front page - search - community

Taking note . . .

Observations about public affairs in the nation’s capital
by the editor of The Common Denominator

WHO OWNS THE SENATORS? Mayor Tony Williams wasted no time after returning from Paris Sept. 25 to start making the rounds of local broadcast stations, campaigning against one of the more popular names for the District's new Major League Baseball team: Washington Senators. "We don't have senators," the mayor has protested all week, explaining why he doesn't want to see the Montreal Expos renamed after the last two baseball teams that pulled up stakes in the nation's capital and moved on to greener pastures.

But the District's home rule sentiment may not be the only reason why Williams wants to see the public latch on to a different name for the ballclub. Already needing to persuade skeptical civic activists and many uneasy local merchants that imposing additional taxes to pay for a new $440 million stadium will be a good deal for all, baseball promoters might be reluctant to tack on more costs.

Seems that the last team known as the "Washington Senators" - that Texas team now known as the Rangers and once owned, in part, by President George W. Bush - still owns the legal rights to the "Senators" name. Officials from the Texas ballclub have not responded to our inquiry about whether anyone from the D.C. government or otherwise associated with an effort to return Major League Baseball to Washington has contacted them to discuss purchasing those rights.

At his weekly press briefing on Sept. 29, Mayor Williams sidestepped a question from Common Denominator reporter Stephanie Brinson about obtaining rights to the "Senators" name. "That's speculation down the road," the mayor responded. "I'm just giving you my opinion: I don't want the name.

"SHOOT BULLETS, NOT PHOTOS: Go figure. On Aug. 9, The Common Denominator's editor and a reporting intern were both detained by U.S. Capitol Police for photographing roadblocks on Capitol Hill - apparently perceived by the powers-that-be as some sort of grave security risk. Less than two months later, the House of Representatives voted 250-171 on Sept. 29 to repeal the District's gun-control laws - apparently having no qualms about the prospect of enabling anyone with access to a Washington rooftop to target federal officials or others with assault weapons.

GOODBYE GOP: At-Large D.C. Councilman David Catania started his day Sept. 29 by changing his voter registration, leaving the Republican Party to become an independent. Earlier this year, Catania resigned his leadership position with the D.C. Republican Party and said he was considering leaving the party altogether after local party chairman Betsy Werronen refused to allow him to attend the Republican National Convention as part of the D.C. delegation because he had disavowed his support for President Bush's re-election. Catania, who is openly gay, broke with the president over Bush's support for a constitutional amendment that would bar gay marriage.

Copyright 2004, The Common Denominator