But if Jones’ remarks were baffling, his muted response to what clearly was a political gaffe is also puzzling.

His spokeswoman, Tammy D. Hawley, said Jones did not take issue with how he was quoted in the Free Press. She noted that the mayor is also quoted as saying, “All of us are in this together.” But if that’s the case, he left a conflicted message with his audience and the council members whose support he will need to push his plan through.

Hawley also said the mayor’s comments “were exhorting individuals towards self-reliance and underscoring the effort necessary to break the cycle of poverty in a city where the face of the 26 percent poverty rate is disproportionately African-American.”

If I were the mayor, I wouldn’t be preaching “self-reliance” to individuals while asking taxpayers to subsidize a professional sports team.

The mayor’s argument that the benefits of this gambit will somehow trickle down to Richmond’s neediest residents is unconvincing.