The D.C. Council likely will not vote on the full legislation to bring the Washington Commanders back to the District before mid-September – two months after the July 15 deadline set by the team and the mayor.
If the Council doesn’t approve the stadium development plan for the RFK Stadium campus by that date in two weeks, the Commanders will be free to pursue other locations again.
At his regular press briefing Monday, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson was asked if he’s been warned by Washington Commanders officials or anyone else that if the Council fails to approve the stadium deal in a timely fashion, President Donald Trump might intervene on the team’s behalf.
“I’ve heard it mentioned by a number of people,” Mendelson said. “Different people.”
The Council will vote on the financing portion of the stadium deal July 15, but Mendelson removed the majority of the legislation from July’s vote to give the Council more time for public hearings and closer review of the deal.
The Council is scheduled to be on recess from Aug. 1 through Sept. 15.
“It would be incredibly extraordinary to call the Council back in August,” Mendelson said. “I can’t think of one time in 50 years of home rule that we have called the Council back.”
Mendelson would not say if he might schedule a vote in early September.
“I’m not gonna budge from this, and that is that we are working well with the Commanders and as diligently as possible to try to get to a point where the Council can vote as quickly as possible,” he said.
Pressed on whether that vote could happen before Council is scheduled to return from recess, Mendelson repeated, “Working together as quickly as possible.”
He also pointed to items in the deal he thinks the Council might change before a vote.
“As an example, there’s talk about affordable housing, but there’s nothing in the mayor’s proposed legislation or in the term sheet that sets deadlines or gives any other details with regard to requirements about the affordable housing,” Mendelson said.
“I know that members have raised questions about the number of tax abatements,” he added. “There are no taxes from the site, like property tax or parking tax or general sales tax … to the benefit of the general fund. I don’t know if there’ll be changes there, but that is an issue that members have brought up.”
News4 reached out to the Commanders for comment and awaits a reply.
The U.S. House Oversight Committee sent a statement reading, “Chairman [James] Comer remains a strong supporter of the RFK Stadium legislation, which will unlock the District’s full economic potential, create meaningful new jobs, and enhance the beauty of our nation’s capital. He looks forward to having a conversation with D.C. Council Chairman Mendelson regarding this once-in-a-generation opportunity in the near future.”