Councilmembers briefly discussed the bill during a Committee of the Whole meeting prior to a unanimous vote in support of the measure. They later approved the bill as part of the consent agenda at the start of today's legislative meeting, with the required second vote expected at one of the council's December meetings in order to finalize approval before the end of the year.

Council Chair Phil Mendelson and other legislators didn't highlight any changes from the introduced version aside from an increase in the required threshold for contracting with certified business enterprises — now 40%, up from 35% in the agreement originally negotiated by the Bowser administration and Monumental. At-large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, had pressed the issue, seeking a stronger provision notwithstanding Monumental's stated goal of 50% participation.

In their comments, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen spoke enthusiastically about the agreement underlying the bill, which ensures the Washington Capitals and Wizards will remain at Gallery Place through at least 2050. The bill also authorizes use of $87.5 million in capital funds to purchase the arena — part of the $515 million of spending authorized in the fiscal year 2025 budget and financial plan, approved earlier this year. Monumental has committed to invest at least $285 million toward the renovations, including covering any cost overruns.

“I think this is a project that we should all be proud of,” Pinto said, citing the importance of ensuring that the arena is a “true anchor” of a vibrant downtown.

“I am very glad we are here today. We should have been here sooner,” Allen said, noting that it was about a year ago that team owner Ted Leonsis announced plans to move the teams to a state-of-the-art arena in Alexandria's Potomac Yard. After that deal fell apart, the District was able to negotiate a deal for the teams to stay in large part by committing capital funding toward the facility's renovation and expansion.

Allen reiterated his past criticism of DC officials for not doing more to keep the team prior to the emergence of the Virginia deal, noting that the Gallery Place arena creates year-round activity and therefore merits city investment. He and McDuffie both stressed the importance of finding ways to assist nearby businesses during three years of summertime construction at the arena, when its usual slate of events won't be taking place.

Under the timetable announced in October, which envisioned approval by the DC Council by the end of 2024, Monumental will begin design work this winter and construction in early summer 2025. Mendelson had vowed swift consideration of the bill but has stressed that it has proceeded not as emergency legislation but under regular procedures, including a public hearing held in mid-November.

This afternoon, Leonsis expressed his appreciation for the council's vote on social media.

“We are grateful to the D.C. Council for their support of our plan to deliver a best-in-class destination for fans, athletes, employees, and our community at a brand-new Capital One Arena,” he tweeted. “We look forward to the final Council vote and thank @ChmnMendelson and  @MayorBowser for their leadership. We share in their vision and commitment to a revitalized downtown and sustained, long-term prosperity which reaches across each of The District’s eight wards.”

— Background: 'Capital One Arena plans to be voted on by DC Council' ' [WTOP]; 'DC residents, businesses sound off on proposed Capital One Arena deal' [WTOP]

• DC Public Library locations will close early on Wednesday in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Neighborhood libraries will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., co-located libraries will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All branches will be closed on Thursday.

“A homeless shelter that has been the subject of seemingly endless arguments at the body’s meetings finally opened this month, surviving a slew of legal challenges over the the past year and a half. Mayor Muriel Bowser even hosted a showy ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to mark the victory. And one of the ANC’s most controversial members, Joel Causey, opted not to run again in the November election, ensuring that the commission will no longer have to deal with scrutiny of his past as a registered sex offender or his profanity-laden, caustic methods of critiquing the plans for the aforementioned shelter. With all that fading in the rearview, commissioners surely hoped things would settle down on their volunteer panel.

“Unfortunately, it’s an 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' sort of situation for the Foggy Bottom-West End ANC. Shortly after the election wrapped up, commissioners were mortified to discover that two perpetual long-shot candidates with eccentric beliefs (to put it mildly) have almost certainly won seats on the ANC: Bruce Majors and Dennis Sobin. The former has made a few bids for office as a libertarian over the years and has recently come to embrace some Trumpy conspiracy theories; the latter was once famously dubbed the 'smut king' of D.C. and has perhaps the most colorful past of any character in local politics other than Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry.” [City Paper]

► 'How the Trump administration might affect D.C.'s housing market.' Axios' Mimi Montgomery: “Washington real estate experts aren't betting just yet on the new Trump administration's effects on the local housing market, but they suspect it won't be catastrophic.

“Why it matters: Buying a house in D.C. has historically been considered a smart investment thanks to its concentration of white-collar workers and federal government jobs.

“But should jobs suddenly disappear, that could change.” [Axios]

► COLUMN – 'Trayon White Sr. knows the D.C. Council’s ethics playbook.' WaPo's Colbert I. King: “Within hours of U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras setting a Jan. 12, 2026, trial date in his bribery case on Nov. 13, D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr. (D-Ward 8) stepped outside the federal courthouse in downtown D.C. and demanded that his colleagues hold off on any legislative proceeding with the potential to lead to his expulsion. On Friday, the council responded by way of member Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large), who chairs the ad hoc committee created to investigate the bribery allegations.

“McDuffie said the committee’s investigation will proceed as planned and that a report will be provided to the full council by Dec. 16, as required under council rules. That is as it should be. White’s legal fate lies in the hands of the federal criminal justice system. Possible violations of the D.C. Council’s code of conduct and conflict-of-interest rules are, however, the council’s business. The public, with respect to White, expects the council to do its job.

“It’s no small matter that the federal indictment accuses White of agreeing to accept more than $150,000 in bribes in exchange for pressing city agencies to extend city contracts for violence-intervention programs on behalf of an associate. The criminal case is serious. But so, too, is concern that a D.C. elected official might have fallen deplorably short of basic standards of trust and honesty and misused his public office for personal gain. That is a surefire recipe for undermining public confidence in government. For the council to look the other way, as White might wish, would be a dereliction of duty.” [WaPo]

► 'In D.C., a unique shelter for the homeless will serve couples, families.' WaPo's Michael Brice-Saddler: “After more than a year of delays, D.C. officials on Monday celebrated the opening of the Aston — a former college dormitory that has become the city’s newest shelter for the homeless despite ongoing opposition from some neighbors.

” … Advocates for the homeless hailed the Aston project as a critical step to better serve people without homes who are medically vulnerable, in mixed-gender families or are parents with children older than 18 — people who often aren’t best served by the city’s traditional, 'low-barrier' facilities that are divided by gender and contain sleeping areas with several beds.

“But over the past 18 months, the Aston has also faced opposition from some neighbors who have raised questions and concerns about how the facility might affect the affluent surrounding neighborhood. Officials have said that these opposing efforts, which now include a lawsuit and zoning challenge initiated by a group of neighbors called the West End DC Community Association, contributed to the shelter opening about one year later than officials had initially hoped.” [WaPo; also WTOP]

► REGIONAL – 'Hidden 'junk fees' for trash pickup or common areas shock, anger tenants.' WaPo's Aaron Wiener: “John Hall and Monica Bahena thought they’d found the perfect apartment in suburban Maryland — that is, until it became the source of enough financial and emotional stress to drive them out of the state.

“At $1,729, the rent for the one-bedroom unit in College Park that they saw on the Zillow real estate listing site was a bit over the couple’s budget. But the apartment was newly renovated and closer to their jobs. They signed a lease for Unit 3073 at the Camden College Park Apartments and set the date for their move, lining up a friend’s help to save on the cost.

“Then they came to the building to finalize the paperwork and learned about the more than $150 in mandatory extra monthly fees for a 'technology package' and 'front door trash pickup' — charges that consumer advocates say are part of a broader problem with 'junk fees' that corporations and private equity firms that own many apartment buildings are working into lease agreements to drive up profits.” [WaPo]

► 'D.C. lawsuit alleges director of nonprofit spent money on luxury travel.' WaPo's Peter Hermann and Ellie Silverman: “The D.C. attorney general’s office on Monday sued the founder and executive director of Raheem AI, a nonprofit established in the District to hold police accountable, alleging he diverted money to pay for luxurious personal travel, designer clothes and emergency veterinary care.

“The lawsuit, filed in D.C. Superior Court, names Brandon Anderson, who founded the nonprofit in 2017 and registered it in the District. The suit also names the nonprofit, asserting its executives failed to properly monitor spending and did not pay its only District employee a salary.

” … Attempts to contact Anderson, who according to the lawsuit lives in Oakland, California, and a representative of the nonprofit, were not immediately successful. Public records shows addresses for the nonprofit in Northeast Washington and in California.” [WaPo]

► OPINION – 'Renters should be allowed to participate in the District’s short-term rental market.' Synta Keeling in GGWash: “Sharing my home changed my life and enabled me to start a family, and I’m proud to call myself a member of DC’s community of short-term hosts. I hope others join me and encourage our leaders to continue to support efforts to make this a city where everyone can thrive and share in our resident-led tourism economy. My hope is that the council will soon expand hosting rights to those who aren’t just homeowners so that all DC residents have a chance to unlock the vast economic benefits from tourism in our great city.” [GGWash]

► 'As D.C. court celebrates adoption day, police chief shares personal story.' WaPo's Keith L. Alexander: “When D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith was a child growing up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, she and her brother and sister returned home from school one November day and asked for supplies to do their homework. Their mother became enraged and forced them out of the house.

“It was then, Smith recalled in front of an audience at D.C. Superior Court on Saturday, that she and her siblings entered into the city’s foster-care program.

“Their mother, Smith said, was divorced with three children at age 27. Smith, who was a high school senior when she ended up in foster care, said she and her brother were later adopted by her childhood pastor and his wife.

“The District’s first Black female police chief relayed the story to a hushed audience as the court celebrated its 38th annual Adoption Day.” [WaPo]

— 'D.C.’s 38th annual Adoption Day celebrates 'forever families' of 2024' [Wash Informer]

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