From Statehood to Stadium: Local Journalists Share Insights Into Top Issues Facing D.C.
June 16, 2025
From left to right: Chris Marquette, Tom Sherwood, Julia Karron, Meagan Flynn, and Sam P. K. Collins.
The District of Columbia Affairs Community convened its annual Meet the Press Roundtable on June 12, inviting area journalists to talk about D.C. government stories they are currently covering and ones they see coming on the horizon. James Bubar, the Community’s chair, moderated the event.
Although perspectives differed significantly on the details, the general consensus was that the District and its leadership face an uncertain future. For example, the group agreed that D.C. statehood is effectively off the table, at least for now.
“The short answer is that there’s no political will to do it,” said Julia Karron, senior producer at City Cast DC.
WAMU political analyst and Washington City Paper contributor Tom Sherwood agreed, noting that statehood would result in the District’s ability to tax out-of-state residents working in the District. The result would be a significant loss in tax revenue for other jurisdictions, creating a significant disincentive, even for those that otherwise support extending franchise to the District.
Sam P. K. Collins, writer for the Washington Informer, suggested that other barriers to statehood exist, including a gap in generational perceptions, particularly in the Black community, regarding the need for independence. Younger generations are less motivated to push the issue, Collins said.
“With what D.C. has gone through in the past 50 years … even with [recent] Black political representation, there are still Black people in the trenches going through it,” Collins added. “There are people who don’t trust the government because they’ve seen what the government has done to them […] they can’t even talk out loud at Council meetings, which is understandable, but if the government and the system have been against you for so long and you can’t express yourself, what’s the point of even doing it?”
Collins mentioned the generational gap again when discussion turned to the likelihood of reelection or retirement of D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. POLITICO transportation reporter Chris Marquette said that he had observed Norton’s increasing mobility issues; Sherwood responded that the determination of whether or not Norton continues her longtime service should hinge on the question of her mental capacity, rather than physical disability or age. Collins pushed back, saying that the large number of elderly political representatives contributed to generational disconnect and resulted in a gerontocracy.
Asked about another term for Mayor Muriel Bowser, the group felt she stood a strong chance of success if she did seek reelection. “This is mayor-for-life territory,” said Washington Post reporter Meagan Flynn, comparing Bowser to legendary D.C. figure Marion Barry.
Issues relating to infrastructure made up a significant part of the conversation. Marquette discussed the investigations resulting from the midair collision that took place over the Potomac earlier this year, improvements to the Metro system, and anticipated confusion over Metrobus line name and stop changes.
Panelists expressed skepticism regarding the Commanders stadium deal. “The mayor says that the stadium will revitalize the economy for a specific area in D.C., but every sports economist you will ever talk to will tell you that it will not actually do that,” said Karron. “They are lucky if they break even.
Regardless of the cost, there was some support for the project. Marquette, a lifelong District resident, said that he wasn’t fond of the experience of attending games at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. “I just think it would be cool,” he said. “I don’t want to speak to the financials of it, but it would be cool, as a fan, to have the Washington Commanders in Washington, D.C.”
If you missed the live event, click here to register for the program recording.
