| | | The Commanders stadium deal gets the longform treatment in The Athletic, which describes it as a sign of the times: “While every modern stadium deal is challenging,” authors David Aldridge and Nicki Jhabvala write, “the Commanders’ saga is especially illustrative of how far owners — and municipalities — will go to land a new stadium.” | | Local-D.C. obsessives, though, will find the 5,100-word piece an even more illustrative example of how hard it is to get big things done in D.C. The stadium deal required navigating congressional budget brinksmanship, Elon Musk, federal real estate processes, and local politics in three jurisdictions. Even with the rich and powerful on board, they weren’t sure they had the votes. | | Dishy details: Owner Josh Harris flew his helicopter over Virginia to scout sites, but the failure of Ted Leonsis’ stadium plan turned everyone against the Old Dominion. Co-owners Mark Ein and Mitch Rales served as “point guards” to fix relationships torched by former owner Dan Snyder. Business, politics, and journalism heavyweights attended private lobbying sessions at Cafe Milano; Jose Andres spoke at one. | | Meanwhile, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser leaned on her surprising relationship with GOP Rep. James Comer, while top aide Beverly Perry used a colleague from her days at Pepco to lobby Republican Sen. Mike Lee over the land transfer. | | Now if only they could show this level of discipline on the field! | |
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| | | | The Alliance Française of Washington, DC invites you to discover the many ways our Gallic friends have influenced the neighborhood of Georgetown. On May 30, join Off the Mall Tours for a 2-hour walk introducing you to how Georgetown played host to French influences including Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette, the first French Ambassador to Washington, and the woman who brought French cooking to American housewives. Part of the AFDC France Forever series. Reserve your place today. |
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| | What D.C.'s Talking About |
| Mr. Bow Tie Supports Mr. McDuffie. Former mayor Tony Williamsendorsed Kenyan McDuffie for mayor. On one level, that’s no shock: Both come from the business-friendly wing of local Democrats. But Williams, first elected in 1998, also created the vision of D.C. that every subsequent mayor has hewed to: A more dynamic but more unequal city. That vision is now in the balance as McDuffie faces Janeese Lewis George, the strongest progressive prospect in that whole 28 year span. | | Andrews Spill Latest. Maryland lawmakers wrote an angry letter to the Air Force Secretary about an undisclosed 32,000-gallon jet fuel spill at Joint Base Andrews. The oil made its way from the base to Piscataway Creek, which feeds the Potomac. It’s the second time this year that a spill on federal land has threatened local waterways. Expect more finger-pointing between locals and feds: Bowser just asked FEMA to reconsider her request to have the Potomac sewage spill declared a major disaster. | | Tourist Trouble. D.C.’s events-marketing arm released new data on tourism this week, the Washington Business Journal reported. The good news: Tourism was basically the same in the first year of Trump as the last year of Biden. The bad news: International tourism was way down, which matters because overseas visitors tend to spend more than domestic ones. At a “travel rally” Wednesday, Bowser said this was a subset of a national problem. | | Paint It White, Ctd. The National Capital Planning Commission met to discuss Trump’s proposal to paint the Executive Office Building white.Public comment was overwhelmingly negative from preservationists, architects, and at least one citizen who read from the Bible. Critics called it wasteful, ahistorical, and destructive. The board, dominated by Trump appointees like White House aide Will Scharf and midterm-election czar James Blair, will give its verdict at a future meeting. It has yet to reject a Trump request. | | Finally: Competition — it’s good. NOTUS, soon to be The Star, announced a 6-person local reporting team including former Post food critic Tom Sietsema, former City Caster Michael Brice-Saddler, and frequent City Cast guest Martin Austermuhle. | | Did someone forward you this email? To subscribe, visit https://dc.citycast.fm/newsletter | | |
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| | | Welcome to our bi-weekly tradition where we feature a different pet twice a month from City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue that is looking for a forever home! | | | Need a shadow? Charlotte Bronte might be the girl for you. She’ll quietly keep you company, no matter where you are. Charlotte will find a spot to lie down right by you, especially if she thinks you might have some snacks. Adopt her today! | | | |
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| | | | | Don't miss your chance to claim a custom-designed tote bag that shows your love for D.C. Join today! |
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| Thanks for reading! If you’re enjoying it, please sign up to be a City Cast member, just like Alina P., Danya G., Winnie Y., Adam C., Rusty L., Tamara B., Andrew N., Stephanie U., Tiffany P., Katie W., Kristen T., Brian B., Judith P., Mary S., John B., Kate C., Matthew B., Gordon T., David L., and Zach M. | | Meantime, how would you have voted on the stadium? Would you advise international visitors to hit D.C.? And what color would you paint the Executive Office Building? I want to know! Drop me a line at mike.schaffer@citycast.fm. | | Did someone forward you this email? To subscribe, visit https://dc.citycast.fm/newsletter |
| Michael Schaffer | This week’s newsletter was edited by Yu Vongkiatkajorn. |
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