DC Metro Action is a listing of local actions, entertainment, volunteer opportunities and the occasional rant on a wide range of socially just issues.
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Action of the Day Many of these action alerts are found on the listservs and websites of organizations listed in our "Act Locally" section (Left).
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Baseball in DC
DCist has terrific coverage of the latest chapter of Washington's 33-year quest for a Major League Baseball team. As much as I would like to root for the home team, I am appalled that Mayor Williams is planning to finance the new stadium entirely with taxpayer money. Once again, the mayor tells us that this city's need for better schools, libraries, homeless shelters, affordable housing and other services should take a backseat to another Williams boondoggle for his wealthy developer friends.
What's really got me going is the mayor's plan to sell the name of the stadium to the highest corporate bidder – and then give that money to the owners of the new baseball team. This adds insult to injury. We pay for the stadium, we pay exorbitant prices for hot dogs and beer – and the wallets of the Mayor's cronies grow fat while vital city services are reduced.
Williams says that the money to fund the ballpark would not be available for any other purpose, but I wonder what else might be in the magic box that the mayor uses to pay for pet projects? Visit www.nodctaxesforbaseball.org to find out what you can do to help the mayor get his priorities in line with people's needs, not baseball schemes.
DC Metro Action is published by Michael Schlesinger, a 32-year veteran of electoral and issue organizing who is committed to social justice and to increasing participation in the political process.
All original content (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Michael Schlesinger
