Facial recognition tech debuts at DCA

What's CITY Talking About?

“Smile, You’re On Camera!”– TSA

TSA is testing out facial recognition technology as part of a new pilot program at DCA, BWI, and 14 other airports nationally. Each traveler will put their ID into a reader and look at a camera which verifies their face matches the document. Right now, this type of security screening is voluntary, but it’s raised privacy concerns about who has access to the data. [AP]

Ranked-Choice Voting in DC?

A local campaign has filed initial paperwork to bring ranked-choice voting to D.C. as early as 2026. The “Make All Votes Count D.C.” campaign also wants to introduce partially open primaries, which would allow independents to vote in the partisan primary of their choice. The plan’s proponents need 25,000 signatures from registered voters to get the proposal on the 2024 ballot. [DCist]

Tour de Highway

Northern Virginia is getting 18 miles of new bike trails this summer, from Dunn Loring to Centreville. The only catch is it parallels I-66, separated at times only by a low sound wall. Despite its efficacy, people are calling it an “urban hell.” It was put there because homeowners out there didn’t want people biking behind their houses. The first four-mile segment opened Wednesday, with the rest opening on a rolling basis. [DCist]

• Related: This isn’t the first (or last) controversial bike lane in the DMV. The Connecticut Avenue project still can’t get off the ground, and we talked to both sides about why. [City Cast DC 🎧]

What To Do

🐉 Dragon Boat Fest | Saturday | 9 a.m.

Cheer on the fastest dragon, then celebrate with food and a traditional dragon eye dotting ceremony. [Free, Georgetown]

🥘 Taste of Bloomingdale | Saturday | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Heat to Crispus Attucks Park for Bloomingdale Community Day, complete with a local food vendor competition, a dog show, live music, and kids’ activities. Free, Bloomingdale]

🗑️ Anacostia River Fest Cleanup | Saturday | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Join Anacostia Riverkeepers for a cleanup to help stop trash from entering the water ahead of the Anacostia River Festival! [Free, Anacostia]

🚴🏽 School Garden Bike Tour | Saturday | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Ride 12 miles around D.C., stopping to learn about various schools’ garden programs. And there’s a community lunch afterward. [Free, Ivy City]

🛍️ Takoma Flea Market | Saturday | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Peruse antiques, vintage clothing, jewelry, housewares, and furniture at this outdoor flea market on Grant Avenue. [Free, Takoma]

🦜 Urban Birdfest | Saturday | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Stop by Old Takoma Ace Hardware for crafts and activities, birding experts, and deals on bird supplies. [Free, Takoma]

🎶 Fiesta Asia Street Fair | Saturday | 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

This annual street fair is back with 1,000 performers, artisans, food vendors, and organizations from over 20 cultures celebrating all day long. [Free, Penn Quarter]

🌼 Flower Power: Anacostia River Fest | Saturday | 12 - 5 p.m.

Anacostia Arts Center is hosting this afternoon of craft classes by local Black women-owned businesses, including soap, candle, and tea-making classes. [Free, Anacostia]

🦆 It’s a Duck Party | Saturday | 2 - 5 p.m.

Welcome the ducks back to the Southwest Duck Pond, with free BBQ, music, tie-dye, and family activities. [Free, Navy Yard]

🍓 Urban Foraging | Sunday | 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Chef Bill Schindler will lead participants on a foraging hike around Capitol Hill and demonstrate cooking what they’ve gathered. [$100, Capitol Hill]

Today on City Cast

Bowser Placates Congress. Plus, Union Station and Mystics Season

D.C.’s mayor made a trip to Congress this week and it maybe wasn’t as bad as it could have been? City Cast’s Priyanka Tilve and Julia Karron join Mike Schaffer to chat about that, plus the latest push to reinvent Union Station and the Washington Mystics season that kicks off tonight!