DC's budget fight is almost over

What's CITY Talking About?

Budget Day Bonanza

D.C. Council voted yesterday, giving initial approval to the 2024 budget. The councilmembers agreed on a new school safety commission to address the debate over police in schools. They also revamped the proposed rideshare surcharge plan from $2 on downtown rides to $0.25 on all D.C. rides. This is to ultimately fund 24-hour Metrobus service on 13 routes. And there were even more debates that got heated. We’ve got a City Cast DC episode coming out tomorrow on who won which battles. [DCist/City Cast DC 🎧]

Bowser Testifies For Congress

Mayor Muriel Bowser testified yesterday before the House Oversight Committee to discuss crime in the District. As expected, D.C.’s contentious relationship with Congress was brought up as she described D.C. residents as “700,000 disenfranchised Americans living in the shadow of the Capitol.” She also called on Congress to enact federal gun reform, support local infrastructure projects, and push federal workers to return to offices downtown. [NBC4/City Cast DC 🎧]

Congressional Staffers Attacked

A man assaulted two staffers in the office of Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) with a metal baseball bat on Monday. After learning that Connolly was not in office, 49-year-old Xuan Kha Tran Pham attacked the staffers, causing injury, and smashed windows and a computer. Pham has been charged, and the staffers have been released from the hospital. [Washington Post 🔒]

What To Do

🪝 CiNoMatic Presents: Hook | Wednesday | 8:20 p.m.

Grab a spot in Alethia Tanner Park for this film screening complete with lawn games and food trucks. [Free, Eckington]

💭 Redefining AAPI Today | Thursday | 7 - 9 p.m.

Join DMV-based trailblazers like Jade Womack of Clockout DC and Moon Rabbit’s Kevin Tien for a discussion on their journey and the role AAPI culture had in their successes. [Free, Navy Yard]

💪 Cocktails + Crafting Fundraiser | Thursday | 6 - 8 p.m.

This crafty event at The Roost will raise money for The National Memorial to the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation. [$50, Capitol Hill]

🚴‍♀️ Bike To Work Day | Friday | Varies

It’s bike to work day! Join up with one of the convoys biking your way, or just ride solo.  [Free, Varies]

Today on City Cast

The High-Tech DMV Farm You Can Visit

Area 2 Farms in Arlington is indoors and has bizarre plants that taste like roasted garlic, cheese, or oysters. And for the cherry (tomato) on top, this vertical farm is fighting climate change with all kinds of sustainable techniques. We road-tripped out there to learn about it all from founder and chief science officer Tyler Baras.