Economist.com Cities Guide: Washington, DC Briefing - July 2005

News this month

Staying prepared

Security remains a top concern in the capital. This was reinforced on July 4th, when the city used its fireworks celebration to test emergency evacuation procedures. As the hundreds of thousands of holiday revellers left the event on the National Mall, police funnelled them through seven downtown exits to simulate a mass exodus after a terrorist attack. The test got mixed reactions. Anti-terrorism experts noted that while the crowds were bigger than those of a typical Washington workday, the exercise could not recreate the urgency—and perhaps the more panicked behaviour—of a real evacuation. Some civilians complained of logjams and unnervingly long waits.

At the same time, a recent gaffe has led the Federal Aviation Administration to consider more flight-path restrictions in the Washington area. A small Cessna aeroplane crossed into restricted airspace over Camp David, the presidential retreat, over the holiday weekend—one of three such violations in three days. Across the country, there have been more than 2,000 airspace violations since the September 11th terrorist attacks, according to the Washington Post.

A career in arm-twisting

The business of Washington is politics—sometimes quite literally. The Washington Post reports that the number of registered lobbyists in the city has more than doubled since 2000, from 16,342 to 34,785 in 2005. The money spent on lobbying by corporations and interest groups has also shot up, from $1.6 billion in 2000 to $2.1 billion in 2004.

The fees some top lobbyists charge have nearly doubled in that period—some former Capitol Hill staffers command a $300,000 starting salary. The figures reflect a few trends, including a rise in federal spending (from $1.79 trillion in 2000 to $2.29 trillion in 2004, which lobbyists vie for), and a more business-friendly Congress, which has the effect of encouraging companies to hire more lobbyists. According to a study by Public Citizen's Congress Watch, an NGO, nearly half of all departing members of Congress become lobbyists.

Where are the fans?

Washington’s new baseball team, the Nationals, may be enjoying a winning streak, but fewer than expected seem to care enough to see it for themselves. The team sold an impressive 1.2m tickets for its first 36 home games, and is expected to make a pre-tax profit of $20m this season. But in its first 33 home games, almost 250,000 of these tickets went unused. This 23% no-show rate at RFK Stadium surpasses the typical rate in professional sport of 15-20%. The city's projected revenues were based on expectations of greater attendances. The District of Columbia receives a 10% tax on tickets sold, 12% on parking and 10% on concessions. But team officials are optimistic, predicting more fans in the stands as the season heats up.

Perhaps more fans will come to games because few can watch them on television, thanks to a protracted and bitter battle over broadcast rights. The dispute stems from the agreement that salved the ire of Peter Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, which stipulated that Nationals games would be aired on a new Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, in which he would have a majority stake. But Comcast, the country's largest cable company, has refused to carry the new network, as it competes with its own local sport networks. It has filed a lawsuit, claiming it was unfairly shut out of bidding for Nationals TV rights. The Orioles have responded by filing a complaint against Comcast with the Federal Communications Commission. For now, fans are suffering: only those with DirecTV, a satellite-TV service, or who get RCN cable, a small local outfit, can watch all Nationals games.

Play ball

George Soros, a billionaire financier and philanthropist, spent more than $20m trying to defeat George Bush in last year’s presidential election. This year, his aim is lower: he has joined a group that is trying to buy the Washington Nationals baseball team. His bid is one of eight being screened by Major League Baseball, which bought the team in 2002 (when they were the Montreal Expos). But his interest in this American pastime has started a political furore, with Republicans in Congress threatening Major League Baseball with retribution if Mr Soros's bid wins. Describing him as “polarising”, they even hinted at ending baseball's anti-trust exemption, which allows teams to work in concert. They have since backed off from this threat.

Among the other bids under consideration by Major League Baseball is one by a group that includes Colin Powell, the former secretary of state, and one with Peter Fitzgerald, a former GOP Senator of Illinois. The offering prices are believed to range from $300m to over $400m.

Expensive tattle-tales

Neighbours tattling on neighbours are fuelling a crack-down on illegal construction in the District. The city government issued more than 1,400 stop-work orders during a recent 17-month period, collecting almost $1m in fines, according to the Washington Post. In contrast, nearby Montgomery County in Maryland and Fairfax County in Virginia each issue fewer than 50 stop-work orders each year, while Prince George’s County in Maryland issued 135 such orders in 2004.

According to the Post, the continuing boom in real-estate prices is prompting most of the new construction. Homeowners are now investing in their houses because they cannot afford to move, and some savvy buyers are simply looking to refurbish decrepit properties for a lucrative resell. Most violations are brought to light by neighbours and community activists who call in tips to the city government. Inspectors fine builders between $500 and $4,000 for repeat violations.

Catch if you can

July 2005

“Lady Windermere’s Fan”

Until July 31st 2005

“Lady Windermere’s Fan”, Oscar Wilde’s first produced play, is a trademark riff on the absurdities of high society in 19th-century England. Driven by a fundamental misunderstanding, in which Lady Windermere believes her husband is being unfaithful, the play's wit and nuance made it an instant hit when it was first brought to a London stage. The Shakespeare Theatre has put on a lavish production, full of beautiful and intricate sets and period costumes. But the heart of any Wilde work is the writing, brought to life here by an excellent cast. Dixie Carter (pictured), an actress best known for her television work, particularly shines, prowling the stage as Mrs Erlynne. Though some of the conventions Wilde skewers feel reassuringly outdated, the play is powered by timeless themes: love, betrayal and the bonds of marriage.

The Shakespeare Theatre, 450 7th St. Tel: +1 (202) 547-1122. Performances: Sun, Tues, Wed 7.30pm; Thur-Sat 8pm; matinees Sat, Sun 2pm. For more information, see the theatre’s website.

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