👋🏼 It's Cuneyt, back with Town Talker — my column on money and power.

After months of anticipation, a compromise on Capitol Hill yesterday allowed lawmakers to advance a bill that would make possible a new football stadium at the RFK site — D.C.'s next big development project.

Why it matters: D.C. needs to sprint if it wants a once-in-a-generation deal with Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris to rebuild it and design a new riverfront neighborhood.

🏈 Driving the news: The House Natural Resources Committee — a panel that usually deals with wildlife or mining policy — approved a bipartisan bill that lets the National Park Service enter into a 99-year lease with D.C., which would allow the development of a stadium district.

• It's the first action on the bill since the House Oversight Committee — in a rare partnership between conservative chair James Comer and a Democratic mayor — approved the bill last September. It still needs a floor vote to go to the Senate.

What I'm hearing: There were behind-the-scenes negotiations and a full-court press from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who will compete with Maryland and Virginia for the Commanders.

• Bowser met last Monday for about half an hour with House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) about the RFK issue, according to a person close to discussions who was not authorized to speak publicly. (The mayor's office declined to offer specifics.)

🤔 Details: The bill had stalled over a game of political … football. It originally would have transferred responsibility for the 190-acre federal site to the General Services Administration, which handles the federal government's real estate.

• But GSA is on a mission to reduce its federal properties and wasn't keen to take RFK, even just to lease it to D.C., two sources with knowledge of the negotiations tell me.
• NPS, meanwhile, isn't exactly the kind of agency that jumps into commercial redevelopment projects. But after some wrangling, the bill was amended to strip out GSA and put NPS in charge of entering the lease with D.C.

Keep reading

The D.C. Council voted yesterday to advance a huge crime bill that would introduce new felonies, extend pretrial detentions, and establish "drug-free zones."

Why it matters: The bill would change how policing and punishment are carried out in D.C., which last year saw a 39% increase in violent crime and the most homicides in over 25 years.

Zoom in: The massive omnibus package contains a swath of proposals — many from previous plans, some controversial — that would:

• Allow police to designate temporary "drug-free zones," where people gathering to sell, buy, or use drugs could be arrested.
• Introduce new gun laws, such as upping punishment for illegally possessing a firearm and making firing a gun in public a felony.
• Make stealing from stores to later resell the items or return them for a refund a felony.
• Expand pretrial detention for individuals charged with violent crimes, and lengthen the amount of time a minor can be held until their trial.

✍️ The intrigue: The bill was amended before the vote to remove language allowing authorities to collect DNA from someone while arresting them.

More changes

Mayor Muriel Bowser recently announced that several restaurants and coffee shops will offer specials and free cups of coffee to incentivize workers to return downtown — and we have thoughts!

Why it matters: Downtown D.C. is struggling to return to its pre-pandemic vibrancy, with companies like Fannie Mae backing out of prime office space, a possible Wizards and Capitals arena relocation, and a surge in crime.

Thought bubble: We absolutely love free stuff (❤️ you, Costco samples), but we're skeptical that more people will start pulling a Vanessa Carlton and makin' their way downtown just for a cup of joe.

• But if D.C. paid all our parking tickets? Organized a one-on-one photo shoot with Georgetown's new bulldog puppy? Built a lazy river stretching down K Street as part of the possible waterpark? Now that would get us downtown.

Be smart: You can snag a free coffee at 11 shops every Monday from Feb. 12 to March 4 (most offer the deal between 8am and 9am).

• Over 40 restaurants will offer specials through March 31.

⚖️ The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected former President Trump's claims of "absolute immunity," ruling that he can be prosecuted for his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election. (Axios)

💲The Tysons casino isn't happening (yet). A state bill that would have opened the door for a casino in Northern Virginia was rejected in a Senate committee, though there's hope: Instead of killing the legislation, it's being kicked down the road to next year. (AP)

🍽️ The D.C. Council advanced a restaurant relief bill that addresses a wide range of issues impacting local businesses, from regulating food delivery services to offering incentives for restaurants where service fees go to employees' wages. (DCist)

📅 Upcoming events around the city.

• Anti-Valentine's Singles Mixer at MONKO DC on Feb. 14: Singles unite against everyone's least favorite holiday. Enjoy a laid-back evening complete with mocktails, icebreakers, and snacks.
• D.C. Independent Film Festival at Landmark's E. Street Cinema starts Feb. 21: A competitive festival that offers independent filmmakers unique opportunities to have their voices heard and their films premiered in Washington, D.C.
• The Pancake & Booze Art Show at Hook Hall on Feb. 22: Celebrate the 10th year by serving free pancakes and introducing you to some of the nation's leading emerging artists.

Hosting an event? Post an event.

Looking for other events? Check out our Event Board.

Taqueria Las Gemelas and Destino, two big Mexican restaurant concepts in Union Market District's La Cosecha food hall, have abruptly closed.

Why it matters: It's a big blow for the Latin food hall, where the taquería and its finer-dining sibling occupied two of the largest, front-facing spaces.

What they're saying: "Everything got more expensive and unfortunately there just wasn't enough foot traffic on that side of the neighborhood yet to keep the restaurants going," co-owner Josh Phillips tells Axios.

• "It's a common story nowadays, unfortunately."

What's next: A spokesperson for developer Edens — the landlord for Union Market and La Cosecha — says there's no news yet about who will move into the spaces.

More details