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WSQT Guerilla Radio 93.5 in DC
Yesterday the City Council held a bruising nine hour hearing on the stadium, whose costs have now ballooned out of control to almost $600M.
The council declared the absence of any Major League Baseball (MLB) reps at the hearing, an insult. Also, Mayor Williams did not attend. Instead the Mayor Rat's two chief turds, City Administrator Robert Bobb and CFO Gandhi along with reps of the project attended. You could almost see the hot irons sizzling against their flesh, almost hear the generators whine as the council grilled them for round after round.
It was pointed out that the Federal Government, immune to DC eminent domain, is refusing to simply give away reservation 247, one of the stadium parcels, and the House of Representatives has passed a bill to sell it at market value.
Graham predicted the DC courts could well rule the stadium a "private use" of land, which under DC law would block the use of eminent domain on the private plots as well, pointing out that only a couple landowners have agreed to sell and NOT ONE has signed a contract! All others are going to court.
If eminent domain is approved, but only after delays, the Feds could end up holding the last parcel needed, with the result that "market value" would be defined at that time, ballooning to an incredible figure. Shit-that could be over $100M just for that parcel if it is blocking the project.
I suspect the landowners, knowing this country's sorry history with promises of relocation assistance, have decided their only recourse is to FIGHT!
The stadium bonds, it was pointed out, would force DC so close to its statutory debt ceiling as to prohibit the issuance of bonds for the school reconstruction project, so we must choose-schools or stadium?
Several times, the Council vowed not to approve one penny more than $535M, for which it now appears the stadium cannot be built. Graham pronounced it "dead."
The Washington Post claims baseball can sue the city if the stadium is NOT built, but not even Robert Bobb was claiming that, as anyone familiar with business law would know that without a prior bill passing the council to empower the Mayor's negotiating team, they could not sign any deal with MLB that would be binding on the council. Of course, there are over 20 lawsuits proposed if the project goes forward!
In addition, even the Mayor's team only agreed last year to $400M, and it has increased 44% in just ONE year! Also, MLB has refused no name an owner or even propose a serious elase deal-and is REFUSING to guarantee rent payments of just $6M a year if the players go on strike.
Personally, I hope neither side budges and MLB pulls the team-I will say good riddance and even Councilmember cropp said "life would go on" without baseball.
Also provided here:, the "wer're still here" intro to our current show, broadcast on 93.5FM from an alternate location
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