Hail No to a New Stadium at RFK - Add Your Name Below

Read my August 1, 2023 op-ed in the Washington Post.

If you believe the 190 acres of RFK's campus could be more than the next NFL stadium, say #HailNo and sign this petition below:

"As a DC resident, I am against a deal that gives away a single square foot of land or a single District tax dollar to build a new stadium.

  • I believe the 190 acres alongside the Anacostia River could be so much more than oceans of asphalt for surface parking and a 60,000 seat stadium.

  • On average, most NFL stadiums only hold 10 to 20 events annually outside of eight NFL home games, meaning the stadium sits empty more than 300 days a year. An enormous space that sits empty doesn’t spur economic growth and doesn’t help the surrounding community, as study after study has demonstrated.

  • Make no mistake - people drive to NFL games and they're going to park somewhere, regardless of how much is available. At San Francisco's new stadium, they had to rent out all of the parking lots at a nearby amusement park. Where do you think people will park around RFK if there isn't enough parking for fans?

  • Nationwide, since 1997 we've seen the NFL pit communities against each other while collecting more than $6.7 billion dollars from taxpayers to build stadiums for privately-owned teams. Overall, local taxpayers end up footing around half the bill for a new NFL stadium.  

  • The costs of these projects are always higher than estimated. The five most recent newly-constructed NFL stadiums have surpassed more than $1 billion dollars each!

  • As a DC resident, I don't want to see DC hoodwinked into paying for a billionaire's stadium. The District needs our tax dollars to create new housing at all levels, support local DC entrepreneurs who run small and local business, take urgent steps forward to shift to a 100% clean energy environment, build larger and modern schools for our growing city, fund our Metro system, and in general spend money to make life better and easier for DC residents.

  • Sitting on the banks of the historic Anacostia River, a new stadium and all of the traffic and trash that would come along, would set the Anacostia River's improvement back. RFK has never had to meet standards set by the National Environmental Policy Act, and I am concerned any deal worked out under the outgoing Congress would try to extend the exemption to holding the site accountable to environmental standards.

Dedicating millions of dollars to bring an NFL stadium to the District is a bad deal and a poor use of an incredible opportunity. 

Thank you."

Who's signing

Ernest Chavez
J.P. Szymkowicz
Frances D'Antuono
Lenda Washington
Courtney Fusco
Carrie Bean Stute
Stephen Gardner
Ario Keshani
Alex Belano
Megan Spencer
Emily Reid
Adrianne Marsh
Kerry Cassidy
Linda Steinman
Lori Everhart
Stephen Wallant
Tunde Wackman
Vivian Turner
Harold Wackman
Laura Hogan
Srikanth Katragadda
Robert Laboy
Asaf Reich
Sai Rao
Matthew Littleton
Todd Brogan
Mia Beverly
Scott Freeman
Shirley Schwarz
Dana Luciano
3,927 SIGNATURES
4,000 signatures

Will you sign?

  • Ernest Chavez
    signed 2018-12-21 22:27:30 -0500
  • J.P. Szymkowicz
    signed 2018-12-21 22:05:51 -0500
    I am ANC 3D09 Commissioner-Elect.
  • Frances D'Antuono
    signed 2018-12-21 22:04:49 -0500
  • Lenda Washington
    signed 2018-12-21 21:40:24 -0500
  • Courtney Fusco
    signed 2018-12-21 21:28:23 -0500
  • Carrie Bean Stute
    signed 2018-12-21 21:23:21 -0500
    I want to see public outdoor recreation facilities along the river! And an expanded, improved trail! This would benefit everyone in the community and take advantage of the unique waterfront.
  • Stephen Gardner
    signed 2018-12-21 20:23:28 -0500
  • Ario Keshani
    signed 2018-12-21 19:14:42 -0500
  • Alex Belano
    signed 2018-12-21 19:04:19 -0500
  • Megan Spencer
    signed 2018-12-21 18:50:36 -0500
  • Emily Reid
    signed 2018-12-21 18:18:56 -0500
  • Adrianne Marsh
    signed via 2018-12-21 18:04:10 -0500
  • Kerry Cassidy
    signed 2018-12-21 17:21:44 -0500
  • Linda Steinman
    signed 2018-12-21 16:43:10 -0500
  • Lori Everhart
    signed 2018-12-21 16:34:30 -0500
  • Stephen Wallant
    signed 2018-12-21 16:30:50 -0500
    In addition to the excellent reasons listed, I’ve no interest in supporting a team with a racist name that shouldn’t even be spoken aloud.
  • Tunde Wackman
    signed via 2018-12-21 16:28:41 -0500
    Tunde Wackman
  • Vivian Turner
    signed 2018-12-21 16:05:54 -0500
    Vivian Turner
  • Harold Wackman
    signed via 2018-12-21 16:01:30 -0500
    Using this invaluable area for a professional football stadium is beyond outrageous!!
  • Laura Hogan
    signed via 2018-12-21 15:40:08 -0500
  • Srikanth Katragadda
    signed 2018-12-21 15:32:11 -0500
    I completely object to this use of taxpayer dollars, particularly for a racist and offensive team name.
  • Robert Laboy
    signed 2018-12-21 15:31:32 -0500
  • Asaf Reich
    signed 2018-12-21 15:21:11 -0500
  • Sai Rao
    signed 2018-12-21 15:01:59 -0500
  • Matthew Littleton
    signed via 2018-12-21 14:57:00 -0500
  • Todd Brogan
    signed 2018-12-21 14:29:22 -0500
  • Mia Beverly
    signed via 2018-12-21 14:22:22 -0500
  • Scott Freeman
    signed 2018-12-21 14:20:28 -0500
  • Shirley Schwarz
    signed 2018-12-21 14:17:50 -0500
  • Dana Luciano
    signed 2018-12-21 14:14:51 -0500