Friday Question of the Day – What would you like to see happen to the RFK site – Bring Football Back and/or Build Housing/Parks/Retail? Other?

photo by DCbmyers

In addition to what you’d like to see happen, what do you think actually will happen at the RFK site? When do you think it’ll happen?

From Council Chair Phil Mendelson:

“DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson released a statement following the announcement by Congressman Comer of a bill to transfer by a long-term lease the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Campus site to the District.

“I do not oppose the bill and the extension of the lease of the RFK campus to the District,” Mendelson said. “And I think the Council will go along. I am especially amiable to the broad potential uses of the land outlined in the bill – including residential and commercial development, public outdoor recreation, and green space. I also appreciate that the bill contains requirements for improved public access to the Anacostia River and maintains the Anacostia River Trail.

“At the same time, the primary challenge with developing the land is funding. We are maxed out in our borrowing over the life of the capital improvement plan adopted for Fiscal Year 2024-2029. Any development of the campus must come at the expense of private developers. To expect otherwise would come at the expense of District schools, public housing, better roads, etc.

“Finally, of great concern to me, is that the NFL continues to withhold any report of Beth Wilkinson’s investigation, conducted in 2020-21 regarding allegations of widespread sexual harassment in the Commanders’ workplace. At least one of the allegations in that investigation involves Dan Snyder personally, apparently kept secret by a confidential settlement.

“I have said consistently that before the District government provides any assistance to the Commanders the investigative reports relating to sexual harassment have to be released. We are halfway there. But to move on, now, without continuing to insist on full disclosure is to abet the coverup. Sexual harassment is a real problem, and it is nurtured by silence – silence of the victims, silence by the investigators. With the transfer of ownership, the Commanders can no longer be hurt by releasing of the report. There is no longer a reason (as if there was ever a legitimate reason) to withhold the results of Ms. Wilkinson’s investigation. It must be released.”