Some news stories from the past week involving Chairman Mendelson:

DC Faces Statehood, Marijuana Challenges with Republican Congress – When Congress gave us Home Rule they kind of walked away from the District, but they didn’t give everything to us, as we know, so it’s always a challenge how we can get their attention, get them to work with us because they haven’t delegated everything,” said D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who was easily re-elected for another four-year term. With a new Congress, the challenge is building new relationships, he said. [Roll Call]

Will new financial estimates be enough for D.C. Council to approve a soccer stadium deal? – The cost-benefit analysis commissioned for council raised plenty of questions from Mendelson and other members of council, including how the District will pay for its portion of the costs, whether the District’s roughly $150 million cap for site acquisition and prep work have been set high enough to avoid unexpected overruns, and if the city is getting a good enough value for swapping 2000 14th St. NW in exchange for part of the land it needs to build the new stadium. [Washington Business Journal]

DC Council Chairman Urges Bowser, Gray to Set Aside Differences During Transition – “I think so, and they’d better,” Mendelson said. “I mean, this is important. This is about government, and government should not stall or suffer because of a transition between one mayor and the next mayor.  “But (in) my conversations with the mayor recently, he wants to work with her and work with the transition.” [WJLA]