An Oct. 19 article incorrectly said that D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) voted in favor of an emergency proposal to build parking garages near the new baseball stadium. Graham voted in favor of an amendment to the emergency legislation. But he later voted against the legislation. The final vote was 7 to 6 in favor of the emergency bill, which failed because it needed nine votes.
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Stadium Garages Proposal Rejected
Progress continues on the stadium that will be the home of the Washington Nationals baseball team.
(By Michael Robinson Chavez -- The Washington Post)
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There is $25 million for parking in the council's $611 million budget, meaning the city would need an additional $31 million. Fenty, with support from Gandhi, proposed that the city use $17 million in additional stadium-related taxes generated from local businesses during the stadium's first two baseball seasons; $8 million in stadium contingency funds; and $6 million in bonds that could be paid off by revenue made by the city by parking cars in the garages during non-game days.
Several council members argued yesterday that, technically, Fenty's plan would raise the cap by $23 million because of the planned use of the business tax revenue and the parking revenue, funds that could be spent on other city needs.
"We're adding tens of millions to the cost of this project with no end in sight," said David A. Catania (I-At Large).
Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) told colleagues: "You said under no circumstances would you support any raising of that cap. Now you are doing so. It betrays the trust of the community and my personal trust."
Fenty, who had voted consistently against public funding for the stadium, lobbied colleagues on the dais yesterday, focusing heavily on Phil Mendelson (D-At Large). But Mendelson said he did not want to allocate more money.
"I agree with all that was said about the additional cost," Fenty told colleagues. "There are a lot of different options, but not many that preserve the economic development on the site and ensure the project is completed on time."
In addition to Fenty and Evans, Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D), Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3), Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6) and Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) voted in favor of the plan.
Catania, Barry, Mendelson, Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) and Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D-Ward 5) voted against it.
Shortly before the vote, Williams expressed frustration: "Take any major project from the pyramids to Stonehenge. The stupid parking lot has taken more hours and meetings per parking space. It's incredible."
