WASHINGTON, DC – DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson issued the following statement in response to reports and comments regarding RFK site.

            “Inaccurate statements continue to be made regarding Council action on the Mayor’s proposed deal with the Washington Commanders,” Mendelson said. “First, there is no plan to take the monies out of the budget; there is no plan to delay the RFK resources in this year’s budget. I have said repeatedly that the RFK-related budget items will be protected and fully available: the $500 million capital contribution and the $202 million infrastructure project.

“Second, the Commanders have said the earliest they would need the District’s money and go to the bond markets to finance construction is next summer. We will work within the Commanders’ 2030 timetable.

“Third, I have met several times with the Commanders and I have made clear that the July 15^th deadline – a date not set by the Council and which we knew nothing about – was “off the table.”  It’s not even close to characterize their reaction as “furious.”

 “I have heard over and over from citizens and fellow councilmembers that the Council should do due diligence of this multi-billion-dollar deal before voting to approve it.

“Within a week after the Council received the Mayor’s legislation, the Council retained the Robert Bobb Group as a consultant to analyze the proposed deal including the term sheet and the proposed legislation.

“Due diligence requires additional information from both the Commanders and the Mayor – underlying economic analyses, traffic studies, development plans, etc. The Commanders have been completely responsive.

“The Council will move forward quickly to analyze the Mayor’s terms, improve the deal where possible for taxpayers, and approve a new football stadium. Any suggestions to the contrary are simply false.” 

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