D.C. police officials had no idea that fighter jets and helicopters were being
deployed over Washington to intercept an errant plane on Wednesday, even though
they had a sergeant in the nation's homeland security command center and the
ability to monitor what was taking place at their own headquarters.
At the Homeland Security Operations Center, a command post built after
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the D.C. government was relying on a
sergeant to keep track of any potential crisis. But it was not until the air
scare was nearly over that he got word to police commanders.
At police headquarters, someone had disconnected a phone line that would have
provided emergency communications from the Federal Aviation Administration, the
officials said....
The following letter to the editor was in the Post today. I think it makes a good point about why we shouldn't rely on corporate contributions to fund what we think is important. I also think we should be able to use a public facility to help the public bring attention to the injustice of taxation without represenation. That would also honor RFK's legacy of fighting for justice and put those ideals into action. Here's the letter to the editor:
Values vs. Value in Naming a Stadium
Wednesday, May 11, 2005; Page A16
What's in a name?
To
Shakespeare, a name evoked deep meaning, but to the D.C. government, it
means cash, as indicated by the decision to sell the naming rights to
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium ["Investment Firm Close to Deal to
Rename RFK," Metro, May 4].
Sure, the city can use the funds,
but a stadium's name is about more than money. Public names provide a
sense of common purpose. They also help shape our collective memory,
our concept of community and the meaning of our democracy.
The
city says it will honor Robert F. Kennedy by using much of the roughly
$5 million it would be paid to rename the stadium ProFunds Field at RFK
for youth recreation facilities. While that is a good cause, such a
deal fuels the impression that we must wait for corporate money to take
care of our needs. This is a problem in our society. We rarely build
parks or open museums. Instead, we wait for Nike to come in and paint
its swoosh across the length of basketball courts it has refurbished.
The
D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission has said that youth fields
"created with sponsorship money also might bear Kennedy's name," thus
honoring his legacy. What that actually means is that public heroes can
make do with a park, but for the big boys with the big dollars, nothing
but the best will do.
Just because other cities have
cashed in on their ballparks doesn't mean the District should. By
promising hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new stadium for
the Nationals, District residents have already paid enough for baseball.
After a few weeks of media silence on the issue, it looks like the Army/National Guard is official backing out of the deal, and now a Bethesda-based investment firm is stepping up to buy the naming rights at RFK.
It's nice that a local firm is doing this and since the money is going to fund improved youth recreation facilities in the city it's hard to argue against it. However, I think city officials and statehood activists wasted the spotlight that was on the city during the opening day media circus. If we could have had the TWRF at RFK name on a temporary basis until this deal was in place, it would have made a big splash and raised awareness outside the District about our lack of representation.
Don't worry, we'll still be here....this deal may fall apart like that last one :)
A bunch of people have gotten the following email from Carol Schwartz today:
As a long-time and consistent advocate of full Congressional voting rights for District residents, I would like nothing more than for the Nationals to play home games on "No Taxation Without Representation Field at RFK Stadium." I fully support any effort to educate the rest of the country about the District's lack of Congressional voting rights.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Carol Schwartz Councilmember, At-Large
That's a very nice non-response. Mrs. Schwartz, you're a city council member if you'd "like nothing more" to have the cool name we are proposing....introduce a bill or something! C'mon make it happen!
"I don't know if the grounds crew is going to be able to get that tarp on. It's pretty wet and those guys look really young." - Sportscaster (and former Met) Tom Seaver on WPIX in New York before signing off from Saturday's game.
Oh, how true that turned out to be. What a freakin' fiasco...people in the stands were coming out to help (and got arrested), grounds crew members were knocked over and buried by the tarp, the crew would run about half way to the infield and then get stuck by the tons of water at the end of the tarp, it was like a giant Slip and Slide.
It was a tragedy of errors that happened over and over...the most entertaining rain delay I've ever seen at a baseball game. They finally got the tarp over the infield after and hour, and by then it was pointless.
Granted we're a new franchise, but we need to get more experience people there. Those guys looked like they were working so they didn't have to buy tickets. The guys at Shea, Camden Yards, and Fenway are pros and can put down a tarp in their sleep. We're playing with the big boys now, we need to step it up. The Mets are going to protest that game, and they do have a point as it was impossible to play after that mess.
Now the story is making national news, and again the stories could be talking about the tarp incident at "Taxation Without Representation Field at RFK". Make it happen by sending a letter to the City Council.
Brad Wilkerson and Nick Johnson both hit homers to beat the Phillies 3-1 and the bullpen closed the game out for the win. Great night at RFK, but I wish there was a red line short cut bus to avoid having to ride with the masses to Metro Center, but overall not a bad commute home as I was able to see the highlights on the 10 o'clock news.
It's been nearly two weeks since opening day, and there is still no deal
in place for the RFK naming rights. For this reason, we are asking you
to join us today in asking Mayor Williams and the City Council a very
simple request: until there is actually a real deal in place, make the temporary name "Taxation Without Representation Field at RFK Stadim." It won't cost any money and would make a big splash for this issue of voting rights.
Please send your letter today: http://www.taxationwithoutrepresentationstadium.com/takeaction/
I had a feeling that reports yesterday that a deal had been reached were pre-mature. Only WTOP reported it, and that's because the mayor told them in an interview. Apparently, Pentagon brass have not signed off on the deal yet and there was no annoucement for opening day. Which if you ask me, was where you'd get the most bang for the buck. Well, maybe not in the case of the Pentagon's bucks...but you know what I mean.
So...once again we are asking for the "powers that be" to move to give the stadium a temporary name of "Taxation Without Represenation Field at RFK". Won't cost anyone a dime and will make a big splash for Democracy in DC.
Anyone out there listening? What do you have to say about it?
Ok, so it's being reported now that the deal with the Pentagon is a go, and they are going to call the stadium "Armed Forces Field at RFK Stadium" during nationals games. Although, I haven't seen it on the Washington Post's site yet....and there is no official announcement about 1 hour from game time as I write this...but that's what WTOP is reporting anyway.
To satisfy some critics, the Pentagon is not really paying for the name of the stadium, but opportunities to recruit and advertise in and around the stadium. The name "Armed Forces Field" would be like Soilders' Field in Chicago or the old Veterans Stadium in Philly, not paid for by, but honoring those who serve. From what I read, the defense department will still be paying the same amount (approx. $6 million) to the city for all this, so I'm not sure how that will shut up the critics, but at least the city is getting some kiz-ash in the deal and I'd rather honor our men and women in uniform than some corporation.
What stinks, is we were starting to get some momentum around the idea of calling RFK Taxation Without Representation Field until there was a sponsor, which would have been cool as it looked like there was going to be some time in between opening day and finding that sponsor. We were talking with Fenty and Graham's people about making this happen...but alas since there's a deal, it's now a non-starter. Props to both offices for trying to help.
So now what? What do you want to see us do to continue this fight??
