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Craig Hudson

Regarding Marc Fisher’s Nov. 14 column, “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/11/13/trump-commanders-nfl-stadium/" target=_blank>Could Trump and Bowser pull off an RFK play?</a>,” and the Nov. 20 front-page article “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/11/19/senate-committee-vote-commanders-rfk-stadium-dc-maryland/" target=_blank>D.C.’s bid for RFK Stadium site gains key Senate push</a>”:

Stadium, stadium, stadium. What about memorial, memorial, memorial? It’s always about a stadium. I want D.C. to have control of that precious parcel of land so it can be developed with District residents’ best interests in mind, and a stadium is not among them.

It is time to face the fact that naming a stadium after Robert F. Kennedy, though a beautiful gesture at the time of his assassination, just doesn’t hold up as permanent commemorative act. It is <a href="https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=117758" target=_blank>not designated</a> as a national memorial or as a <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/list-of-nhls-by-state.htm" target=_blank>National Historic Landmark</a>. If there is to be another stadium at that site, so be it. But I think it would be a sinful misuse of valuable land, and, given the lack of an official monument, I wouldn’t count on the new facility being named RFK Memorial Stadium at all. Big money in naming rights, you know.

But the need for a permanent memorial to a man who gave his life in pursuit of his American Dream is obvious. He was a national figure who had local connections to D.C.

As for local Washington Commanders fans — and count me as one — we need to think beyond the nostalgia that drives much of the desire to see the team return to the District. Times change, like the needs of a city. Common sense doesn’t. Mixed-use development geared toward D.C.’s housing needs, along with entertainment attractions, a sports complex, open parkland and more, should far outweigh the desire for a stadium. The District maintains bragging rights regardless.

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser is a dreamer. I like that. I’m one, too. So was RFK. Where would we be without dreamers? But it’s what we dream that matters. Ms. Bowser’s excellent idea for a sports complex that benefits all residents is a loftier, more attainable dream worthy of a mayor who truly cares about the needs of her fellow Washingtonians — and of a man who dreamed of serving all Americans.

Regarding Steve Resz’s Nov. 18 <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/11/17/trump-home-rule-commanders-ghaisar/" target=_blank>letter</a>:

You might be thinking it’s a bit too late to replace the name, now that the team has been rechristened the Washington Commanders. But never say never.

After debuting as <a href="https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/team-histories/national-football-conference/east/washington-commanders/" target=_blank>the Boston Braves in 1932</a>, then becoming the Redskins in 1933 and moving to D.C. in 1937, the Redskins became the Commanders in 2022. Native American groups <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131011183011/http://www.ncai.org/news/articles/2013/10/10/ncai-releases-report-on-history-and-legacy-of-washington-s-harmful-indian-sports-mascot" target=_blank>began protesting the name</a> in the 1960s.

I lived in Oklahoma as a child for eight years and have resided in D.C. for more than 30 years. I lived through the name transition and have some perspective on what might make for a better team name.

I support our Native American brothers and sisters, who are U.S. citizens and are able to vote for two senators and a U.S. representative wherever they live; the minority of Native Americans who live on tribal lands also have these rights and this representation in Washington. According to the Census Bureau, <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/AK/RHI325223#RHI325223" target=_blank>15.6 percent</a> of Alaska’s population is Native American, as is <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/OK/RHI325223#RHI325223" target=_blank>9.5 percent</a> of Oklahoma’s. These are powerful voting blocs.

You see where I’m going with this. The nearly 700,000 residents of D.C. have no such representation, no senators — just a nonvoting delegate in the House. I won’t bore you with the list of our amazing contributions to this country, among them that we pay <a href="https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases/norton-says-tax-filing-season-reminder-dc-residents-remain-under-taxation" target="_blank">more federal taxes per capita</a> than any state, and that 3,310 D.C. residents gave their lives in service to their country in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The name “Commanders” is intended to honor our military history. And yet, every governor <a href="https://thewarhorse.org/everything-to-know-about-the-national-guard/" target="_blank">acts as commander in chief</a> of their state’s National Guard, but <a href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-sets-record-straight-about-washington-dc-committee-hearing" target="_blank">not so in D.C.</a>, where it’s left to the federal government — specifically the secretary of the Army. Look how well that arrangement worked out on <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/january-6-capitol-riot/" target="_blank" class="contextual_link">Jan. 6</a>, 2021.

So how about we say: “Go, Washington Second-Class Citizens!” Up the middle, up the middle, up the middle, punt!

Stop ’em in their tracks, let out your war cry (RAAR!)

Scratch and shriek and bite and let the fur fly!

Mary Schmidt, Gambrills, Maryland

When the Virginia legislature convenes in January 2025, it ought to take up an amendment to <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title18.2/" target=_blank>Title 18.2</a> of the Virginia state law that would allow seniors living in 55-and-older communities, independent-living facilities, and assisted living facilities the legal right to conduct cash bingo games in community facilities.

Under the current law, such games are not legal without permits that come with onerous requirements. The possibility of being hauled off to jail for playing bingo would probably be a new experience for many seniors, but not the kind of luxury vacation many of us had in mind when joining these communities. And while sending mug shots for seniors’ Christmas cards would be an unexpected surprise to family members, this is not in the best interests of the <a href="https://www.vda.virginia.gov/downloads/DARS%20Aging%20Demographic%20Services%20Blueprint%202022.pdf" target=_blank>1.9 million</a> seniors 60 or over who are living in the Commonwealth.

There are hundreds of communities and facilities in Virginia for those ages 55 and up, seniors in need of assisted-living, and those who desire independent living settings. All of these places would be in violation of the statute if they conducted cash bingo games. These games often involve only small amounts of money, but the enjoyment of shouting “bingo!” and collecting $5 is a highlight in the lives of many seniors, and for good reason.

People are living longer, the population of seniors is growing, and loneliness and isolation impact thousands of older people. Allowing activities that encourage socialization, increase cognitive skills, stimulate motor skills and increase hand-eye coordination all have direct benefits to this age group. Denying seniors the opportunity to play low-stakes bingo in their community facilities is something we strongly disagree with.

Seniors are not often heard, but we do vote. And we just want to play bingo legally.

Pam Pospisil and Mike Flood, Fredericksburg

Regarding the Nov. 16 Metro article “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/11/15/dc-weather-cold-snaps-thanksgiving/" target=_blank>Area will experience a weather roller coaster as cold blasts of air loom</a>”:

The photo accompanying this article had a caption that instructed readers, “Whether you have a lawn service or you are out there yourself, it’s time to get those leaf blowers powered on high.”

Please don’t. Leaf blowers — now often called “blowers” because they are used to relocate many varieties of natural materials, from acorns to pine needles — are noisy and damaging to the environment.

Many gas-powered blowers <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/how-bad-for-the-environment-are-gas-powered-leaf-blowers/2013/09/16/8eed7b9a-18bb-11e3-a628-7e6dde8f889d_story.html" target=_blank>use two-stroke engines</a> that are dangerously noisy and burn a mix of gas and oil. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2020, lawn and garden equipment in the United States emitted more than 21,800 tons of fine particulates — equivalent to the amount of pollution produced by <a href="https://grist.org/technology/lawn-equipment-pollution-report/" target=_blank>234 million typical cars</a> over the course of a year. Fortunately, many localities are enacting legislation to prevent the negative health consequences. As of 2022, <a href="https://dlcp.dc.gov/page/leaf-blower-regulations" target=_blank>D.C. has banned these leaf blowers</a>, and beginning July 1, 2025, handheld, backpack and walk-behind gas-powered leaf-removal equipment <a href="https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/property-care/leaf-blowers/index.html" target=_blank>will be banned in Montgomery County</a>.

Similar restrictions are needed where I live in Reston, which allows their unimpeded use. Unsurprisingly, ambient blower noise persists here year-round as users scour their yards, decimating vital insect habitats in the process.

And it’s not only gas blowers that are a nuisance. Sadly, unlike the sounds emanating from passing trucks or airplanes, blower noise is virtually inescapable, whether you are indoors or out. It’s common for debris clearing in a single housing cluster to exceed two hours. If you take a walk in my neighborhood — in any season, on any morning of any day — you will probably experience the racket from multiple blowers operating simultaneously. This is the outcome when residents and homeowners associations become obsessed with eliminating every desiccated leaf, stick and grass clipping from their driveways, sidewalks and streets from the moment they begin to fall to the time the last one is collected.

Natural spaces lose their beauty and ecological balance when they’re denuded of leaves and other organic materials. Do the environment a favor by not blasting your leaf blowers “powered on high.” Instead, let fallen leaves lie — or try using a rake.

Regarding the Nov. 15 Climate Solutions online article “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/11/15/small-plastics-recycling-problem-trash/" target="_blank">Can plastic fit in the palm of your hand? Don’t recycle it.</a>”:

I was disappointed in the broad and generic reporting, and by the lack of local detail, in this article. The Post is still the D.C. area’s local paper. Why stop at generalities such as “Generally, standard recycling facilities don’t take plastic items that are roughly three inches or smaller in dimension” without diving into what local recycling centers can handle and what guidelines local municipalities provide?

For example, Montgomery County <a href="https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/DepHowDoI/material.aspx?tag=plastics&key=453" target=_blank>explicitly states</a> that it accepts bottle caps for recycling, both curbside in recycling bins and at the waste-transfer station. What is happening to these small items at the county recycling facility? What are the other municipalities doing? Telling us would provide local accountability if Montgomery County is diverting this plastic to landfills or provide a model for other communities if it has in fact figured out how to recycle smaller plastics.

We rely on The Post for local coverage. Don’t abandon your local readers in pursuit of a national audience. We need high-quality insights and reporting on regional topics, too.

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