The comprehensive DC politics roundup — July 25, 2025

By Chris Kain
Reply with tips, links, events, things or send them to news@thedcline.org

The revised RFK stadium deal outlined yesterday by DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson is drawing pushback from several legislators, who say they’re looking for further modifications before they’d be willing to vote next Friday in favor of legislation approving DC’s deal with the Washington Commanders.

“I’m confident that we will have the votes necessary next week,” Mendelson said at Thursday’s press briefing where he outlined the changes he worked out with the team, which he said will benefit DC residents and taxpayers by $779 million to $949 million over a 30-year period. Standing beside Mendelson were at-large member Kenyan McDuffie, Ward 7’s Wendell Felder and Ward 2’s Brooke Pinto.

Since then, at-large member Robert White, Ward 6’s Charles Allen and Ward 5’s Zachary Parker have laid out areas where they think more needs to be done.

Under council rules, a supermajority of eight votes is apparently needed for the legislation to pass next week on first reading because of the chief financial officer’s analysis concluding that the proposed tax abatements aren’t strictly necessary.

“We are still very much in negotiations and discussions with the Commanders,” Parker said In an interview today on WAMU’s Politics Hour With Kojo Nnamdi, “While I’m confident that something will pass, I’m not resting my hat that it will be exactly what the chairman has put forward. … I don’t think we should take for granted that the votes are there.”

Parker, who noted that he and other members are still “digesting” and “weighing” an agreement they saw for the first time yesterday, said he’d like to secure a broader Project Labor Agreement to ensure union jobs for the entire development, not just the stadium. He also cited a need for more accountability on adequate transportation planning and environmental protections for a site so close to the Anacostia River.

In a statement this morning, White said the deal set for a vote on Friday still doesn’t prioritize DC residents. A fair deal, he said, must incorporate anti-displacement protections, including a freeze on property taxes in nearby neighborhoods; a strong PLA with local hiring provisions to encompass the entire project; penalties for failure to meet deadlines for the construction of 6,000 housing units; a move of the team’s headquarters to the District; and removal of the tax exemption on stadium seats.

“Let me be clear: this isn’t about stopping a stadium, it’s about building one that doesn’t steamroll D.C. residents,” White said, adding that he hopes residents will show up to the public hearing next week.

“This isn’t just about football,” he continued. “It’s about fairness. It’s about who gets to stay in D.C. and who gets pushed out. I didn’t sign off on this deal, and I won’t unless it puts D.C. residents first.”

Click here for full story from the DC Line