Meagan Flynn covers D.C. government and politics for the Washington Post, and she was one of the journalists who broke the story last week of the House Oversight Committee and Rep. James Comer preparing legislation that could allow a Commanders stadium to possibly return to the RFK site.
If you had asked Danny Rouhier to bet a couple weeks ago that a Republican representative from the Midwest and a Democrat mayor from D.C. would come together for the good of the people of their district (bred and transplanted), well, you'd have won a lot of money from him.
And possibly from Flynn, too, who explained to Danny Monday how it all went down.
"It's interesting, especially seeing the start of this Congressional session, where Republicans have just pummeled DC with hearings regarding crime and public safety and disapproval resolutions of certain policies," Flynn said. "But, at the most recent House Oversight hearing, where Mayor Bowser appeared, Comer showed some interest in working with Bowser while still sort of having a prickly relationship with council members. Seemed to almost make a distinction there, saying he wanted to work with the Mayor on a number of issues, and one of those was bringing 'a new arena' to DC."
Fast forward a couple months, and we have planned legislation that takes the city's lease on RFK, which was up within the next 15 years, and push it out a century?
"We are told this would extend DC's lease on RFK, which could ultimately allow the city to move forward with development there," Flynn said. "It would not be a sale of the land, which is what many DC City Council members wanted, but we're told it could be a 99-year lease extension and modification that opens the door to other, mixed-use development options. Council members have been clear they want some affordable housing and mixed-use, which isn't possibly now, but should this happen, that could open the door."
Take a listen to Flynn's entire segment with Danny below, where she goes deeper into the terms of the legislation, and who wants to control what happens at the RFK site and how!
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