Washington Municipal Council President DC announced on Thursday that an agreement had been concluded between the city and Washington commanders on a modified stadium agreement, despite the threats earlier this week by President Trump to block any agreement.
The NFL team is in negotiation with the district for its plans to build a new stadium on the RFK stadium site at DC 30 years after the decampement of Maryland, but the proposal faces a myriad of future challenges.
Mr. Trump said On July 20, that if the commanders “do not change the name in” Washington Redskins “, and get rid of the ridiculous nickname,” Washington commanders “, I will not agree to build a stadium in Washington”. The team changed its name “Washington Redskins” five years ago, because the term is widely considered as a racist insult The Amerindians, but Mr. Trump recently reworked calls for a return to the old name.
“I think that everyone was perplexed by the president’s comments, and in this sense, they certainly have not been useful. I do not know where they are going. And I actually qualified as distraction, in the many senses of this word,” DC council, Phil Mendelson, said on Thursday’s comments from Mr. Trump during a press conference.
The council should vote on the proposal on August 1, with a second vote scheduled for September 17, according to Mendelson. Mendelson said he was “convinced that we will have the necessary votes” to adopt the agreement next week.
In addition to the president’s imminent threats, the DC Council and the commanders are also faced with the technical difficulties surrounding the transfer of control over the ownership of the RFK stadium. While the stadium is located on federal lands, the city was Delivered by Congress In January to control the property for 99 years, which would allow its redevelopment. The agreement reached today today signals a stage towards the reception of the approval of the municipal councilors on the redevelopment plan, but the real test will be delivered with the vote of August 1.
Regardless of the upcoming road dams, the proposal seems to have general support, both district politicians and residents.
“Bringing the commanders back home is more than a stadium. [a] time when we need it most, “the mayor of DC Muriel Bowser said THURSDAY.
The agreement, from its latest amendments, includes $ 950 million in DC income benefits, and should allow district taxpayers of $ 55 million, according to Mendelson.
“A large part of the reaction we have obtained from residents, at least, that I heard, and I think my colleagues agree, was that the agreement could be better for the district. And I mean, I heard a lot of people,” I support the team. I want the team in a district, but I think it could be a better deal. “And so I think the commanders heard this,” said Mendelson.
Negotiations will probably continue, with any additional changes to be made later, but while Mendelson has declared “there is still a lot to be drawn up in terms of legal documents”, the current agreement represents the “basic framework” of the agreement.
Mendelson, who had previously raised concerns concerning the proposal due to his costssaid he “[put] Apart from my own point of view “on the agreement due to the support of residents of DC and its colleagues member of the Council, and has since been satisfied with progress.
“”[T]Commanders were very positive, constructive in our negotiations, “said Mendelson.” I have no complaints. “”
