Verizon Center Kickback for DC Officials
But helping the have-nots doesn’t come with the same benefits as serving the haves. The D.C. Council has given its initial approval to accept free luxury suite accommodations as part of a deal to send $50 million in public funding to Abe Pollin to underwrite improvements at Verizon Center.
Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) defends the deal by saying that the District government obtained a suite at both RFK Stadium and the new $611 million publicly funded stadium for the Nationals. Is Mr. Evans justifying this type of kickback for public officials by arguing that it is commonplace?
If Mr. Pollin sees market opportunities and wishes to spend $50 million on more or newer frills for Verizon Center, he can invest his own money.
It is shameful that paying for the expenses of wealthy sports owners has become the business of the District government. That elected officials can be induced with free luxury-suite accommodations to agree to financially dubious funding deals for sports venues is insulting and unethical.
Mr. Evans argues that the suite should be used only for “economic development purposes” [Metro, Feb. 21]. But considering what “economic development” has come to mean in the District, residents can expect the suite to be used primarily for more giveaways to the rich and powerful.
Shawn McCarthy
Director, League of Fans
Washington
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Episode #29 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: The Honorable Tom McMillen Visits League of Fans’ Sports Forum – McMillen is a former All-American basketball player, Olympian, Rhodes Scholar and U.S. Congressman. We discuss the state of college athletics today.
Episode #28 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: A Chat With Mano Watsa, a Leading Basketball and Life Educator – Watsa is President of PGC Basketball, the largest education basketball camp in the world. We discuss problems in youth sports today.
Episode #27 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Kids’ Sports: How We Can Take Back the Game and Restore Quality Family Time In the Process – Linda Flanagan is author of “Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports and Why It Matters.” We discuss how commercialized and professionalized youth sports are hurting kids and their families.
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"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- Reed Appears on Ralph Nader Radio Hour League of Fans’ sports policy director, Ken Reed, Ralph Nader and the New York Times’ Tyler Kepner discussed a variety of sports issues on Nader’s radio show as well as Reed’s updated book, How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan. Reed's book was released in paperback in February, and has a new introduction and several updated sections.
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
Vanderbilt Sport & Society - On The Ball with Andrew Maraniss with guest Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director for League of Fans and author of How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
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