Mark Lee

Trouble for an anti-stadium effort: An advisory opinion from @DCAttorneyGen says the proposed @HomesNotStadium ballot initiative, which would prohibit any leases for a stadium at RFK, can't qualify for the ballot. An opinion from the D.C. Council's lawyers says the same.

“The city does not need this soap opera. The DC Council has real work to do. . . . It has a bit more than a week to find a compromise on the city’s troubled and confusing pay system for restaurant servers.” #Initiative82 #TipCredit

DC Council Mbr @CMBrookePinto statement on #Initiative82 following initial vote on FY26 Budget >via ‘Brooke’s Briefing’ to constituents on “continuing to work on a compromise for tipped workers to address the impact of Initiative 82 to support workers, customers, and restaurants”

NEW: DC Council Mbr @CMBrookePinto (Ward 2) posts statement explaining why restoring #TipCredit and tip wage system by #Initiative82 #Repeal82 compromise proposal in Council budget vote on Monday is… – Good for workers; – Good for restaurants and bars; and, – Good for consumers.

News: Council Chair Phil Mendelson is planning a first vote on the RFK stadium deal as soon as NEXT Friday, per a source. (Fixed from last tweet!) Lawmakers will need to vote a 2nd time: it's unclear when. Some CMs have bristled at this coming right after next week's hearing...

“Here’s what I’m finding… The vast majority of people that I speak to, who are not affiliated with either side, who work in [DC restaurants & bars], have said to me they have lost income since #Initiative82 went into effect.” – DC Council Mbr @CMRobertWhiteDC >VIDEO statement:

“The group commissioned a Hart Research Associates poll that found 65% of D.C. voters support building a new stadium for the Commanders, with 44% strongly backing the proposal. Only 23% oppose the deal, despite the significant taxpayer investment involved.”

When the smoke clears, the mirrors will be broken. jonetta rose barras: The DC Council engages in unauthorized spending and endorses the actions of election violators thedcline.org/2025/07/18/jon…

DC Council Mbr @charlesallen famously told tipped workers at a meeting in #Ward6 seven years ago today that he knew workers support the #TipCredit tip-wage system but ‘you don’t *NEED* my vote to overturn Initiative 77’… …Workers need/want your vote now to Reform #Initiative82!

MPD announces the establishment of a Juvenile Curfew Zone in the U Street corridor area. Read more: mpdc.dc.gov/release/chief-… Learn more about curfew enforcement here: mpdc.dc.gov/curfew

Tragic: Ward 3 institution Steak'n Egg diner closing, cites #Initiative82 labor costs as a driving factor. Perhaps @CMFrumin should pay a visit and explain that, actually, tip credit elimination has been a striking success...

Initiative 82 strikes again - dc.eater.com/daily-restaura…

Here's my latest edition of The Polaris which I disburse on average once per month. Please be in touch if you would like to be on my email list. Hope you enjoy it. PARTISAN DC COUNCIL REJECTS AN OPEN PRIMARY

For over a century, lawmakers have exempted politically favored organizations and industries from the tax code. Now, the tax-exempt nonprofit sector comprises 15% of GDP, equal to the fifth-largest economy in the world. See more: hubs.ly/Q03x9pDF0

#BreakingNews - Expeled Ward 8 DC Council member Trayon White appears headed back to the council. Unofficial special election results show T.White with 29.4% of the vote. Three other challengers split the opposition. Sheila Bunn 24.1%; Mike Austin 23.4%; Salim Adofo 22.1% @wcp

The DC Board of Elections has finished counting ballots for the night. If we assume that all in-person election day votes have been counted, as well as dropbox and mail ballots in-hand, it is difficult to see any other outcome than a Trayon White victory.

The political reality is this: There's probably a majority of councilmembers who want to do something about Initiative 82 and what they worry are negative impacts on the city's restaurant industry. If that involves changing or repealing the initiative, so be it.

DC Council votes 7-5 to table proposed changes to I-82 minimum wage for tipped workers that would have overturned will of the voters. Both sides vow to work on a different compromise for possible vote later this month. @nbcwashington

D.C. Council unveils new budget: RFK Stadium funding and I-82 repeal axios.com/local/washingt…