Washington, D.C
Plan to welcome two pro sports teams to Virginia is ‘bad,’ opposition group says – Virginia Mercury
ALEXANDRIA — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, are facing strong opposition to their proposal to move the teams to Northern Virginia from residents on both sides of the Potomac River in the commonwealth and Washington D.C.
On Thursday morning, a group made up of some city of Alexandria residents and their D.C. cohorts gathered to express their concerns about the proposal’s perceived lack of transparency and the negative impacts on taxpayers and their quality of life.
“We feel very strongly that the arena should stay in D.C., the Capitals and Wizards should stay in D.C., and that the citizens of Alexandria, Virginia should not pay a billion dollars to a billionaire to finance his project,” said Andrew Macdonald, former vice mayor of the city of Alexandria, Thursday morning outside the Potomac Yard Metrorail station with a coalition of residents in opposition. “It’s a bad financial deal — bad for the city, bad for Virginia.”
Virginia lawmakers are expected to meet next Wednesday for the first time this year to discuss hundreds of pieces of proposed legislation, some of which have not been published yet, including a measure to create a new authority that would issue $2 billion in bonds to develop an entertainment district, to include a sports arena, a practice facility for the Wizards, a performing arts venue and an expanded esports facility.
Virginia announces plan to bring two pro sports teams to Alexandria
The plan
On Dec. 13, Youngkin was joined by members of his administration and Monumental Sports and Entertainment to unveil plans to create a $2 billion entertainment district in Alexandria along the Potomac River.
The proposed district would be adjacent to the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus near Amazon HQ2 with access to air, bus and rail services.
City of Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, said in a recent newsletter to residents that the proposal will “catalyze thousands of units of new housing, including a large infusion of committed affordable units, the creation of a new school, parks, and more.”
Wilson added that the proposal will also provide almost a billion dollars, minimum, in permanent annual economic output for Alexandria.
If a deal were to be reached, the pro teams’ owner Monumental Sports and Entertainment would have a 40-year lease of the site and would repay the bonds annually through rent payments, arena parking revenues, district naming rights and incremental taxes generated by the development. The company would also invest $403 million into the proposed project, and Alexandria would contribute $56 million toward the construction of the performing arts venue and $50 million for an underground parking facility.
Wilson said Alexandria has increasingly relied on real estate tax revenue over the past couple of decades from either residential taxpayers or the owners of residential multi-family buildings.
Today, he said only 19% of the revenue collected is from the commercial tax base.
“That leaves us in a place where today residents of Alexandria are footing a larger percentage of the cost of their government than they ever have,” Wilson said. “The trajectory that we have seen over the past two decades shows no sign of abating in the future. The only true way to change this trajectory is through economic development.”
Opposition, concerns
Macdonald, one of the coalition leaders of area residents, said it’s a “laudable” goal to grow the commercial tax base to reduce property taxes, but is uncertain the arena project will address the matter.
“If this is not a financially stable project, which we don’t think it is, you’re not going to be creating more commercial revenue in a way that’s going to benefit the town or reduce property taxes for homeowners,” Macdonald said.
Macdonald and others at Thursday’s press conference outside the Potomac Yard Metrorail station said they are also upset with the lack of transparency, as the governor’s administration and local leaders failed to consult residents. The proposal also doesn’t address impacts on the environment of the area, which residents said has a history of flooding. They also voiced transportation and traffic worries.
Residents on both sides of the Potomac River said the rail station may not be able to accommodate the influx of passengers.
For example, the Potomac Yard rail station has only two pairs of escalators and stairs for accessing the two rail lines, compared to the three rail lines at Gallery Place Chinatown underneath the teams’ current home at Capital Arena in Washington D.C.
At the same time, Metro is facing a $750 million shortfall with threats to jobs and services. The governor did not include any additional funding for Metro in his proposed budget announced last month.
Youngkin budget calls for income tax cuts, sales tax increases
The potential for increased traffic through Alexandria is also a concern.
“The mayor’s goal of forcing people into public transportation is very laudable and I think it’s something we wholeheartedly support, but the reality is, people are still going to drive,” said resident Shannon Curtis. “We can’t stop that and we have to deal with reality and the reality is, limited parking is going to force people into surrounding neighborhoods, it’s going to create a traffic boondoggle that is already a serious concern without the arena in this neighborhood.”
Residents also questioned how much Alexandria government and taxpayers will have to pay. Macdonald said he believes the coalition of residents will make a trip to Richmond to address lawmakers about the proposal.
“This [two] billion dollars is not coming out of the ether; it is affecting Virginia and what it can do in other ways,” Macdonald said. “You’re having to borrow this money … it affects your debt. So it does have an impact on other things.”
Legislators’ views
Lawmakers are not in total agreement with the proposed, seemingly lucrative proposal ahead of the General Assembly session, beginning on Jan. 10.
Newly elected Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, said in a statement she has not decided whether or not to support the proposal that rests inside her district and neighborhood, but is considering everyone’s views, concerns and questions about the proposal.
“I am concerned by the lack of detail from the governor about the transportation investments he plans to make and his lack of commitment to Metro funding,” said Bennett-Parker in a statement. “While there are many other factors to consider as well, the project absolutely would not work without a robust, functioning Metro system. I also want to be sure that care and attention would be paid to ensuring that our neighbors in Alexandria would not be displaced as a result of this development.”
She said the proposal would help diversify Alexandria’s tax revenue and help generate “much-needed” funds for affordable housing and education, and incorporate local businesses and workers.
“However, I will be weighing that against other considerations – including community input, state funding for Metro, and whether the project prioritizes and protects local workers and ensures fair wages,” Bennett-Parker said.
One of the Senate’s top influential Democrats, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, told WAVY 10 following the governor’s budget presentation on Dec. 20 that ahead of the arena proposal she’s prioritizing Hampton Roads toll relief for drivers using the Downtown and Midtown tunnels between the cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk. She was recently named chair of Senate Finance & Appropriations.
According to the latest toll rates, two-axle vehicles pay between $6.77 to $7.57 depending on the time of day, and $2.26 to $3.06 with an E-Z Pass. The price increases for heavy vehicles.
Rates could escalate until 2026, according to 13 News Now.
Lucas posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Anyone who thinks I am going to approve an arena in Northern Virginia using state tax dollars before we deliver on toll relief and for public schools in Hampton Roads must think I have dumbass written on my forehead.”
Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, and Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, chairs of the Senate and House Committees, said last month they are still considering the proposal, but understand that, if passed, it could alter transportation significantly.
“I think the impact that venue is going to have on our transportation system is clear, and I think that if that program is to move forward … there’s still a lot of questions and everyone wants to make sure that we really understand where the money’s coming from, where it’s going, how exactly it’s going to work and if it is going to have any impact on taxpayers,” Delaney said. “But if we get to a place where we’ve worked through that, and there is an appetite to consider or support that project, I think it’s going to be completely tied to the investment in Metro because its location is going to put an excessive strain on the Route 1 corridor for cars, but then it’s also right at a Metro station.”
Boysko, who wants to make sure transit systems are funded adequately, predicted the governor would not put any money in his budget proposal for Metro immediately, but said lawmakers will negotiate with him and the administration through the session.
“But again, it is a non-starter for me for the project down in Alexandria if we do not have adequate funding for Metro and transportation,” Boysko said. “Schools, transportation, and mental health have to be at the top of the list before anything else, and so we will be ready to come to the table and work, but we want to see some progress on all these things.”
In a joint statement from Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the governor’s office, city of Alexandria and JBG SMITH, the groups are beginning to share their vision to “build a world-class” entertainment district and engage with the community to gain their feedback.
“Alexandria residents are rightfully proud of their city and can be assured we will listen to the needs and concerns of the community,” the joint statement reads. “Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Alexandria, and JBG SMITH look forward to partnering with community members in Alexandria and fans across the Greater Washington Area to bring to life a collective vision for Potomac Yard and create exceptional experiences and regional economic growth for decades to come.”
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Washington, D.C
Candidates for mayor and D.C. congressional delegate outline vision for District’s future
By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Washington Informer teamed up with the D.C. Democratic Party (DC Dems), the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ), the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) and the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) to host a debate for delegate and mayoral candidates in D.C. on May 2.
The debate covered critical issues, including housing affordability and displacement, education outcomes and economic equity.
Mayoral candidates debate how to balance growth with equity
The mayoral candidates included Councilman Vincent Orange, Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George, Gary Goodweather, Rini Sampath, and former at-large Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie.
Each drew clear distinction on how to balance economic growth with equity, particularly when it comes to housing education and access to opportunity for D.C. residents.
On economic policy and business investment, candidates debated whether the city’s challenges stem from revenue or how funds are managed. Sampath emphasized the need to grow the tax base by supporting businesses, arguing that social programs depend on economic strength.
“We need to be attracting businesses to Washington,” said Sampath. “We need to make sure it’s easier for them to thrive.”
Goodweather pointed to inefficiencies in city spending, proposing the creation of an equity map to track investments in D.C. residents and businesses.
“We’ve increased our budget 70 percent over the past seven years. Our economy is down 8.5 percent,” said Goodweather. “We need to take a look at the budget and double down on the services that are working. For the ones that aren’t, we need to reallocate those dollars somewhere else.”
Lewis George framed economic growth and affordability as interconnected, arguing that stabilizing residents ultimately benefits businesses.
“What we do is we set up a system in which we allow people to be able to afford to live here,” said Lewis George. “When people can afford child care, housing, groceries and utilities that means those people are going to patronize our businesses.”
Education also emerged as a key issue. All candidates said they would keep mayoral control over D.C. Public Schools.
McDuffie emphasized improving the quality of schools and workforce pathways.
“We’re going to address overcrowded schools West of the park by making better quality schools East of the park,” said McDuffie. “We’re going to make sure we focus on early literacy, trades and apprenticeships for our middle school students— giving them early access to jobs that are being created in projects across the District.”
Lewis George highlighted the need for stronger oversight and student engagement, particularly around attendance.
“I will also be addressing chronic absenteeism because if our students aren’t in school, we can’t close the literacy and math gap at all,” said Lewis George.
Orange proposed making the University of the District of Columbia tuition-free and doubled down on greater investment in workforce development for students.
“I will make sure that every agency in the District of Columbia has a paid youth apprenticeship program upon graduation from high school to make sure that our young people have health benefits, retirement benefits and entry level jobs and they will grow with the District of Columbia,” said Orange.
On housing and displacement, particularly around the planned redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site, candidates offered competing visions for ensuring longtime residents can remain in their communities.
Orange called for deeper affordability thresholds and community input.
“I’m not talking about 80 percent of the area median income, I’m down at 40 or 50 percent of the area median income,” said Orange.
Sampath stressed the need for stronger planning and renter protections, noting that of the 6,000 homes being developed under the project, only 30 percent are affordable.
“We need to make sure we’re protecting our renters rights in that region,” said Sampath. “Under my administration, we will have an equity plan that names exactly how we will do that.”
Delegate hopefuls outline priorities for statehood, housing and economy
D.C. delegate candidates are vying to succeed longtime D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who announced her retirement in January after more than three decades in Congress.
They include: Kinney Zalesne, former White House fellow, Councilman Robert White, Trent Holbrook, former senior legislative counsel to Norton; Greg Jaczko, former chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and Councilwoman Brooke Pinto.
On the question of D.C. statehood, White and Holbrook argued that it’s the right moment to finally push the decades-long effort across the finish line.
“People are hungry for a leader that can direct our energy and resources. I’m going to be that leader and build on top of what Congresswoman Norton did,” said White. “This is our time to get statehood.”
Zalesne, meanwhile, emphasized that advancing D.C.’s priorities will require broadening the city’s coalition of political allies and rethinking its economic strategy.
“We need to rethink our economy,” said Zalesne. “That wasn’t true for most of her leadership, but it is now because we’ve had a full frontal assault on our economy by this administration, and we need someone with business experience.”
Pinto also focused on economic transformation, particularly as it relates to adapting to emerging industries.
“I think the biggest difference we need to lean into is accepting new industries to come here,” said Pinto. “We are in an AI revolution, and if we don’t get this right and properly regulate it to keep residents safe, we’re going to miss the boat and wish we had done it sooner.”
On housing affordability, candidates largely agreed the crisis requires both federal intervention and local accountability. White argued for expanding federal involvement through land transfers to the District to support affordable housing development. Holbrook proposed reviving and adjusting a first-time homebuyers tax credit and increasing funding for public housing vouchers.
Jaczko emphasized expanding access to credit and restoring programs aimed at helping first-time buyers.
“One of the programs that’s been severely decimated by the Trump administration is an opportunity for alternative credit programs to allow people who may not have significant credit history to afford a home and to buy a home,” said Jaczko. “That’s an area that I will specifically focus on working to reestablish that program.”
Pinto highlighted her “Breaking Ground D.C.” plan, which includes repealing the federal Height Act and building housing above transit corridors and making rent tax-deductible.
Job displacement and the future of the federal workforce also emerged as a central concern, particularly amid federal layoffs and broader workforce reductions affecting Black and low-income communities.
Pinto argued that the next delegate must focus on both protecting federal workers and helping them transition into new careers.
“It is imperative that our congressional delegate is strong on supporting our federal workforce and on helping people upskill and learn other skills to be part of the economy in other places if they have lost their job,” said Pinto.
Zalense tied these shifts to the erosion of the Black middle class in D.C.
“The DOGE program was not about efficiency. We know that. It was about destroying the Black middle class, and we have got to take that personally,” said Zalense. “We have got to be outraged, and we’ve got to fight for those jobs to come back in a Democratic administration.
WASHINGTON (7News) — If you’ve got plans around D.C., Maryland, or Northern Virginia this weekend, you’ll want to stay flexible.
The forecast brings a mix of warm temperatures, sunshine, and a few rounds of showers and storms—especially Saturday and late Sunday.
Here’s a simple, hour-by-hour style breakdown so you can plan ahead.
Saturday: Warm Front, Clouds, and Spotty Storms
Morning (6 AM – 12 PM)
Mostly cloudy to start
A few early showers possible, especially toward the MD/PA border
Temperatures climbing through the 60s into the low 70s
What’s happening: A warm front is lifting north, bringing in milder air.
Afternoon (12 PM – 5 PM)
Highs reach the mid-70s
Clouds may break at times
Scattered showers and thunderstorms develop
Storm window: 2 PM – 7 PM
About a 50% chance of rain
Severe risk is low, but not zero
Possible:
Brief heavy downpours
Gusty winds
Maybe even small hail in isolated spots
Good news: Not everyone sees rain—but keep an eye on the sky.
Evening & Night (After 7 PM)
Storm chances linger early, then fade
Skies turn partly cloudy overnight
Lows drop to the mid-50s
Winds become light
Most of the night should be quiet and comfortable.
Sunday: The Pick of the Weekend
Morning
Dry and pleasant
A mix of sun and clouds early
Afternoon
Sunny and warmer
Highs in the low 80s
Light southwest breeze
This is your best outdoor day—great for parks, brunch, or yard work.
Sunday Night (After Midnight)
Clouds increase
Showers likely after midnight (70% chance)
Lows in the mid-50s
Winds shift from the north
Rain becomes more steady and widespread overnight
Looking Ahead (Late Sunday into Monday)
A cold front approaches from the northwest
Best chance for rain: Sunday night → Monday morning
Rainfall totals:
Generally 0.10″ to 0.25″
Locally higher in spots
Storms are possible, but:
Limited instability
Severe weather risk remains low
Weekend Planning Tips
Saturday:
Keep plans flexible—have a backup indoor option in the afternoon
Sunday:
Get outside early—it’s the best weather window
Sunday night:
Expect rain if you’re out late or traveling
The Big Picture
This weekend is part of a warming trend, with temperatures climbing from the 70s into the 80s. But with that warmth comes multiple chances for showers and storms, especially as weather fronts move through the region.
This weekend compared too next
Washington, D.C
Mom finds out daughter with autism was sexually abused at DC school week after it happened
CONTENT WARNING: This story contains content that may be uncomfortable to some readers. Discretion is advised.
WASHINGTON (7News) — A mother said she learned her 13-year-old daughter was sexually abused in a D.C. school when a detective contacted her a week after it happened. She said the school never notified her.
7News sat down with the mother on Friday, while her daughter was being evaluated and interviewed by detectives. We’re not sharing the mom’s identity to protect her daughter.
ALSO READ | Virginia health officials monitor cruise ship passengers for deadly hantavirus symptoms
The mom said she got a call Sunday night, “regarding my daughter and a sexual assault that happened at school involving my daughter last Monday.”
However, it didn’t come from the place or people she said she counted on.
“I never got a phone call from the school, an email, a text, nothing to say,” said the mom. Nothing happened until a week later.
That’s when a detective called and told her what happened.
“She was forced to give oral sex to a student in school,” said the mom.
Her 13-year-old daughter is disabled, autistic, and has challenges communicating.
The mom said she was sending her daughter to school without knowing what happened.
“I noticed a little behavior, emotional changes,” said the mom. “When I got that call now, it makes sense to, you know, what you because of what she had experienced at school and to come home and she didn’t say anything or no one had called me and just like it breaks my heart.”
7News obtained a copy of the police report, which confirms the youth investigative branch is investigating what happened to her daughter as sexual abuse. It shows that a Kelly Miller Middle School social worker reported it to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) last week.
“I just hope that I can be able to get her back on the right track. From all the trauma, on top of trauma,” said the mom. “To be able to grow and not have to hold that in the back of her head that she experienced in school, which should have been her safe place.”
7News started reaching out to DCPS just after 12:30 p.m. to ask if the students suspected of the abuse have been removed from the school, and why parents wouldn’t have been notified about the incident. They did not get back to us until after our first report aired. They did not answer either question. They provided the following statement.
A district spokesperson provided this statement:
At DC Public Schools (DCPS), student safety and wellbeing are paramount, and the district treats any allegation of sexual misconduct with the utmost seriousness. DCPS will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this matter is investigated.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and our obligation to maintain student confidentiality, we are unable to provide comment on individual student cases.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, the National Sexual Assault Hotline can be accessed by calling 1-800-656-4673.
-
News37 seconds agoBobby Cox, Hall of Fame manager of Atlanta Braves, dies at age 84
-
New York2 hours agoRail tickets to New Jersey World Cup matches will be $105, not $150.
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoDetroit Tigers lose fifth straight, Kerry Carpenter injured
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoFallen tree downs powerlines in SF, delays Muni line
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoFC Dallas vs Real Salt Lake: Lineup notes 📝
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoYour 2026 Miami Dolphins Draft Picks Expectations
-
Boston, MA3 hours agoTexas A&M SS Boston Kellner suffers orbital bone fracture
-
Denver, CO3 hours agoPedestrian fatally hit by Frontier airplane departing Denver for Los Angeles, flight canceled after