August 24, 2004
Expos Watch, cont'd
Local opposition is starting to show up to Washington, D.C.'s $340 million stadium plan for the Montreal Expos. Ralph Nader weighed in yesterday with a Washington Times op-ed saying that baseball should simply renovate RFK Stadium on its own dime, while today the right-wing Times itself editorializes that "The city should neither increase taxes nor use tax dollars to finance a new stadium." Meanwhile, in a letter to the Washington Business Journal, the No DC Taxes for Baseball Campaign ups the rhetorical ante:
In what may be the greatest political boast heard in the District of Columbia since Alexander Haig said, "I'm in charge" after President Reagan was wounded by a would-be assassin, [D.C. councilman Jack] Evans wrote: "You come, baseball, and we will build it. I guarantee it." Citizens, stand aside. Jack Evans has proclaimed it thus.
In fact, it's likely questions about Evans' ability to drum up tax money for a stadium - and not Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos' territorial claims - that are keeping Bud Selig from picking a winner in the Expos derby. For more on this, Baseball Prospectus subscribers can see my latest article in today's edition.
