I Had No Part in This Stadium 'Deal'

In an article on the District's stadium negotiations ["Barry Acted to Block Stadium," Metro, Dec. 21], The Post reported that D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) "said he told [Major League Baseball oficials] the lease deal would be blocked by eight council members," including myself, if one particular individual was not chosen to be the owner of the Washington Nationals. That is a lie.

Mr. Barry called me several times to find out how I was going to vote on the deal. Each time I refused to tell him, and I certainly did not participate with him or anyone else in negotiations with one or any other potential ownership group.

Any negotiations in which I have been involved have been directly between me and Mayor Anthony A. Williams, directly between me and D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp, and directly between me and Major League Baseball, namely its president and chief operating officer, Robert A. DuPuy, and its executive vice president for administration, John McHale Jr.

I'm disappointed that neither reporter attempted to contact me before this story was published.

CAROL SCHWARTZ

D.C. Council member (R-At Large)

Washington