While some in City Hall might be donning their Nationals hats and spontaneously busting out in “Take Me Out to the Ballpark,” we’d like to offer a dose of caution. Yes, District officials and MLB have finally reached an agreement on a lease agreement for the new stadium, but no, this should not be considered said and done until the D.C. Council approves it. WTOP is reporting that the two sides — forced into new…

We seem to be living in a city of hazardous threats. And in case you were distracted, the hazardous materials trains that has riled the District Council will most likely be getting a free pass to travel through the city. The Surface Transportation Board, a federal regulatory board under the authority of the Department of Transportation, decided yesterday that attempts by D.C. officials to limit the transport of hazardous materials within two miles of the…

Name Games in the Wilson Building: Former Mayor Marion Barry will remain Mayor Barry to Mayor Williams but Linda Cropp isn’t playing. Confused? The Post reports that Ward 8’s new councilman, former Mayor Marion Barry wants to retain his old title for the sake of protocol. Officially, Barry wants to be known as “Mayor-Councilman Barry,” which is naturally shortened to “Mayor” as under traditions of protocol, Barry’s highest title would be the defacto title. While…

Baseball Deal Reached: Dust off those would-be Washington Nationals relics: Anthony Williams and Linda Cropp are friends again! The mayor and District Council chairman reached a deal last night that is putting the dream of returning Major League Baseball to the District of Columbia back on track. Cropp, who is pushing for a privately financed stadium, will yield on her demands somewhat. The Post reports: Under the new proposal, which the 13-member council is to…

Joan of Arc, seen here at her perch in Meridian Hill Park (in this photo taken by DCist contributing photographer Grayson Shepard) has witnessed many political battles take place in the District of Columbia over many decades, but one perhaps not as poisonous as the recent baseball stadium drama that has unfolded before us this past fall. With Major League Baseball officials seemingly ready to give up on the dream of bringing America’s game…

One of the forgotten voices in the debate over the public financing of the proposed South Capitol Street baseball stadium is the gay community. Down that way are a number of gay-oriented businesses, just a stones throw from Capitol Hill on the other side of the Southeast Freeway in an area made of mainly of warehouses, empty lots. The Blade writes that “[t]hree gay bars and three gay adult entertainment businesses, including a video arcade…

Maryland Subdivision Goes Up in Flames, Arson to Blame: It appears that arson had a role to play in the fires that destroyed or damaged 30-some homes south of the city in an affluent Charles County subdivision early Monday morning. Since the homes were still under construction, there were no injuries. The FBI says it is looking into the possibility that environmental extremists could have played a role in the torching of the Hunters Brooke…

Final Baseball Vote Set for Today: How many final votes on the baseball deal are there? For baseball owners, their final vote on whether to send the Montreal Expos (to become the Washington Nationals) to Washington is today. While the real deal making has happened over many months and this vote is more of a formality, the cloud of unsettled District Council squabbles over the contentious stadium deal have put a cloud over today’s vote,…

With President Bush set to head north of the border in a state visit to Canada, a Canadian official has been advising Washington on a critical political issue. A Montreal city councilman has been in contact with District Council Chairman Linda Cropp regarding the Montreal Expos-now-Washington Nationals baseball team sending warning that D.C. should beware. The Post quotes a letter sent by Montreal’s Marvin Rotrand: MLB’s honeyed words are only calculated to open the public…

(Photo of 19th Street at Dupont Circle by Mike Grass) What’s the Navy’s East Potomac Secret? In a city full of open secrets, one mystery seems to be baffling those have been visiting East Potomac Park. According to the Post, the Navy has been constructing something behind some fences. But what it is exactly is all up to speculation. The Post throws out these suggestions: a sensor station guarding the 14th Street bridges; an…