BALLPARK!
Council Backs Waterfront Stadium – The Post
Preliminary Approval Given, 6 to 4, for Mayor’s Public Funding Plan to Bring Baseball to City
More details on the package passed last night. We are not out of the woods yet, Jim Graham (D, Ward-1) for one, is not really happy (see Loss of Largesse Doesn’t Surprise Library Backers) and needs to be brought back in. Let’s bask in the glory for at least a day or two though.
The Wash. Times take: Council narrowly OKs ballpark
Mayor’s Presence Rewarded in Vote – The Post
Williams Delays Trip, Endures Debate
Hizzoner finally realized that it might be a good idea to be in the room for this legislation about which he cares so much. About time, Tony!
More from The Post: Amendments Aim at Cutting Costs
Thom Loverro – At least no one looks idiotic – The Wash. Times
Look out! Thom Loverro has broken free of his chains! In today’s column, Loverro calls out those who stand in the way of the ballpark and imagines what would happen had the vote not passed yesterday with Bud Selig coming to town or if it does not pass in a few weeks. So, in reality, some people (Linda Cropp, David Catania, the protestors) DO look idiotic and this is not a great headline. Go Thom go!
OMBUDSMAN TIME
From Matthew J. Clifford, WWN ombudsman:
You recently reported that the District of Columbia City Council Voted in favor of baseball ballpark funding with 6 yeas, 4 nays, and 3 abstentions. Standard parliamentary procedure would dictate that since 6 members voted for the proposal and 7 members did not vote for the proposal, it would fail to pass. It is commonly known that an abstention is a de facto negative vote. The passage of the bill makes it apparent that the city council flagrantly defies the norm and that the district is, in fact, a fouled up place.
Sir, the district is an amazingly fouled up place — there might be two reasonable elected officials in the whole town. We can only hope that the ballpark meets final approval so that we never have to care about D.C. politics again.