Politicians want Mets to scrap Citi deal

Two members of the House of Representatives, Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat from Ohio, and Ted Poe, a Republican from Texas, are calling on the Mets to dissolve their $400 million stadium naming deal with Citigroup. Kucinich said Citigroup should not be able to spend so much money on naming a stadium after receiving federal bailout funds. Citigroup’s financial status has changed significantly since the deal was made in 2006, Poe and Kucinich said. But a Citigroup spokesman said the deal is a “legally binding agreement,” and Mets spokesman Jay Horowitz said the Mets remain committed to the contract. Citigroup’s spokesman said no TARP money would be used for the stadium naming deal or for marketing.