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Washington Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Where each D.C. Council member stands on the Commanders RFK stadium deal
Before the Washington Commanders can build a $3.7 billion stadium development at the decaying RFK Stadium site, the deal has to go through the D.C. Council. In the weeks since Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) unveiled the terms of the deal with the Commanders — including over $1 billion in taxpayer funds for the development — lawmakers have largely signaled that they plan to approve the stadium development. But not before making their mark on it. Lawmakers are exploring changes to the terms Bowser reached with the Commanders ranging from rethinking parking garages, seeking a strong project labor agreement to ensure well-paying union jobs for District residents and capturing more revenue for D.C. generated at the stadium. Bowser and the Commanders wanted the council to approve the deal by July 15, the deadline laid out in the terms they negotiated — but lawmakers have said that's not realistic and are planning to take more time. Bowser has turned up the pressure on lawmakers, worrying that D.C. could lose out on the opportunity with the Commanders if the council does not move more quickly. But for a multi-decade, multi-billion-dollar development, lawmakers insist that they need to do more due diligence. On Tuesday, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) introduced a stand-alone RFK Stadium bill identical to Bowser's proposal, which he said would allow the council to 'complete its due diligence' and hold a public hearing. The council is also awaiting a financial analysis on the impact of various tax abatements offered to the Commanders as part of the deal, which it expects by mid-July. Mendelson said that he would plan to hold a vote on the proposed deal 'as soon as possible' after a public hearing, which his staff said would be held July 29 for the public and on July 30 for the team and government officials. 'No one should infer from the introduction of this bill that funding in the Mayor's proposed budget for the Washington Commanders Football Team is in jeopardy,' Mendelson wrote in a statement accompanying the bill, noting that capital funds for the stadium remain in the budget expected to be approved in July. All but one council member have either committed to supporting the stadium development with public investment or are contemplating specific changes to the terms that would get them to a yes vote. Here are the conditions, requests or concerns that lawmakers are raising before they vote on the deal. Some council members count themselves among the more enthusiastic supporters of the stadium — but even lawmakers who say they will vote yes have additional requests. Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large) McDuffie said he wants firmer guarantees that the project will bring well-paying union jobs to D.C. residents, along with skilled apprenticeships and contracts for local women-owned and minority-owned businesses. He also wants a 'strong, sustainable, enforceable community benefits agreement,' he said, as well as efforts to make sure that D.C.'s youth can 'see themselves reflected' in both the development and the local sports economy Bowser is trying to build. Anita Bonds (D-At Large) Bonds says she wants the Commanders to pay for a portion of the $89 million SportsPlex that Bowser has proposed for the site; the facility, to be run by D.C.'s Department of Parks and Recreation, could contain youth sports amenities like an Olympic-size indoor pool and indoor track, the mayor has said. Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) Pinto said she wants the deal to include guaranteed job opportunities for people returning from jail or prison, a grass field and digital signage to leave room for women's soccer games at the new stadium and a commitment to honoring the late Robert F. Kennedy Sr. She also said she opposes Bowser's plan to fund the stadium by extending a tax on businesses that was supposed to expire once the Nationals Park bonds were paid off — but has not so far been able to identify an appropriate alternate funding stream. Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7) Felder, who represents residents nearest the stadium, said in a written statement to The Washington Post that 'I fully support the RFK stadium deal,' calling it a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' that the council should not delay a vote. He said he is working hard to 'ensure the deal delivers more than a stadium.' 'Whether it's quality jobs with livable wages, youth programming, or access to small business and workforce opportunities — Ward 7 must see real, tangible benefits.' To strengthen the deal, he said he wants to see a firmer timeline for when housing will be constructed at the RFK site, along with set-aside opportunities for business owners who live in Ward 7. He also said he supports a project labor agreement and is open to discussing the details with his colleagues. Some council members count themselves among the more enthusiastic supporters of the stadium — but even lawmakers who say they will vote yes have additional requests. Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large) McDuffie said he wants firmer guarantees that the project will bring well-paying union jobs to D.C. residents, along with skilled apprenticeships and contracts for local women-owned and minority-owned businesses. He also wants a 'strong, sustainable, enforceable community benefits agreement,' he said, as well as efforts to make sure that D.C.'s youth can 'see themselves reflected' in both the development and the local sports economy Bowser is trying to build. Anita Bonds (D-At Large) Bonds says she wants the Commanders to pay for a portion of the $89 million SportsPlex that Bowser has proposed for the site; the facility, to be run by D.C.'s Department of Parks and Recreation, could contain youth sports amenities like an Olympic-size indoor pool and indoor track, the mayor has said. Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) Pinto said she wants the deal to include guaranteed job opportunities for people returning from jail or prison, a grass field and digital signage to leave room for women's soccer games at the new stadium and a commitment to honoring the late Robert F. Kennedy Sr. She also said she opposes Bowser's plan to fund the stadium by extending a tax on businesses that was supposed to expire once the Nationals Park bonds were paid off — but has not so far been able to identify an appropriate alternate funding stream. Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7) Felder, who represents residents nearest the stadium, said in a written statement to The Washington Post that 'I fully support the RFK stadium deal,' calling it a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' that the council should not delay a vote. He said he is working hard to 'ensure the deal delivers more than a stadium.' 'Whether it's quality jobs with livable wages, youth programming, or access to small business and workforce opportunities — Ward 7 must see real, tangible benefits.' To strengthen the deal, he said he wants to see a firmer timeline for when housing will be constructed at the RFK site, along with set-aside opportunities for business owners who live in Ward 7. He also said he supports a project labor agreement and is open to discussing the details with his colleagues. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) Mendelson earlier this month gave his clearest signal yet that the council would likely approve the deal, saying in a statement that the body would 'move forward quickly to analyze the Mayor's terms, improve the deal where possible for taxpayers, and approve a new football stadium.' He has been less clear about his personal position. Historically opposed to taxpayer funds for a football stadium, Mendelson said at a news conference earlier this month that he was not yet prepared to put the deal up for a vote. 'It would not be fair to the taxpayers,' he said. Mendelson is awaiting an analysis of the deal the council commissioned, and he said in an interview that he needs more time to analyze the revenue projections the mayor has touted and suggest improvements that could save taxpayers money. Matthew Frumin (D-Ward 3) Frumin said he needs more information before staking a position, preferring to wait for the results of the council-commissioned analysis. In the meantime, he said he wants to explore some adjustments, including changes to the placement of parking garages, which for now would both be adjacent to the Kingman Park neighborhood. 'Is there something more creative we can do to better use the space?' he said in an interview, wondering if more options for belowground parking could allow the space on top to be put to good use. Frumin also said he wants to explore the idea of green-energy requirements on construction, and whether there could be more accountability attached to the affordable-housing requirements to ensure the housing is delivered on time. He is also among the seven council members who sent a letter to Commanders ownership demanding a project labor agreement that guarantees union jobs not only for the stadium but also for the new restaurants and hotels. Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) Lewis George said while she can get behind funding basic infrastructure work, she does not support a $1 billion-plus price tag for taxpayers and wants the topline contribution to come down. She said she'll also be looking for firmer details about the affordable-housing plan and how it will be funded, and signed the same letter seeking strong union protections on the other elements of the development project. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) Mendelson earlier this month gave his clearest signal yet that the council would likely approve the deal, saying in a statement that the body would 'move forward quickly to analyze the Mayor's terms, improve the deal where possible for taxpayers, and approve a new football stadium.' He has been less clear about his personal position. Historically opposed to taxpayer funds for a football stadium, Mendelson said at a news conference earlier this month that he was not yet prepared to put the deal up for a vote. 'It would not be fair to the taxpayers,' he said. Mendelson is awaiting an analysis of the deal the council commissioned, and he said in an interview that he needs more time to analyze the revenue projections the mayor has touted and suggest improvements that could save taxpayers money. Matthew Frumin (D-Ward 3) Frumin said he needs more information before staking a position, preferring to wait for the results of the council-commissioned analysis. In the meantime, he said he wants to explore some adjustments, including changes to the placement of parking garages, which for now would both be adjacent to the Kingman Park neighborhood. 'Is there something more creative we can do to better use the space?' he said in an interview, wondering if more options for belowground parking could allow the space on top to be put to good use. Frumin also said he wants to explore the idea of green-energy requirements on construction, and whether there could be more accountability attached to the affordable-housing requirements to ensure the housing is delivered on time. He is also among the seven council members who sent a letter to Commanders ownership demanding a project labor agreement that guarantees union jobs not only for the stadium but also for the new restaurants and hotels. Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) Lewis George said while she can get behind funding basic infrastructure work, she does not support a $1 billion-plus price tag for taxpayers and wants the topline contribution to come down. She said she'll also be looking for firmer details about the affordable-housing plan and how it will be funded, and signed the same letter seeking strong union protections on the other elements of the development project. Numerous lawmakers have framed the mayor's proposed terms as a bad deal for taxpayers that needs improvement, whether seeking less taxpayer investment or greater revenue from the development. They each are also signatories of the project labor agreement letter. Robert C. White Jr. (D-At Large) White was skeptical that the full costs to taxpayers were reflected in the $1 billion topline figure, pointing out that other potential public costs such as in affordable-housing production or debt repayment are not included. While questioning top city officials during a hearing last week, he said it's not a good deal when so much revenue from sources such as ticket sales, merchandise and parking would go to the team or be reinvested back into the stadium instead of into D.C. coffers to invest in other services and programs. 'I don't want to give people the impression that somehow we'll be able to pay for teachers with this money,' he said. Jenny Reed, director of the D.C. Office of Budget and Performance Management, said while it is true that about $1.4 billion over 30 years is expected to go into a special RFK fund for stadium maintenance and related costs, she said $974 million is expected to go into the general fund from other revenue sources, such as hotel stays and income tax on employees working at different venues around the stadium. White said among his conditions to get to a yes vote would be more advantageous revenue-sharing agreement for the city, and that the Commanders move their business headquarters to D.C., which would benefit the city through taxes. Christina Henderson (I-At Large) Henderson said she does not support the mayor's agreement with the Commanders that the team would only have to pay $1 a year to lease the stadium and other commercial parcels from the District, unlike at other sports venues like Nationals Park or Capital One Arena. She also said the parking arrangements need to be rethought, both where and how they are built and who gets the revenue generated by them. She wondered if the garages could be spread out to 'lessen the blow' and traffic for nearby residents. Right now, the team, which would operate the parking garages, would get all the revenue from the parking garages, while the District would invest over $350 million in constructing them. 'Why would I not get any parking revenue from the parking garages that I'm paying for?' Henderson said. Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) Parker has made several requests that he said are essential to win his support. Parker wants to see the team set up a dedicated education fund for Wards 5, 7 and 8 and a commitment that existing revenue-generating events at RFK will continue. He is also calling on the mayor to make good on a tentative agreement she had struck with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) when the RFK bill was moving through the Senate to invest District dollars in National Park Service land in the city equivalent to the value of the stadium land. 'On principle we shouldn't have to invest in NPS land, but since the agreement was made and there is such disrepair to NPS land properties across the District, it is an opportunity to advance in some areas, like in Fort Totten Park,' Parker said. Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) A longtime stadium foe, Allen said he was pushing for eight to 10 changes that could get him in the yes camp. For starters, 'There's no scenario where they can't pay rent. That's ridiculous.' He also opposed 8,000 parking spots, wanting to see instead more like 2,000 spots and the bulk of the parking garage money instead going to expand Metro capacity, such as a new station at Oklahoma Avenue NE and Benning Road. Like Frumin, Allen also wants more accountability associated with the affordable-housing requirements and a firm timeline for completion. Allen also bristled at various sales tax exemptions within the stadium, such as for personal seat licenses. 'Why? The team doesn't get any of that sales tax revenue — it's just us giving up our own sales tax revenue,' he said. Numerous lawmakers have framed the mayor's proposed terms as a bad deal for taxpayers that needs improvement, whether seeking less taxpayer investment or greater revenue from the development. They each are also signatories of the project labor agreement letter. Robert C. White Jr. (D-At Large) White was skeptical that the full costs to taxpayers were reflected in the $1 billion topline figure, pointing out that other potential public costs such as in affordable-housing production or debt repayment are not included. While questioning top city officials during a hearing last week, he said it's not a good deal when so much revenue from sources such as ticket sales, merchandise and parking would go to the team or be reinvested back into the stadium instead of into D.C. coffers to invest in other services and programs. 'I don't want to give people the impression that somehow we'll be able to pay for teachers with this money,' he said. Jenny Reed, director of the D.C. Office of Budget and Performance Management, said while it is true that about $1.4 billion over 30 years is expected to go into a special RFK fund for stadium maintenance and related costs, she said $974 million is expected to go into the general fund from other revenue sources, such as hotel stays and income tax on employees working at different venues around the stadium. White said among his conditions to get to a yes vote would be more advantageous revenue-sharing agreement for the city, and that the Commanders move their business headquarters to D.C., which would benefit the city through taxes. Christina Henderson (I-At Large) Henderson said she does not support the mayor's agreement with the Commanders that the team would only have to pay $1 a year to lease the stadium and other commercial parcels from the District, unlike at other sports venues like Nationals Park or Capital One Arena. She also said the parking arrangements need to be rethought, both where and how they are built and who gets the revenue generated by them. She wondered if the garages could be spread out to 'lessen the blow' and traffic for nearby residents. Right now, the team, which would operate the parking garages, would get all the revenue from the parking garages, while the District would invest over $350 million in constructing them. 'Why would I not get any parking revenue from the parking garages that I'm paying for?' Henderson said. Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) Parker has made several requests that he said are essential to win his support. Parker wants to see the team set up a dedicated education fund for Wards 5, 7 and 8 and a commitment that existing revenue-generating events at RFK will continue. He is also calling on the mayor to make good on a tentative agreement she had struck with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) when the RFK bill was moving through the Senate to invest District dollars in National Park Service land in the city equivalent to the value of the stadium land. 'On principle we shouldn't have to invest in NPS land, but since the agreement was made and there is such disrepair to NPS land properties across the District, it is an opportunity to advance in some areas, like in Fort Totten Park,' Parker said. Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) A longtime stadium foe, Allen said he was pushing for eight to 10 changes that could get him in the yes camp. For starters, 'There's no scenario where they can't pay rent. That's ridiculous.' He also opposed 8,000 parking spots, wanting to see instead more like 2,000 spots and the bulk of the parking garage money instead going to expand Metro capacity, such as a new station at Oklahoma Avenue NE and Benning Road. Like Frumin, Allen also wants more accountability associated with the affordable-housing requirements and a firm timeline for completion. Allen also bristled at various sales tax exemptions within the stadium, such as for personal seat licenses. 'Why? The team doesn't get any of that sales tax revenue — it's just us giving up our own sales tax revenue,' he said. Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) Nadeau said she firmly opposes a stadium. 'If we don't spend any local dollars, I would consider it,' she said. 'I'm not sure we need to vote on it.' Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) Nadeau said she firmly opposes a stadium. 'If we don't spend any local dollars, I would consider it,' she said. 'I'm not sure we need to vote on it.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DC councilmembers request to meet with Mayor, CFO amid 2026 budget delays
WASHINGTON () – Frustrations are growing among D.C. councilmembers as they continue to wait for the 2026 budget. 'I just think this is all ridiculous and pedestrian and in fact embarrassing,' Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker said. The budget was due to the council by April 2. Advocates express concern to lawmakers over proposed $1 billion cuts to DC budget However, Mayor Muriel Bowser missed that deadline after Congress passed a spending bill that gutted D.C.'s current budget by a billion dollars. Her office has been working on a supplemental 2025 budget to address the gap while waiting to see if Congress will pass a funding fix to restore D.C.'s budget. Meanwhile, the council set a second deadline of May 15 to receive the 2026 budget and the 2025 supplemental budget. Chairman Phil Mendelson said that the deadline won't be reached. 'We're running out of time, in fact, I'd say we are out of time,' Mendelson said. On Monday, Mendelson sent a letter to Bowser demanding that she turn over both budgets. 'It is disrespectful to the Council and the public … to continue delaying submission,' he wrote. On Tuesday afternoon, he said he had not received a response to his letter from the Mayor's office. He said as of 9 a.m., the CFO had not received the 2026 budget in its entirety, only in piecemeal. Once the CFO does receive the entire budget, it'll take the CFO 10 days to certify that the budget is balanced and get it to the council, according to Mendelson. As the council waits in limbo, members are requesting a meeting with the Mayor and the CFO to discuss where things stand and how to move forward. That could potentially happen on Wednesday. 'I really think we just need to pull everyone into a room so that if there's a disagreement, we can figure it out and figure a path forward because every day that goes by, this hole is getting deeper,' Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen said. Mendelson said if the council does not get the budget soon, he may consider legal action. 'As far as I'm concerned, all options are on the table,' he said. 'As you heard, members are clearly frustrated, the public is being disadvantaged, in fact, the operation of government is being jeopardized.' Congress poised to force $1B cut to local DC budget, surprising many lawmakers DC News Now reached out to Bowser, but she declined to respond. At a press conference in April, Bowser maintained the budget was done but is being held up due to Congressional interference in the 2025 budget. 'We have no interest in hoarding the budget. We are done, we're talking about it, we want it to move. We have some things that need to happen,' Bowser said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
08-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
The man who could tank the RFK Stadium deal
Phil Mendelson voted against the Nationals ballpark deal five times. Why it matters: To tell where the RFK Stadium deal is going, you gotta study Mendelson — the chairman of the D.C. Council, who's often at loggerheads with Mayor Muriel Bowser and never a fan of taxpayer-funded stadiums. He opposed paying for Nats Park — a transformative project that barely passed in 2004. And now, Mendelson is dug in against public subsidies for the Washington Commanders. The mayor's deal proposes $1 billion for site infrastructure and parking garages. Without Mendelson, good luck reaching seven "yes" votes, several close observers tell me. Reality check: Mendelson can appeal to both sides — giving stadium supporters and naysayers hope… Last month, he said, "the D.C. treasury should not be paying toward a stadium." And just last week, he told me it'll be "virtually impossible" to get the deal through the council by Bowser's July 15 deadline. But Mendelson — setting aside his "personal view" against taxpayer subsidies — this week opened the door for a compromise: "This deal could be much better," he said. "The end goal should be … not stadium at any price. That would be stadium at a reasonable price." What I'm hearing: Four council members look like a "yes" (Kenyan McDuffie, Brooke Pinto, Anita Bonds, and Wendell Felder). Two have been outspoken against it (Brianne Nadeau and Charles Allen), and progressive Janeese Lewis George is likely hard to persuade. To get three more "yes" votes, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders owner Josh Harris held a reception Monday evening with Mayor Bowser at the Wilson Building. Three toss-ups joined: Christina Henderson, a self-described "pragmatic progressive"; Zachary Parker, whose Ward 5 base may be nostalgic for football's return; and Matt Frumin, a lefty favorite representing Ward 3 in affluent Northwest. (Robert White, who probably wants to run for mayor again, is another "maybe" vote.) Two holdouts could be persuadable if Mendelson comes on board. But activists like John Capozzi, who is working on a ballot initiative against the subsidies, says he's "counting on Phil Mendelson to save us from this financial disaster." So Mendelson has options. He could reengineer the mayor's deal, curtailing the taxpayer subsidy. You could also kill the deal."Mhm," he told me. Do you worry about that being your legacy?"Um, no," he said. "The best deal for the taxpayers is the best legacy one could have." An anti-RFK Stadium tone helps him avoid attacks from the left when he runs for reelection. Do you think about the politics? "Of course I do," he said. "The best deal for taxpayers is the best approach politically." But within three weeks, Mendelson went from no public dollars for a stadium to wanting a "better deal" for taxpayers. What's that mean? He cracked: "It means I have a split personality, and I have to see a therapist this afternoon."
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctor: Aid in Dying will lead to more palliative care
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — With the New York State assembly approving a bill that would allow patients near death to end their life with the oversight of a doctor, Dr. Daniel Mendelson is emphasizing what he sees as the larger benefit of all this. Mendelson, who has provided palliative care in the Rochester area for 25 years, says the option to end one's life will encourage more people to broach a difficult topic with their doctor. The two, he says, can then talk about other options, like end-of-life, or palliative, care. 'The experience in Oregon, less than two thirds of the patients who get a prescription actually end up taking it and many patients who ask physicians about medical aid in dying don't ever take a prescription, but all of them get good, thoughtful, compassionate end-of-life care and that to me is what's most important,' Mendelson says. While some oppose this bill on religious grounds others argue it devalues human life and could provide a slippery slope where the current restrictions or guardrails erode or are reduced leading to a place where the practice occurs in scenarios most would currently find unacceptable. Mendelson, though, says the bill provides something valued by most people: choice. 'The peace of mind of is really important to patients,' Mendelson says. 'So even those who don't actually even talk to a physician, having the peace of mind that they know whatever level of suffering they put up with it's because they choose to and not because they have to is a huge relief and it empowers people to deal with their issues longer because they know that it's a choice and I think that's important to most Americans and most adults, is to know they have choice in the matter.' In the current bill, only terminally ill patients would be eligible for this prescription and the patient would have to administer the medication themselves. The state senate now as to vote on the measure before it heads to the governor's desk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘If it somehow sounds like there's anger in my voice, there is': Tensions rise as DC Council waits for the 2026 budget
WASHINGTON () — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday announced a $100 million investment in the Housing Production Trust Fund under her proposed 2026 budget. The announcement came as the Mayor celebrated a ribbon cutting and grand opening at the Riggs Crossing Senior Residence, a new 93-unit affordable housing development supported through the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF). The HPTF is a dedicated fund that helps support affordable housing in the District. 'My fiscal 2026 budget is a growth budget,' Bowser said. 'It's about creating economic activity to replace a shrinking federal footprint and it's about investing in our future. This $100 million investment in affordable housing is part of that vision for our future.' Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say Still, the announcement happened as tensions over the 2026 budget continue to rise. 'There are press releases and press conferences and what we need is for the Mayor to focus on getting this supplemental done,' said DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who criticized the Mayor during a legislative meeting Tuesday. 'If it somehow sounds like there's anger in my voice, there is. Because the legislature has been played on this.' The full 2026 budget was supposed to be delivered to the DC Council on April 2 — however, that still hasn't happened. 'We have no interest in hoarding the budget. We are done, we're talking about it, we want it to move. We have some things that need to happen,' Bowser said. According to the Mayor, her administration is waiting to deliver the full 2026 budget until it has more clarity on the fate of the current 2025 budget. That budget is in limbo after Congress passed a spending plan in March that reverted D.C. to its 2024 spending levels. The Senate passed the DC Local Funds Act, fixing this issue. However, the House hasn't passed the legislation, leaving D.C. with a multimillion-dollar gap in its 2025 budget. 'It's simply not true that we're holding [the 2026 budget] up for kicks. We're waiting to get some resolution on the 2025 issue. … I think I'm in agreement with the CFO, that we're at the time where if there aren't fixes, we're going to have to balance 2025,' Bowser explained. 'This is not the right investment for our city': Washington Commanders RFK Stadium deal draws mixed reactions from DC Council Mendelson did not agree with the assertion that the council cannot receive the 2026 budget until the 2025 budget is fixed, however. 'The continuing resolution issue in Congress has no bearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget,' he said. On Tuesday, he and the council passed a resolution requiring the Mayor to deliver the 2026 budget to them by May 15. Otherwise, Mendelson said he'll take legal action. 'We have a limited time, we have roughly eight weeks to consider a $20 billion budget. It's all-consuming,' said Mendelson. 'The council has 70 days by law. When they get the package, they have 70 days to look, no matter when they get it,' said Bowser. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
