Facing a $322 million budget shortfall, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is turning to baseball. Gray wants to tap into a special community fund set up during the building of National's stadium to provide some financial relief for the District.
A D.C. group says the mayor is ignoring an obligation to taxpayers.

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Members of the Washington Interfaith Network passed out signs and flyers Monday to remind taxpayers of the $500 million pact made with city leaders.

In exchange for the money to build a new stadium, the city agreed to set aside tax revenues from the surrounding neighborhood. That money -- up to half a billion dollars -- was intended for a community benefit fund to pay for new libraries, affordable housing and schools. Seven years later, not a dime has been spent as agreed.

"That was the promise we got and that's the promise we expect council members to stick to,” said Juanita Hutchinson of the interfaith network.

Gray wants to withdraw the $13 million currently in the community fund to pad the city's general fund.

“How much do people want to come to Washington D.C.? Everybody wants to come here. We need to treat this like the capital of the world. That's what it is and I think you shouldn't take from the community like that,” said Southeast D.C. resident Nicholas Hewitt.

The council votes on the budget may 25th.

"We've got taxpayers that paid to fund that and we shouldn't be held accountable for what they're promising us,” said Ricardo Henderson, who lives in Southeast.

Members of the interfaith network say they've had discussions with individual council members who feel it is inappropriate to put that money in the general fund. A spokesman for councilman Jack Evans said Evans feels this money should be spent on its intended purpose.