probably put that as a top of my favorite restaurant.”

    • Domen:

      What are you watching on TV?

    • McDuffie:

      “I watch whatever my wife turns on TV. She is the CEO of this household, and so whatever she’s watching is my favorite show.”

    • Domen:

      What’s on your playlist?

    • McDuffie:

      “Oh, it’s going to be go-go and hip hop. I will tell you I have been going back listening to some old go-go, because they just had the Go-Go Awards last week, and so Trouble Funk’s “Drop The Bomb” was playing on the radio for me this week. Also, I could never go wrong with some good Rare Essence and some old BYB (Backyard Band).”

    • Domen:

      What chores around the house are your responsibility?

    • McDuffie:

      “I am somebody who loves to keep a tidy house, and so I usually clean the bathrooms, but I also wash any dish that I see in the sink.”

    • Domen:

      When’s the last time your wife rolled her eyes at you?

    • McDuffie:

      “The last time I saw my wife. I love my wife. We’ve been together — married for 20 years, together for 30 years. I actually met my wife at this house, at a cookout right outside there. And so this home, in many ways, has been the center of both the community and my life. And my wife and I are really proud to be able to raise our daughters right here. She knows who she married. We love each other, but there are times where I’m going to probably get on her nerves, just like I get on my daughter’s nerves.”

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    John Domen

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  • DC Council committee recommends dissolving cooperation with ICE – WTOP News

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    A D.C. Council committee recommends police end cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a day after an ICE agent reportedly shot a woman in Minneapolis.

    A D.C. Council committee is recommending the city’s police department end cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one day after officials say an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    The recommendation also comes after council members heard testimony from dozens of residents in October.

    “I’m grieving for Minneapolis, and I’m also very worried that that could very easily happen here, with the heavy presence of ICE and other federal law enforcement,” Ward 1 Council member Brianne Nadeau told WTOP.

    The Committee on Public Works and Operations heard from 53 witnesses who detailed accounts with ICE in the city.

    “We had countless testimony of people who observed men and women walking down the street being stopped, people on the way to work being pulled over,” Nadeau said. “They’re being taken and their vehicles are being left on the road, parents being taken in front of their children and the children being left behind.”

    The report from the Committee on Public Works and Operations recommends both the mayor and D.C. police chief end any cooperation with ICE. It also urges banning the use of masks by ICE agents and requiring badges and agency identification.

    The committee said tweaks to current laws are also needed.

    “We passed the Sanctuary Values Act in 2020; there should be no cooperation with ICE,” Nadeau said. “The chief found a loophole, found a way to cooperate. We’ve got to close that loophole.”

    ICE has said that its collaboration with D.C. police has assisted with the arrest of alleged criminals, including a Mexican national previously charged with sex crimes against a child.

    “MPD has the tools they need to go after someone who committed violence, sexual violence. They don’t need the civil enforcement folks at Homeland Security to back them up on that,” Nadeau said.

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    Luke Lukert

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  • Looking back: How the Commanders’ RFK stadium deal came together in 2025 – WTOP News

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    The Washington Commanders and D.C. teamed up in 2025 to finalize a plan to construct a new stadium for the team at the old RFK Stadium site. Here’s how it happened.

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    How the Commanders’ $3.7B RFK Stadium deal came together

    This story is part of WTOP’s series “Five stories that defined the DC-area in 2025.” You can hear it on air all this week and read it online.

    This year brought a touchdown for Washington Commanders fans hoping to see the team return to the nation’s capital.

    The scoring drive began in January, when President Joe Biden signed a bill transferring control of the 180-acre RFK Stadium campus to D.C. After the signing, deal-making continued behind the scenes between D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration and the Commanders.

    Then, on April 28, the plan to construct a new stadium for the team at the site was revealed to D.C. and the wider sports world.

    “We want to bring the Commanders home with our new RFK,” team owner Josh Harris said.

    On the table was a $3.7 billion redevelopment plan that would bring a 65,000-seat stadium with a roof, mixed retail, entertainment and housing to the RFK site. Under the plan, the team would invest $2.7 billion, and the city pledged about $1.1 billion for stadium infrastructure and surrounding redevelopment, with its opening set for 2030.

    Officials said the project would be a good deal for D.C., but residents and the D.C. Council needed to be on board to make the ambitious plan a reality.

    Early challenges and missed deadlines

    The mayor and team set a mid-July deadline for the council to pass the deal, but out of the starting gate, it was clear it didn’t have the votes.

    Among those initially critical of the project due to its price tag was D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson.

    “The deal that the mayor submitted to the council was one that had very little revenue actually coming to the city’s general coffers. Revenues that would be generated from taxes and fees related to the stadium were either going to go back to the stadium or actually were sort of being waived. And that gave members a lot of pause,” Mendelson told WTOP.

    When mid-July came around, the council had missed the deadline tied to an exclusive negotiation window. The council scheduled public hearings to gather more input on the deal and its costs. Lawmakers said they needed more time to review the term sheet and funding commitments before a final vote.

    The deadline also came as the council awaited 2026’s budget and an updated current-year budget after Congress withheld $1 billion in funding collected from D.C. taxpayers.

    A revised deal and new momentum

    On July 24, Mendelson announced a reworked agreement that increased expected city benefits.

    The revisions outlined $414 million in revenue over 30 years, $260 million from non-stadium event parking, and a $20 million-a-year transportation fund for Metro and road work. The package also detailed housing and parkland across the RFK campus and set the first and second votes for Aug. 1 and Sept. 17.

    With a voting schedule in place, negotiations intensified behind the scenes. Mendelson and At-Large Council member Kenyan McDuffie led talks for the council.

    “The chairman and I put in a lot of hours. I had a lot of early mornings and late nights. But it was ultimately because I am an optimist. I believe in the future of Washington, D.C., and I believe that this project is going to help transform an area of Washington, D.C., that’s remained dormant for quite some time,” McDuffie said.

    Looming over it all was the threat of President Donald Trump’s involvement, after he posted on social media calling on the team to revert to its old name.

    Public hearings and first vote

    Heading into the first vote, marathon hearings drew hundreds of speakers. Many residents voiced worries about traffic congestion and parking impacts on surrounding neighborhoods, and some argued the deal favored billionaires instead of addressing pressing needs, such as housing and social services.

    The council also heard from team President Mark Clouse.

    “This is a historic moment and one of extraordinary opportunity. Together, we can deliver the fastest and surest transformation of the RFK site into something that brings people together, drives growth and shows what’s possible when public purpose and private commitment align,” Clouse said in July.

    Mayor Bowser called the project a “BFD,” short for “big f—ing deal,” during her testimony.

    On Aug. 1, the council voted 9-3 to move the legislation forward, citing added transit investment, environmental standards and clearer protections in the timeline.

    Final vote and last-minute drama

    The members who opposed the deal were At-Large Council member Robert White, Ward 1’s Brianne Nadeau and Ward 3’s Matthew Frumin. They pointed to concerns about housing safeguards and public subsidies.

    The vote sent the measure to a final reading in September, with additional tweaks discussed in the days that followed.

    The council returned Sept. 17 for a meeting that saw lengthy negotiations behind closed doors and a scathing letter from Clouse, who claimed the team was presented with “unworkable and impractical” last-minute additions.

    Despite the drama, the votes to pass the deal were there, with some final amendments, and the legislation cleared its second and final hurdle.

    Some of those amendments added new taxes on parking and merchandise revenue, as well as penalties for missed deadlines on delivering housing, including affordable units.

    What’s next for RFK

    “It’s pretty amazing that we were able to get it to the council as quickly as we did. We had our first vote in less than 60 days from when we’d gotten the proposal,” Chairman Mendelson said.

    But he said work with the team led to a deal that got more votes of support than expected, passing with an 11-2 vote, when, Mendelson admitted, he expected a final vote of 10-3.

    “The Commanders deal is a big deal in sending a signal to the larger business community that the District is a good place to do business,” Mendelson said.

    McDuffie agreed, telling WTOP the project also delivers for the city and its residents.

    “Despite some of the challenges that we’re seeing from the Commanders on the field this year, Washington, D.C., residents are winning. We’ve scored a touchdown by getting the Commanders to move back to the District of Columbia and make the largest private investment in D.C.’s history in rebuilding a stadium that’s going to exist on the old RFK campus,” McDuffie said.

    “This was always about more than just a stadium. This was about a win for Washington, D.C., residents and Washington, D.C., small businesses,” he said, adding that revisions increased value for taxpayers.

    He said the additional $779 million will accrue for D.C. taxpayers “as a result of the revisions that we made,” noting the $50 million community benefits agreement and higher local contracting goals.

    McDuffie said engagement with neighbors is ongoing.

    “Their input can be seen in every aspect of this deal,” he said. “Those conversations continue almost daily.”

    Construction timeline

    Looking ahead, he said a venue with a roof will bring events beyond football.

    “We’re talking about all types of world-class events happening at a facility that will have a roof,” McDuffie said.

    He also emphasized limits on the city’s exposure.

    “The cost overruns are going to be on the team, not Washington, D.C. We have limited the amount of money that the District of Columbia is going to be responsible for,” McDuffie said.

    Demolition of the iconic RFK Stadium continues, with thousands of tons of steel, brick and plastic being removed from the site. The goal is to turn the current stadium into a lot of sand by fall 2026 so construction can begin.

    Mendelson said his biggest concern now is the possibility of delays in the completion of some portions of the redevelopment plan.

    “I’m not so worried that the stadium will be delayed, but the overall development could take longer than folks want. I don’t think at this point it’s going to fall apart. I just don’t think that’s going to happen,” Mendelson said. “But there could be a lot of unforeseen obstacles that pop up that will need to be addressed.”

    The stadium is expected to be complete by 2030, but other development will follow as plans go through federal approval and D.C. zoning requirements.

    As for the latest sign of progress, the Commanders recently named HKS as the lead architect for the new RFK stadium, a firm known for designing iconic venues, such as SoFi Stadium and AT&T Stadium, which is a clear signal the project is moving from plans to reality.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Mike Murillo

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  • Kenyan McDuffie eyes run for DC mayor – WTOP News

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    At-Large Council Member Kenyan McDuffie announced he was stepping down from his D.C. Council post on Tuesday, a move that all but paves the way for a mayoral bid.

    WTOP’s Nick Iannelli speaks with D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie about his resignation and potential mayoral run

    At-Large D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie announced Tuesday he was stepping down from his D.C. Council post in January, a move that all but paves the way for a mayoral bid.

    After serving on the D.C. Council for over a decade, McDuffie told WTOP that his resignation came from his belief in “moving on to other ways of serving the more than 700,000 residents across all eight wards of the District of Columbia.”

    McDuffie said that it was bittersweet to attend his final legislative meeting, while alluding that he isn’t finished with his career in politics.

    Since D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she would not be seeking reelection, McDuffie’s name has repeatedly come up as a potential candidate. Ward 4 Council member Janeese Lewis George has already launched her mayoral campaign.

    “I think that’s fair, and I think residents have already heard me say as much,” he said, regarding a potential mayoral run. “I’m excited about what is to come in the new year.”

    In order to run in the Democratic primary for mayor, McDuffie can’t retain his at-large seat.

    Due to a stipulation in the Home Rule Act, only two of the D.C. Council’s four at-large seats can be held by the same political party. McDuffie switched to an independent to run for an at-large seat in 2022, after being a registered Democrat for much of his political career.

    WTOP’s Nick Iannelli spoke with McDuffie about his plans for the future, what issues D.C. residents are facing and how he thinks the next mayor of D.C. will have to navigate President Donald Trump’s administration’s challenges to Home Rule.

    ‘The next mayor is going to have to fight tooth and nail’

    While McDuffie wasn’t ready to discuss his decision, he told WTOP he plans to talk about it in the near future.

    “I think it’s going to be important for me, when I am ready to discuss that decision and what my plans are, that I have a conversation directly and personally with residents across the District of Columbia,” he said.

    He added that residents have been encouraging him to run and have shared with him the challenges they’re facing.

    “Residents are still feeling the pressure of rising costs. They’re talking about this federal administration and Congress, together, posing the greatest threat to our city’s autonomy since the establishment of Home Rule,” he said.

    The next mayor of D.C. will need to navigate a challenging political terrain for the city. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, the federal government has repeatedly tested D.C.’s autonomy and self-governance.

    “The next mayor is going to have to fight tooth and nail to protect the city’s autonomy and to protect our citizens’ basic human rights and civil rights,” McDuffie said. “We cannot have federal officers and law enforcement from other states, National Guard or otherwise, tearing families apart on the streets of the nation’s capital.”

    “We’re going to fight to make sure that we are partners when we need to be with the federal government,” he added.

    Some council members and D.C. residents have criticized Bowser for her efforts to placate the Trump administration, particularly as it relates to the law enforcement surge in the city.

    WTOP asked McDuffie if he believes Bowser has fallen short in pushing back against Trump.

    “I believe that she loves her hometown. I know that to be the case,” McDuffie answered.

    McDuffie then pivoted to his own vision for the nation’s capital: “When I think about what the future holds for our city and my role in it, I know that I want to continue to fight to protect our residents and really create pathways for residents to have a fair shot at economic prosperity.”

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Sam Delgado

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  • A key vote that could decide if DC-area data centers jack up your power bill – WTOP News

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    Ahead of an important vote, D.C.-area lawmakers are urging the operators of the electrical grid that powers the region to protect the power rates that customers pay.

    Ahead of an important vote, D.C.-area lawmakers are urging the operators of the electrical grid that powers the region to protect the power rates that customers pay.

    The lawmakers, including D.C. Council member Charles Allen, are calling on PJM Interconnection to adopt a plan called the Protecting Ratepayers Proposal. It’s a bipartisan proposal that, among other things, incentivizes data center owners to provide for their own power, cooling and other infrastructure resources, rather than relying solely on a utility grid.

    That’s known in the power business as “bringing its own capacity.”

    PJM is the electrical grid operator for Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, among many other states.

    At a news conference Monday, Council member Allen said if the data center operators are allowed to connect to the grid without conditions, it will cost D.C. power customers a lot of money.

    “If nothing changes, residents of the District of Columbia could face increases of as much as $70 a month by 2028,” he said.

    Maryland State Sen. Katie Fry Hester, who co-chairs the National Conference of State Legislators’ energy and environment committee, said higher power bills are not the only issue customers face.

    “Whose power will be curtailed first when the blackouts, that PJM has told us are coming, arrive?” she asked.

    On Wednesday, the PJM Board of Directors will decide how to manage the connection of data centers to the regional grid.

    “PJM welcomes all proposals entered into the Critical Issue Fast-Path stakeholder process, which aims to preserve grid reliability for the 67 million people we serve while managing the integration of data centers and other large electricity users onto the system. The fact that we have received 12 different thoughtful proposals indicates the importance of this issue as well as the numerous opinions on how to solve it,” PJM told WTOP in an emailed statement.

    Hester characterized the PJM decision as unprecedented and is urging a thoughtful approach.

    “We welcome the economic opportunity that these data centers bring, but this growth has to be matched with responsibility,” she said.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • To prevent DC crime, ACLU report recommends more funding for youth programs – WTOP News

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    D.C. leaders should invest more funding in youth and reentry programs to prevent crime, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union.

    D.C. leaders should invest more funding in youth and reentry programs in order to help prevent crime, according to a new 24-page report from the American Civil Liberties Union of D.C.

    The report, called “Building Safety Through Resources: A Better Path to Public Safety in D.C.,” described a number of citywide programs that could benefit from increased investment. It also recommended one step that the D.C. Council has already taken.

    The recommendations come over two months after President Donald Trump’s crime emergency in D.C. ended. However, National Guard troops and federal agents remain patrolling city streets.

    The idea, the report said, is to invest heavily in resources and programs known to address crime, instead of using solutions that include boosting law enforcement presence.

    “Everybody wants to live in a safe community, but we also know the safest communities are the ones with the most resources, not the most police,” Alicia Yass, supervising policy council at the ACLU of D.C. said. “To keep communities safe, we need to invest in solutions that are addressing the root cause of public safety issues, and not just investing in policing and punishment, because that’s not going to have the desired effect.”

    D.C. has already taken steps toward launching a local version of the child tax credit, one of the report’s overarching ideas. But it also proposed increasing funding for the city’s child care subsidy program, so more families can benefit from the aid.

    WTOP has contacted Council Chairman Phil Mendelson for comment on the report’s recommendations.

    For one, initiatives such as the D.C. Library Teen Council program, which offers leadership opportunities to young people, are effective, but Yass called it a “small program.”

    “It can only serve so many teens,” Yass said. “What could a program like that do if it had more funding and was able to grow and be bigger?”

    Programs that support reentry could benefit from increased funding too, Yass said.

    The Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop is one of several that helps with mentoring and job training and placement, but Yass said it similarly “cannot serve every person who was returning to the District from reentry.”

    “If it was given more resources and could be expanded, and more people could gain the benefits of those programs, that would better serve our community as a whole,” Yass said.

    A small initiative run through the Office of the Attorney General, Yass said, does restorative justice, allowing young people to “learn from the mistakes they’ve made, rather than to merely be punished.”

    “There are programs in existence that are trying to make things better and not merely punish people,” Yass said. “We want our communities to thrive, and these types of programs are helping that happen.”

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  • DC Council member’s Anacostia River boat tour highlights importance of ‘bottle bill’ – WTOP News

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    A proposed D.C. bill would create a 10-cent beverage container deposit program aimed at reducing trash and improving water quality.

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    DC Council member shows why her ‘bottle bill’ is needed with a boat tour

    Ward 1 D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau took activists and others along for a boat ride on the Anacostia River on Wednesday to illustrate the need for legislation she has introduced, which she says will result in less trash in the river.

    Launching from the boat ramp at Anacostia Park, the tour went north to Kingman Island. Along the way, pieces of trash, especially floating plastic bottles, were evident along the shoreline and floating in the river.

    The Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act creates a beverage container deposit program in the District, requiring retailers to charge a 10-cent deposit on eligible beverage containers. Consumers receive a refund when they return empty containers for recycling. The program would be administered by a nonprofit funded by beverage distributors and regulated by the Department of Energy and the Environment.

    “The four horsemen of the water quality apocalypse in the Anacostia River are sediment, sewage, industrial pollutants and trash,” said Chris Williams, president of the Anacostia Watershed Society and pilot of the boat.

    Williams said the river’s health has improved greatly over the last decade, but there’s still a lot to do, especially when it comes to the presence of trash. He said the so-called “bottle bill” will result in cleaner water in D.C.

    “For decades, companies like Coca-Cola, Deer Park, Pepsi, have been polluting our communities and have had no responsibility for collecting the containers they’ve been putting out in our community,” said Nadeau, who chairs the Committee on Public Works and Operations. “And now, if this passes, they will have to pay to do that.”

    Mayor Muriel Bowser also opposes the measure, saying it would increase costs to consumers and businesses. Nadeau said there is no evidence a bottle bill in any other jurisdiction has resulted in higher costs.

    Nadeau added that 10 states with similar laws have seen immediate and substantial reductions in bottles and cans entering the waste stream, driven by strong incentives for residents, visitors and collectors to redeem containers.

    Michigan reported a 73% return rate, while Maine achieved 77%. These programs also significantly cut other forms of litter.

    “They fear, that if we can pass this bottle bill in the District of Columbia, other states will be able to do it as well,” Nadeau said, commenting on efforts in Maryland to pass a similar measure. “We’re trying to make it as simple as possible, just 10 cents.”

    She said with the change in government in Richmond, a similar effort might take hold there as well.

    D.C.’s bottle bill now goes to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, chaired by Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen.

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  • DC leaders push to keep emergency curfews after Halloween chaos – WTOP News

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    After a Halloween night that saw hundreds of teens swarm D.C.’s Navy Yard, some city leaders say emergency curfews do help restore order, and they now want to keep them in place.

    Teens gather in a Navy Yard park as D.C. police circle the area on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

    After a Halloween night that saw hundreds of teens swarm D.C.’s Navy Yard, some District leaders say emergency curfews do help restore order, and they now want to keep them in place.

    The push comes after weeks of reported escalating disorderly conduct by juveniles since the summer emergency bill expired Oct. 5.

    “These happen so quickly, within a matter of minutes, you have hundreds of kids,” Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah said Monday.

    Appiah said the curfews were prompted this weekend after a large group of teens gathered Friday night, leading to fights and arrests. Unlike other recent gatherings promoted online as “takeovers,” the city had no advance warning of the Halloween event.

    The large group had blocked an area around M and 1st streets, according to a news release from the police department.

    Shortly after 8 p.m., the group of teens and young adults “increased in size,” and later broke out into fights and disrupted the flow of traffic. Police had urged other residents to avoid the area until it was cleared at around 11 p.m.

    Once the curfew was enacted on Nov. 1, police stopped 18 teens for curfew violations, but no arrests were made. The teens were reunited with their parents.

    “We don’t want to arrest a bunch of kids. That’s not what we’re looking to do,” Appiah said.

    She’s urging the D.C. Council to reinstate a summer emergency bill that allows for daily curfews for kids under 18 and permits curfews to start as early as 8 p.m. in targeted zones. The curfew can last up to four days and be extended to 30 days, with additional orders from the mayor. If passed, the emergency bill would remain in effect for 90 days.

    The emergency legislation also gave the police chief authority to set curfew zones without waiting for a mayoral order.

    The council is expected to vote on the extension Tuesday.

    “We believe that this is an important tool to have, that it’s worked,” Appiah said. “We cannot be in a position where we’re behind.”

    Although the emergency legislation expired, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a new public emergency order under her administrative authority. That allows her to impose curfews in urgent situations. The order created a citywide 11 p.m. curfew and allowed the police chief to set juvenile curfew zones starting as early as 6 p.m.

    Appiah also addressed concerns from council members about data, saying curfew enforcement data is posted online weekly and that the drop in violations after curfews were enacted shows the policy works.

    She said social media plays a role in organizing these gatherings, sometimes by adults seeking viral content.

    Appiah responded to concerns about equity, saying curfews are “neutral” and that communities of color are often both impacted and victimized. That, she said, is why action is necessary.

    “These tools are neutral, in and of themselves. The impact may be different because of a host of long standing reasons … that we’re not going to address with a single curfew tool. But we can’t fail to address what we’re seeing because of that. We need to work together on longer term systemic solutions to address those issues,” she said.

    She said Bowser is also pushing for a permanent bill and is prepared to act again if the council vote fails.

    “She’s mindful of that and will respond accordingly,” Appiah said.

    DC Council reacts to curfew

    Mayor Bowser ordered an emergency youth curfew, that could be extended beyond Wednesday if the D.C. Council takes action.

    “We have some limited circumstances where young people are writing on social media where they’re planning to meet up to engage in fights or other problematic behavior,” said Council member Brooke Pinto, who is sponsoring the emergency curfew legislation.

    The curfew would follow the same structure that the city saw over the summer, starting at 11 p.m.

    Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told reporters on Monday that he was in favor of this emergency legislation after the weekend melee.

    “This is not about locking up juveniles. This is about to deterring the behavior to congregate in large numbers and then vandalize,” he said. “This seems to be a fad with juveniles right now, they were doing it National Harbor, then it seemed to quiet down. Now, it’s reemerged as something that the juveniles want to do. ”

    Pinto told WTOP that the summer curfew that was passed after incidents during the Fourth of July weekend had been successful during its 90 days.

    “There were seven of these zones declared. In those zones, there were zero violations, zero arrests. Unfortunately, I moved an extension of that bill in October, and it was voted down by my colleagues,” she said.

    Pinto remains optimistic that it will be passed this time around during Tuesday’s legislative meetings and later signed by the mayor and then reviewed by Congress.

    “My hope is that can all happen before this weekend, so that the police chief can have this authority again, as is appropriate,” Pinto said.

    The emergency curfew declared by the mayor will be active through Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 11:59 p.m.

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  • DC leaders consider reestablishing youth curfew zones permanently – WTOP News

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    D.C. Council members are hearing from members of the public and law enforcement on the effectiveness of last summer’s youth curfew zones and whether they should be put pack in place.

    D.C. Council members are hearing from members of the public and law enforcement on the effectiveness of last summer’s youth curfew zones and whether or not it should be put pack in place this winter.

    Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto, who chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, assembled members of the public and local leaders for a roundtable Thursday on the subject.

    The council voted to let the curfew zones expire Oct. 5, ending the summerlong emergency legislation that gave the police chief the authority to declare certain parts of the city as expanded juvenile curfew zones.

    “Over the summer, during which seven juvenile curfew zones were declared, MPD reported that they had zero curfew violations and zero arrests,” Pinto said. “We also have to make sure that we have tools to prevent these limited instances of disruptive behavior before it occurs.”

    Those zones banned anyone under 18 from gathering in groups of nine or more from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., with some exceptions.

    D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith testified that since the curfew zones ended, her department is seeing more instances of young people gathering in large groups and causing problems. She cited two recent examples that happened on Oct. 13.

    In one incident, she said a group of 100 or more teenagers and young adults gathered at the Navy Yard then went to Union Station, running into traffic along the way and damaging some road signs and trash cans. She said in that incident, a 14-year-old was struck by a car and received minor injuries.

    In the other incident on the same day, Smith said a group of 60-70 teenagers ransacked the movie theater at Gallery Place, causing property damage and stealing about $200 worth of candy. She said one person was struck in the forehead by a bottle thrown by one of the teens. She did not say whether any arrests were made.

    “As a result of this proactive effort, MPD did not cite any youth curfew violations in the zones during the active hours of 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., nor were there any large gatherings,” Smith said, adding the curfew zones should be in place permanently.

    She acknowledged some council members are against the curfews entirely.

    “But that is not where we are right now,” Smith said.

    “True public safety comes from addressing the root causes with robust youth programs and accountability,” Ward 8 Council member Trayon White said, adding that he saw curfews as a “short-term fix” and not a solution to youth delinquency.

    “I’m not inclined to support a permanent application of this curfew,” Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker said. “It was supposed to get us through the summer or winter while we work on something more long-term, maybe it does not exist yet.”

    Pinto said the vast majority of city youth are doing well, and that should be encouraged. She said she supported funding to “create new recording studios for our kids, making sure that our D.C. public libraries have spaces for young people.”

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    Alan Etter

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  • ‘People’s lives are on the line’: DC 911 reporting change sparks alarm – WTOP News

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    D.C. promised more transparency from the agency that handles 911 calls and nonemergency communications. But a recent rule change may be doing the opposite.

    After receiving criticism over delays in 911 responses, D.C. promised more transparency from the agency that oversees the city’s emergency communications. But a recent rule change may be doing the opposite.

    The Office of Unified Communications, which handles all 911 and nonemergency calls in the District and dispatches police, fire and EMS services, now requires the 911 caller to include their own phone number in their error report on its website. 

    “Please note that an investigation will only be conducted in response to concerns regarding specific incidents,” the website reads.

    A red asterisk appears in the online form next to a box labeled “Phone Number Used to Call 911 or 311.”

    That’s raising alarms for safety advocate Dave Statter, who has tracked more than 40 incidents this year, including 26 wrong address errors.

    “So 40-plus incidents this year will go ignored … even though there were clear address mistakes in 26 of them, where they sent DC fired EMS the wrong way,” Statter said.

    In a response to WTOP, the Office of Unified Communications said the rules have “not changed regarding how issues overheard on 911 dispatches can be reported,” but did not explain why the feedback form now requires a phone number for an investigation into a 911 error to be launched.

    When asked why a phone number is required, an OUC spokesperson said in an email that the agency takes “compliance with privacy laws and safeguarding personal information very seriously.”

    “Investigations are conducted in response to concerns regarding specific incidents when feedback form users have completed all required fields,” the email read. “Once an investigation is complete, records and information may be disclosed to individuals directly involved in the incident.”

    When asked whether the agency is unable to locate a 911 record without a phone number, the spokesperson said that is not accurate. They also said the agency complies with all requirements of the Secure D.C. Act.

    But Statter said he believes the change contradicts that law, introduced by Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto. The Secure D.C. Act requires monthly reporting of 911 errors, which can be found on an online dashboard.

    Pinto defended the requirement for a phone number during a June 6 council budget oversight hearing. She said it helps balance the need to investigate concerns with the workload on an agency that is understaffed.

    “In order to make this dashboard that is updated every single day with an agency that is understaffed and working extremely long shifts, I’m trying to get the balance right of what I am asking them to report on every single day. And one way we can do that is to provide standardization that if they can look up the phone number,” Pinto said in June.

    Statter responded, “It’s ridiculous that OUC claims they have to have the 911 caller’s number to find the incident.”

    “When I report an incident, I give them the date, the time, the location, the units that responded. That’s all the information that’s needed,” he added.

    In one case, Statter documented a cardiac arrest call delayed by more than 10 minutes due to a wrong address. He warned that the consequences of ignoring these reports could be deadly.

    “People’s lives are on the line because OUC doesn’t respond effectively to a 911 call,” he said. “I don’t understand why … they wouldn’t want to investigate all of them.”

    Statter said he will continue submitting reports using the general form, despite the new restrictions.

    Pinto’s office told WTOP she values and prioritizes transparency within the agency and rigorous oversight.

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  • Will DC Mayor Muriel Bowser run for a fourth term? Political speculation heats up – WTOP News

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    Questions continue to swirl in D.C. about whether Mayor Muriel Bowser will seek a fourth term in office. Her recent public appearances have only added fuel to the speculation.

    Questions continue to swirl in D.C. about whether Mayor Muriel Bowser will seek a fourth term in office. Her recent public appearances have only added fuel to the speculation.

    At the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit on Wednesday, Bowser was asked directly about her political future. Her response, however, was cryptic:

    “That’s a question that everybody seems to be asking, and I’ll answer it at the appropriate time,” Bowser said.

    Just a day later, Bowser declined to speak with reporters at a Teacher of the Year event, breaking from her usual practice of holding press gaggles. Her staff was aware questions about her reelection plans were top of mind for the press.

    Political analyst Julius Hobson, Jr., an adjunct professor at George Washington University, said the uncertainty is not unusual for politicians nearing the end of a term.

    “There comes a time you wake up in the morning, and you say, ‘I don’t want to do this again,’” Hobson said.

    Hobson said he initially believed Bowser would run again so she could be present for the opening of the new Washington Commanders stadium in 2030. The stadium deal is one of the most high-profile initiatives tied to Bowser’s tenure, and being there to cut the ribbon could be a defining moment in her mayoral legacy.

    “I thought she would run just to be around for the finishing of the stadium,” Hobson said.

    But, if she steps aside, Hobson said the race could open wide. “When you get that vacancy, you get a serious ‘y’all come’ — everybody’s running,” he said.

    Axios reported that Council members Kenyan McDuffie and Janeese Lewis George are considering mayoral bids. Hobson believes McDuffie won’t run if Bowser stays in the race.

    “Let’s just say if Bowser runs, McDuffie won’t,” Hobson said, adding that if McDuffie does intend to run, he’d first have to give up his seat, causing a “significant change in elected leadership.”

    Hobson also said Bowser’s decision may be influenced by growing frustration among her constituents over federal interference in local governance.

    “She’s got a constituency that is angry about the federal government stepping into the city’s business,” Hobson said.

    A key signal to watch, Hobson said, is fundraising.

    “What I tend to look for is fundraising. … How much money does she have in her political action committee in the bank? That’s always a good indication about whether or not somebody is going to run. Because if they got $2 in the bank, they’re not running,” Hobson said.

    He said he’s also watching for other internal signals as potential clues to Bowser’s plans, such as who replaces longtime adviser Beverly Perry, who recently stepped down.

    WTOP has reached out to both McDuffie and Lewis George for comment.

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  • DC Council’s Brooke Pinto running for Del. Norton’s congressional seat – WTOP News

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    D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto told WTOP Monday she has entered the race to become the city’s next congressional representative.

    Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto tells WTOP she’s challenging Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton for the District’s congressional seat.

    D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto told WTOP Monday she has entered the race to become the city’s next congressional representative, after releasing a video online earlier in the morning.

    Pinto joins Robert C. White Jr., her council colleague, in the campaign for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s seat, which Norton has held for over 30 years.

    The seat representing D.C. in Congress is a nonvoting position.

    In a news release, the Ward 2 council member and chair of the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety pledged to “fight for DC’s autonomy” and the city’s safety.

    She also touted her years of service on the Council and the bills she has shepherded into law, including the public safety package Secure D.C.

    Regarding Del. Norton, Pinto said: “What she has done for the District has been so important. … And that’s what I want to build on.”

    Listen to the entire interview at the top of this post.

     

     

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  • Brianne Nadeau won’t seek 4th term on DC Council – WTOP News

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    Brianne Nadeau announced Thursday that she will not be seeking a fourth term as a member of the D.C. Council.

    Brianne Nadeau announced Thursday that she will not be seeking a fourth term as a member of the D.C. Council.

    She had served as the Ward 1 council member since 2015. Before that, Nadeau served as an advisory neighborhood commissioner from 2007 to 2011.

    “I have always believed that these positions should not be lifetime appointments. That those in leadership should cultivate others to carry on the work,” Nadeau said in a statement. “It’s not easy to step away, especially at such a difficult time for our community and our country. But I do believe that it is the right time for me, for my family, and for Ward 1.”

    She is considered to be one of the most progressive council members. Last week, she was one of two “no” votes on the deal to build a new Commanders stadium on the old RFK Stadium site, maintaining her stance that the taxpayer money would be better invested in schools, libraries and housing.

    Open seats on the D.C. council are scarce. Nadaeu’s departure could set the stage for a crowded field of candidates hoping to succeed her in Ward 1, which hasn’t had an open seat in four decades. 

    The Ward 1 primary is scheduled for next June. The District is set to launch a system of ranked choice voting during that primary election.

    The council added funding for ranked choice voting to the 2026 budget through an amendment that Nadeau authored alongside At-Large Council member Christina Henderson.

    “Voters in Ward 1 will be able to rank the candidates based on their own preferences, ensuring the candidate with the strongest support across our community represents us,” Nadeau said.

    Nadeau will serve through the remainder of her term. Her last day in office will be Jan. 2, 2027, closing out 11 years on the council.

    “I have deep confidence that the people of Ward 1 will continue, as we always have, to fight for justice, support our neighbors, and stand up for our Ward 1 values,” Nadeau said.

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  • DC residents can now get a COVID-19 shot without a prescription – WTOP News

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    Emergency legislation signed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will authorize licensed pharmacies to administer COVID-19 vaccinations without a prescription.

    Emergency legislation signed this week by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will authorize licensed pharmacies to administer COVID-19 vaccinations without a prescription.

    Changes in federal recommendations this year made it a requirement for those who wanted the COVID-19 vaccine to get a prescription first, unless a person was 65 or older or was considered at risk. The Centers for Disease Control’s immunization schedule lists the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, but not the 2025-26 version — leaving the newer shots subject to a prescription requirement.

    That has resulted in several states resorting to implementing their own policies to negate the need for a prescription, which was not required in previous years since the pandemic.

    “D.C. will now match both Maryland and Virginia, so that residents don’t have to travel out of state to be able to get access to the vaccine,” said At-Large Council member Christina Henderson, who chairs the Committee on Health.

    It was her bill that was passed 12-0 by the council and signed by Mayor Bowser.

    Eligible Virginians also now have an easier time getting vaccines due to an order issued by the Virginia Department of Health two weeks ago. Neighboring Maryland will also protect access to vaccines for all of its residents with flu season approaching.

    “The D.C. Department of Insurance Securities and Banking has required that all insurance plans in the District continue to cover all vaccines that were approved as of last December through 2026,” Henderson added.

    Henderson is concerned that the current administration is not focused on proven, health-based practices.

    “I do wish that the federal government would get back on track in terms of truly following the science, as opposed to these associations not correlations that they are seeing in research,” she said.

    She pointed to President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that pregnant women should not take Tylenol because he said — without any supporting scientific evidence — that there is a link between acetaminophen and autism in children. The maker of Tylenol, Kenvue, as well as numerous scientific groups immediately and forcefully rebuked that claim.

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  • DC Council member Robert White says he will bring ‘fire’ and ‘energy’ to DC Congress seat – WTOP News

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    D.C.’s nonvoting delegate in Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, will face her toughest political challenge in more than 30 years, if she chooses to run again in 2026.

    D.C.’s nonvoting delegate in Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, will face her toughest political challenge in more than 30 years, if she chooses to run again in 2026.

    At-large D.C. Council member Robert White has announced he’ll run for the seat, and has expressed admiration and gratitude for Norton, who’s now 88 years old, and her decades of service for D.C.

    White said during this moment, when D.C. is having its Home Rule challenged, the District needs a leader with “fire and energy” to defend it.

    Listen to the full conversation and read the full transcript below.

    At-large D.C. Council member Robert White speaks with WTOP’s Nick Iannelli about his decision to run for Congress and challenge Eleanor Holmes Norton.

    The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.

    • Nick Iannelli:

      Is this a tough decision for you?

    • Robert White:

      Absolutely a tough decision, Nick. Like almost everybody in the District, I see Congresswoman Norton as somebody who has been a lion, just an icon in that seat for so many decades, the only member I remember in my lifetime, and I altered my legal career to work with her. But this year, like other D.C. residents, we have just been brutally attacked by the administration and Congress. Our money’s been stolen. We have masked agents, federal agents in our streets, our bills being overturned, and the congresswoman, after so many years of great work, just can’t defend the District the way that she once did. And we really need someone who can carry that torch, and I believe I can carry it and do justice to the work she’s done.

    • Nick Iannelli:

      And what is she doing that is falling short right now, in your opinion?

    • Robert White:

      Well, we need a member who can be fully engaged in the debates, going to every member of the House and Senate and letting them know why this moment matters, not just for D.C., but for the country. And I’ve spent a lot of my time, spent most of my summer on Capitol Hill, trying to cover that gap. But I also talk to residents every day who have this fear in their eyes about what’s happening because they don’t see the defense that we once had. And this is a body, this Congress, where D.C. has one elected member. They’re supposed to be helping us with the cost of housing, safety in our streets, funding for our schools, and they are not on the ball. So we need somebody with the fire and the energy in that building making Congress work for D.C., and that’s what I plan to do.

    • Nick Iannelli:

      So you’re saying your plans, and what you say needs to happen in this position, but you still haven’t really addressed what Eleanor Holmes Norton is not doing. In your opinion, what is she doing that is falling short in her current position that has led you to have these concerns?

    • Robert White:

      What I’ve said Nick is, again, this year, we have been on our heels. The entire time, we have not seen the defense of Congress, even Democrats voting against D.C., often. We have not gotten our money back that Congress stole from us. The bills to hurt D.C. that will make D.C. less safe are passing the Congress, and so we need someone in there who can fight those back. I’m not here to criticize Congresswoman Norton because she has given us decades of service. What I am saying is she doesn’t have the fire that she once had, and we need someone who has that fire and that energy right now and and that’s what I will bring to Congress for D.C.

    • Nick Iannelli:

      We anticipate that Eleanor Holmes Norton is going to run for reelection at this point. Have you heard differently?

    • Robert White:

      I’ve not heard differently from her. I have spoken to Eleanor Holmes Norton, and I talked to her and told her, I hope we can sit down, and my hope is that at some point in this race, she will see fit to pass the torch and endorse me. We’ve worked together before, and we’ve done some incredible work. And she knows that. I know that building in D.C. and D.C. government very well, so my hope is that she will see fit to pass the torch. She’s not there today, but I think we have some time.

    • Nick Iannelli:

      Look, I’m not going to ask you your exact words exchanged with Eleanor Holmes Norton, but what was the general attitude or the general vibe that you got, the feeling that you got when you had that short conversation with her? Can you tell us a little bit about just the general feeling that you got from her?

    • Robert White:

      She didn’t convey much. She said that she still plans to run at this point. I told her, I respect that, and I respect her. And I said I hope she’ll be open to getting together and really talking about this as as time goes on.

    • Nick Iannelli:

      What do you think about the leadership of Mayor Muriel Bowser in the face of the Trump administration’s continued chipping away at D.C.’s Home Rule, basically, the extreme challenges that the Trump administration is putting on D.C.’s autonomy and its self government. How do you think Mayor Muriel Bowser has handled this situation so far?

    • Robert White:

      Well, look, we have seen the president, no matter how kind or complicit we are, push harder and harder and come down worse on D.C. residents. Our folks are losing their jobs. They’re feeling less safe. We’re not getting mental health and medical services covered, and we have been defenseless. So as the Congress member, I’m going to coordinate with the city, but also national leaders to protect us, but also bring to the forefront for the Democratic Party D.C. statehood, because as the nation gets into these redistricting battles, we need two senators in the District of Columbia who can help stabilize the balance of power for the next decade, and that’s something I want to see more of our Democratic Party talking about. This is in the interest not just of the District of Columbia, but the entire country.

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  • ‘There’s a long way to go’: Sierra Club blasts DC council in approving Commanders stadium deal – WTOP News

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    After the D.C. Council approved a $3.7 billion plan to build a new Commanders stadium, the D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club said it plans to hold the team accountable during construction.

    After the D.C. Council approved a $3.7 billion plan, including more than $1 billion from taxpayers to build a new stadium for the Commanders, the D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the most famous environmental groups in the world, said it plans to hold the team to account during construction.

    In a statement, the group criticized the council for what it called a billion-dollar “giveaway” for the billionaire team owners without having environmental safeguards in place.

    David Whitehead, who serves as the director of the D.C. chapter, told WTOP that his group plans to hold the team responsible for protecting the Anacostia River and the surrounding neighborhood through a series of public engagement meetings. He urged the team to consider their sustainability platform for the RFK grounds moving forward.

    “We’ve got the zoning commission, we’re going to have lots of different community meetings. The development team is going to be talking to our neighbors for the next couple of years, frankly about what’s going to be happening there,” Whitehead said.

    “So, have a lot of points of intervention to try to improve this. And, frankly, the Commanders have a really good opportunity to take the lead on this.”

    Whitehead said the Commanders have the opportunity to build the greenest stadium in the country.

    The statement issued by Whitehead’s group contends that the construction plan, as it stands now, falls short across the board, namely on its zero waste commitments and efforts to ensure flood protections for the region, among other concerns.

    In a statement from Commanders managing partner Josh Harris, the football organization laid out its commitment to a partnership with Recycle Track Systems, a professional waste disposal company that will oversee an effort to keep waste as environmentally responsible as possible.

    The Commanders have also agreed to preserve “many” of the legacy trees on the construction site. Environmentalists are concerned about the trees being removed, which could lead to a greater risk of erosion.

    “We have an opportunity to really lead sports and entertainment greenifying the stadium on a number of measures,” Whitehead said. “We’re not there today, but I’m hopeful that we can figure that out in the next couple of years. There’s a long way to go.”

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  • Federal land, local hurdles: What’s next for the Commanders stadium project – WTOP News

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    Now that the D.C. Council has approved the $3.7 billion deal that will bring the Washington Commanders back to the nation’s capital, the team and the city will focus on beginning the development of the 180-acre RFK Stadium campus.

    Now that the D.C. Council has approved the $3.7 billion deal that will bring the Washington Commanders back to the nation’s capital, the team and the city will focus on beginning the development of the 180-acre RFK Stadium campus.

    Matt Winkler, American University professor and director of sports analytics and management, said the final vote will spark a “gold rush.”

    “There’s going to be a lot of people looking to be stakeholders, and a lot of people, you know, wanting contracts, wanting to get in early on these opportunities,” Winkler said.

    To win the favor of the city and a taxpayer investment of more than $1 billion, the project includes plans for mixed-use development, affordable housing and even a community benefits package. Winkler said that’s what it takes to win over local leaders and residents — a stadium alone doesn’t cut it.

    “Now, they’re expected to be these vibrant districts, you know, that deliver value to the city and the public-private partnerships, not just on game day, but really 365 days a year,” Winkler said.

    He said the stadium will host year-round events because it will have a roof, allowing for events in inclement or cold weather.

    The Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills are also working on new stadium developments, but the Commanders face additional hurdles due to the project’s urban location and the fact that many fans it needs to attract don’t live nearby.

    “D.C. will have to be more creative in how they do this deal and work in partnership not just with the team, but the civic entities around Capitol Hill,” Winkler said.

    He said the team also has to be creative in how it approaches parking, since the traditional big, open lots for tailgating won’t be there.

    The team will also have to deal with a longer process to get plans approved, because the redevelopment project must first go through federal review. The National Capital Planning Commission is among the entities that need to sign off.

    The commission includes commissioners who represent D.C., Maryland, Virginia and the White House.

    “The current administration, and our President, has gotten involved in things like this, so that’s a factor that not many people can say that they have to deal with,” Winkler said.

    The commission told WTOP it is awaiting the plans from the city and will work with the National Park Service on reviewing them when they come in.

    Those approvals will be followed by local design and permitting requirements, all of which could slow the process.

    Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said Tuesday the potential for delays prompted leaders to change the deal to no longer require the first housing units be delivered during the year the stadium opens. Instead, the deadline will be three years after the permitting process is done.

    Also, Winkler said unlike SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, both stadiums funded by one entity, this project’s success will result from all stakeholders working together.

    “This one’s different because it really needs everybody else to come together and move forward, you know, all working together as well, and then fit it in a really tight spot there,” Winkler said.

    Despite some of the snags the team could hit moving forward, Winkler said this project will be a revenue maker.

    “Making it not just a sports investment, but also a business and real estate strategy,” he said.

    Winkler said this project stands out because it will bring a new stadium to a historic site that’s part of the team’s story.

    “Adding the historical component and special memories to the, you know, photos, images that are out there of what it can look like, I think people are going to get really excited about it,” Winkler said.

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  • RFK Stadium deal faces final DC Council vote, with city leaders confident – WTOP News

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    If the bill passes, it will bring the Washington Commanders back to the District to a brand new stadium. It would also bring redevelopment to the long-neglected 180-acre campus.

    The D.C. Council will take its final vote Wednesday afternoon on the Washington Commanders stadium deal. If it passes, the vote will bring the NFL team back to the District. The passage of the RFK Development Act would also bring redevelopment to the long-neglected 180-acre RFK Stadium campus.

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    Demolition is underway at the old RFK Stadium

    “I’m expecting that there will again be a clear majority in support at second reading,” said D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson on Tuesday.

    Seven votes are needed for the 13-member council to pass the legislation. Only three members voted against it during the first vote in August.

    Mendelson said an amended deal has been put together, but the changes do not affect the “major economic terms” of the agreement. Instead, they clarify certain elements of the deal.

    “It’s not changing the abatements. It’s not changing what happens with the tax revenues. It’s not changing the funds that are set up to support the ongoing maintenance of the stadium,” Mendelson said.

    Some of the changes clarify how a $20 million transportation fund can be used. The amendment also adjusts the timeline for when affordable housing must begin to be delivered, starting three years after zoning for residential properties is approved.

    The initial deal had the first portion of housing due by the end of 2030, but Mendelson called that schedule “a little aggressive,” due to the many zoning steps and approvals required before construction can begin.

    Some want to save heritage trees

    Some residents and organizations have expressed concerns over portions of the bill, including a coalition of more than 30 groups calling for, among other changes, protections for large, established trees on the campus, known as heritage trees.

    Speaking near the RFK stadium site, in the median area of East Capitol Street, Nina Albert, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, said many of those trees will remain.

    “We’re standing in the festival grounds, and we’re surrounded by, I think, 20 heritage trees. This represents the vast majority of the heritage trees, and I believe we’ll all work very hard to preserve them. That said, there are some trees that will need to either be relocated or taken down to make way for this project,” Albert said.

    Mendelson also said the project will not lead to the removal of all heritage trees.

    “The waiver that was in the bill at first reading and is in the amendment in the nature of a substitute, doesn’t say every heritage tree is going to be cut down and the team has made clear that they have no intention of cutting down every heritage tree,” Mendelson said.

    Displacement of area residents has also been a concern, which could come up during discussion of expected amendments to the deal. Council member Robert White is among those who have been vocal on the issue, expressing concern that development of the campus could result in residents of the Kingman Park area being pushed out of their homes.

    Possible ‘wealth building’ for residents

    Mendelson said while the council should monitor whether displacement becomes an issue, the project could also benefit many who live nearby.

    “This is not a development project that is taking an existing block of homes or businesses and tearing them down and displacing them. This is a development at the site where there has been a stadium historically. So there may be increased property values, which I rephrase as wealth-building for the residents in the adjacent neighborhoods,” he said.

    Some who live near the stadium have expressed concern about whether the roads and Metro station can handle the crowds.

    Albert said discussions with the community will take place, and that conversations are already underway about whether a new Metro station is needed at the site.

    “Metro is going to be kicking off a study as to the feasibility of expanding their station and maybe even building a new station,” Albert said.

    She said she is confident that at least seven “yes” votes are secured to pass the legislation, which she described as a major economic driver.

    “The project has been significantly vetted, and the deal has been significantly vetted during the first vote. It got overwhelming support by the council, nine to three vote. And so, I believe that the council has been satisfied with the material points of the deal,” Albert said.

    As for whether the city is preparing for the possibility that the deal fails, Albert said she “can’t even conceive” a future with that outcome.

    “If that were the outcome, our work to make sure that D.C. residents have jobs, that there’s continued and certain economic activity over the next four years, that profile would change,” she said.

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    Mike Murillo

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