The Walker Webcast — Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Willy Walker, Chairman & CEO, Walker & Dunlop
Guest: Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Episode Overview
This episode features an in-depth conversation between Willy Walker and Muriel Bowser, the longstanding Mayor of Washington, D.C. Against the backdrop of a recent federal government shutdown, Bowser discusses the unique dynamics of leading the U.S. capital, the interplay between city and federal powers, economic development, the competitive region, housing, transportation, taxes, and public safety. The discussion offers candid insights on balancing economic growth, quality of life, inter-jurisdictional relationships, and the impact of federal interventions.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Uniqueness and Challenges of Governing D.C.
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D.C.’s Political and Structural Complexity
- Bowser elaborates on serving simultaneously as “mayor, the county executive and the governor all at once,” with the added complexity of having “no representation in the Congress” (02:31).
- D.C.’s lack of voting Congressional representatives limits its influence during critical periods, especially government shutdowns.
"In times like this, especially [with] the federal government shut down, we have no voice in issues that concern us." – Muriel Bowser (02:31)
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Managing Relations
- Maintaining working relationships across Republican and Democratic administrations, and state governors in Maryland and Virginia.
- Notable quote on approach:
"Tell them who we are, what we need from them, and tell them to leave us alone. And that sometimes works." — Muriel Bowser (03:17)
2. Major Economic Development Initiatives
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RFK Stadium Site / Commanders Football Team
- Achieving land transfer from federal to city control for the new stadium, a significant negotiation amidst broader Congressional interference (04:32).
- Bipartisan effort — crediting Republican Oversight Chair James Comer for his partnership on crucial “rfk, public safety and the federal return to the office” (05:46).
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Retaining Professional Sports Teams
3. Regional Competition & Cooperation
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D.C., Maryland, and Virginia’s “Frenemy” Dynamic
- The continual push-pull between competition for corporate HQs, sports teams, and cooperation in workforce and economic initiatives (10:24).
- Regional efforts for major bids (Olympics, Amazon HQ) and shared talent pipelines.
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Transportation Infrastructure as Regional Advantage
- D.C. holds an edge with existing infrastructure (metro, stadiums) for hosting events and supporting workforce mobility (11:52).
4. Transit, Federal Workforce, and City Revitalization
- Metro and Bus Ridership Recovery
- Post-pandemic Metro ridership rebounding; MetroBus recovered even faster, attributed to essential workers (16:50).
- Importance of continued investment in reliability and service:
“They invested in the system… People want safety, affordability, and they want it to be reliable." – Muriel Bowser (15:41)
- Federal Workforce and Return-to-Office (RTO)
- Federal decisions crucial to economic stability—RTO impacts both transit usage and the downtown economy (13:53).
5. Business Climate & Corporate Attraction
- Pitching D.C. to Corporations
- Focused on proximity to decision-makers, talent pool, quality of life (schools, parks, neighborhoods), and unique amenities.
- D.C. boasts “universal pre-K,” “Michelin-starred restaurants,” “walkable neighborhoods,” and robust job/revenue growth (18:50).
- D.C. recognized as the “fastest growing jurisdiction in the nation” last year (19:53).
6. Tax Policy and Public Investment
- Balancing Taxes and Amenities
- Contrast between D.C. and “no income tax” states (e.g., Texas, Florida); property and sales taxes are kept competitive with the region.
- On tax structure:
"We don't think sales taxes are the way to fund your government because they're so regressive… we wouldn't try to close gaps with more regressive tax policy." — Muriel Bowser (22:36)
- No Income Tax Hikes as Mayor
- Bowser’s record: No income tax or property tax hikes under her tenure.
“I believe firmly that people have choices. And we want more high income individuals to choose DC…” (23:09)
- Bowser’s record: No income tax or property tax hikes under her tenure.
- Revenue Growth Through Investment
- Emphasis on growth, education, and amenities (parks, schools); citing new school facilities and improved student outcomes (24:54).
7. Housing Supply, Affordability, and Regional Disparities
- Workforce and Affordable Housing
- Over $1 billion invested in affordable housing; 36,000 new units in five years, moderating rent increases compared to nationwide trends (28:00).
- Call for regional action to expand housing supply and diversity, especially single-family homes.
- Approach to Rent Control
- Strongly supports growth in supply over rent control:
“It’s not rent control… The only way to address affordability… is with supply.” – Willy Walker (29:43)
- Recent moves to strengthen landlord-tenant relationships and encourage commercial-to-residential conversions (31:36).
- Ambitious goal of "15,000 units downtown" expected to be surpassed (33:41).
- Strongly supports growth in supply over rent control:
8. Downtown Revitalization & Office Market Transformation
- Commercial-Residential Conversions
- Aggressive support for re-imagining vacant office buildings as residential, subsidizing adaptive reuse (33:41).
- New Office Investment
- Highlighting Boston Properties’ investment at Metro Center as a positive indicator (34:12).
- Downtown Value Critical to Citywide Services
- Downtown commercial property values underpin funding for city services, schools, and social programs (34:53).
9. Government Boards, Regional Authorities, and “Soft Power”
- Role of City Appointees
- Bowser personally interviews candidates for key boards, emphasizing judgment and ability to serve D.C.’s interests (40:29).
- Strategic use of board appointees to leverage major infrastructure spending for workforce development (42:49).
"I personally interview people to sit on those boards, and we have 1800 of them." – Muriel Bowser (40:29)
10. Safety & National Guard Presence
- Crime Trends & Policing
- Significant crime reductions prior to National Guard deployment (35% in 2024, 27% before federal surge); Guard accelerated drop (51:59).
“No mayor wants any crime. So additional police resources… made a difference… But National Guard… is another issue entirely because it implicates the role of the military on American soil.” – Muriel Bowser (52:06)
- Significant crime reductions prior to National Guard deployment (35% in 2024, 27% before federal surge); Guard accelerated drop (51:59).
- Guard’s Symbolic and Legal Implications
- Bowser voices “not the belief that the military should be used against Americans on American soil."
- Advocates for civilian law enforcement and recognizes complexity around immigration and public perceptions.
“For people who are not here, we haven’t been taken over. It doesn’t look like Baghdad… but the presence of troops… is a bigger issue for our democracy.” — Muriel Bowser (54:06)
11. Diversification of D.C.'s Economy
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Pushing Beyond Federal Reliance
- Inspired by universities that diversified funding, Bowser seeks “structural change” for economic diversification (45:51).
- Actively engaging with the federal government for incentives and investment in industry and high-tech sectors.
- Highlights current window of opportunity for big changes amid federal interest in U.S. Semiquincentennial ("America 250") and infrastructure investment, e.g., alternate water supply for security (49:21).
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Leadership Philosophy
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On D.C.’s Voice in Federal Affairs:
“All of those things make the job of mayor… a unique one. And you’re also right that no matter who, who the President is… the mayor of Washington D.C. will always have a special relationship…” – Muriel Bowser (02:31)
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On the Importance of Sports in Community:
“That story is kind of emblematic of why we focus so much on our sports economy… It just brought him so much joy. Going to Nats park bought him so much joy.” – Muriel Bowser (07:14)
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On Economic Growth via Investment:
“When Mayor Fenty promised to remake our schools 15 years ago… Billions of dollars in new facilities, innovative compensation… [has] translated into more students in our public schools and more and better achievement in math and ESL and graduation.” – Muriel Bowser (24:54)
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On Policing and Federal Intervention:
“I’m not of the belief that the military should be used against Americans on American soil. That’s what we have civilian law enforcement for.” – Muriel Bowser (53:00)
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On Leadership Mindset:
“There’s no Democratic or Republican way to pick up the trash… We’re always looking for common ground. I don’t care who it is…” – Muriel Bowser (50:12)
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On D.C.’s Growth:
“We were the fastest growing jurisdiction in the nation.” – Muriel Bowser (19:53)
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On Seizing Opportunity:
“When those windows get set up and there’s an opportunity to move through it, you’ve got to move through it at that time.” – Willy Walker (48:02)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [02:31] – What makes being D.C. Mayor unique; lack of Congressional representation
- [04:51] – The RFK stadium land deal and federal complexity
- [06:13] – Keeping sports franchises in D.C.; regional competition
- [10:24] – Cross-state regional cooperation and economic development
- [13:53] – Metro, return-to-office, and post-pandemic ridership
- [18:50] – Attracting corporations; unique amenities and talent pool
- [21:58] – Tax policy, regional comparisons, and public investment
- [28:00] – Affordable housing strategy and regional housing supply
- [31:36] – Housing policy; supply-side focus vs. rent control
- [34:12] – Downtown revitalization and new office investment
- [40:29] – Mayoral influence on regional boards and appointments
- [45:51] – Diversification of D.C.’s economy—beyond federal spending
- [48:42] – Leadership and the nonpartisan role of mayors
- [51:59] – Public safety and the National Guard’s impact
- [53:00] – D.C., civilian law enforcement, and democracy implications
Conclusion
Muriel Bowser’s candid conversation with Willy Walker underscores the complexities and rewards of leading America’s federal city. The discussion highlights D.C.’s unique challenges, Bowser’s nonpartisan approach, aggressive economic development, housing and transportation innovation, and a clear-eyed focus on sustaining D.C. as a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking capital. The Mayor’s commitment to practical, bipartisan solutions and leveraging regional strengths reflects both the pressures and potential for D.C.'s future.