Marc,

My friends and I had a wonderful time at RFK this weekend. Congrats to the Lerners for a successful re-launch, and for finally getting control of the team.

I was told by food servers that the halfsmokes are coming in the near future. A couple of weeks ago I saw one of the Ali's (Ben's Chili Bowl owners) sons walking the concourse of RFK with clip board in hand. We can only hope Ben's will be providing the halfsmokes.
Great weekend at "The Bobby". The Lerners have done a good job with RFK and the giveaways are quite generous. I thought it was a nice coincidence that the Nats comeback on Friday night started the inning after the Lerners signed the paperwork.

DC Baseball and Fiscal Reality:
Gambling With the Rent Money...or
Why Did We Need A New Stadium Anyway?

If JFK Stadium is good enough for well managed, fun, family-friendly red carpet event, then why are we spending more money for a new stadium? Is DC genuinely a baseball town? Once gain, we can find out. But, only if investor money, rather than hard earned taxpayer revenue, is used to re-test our taste for baseball. Historically, our patience and fortitude for baseball has not stood the test of time in previous generations -- and there are more numerous and diverse entertainment options now.

Surely, there is truth to the maxim that says: Repeating the same actions and expecting a different result is the surest sign of insanity. In the case of a new District of Columbia baseball stadium, long term fiscal insanity. Nevertheless, there is a rush to lay a large load of concrete and steel before Election Day this November -- despite the lack of a truly thorough and public environmental impact study and soil analysis. Has anyone seen a published report or news story regarding any certified study or analysis? How much money will it cost later when future headlines read:

"New Environmental Hazards Discovered At Nats Stadium"

"Stadium HAZMAT Removal Costs Rising"

"Indictments Reveal Hidden Stadium Hazzards"

But, for now, more of our money will be used for a baseball agency, and to cover the coming Major League Baseball's legal challenges over DC government's recent alleged default on lease agreements related to construction. The deal, a bad deal to begin with, continues to deteriorate. I have great concerns, about this new chapter in the taxpayer funded nickel-and-dime deal -- disguised as a revenue generating DC baseball stadium deal. Is this yet another example of our public officials spending the rent money to buy more lottery tickets?

Beyond the hype, happy-talk, and flood of Washington Nationals baseball caps, what happened to that "spending cap" -- and what's behind the doors of those back door deals inside and outside the DC Council?

Even the logic of creating the "Office of Baseball" or de facto DC Baseball Commission is pretentious and costly, even at $750,000. How much funding to prevent rising and random violent crime will be diluted? How many new textbooks or classroom computers will that buy for DC students? How many homeless families can receive permanent housing, rather than warehousing? Under which shell in the unaccountable District budget shell game did this "magic money" come from?

Can you spell f-e-d-e-r-a-l i-n-d-i-c-t-m-e-n-t-s ?

Thinking that another level of bureaucracy, and bate-and-switch economics, will stabilize and validate a bad deal is like putting a crown and gown on a gorilla, then calling it a beauty queen. Was this deal so shaky that only high risk takers would bite? Again, what happened to that "spending cap" ?

No doubt, I like baseball -- though less so compared to DC basketball, soccer, hockey and live entertainment. But, the deeper truth behind the Washington Nationals baseball stadium project is that it's a nickel-and-dime deal hyped as multimillion-dollar baby -- a baby we can't afford to have or feed.

Having questioned some of the principals at the rarely held public meetings, I am thoroughly convinced that their best financial projections will reap only minimal and SEASONAL revenue for the District of Columbia. Filtering through the zigzag answers to my direct questions about the stadium's immediate and long-term financial benefit, versus the actual cost to DC taxpayers, they admitted their projected benefits are at best "a gamble." Even most risk-taking Wall Street bankers have long ago run away from this type of shaky cost/benefit formula being hyped in this DC stadium deal. Do local public officials think that DC is an abbreviation for Dumb Citizens?

Gambling with other people's money -- DC's hard-earned taxpayer revenue -- is not my idea of genuine fiscal responsibility and true accountability for public priorities. This is especially important as we continue to lose our permanent long-term tax base through resident relocation to more affordable, functional, and family-friendly areas outside the District. Why can't our allegedly capable and experienced elected official conceive more fiscally responsible innovative projects that genuinely benefit the District? Finally, as affirmed in the Friday, July 21st, Washington Post: "The District has authorized $611 million in public money to build the stadium near South Capitol Street..." No doubt, Linda Cropp and other mayoral candidates are no longer claiming that "No public money will be used" in the baseball deal.

My idea of building an Ellington Center on the same 20-acre footprint of the stadium is designed to produce exponential economic and social benefits. Ellington Center will be a dynamic YEAR-ROUND entertainment, arts, technology and retail shopping megaplex containing an indoor multi-use sports arena, multimedia family amusement park, 2 live performance auditoriums, the Capital Life & History Museum, 21st century public library, a hotel, 20 video and film theaters, 3 floors of stores, office space, an onsite medical facility, childcare services, DC police security center, customer service training school, easy Metro bus and train access, as well as multilevel underground parking.

My best financially conservative economic projection reveals that Ellington Center will generate at least 2,000 full time sales, administrative, service, technical and professional support jobs for District residents, and a minimum of $250 million dollars in annual revenue -- all in the same stadium construction space. Yet, it can be built for less than $350 million of the nearly $700 million dollars (and rising) that taxpayers will be billed for the Washington Nationals stadium. Much of that $350 million for construction will be funded by the major entertainment, amusement and retail companies that will jump at the opportunity to have a high profile presence in "The Nation's Capital" -- our brand. The multiple sources of real revenue generated out of sales, property, business and employment taxes from Ellington Center will have an immediate and long-term economic impact on greater funding for genuine public priorities -- priorities like first class schools, truly affordable housing, effective healthcare services, public safety, including a major reduction in resident and business taxation pressures.

This exponential economic benefit is increased when you include the millions more in tourist dollars, as Ellington Center becomes a priority attraction for millions of year-round visitors to the District. Again, I'm talking about YEAR-ROUND LONG-TERM socioeconomic benefit, not the seasonal speculative gamble that the stadium deal will gain for Major League Baseball owners -- and the future fortunes of the public officials who backed their deal.

Ellington Center, named in honor of DC's favorite son and America's national treasure Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington, will have the desired economic benefit that diverse District of Columbia residents know is needed for our many people-oriented priorities. Innovative, fiscally responsible projects create more District jobs and multiple sources of real revenue. Long-term year-round revenue generating projects reduce the growing tax burden on residents and businesses. Moreover, it sustains reliable and effective funding for real public priorities. It also maintains a high bond rating and value for DC, and strengthens our financial integrity -- proving we CAN develop and do a fiscally responsible profitable deal. Only new, clear-thinking, leadership can see the big picture benefits and long term advantages.

DC's relationship and history with baseball ventures is not a pretty one. The losing legacy that this team had before and since coming to the District is an economic omen that will generate financial nightmares for years to come. Despite the legendary and able skills of 'Nats' manager Frank Robinson, these nightmares won't be soothed by linking the cost of this genuinely bad deal with the trickle-down revenue expected from the vocal minority of DC and non-District suburban baseball boosters. When the reality check of year 2008 and long-term bills for this fiasco come due, I wonder how many fans will be fanatical about their decision.

The news photos of near-empty RFK stadium seats don't lie -- unlike the public officials who approved this over-hyped high profile boondoggle. Even low-panning TV cameras can't hide what the baseball bean counters already know. As my Dad, an avid baseball fan, used to say about used car dealers who want your money: "The louder and faster they talk, the more they lie."

The deep discontent about how paid and elected DC officials have become drunk over spending our hard earned taxpayer money will awaken an angry sleeping giant that will vote in this election year and beyond. Their administrative arrogance, ongoing fiscal irresponsibility, socioeconomic insensitivity, and overall operational unaccountability will fuel the blow-back they didn't predict. No wonder there is a rush to lay a large load of concrete and steel before Election Day this November -- and definitely before a new, clear thinking, fiscally responsible, and genuinely accountable mayor takes office on Inauguration Day this January.

Once again, DC does not mean Dumb Citizens!

All the reasons, among many more critical socioeconomic ones, why I am a candidate for District of Columbia mayor.

Dennis Moore -- www.MooreForPeople.com

mooreforpeople@gmail.com

Sheesh, lighten up...that was enough "blah, blah" rhetoric to last me through next season. I don't think someone that doesn't know the current ballpark is called RFK and not JFK should be running for mayor or commenting on stadiums.

I too was at one of the games this weekend and had a great time and enjoyed the improvements. It's true though of one comment I heard that the improvements are like putting lipstick on a cow. Cheers to the Lerners doing so though, and bring on the new stadium - a world class city deserves a world class ballpark.

With all the new food choices, are we still allowed to bring our own food in ??

Are we still allowed to bring our own food to the game??

Are we still allowed to bring our own food to the game??

If you can't get the name of the current stadium correct then what credibility do you think you have in running for mayor?

Marc, thanks for the link to the Clark Construction camera. This should be fun to check in every couple of weeks to see how the ballpark is coming together.

No, you're still NOT allowed to bring food in, but you can bring in water. Just water--we had some Gatorade confiscated a couple of weeks ago.

It was a great Nats' weekend with all THREE games on TV---Comcast, no less--if you were clever enough to check WGN from Chicago yesterday afternoon.

WRONG about the food. You can still bring in any sort of non-bulk food you care--we've taken peanuts, sandwiches and cookies multiple times and never been hassled for it. This has always been the case at RFK since the Nats started playing there.

The food concessions are definitely improved (let's hear it for Hard Times chili!), but there are still two (aural) problems at RFK:

* The hack P.A. announcer has yet to be changed. Charlie Brotman and Phil Hochberg, old Senators P.A. guys, gave out the lineups Friday and Saturday and put him to shame. Moreover, both sounded like genuine human beings, not a phony disc jockey.

* "Sweet Caroline" is still being played. Send her back to Boston, please, and if all the Ivy League yuppie Red Sox fans who have relocated to D.C. don't like it, they can follow her too.

Ugh, I second the 'Sweet Caroline' comment above. Who thought it would be a good idea to import some other city's lame tradition? I cringe every time I hear that song at the park. We don't need that here!

Thank you misters "KP" and "brews and baseball." Sorry about the inadvertent typo at the top. Just having a "Senior Moment" at 53. Although it is very clearly not repeated, and is correct, in the rest of the text -- if that was even read and its importance fully understood. Nevertheless, see you at RFK, and the next brew and dog is on me.

Dennis Moore
DC Mayoral Candidate

http://www.mooreforpeople.com/html/dennis_moore_for_dc_mayor.html

www.MooreForPeople.com

I bring in food all the time. Peanuts, sandwiches, fruit....no problem. Only sealed commercial water bottles allowed however (no bike squeeze bottles anymore).

I'm thrilled to hear that some of you are getting food into the park--that's great news and emboldens me to give it another shot. We've been forced to dump sandwiches and even a bag of nuts into the trash at the search stations outside RFK this season, so clearly, we're not picking our screeners well.

Marc - Perhaps the screeners heard that you are an animal hater and so decided to give you special treatment. I have never had a problem bringing any food or water in. It is most definitely allowed and you should raise some sort of ruckus if they try to take your nuts away.

At least they finally played Chuck Brown "Bustin' Loose" in the stadium on Sunday!

Wrongo on the typo, Mr. No Chance At Mayor Guy! It's "bait" and switch, not "bate.

Sorry everyone, I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Dennis Moore.

Me, too! I'm over here! Vote for me!

"Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,
Riding through the moors,
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,
On his horse Condorde . . ."

Am I dead? If I'm not, I'm running, and I've got a better chance than Dennis Moore!

A few factual errors in Mr. Moore's commentary.

The $600 million plus is NOT DC taxpayer money. It's from a special tax on large businesses, like law firms. It's not like we took $$ from DC schools (already funded at astonishing rates). The average DC resident will NOT feel any effect of this tax.

I fully support your right to rant, but at least stick to the facts and don't make things up.

Hillman: If the money is from taxes paid, it's taxpayer money. True, it's only a tax on certain taxpayers, but they are taxpayers nonetheless.

More Chuck Brown! More half-smokes! More --LOTS more -- pitching, for crying out loud!
And sell #24 Johnson jerseys.

No More Sweet Caroline, PLEASE. A lot less Screech. And quit shouting "OH" during the National Anthem. And don-t fidget when I talk to you. And stop tracking mud across my nice clean floor!

The stadium should have been built in Loudoun County. Trust me. These idiots are going to blow this, like they have tried to do several times already. Mark Warner turned away from the Virginia group at the key moment. MLB wanted to make it happen. Very sad. D.C. will blow this thing yet. Trust that.

And any tax on large businesses will ultimately be felt by their customers.

OK, just because I don-t like Neil Diamond drinking songs doesn't mean I hate everything. NOVA didn't want this stadium any more than DC did. But here it is.

So, sorry, but I don't trust you. I don't trust bloviating political wannabes, and I don't trust MLB, either. I trust Chuck Brown, halfsmokes, and pitching.
Sgt. (LT.!) Bradshaw