Different Sport, But the Players And the Game Haven't Changed

At first blush, Ed Lazere, Chris Weiss and Brad Humphreys don't seem to have much in common.

Lazere runs the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, a liberal think tank that pushes for money for social services. Weiss is an organizer for Friends of the Earth, an environmental organization, and Humphreys is a sports economist at the University of Alberta.

But when it comes to fighting against public subsidies for sports facilities in the District, the trio is united.

Nearly four years after opposing the public funding of the $611 million Washington Nationals ballpark, Lazere, Weiss and Humphreys have teamed up again to decry a potential $150 million public subsidy of a new soccer stadium for D.C. United. This week, they released a letter signed by Humphreys and 25 other economists who argue that stadiums have little economic impact and are poor public investments.

"Most of the evidence in studies about publicly subsidized stadiums shows that the primary benefits go to the owners and players who play for the team in the facility," Humphreys said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday. "There is no evidence of any tangible economic benefits generated by the facility."

D.C. government leaders, including Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D), are considering legislation to grant the subsidy for a 27,000-seat stadium at Poplar Point, a 110-acre site along the Anacostia River in Ward 8. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and many other civic leaders in the ward have come out in favor of the plan, although others in the ward have opposed it.

Lazere, Weiss and Humphreys published a similar letter related to the baseball stadium in 2004 signed by more than 90 economists. The council, however, ultimately approved that project. Asked why he thought this time could be different, Lazere cited the slowdown of the economy and suggested that city leaders might be more hesitant to pay for a soccer stadium.

"The city's finances are not in as good shape as they were when we were talking about baseball," Lazere said. "People understand the budget is tight."

The trio said that the soccer financing plan would be more of a burden to city residents than the baseball stadium has been. That's because the baseball stadium is being funded primarily through taxes on businesses and on ballpark concessions. But the soccer stadium would be paid by using excess baseball stadium tax revenue, which could otherwise be used to retire the ballpark debt faster or spent on social services such as affordable housing or health care, Lazere said.

Humphreys said the Verizon Center -- the Gallery Place home of the Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics -- has been a success. But, he added, a soccer stadium would be used around 30 times a year, far fewer than the Verizon Center and therefore would be less of an economic development catalyst.

"There are many other ways in which that sort of redevelopment in an urban area can take place more effectively than through sports," Humphreys said.

Schwartz Seeks Fifth Term

Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), who has been the sole representative of the GOP on the council since 2004, announced her reelection bid this week.

Backed by the local Republican Committee, Schwartz will seek a fifth term as a council member.

"Council member Schwartz has a strong record and long history advocating the interests of all D.C. residents, and her announcement is great news for Republicans, Democrats and all D.C. voters alike," D.C. Republican Committee Chairman Robert J. Kabel said in a statement.

In her statement announcing her decision to seek reelection, Schwartz said: "A lot of people have told me, 'Carol, you don't need this job. Why do you want to continue to work this hard?' And the best answer I can give them is that I am very protective of and, in fact, passionate about this city. I often say that I have gotten over every love affair I've ever had except for the one I've had with D.C. for nearly 43 years. I wake up in the morning, usually in the early morning, thinking, 'Which problem, which issue, can I tackle today?' If there is such a thing as a calling, this is mine."

Republican Patrick Mara, a D.C. alternate delegate pledged to presidential candidate John McCain at the Republican National Convention, is hoping to unseat Schwartz. He is a manager of government relations at ML Strategies.