City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
D.C. looks to ease medical debt
June 1, 2023
Happy morning, D.C. Go from reading to raging in five. MLK Library is back with its free rooftop garden concerts. This month, they will have a Go-Go on the Rooftop series, followed by D.C. Punk Archive concerts in July and August.
What's CITY Talking About?
Kid Arrested For Gun-Point Robberies
An 11-year-old has been charged with carrying out multiple armed robberies. This arrest is a part of the trend of younger and younger children committing crimes. Along with robbery cases such as this one, D.C. police say more than half the people arrested for carjackings this year are juveniles. [Washington Post 🔒]
- Related: Mayor Muriel Bowser declared youth crime an “emergency.” Hear more about how the problem is the worst it’s been in years. [City Cast 🎧]
D.C. Wants To Erase Medical Debt
The newly approved D.C. budget includes a plan to purchase and cancel up to $90 million of medical debt incurred at local hospitals. In theory, the city would give $900,000 in surplus funding to a third party organization. It would then buy the debt at a steep discount so the $900,000 becomes $90 million in erased debt. Eligibility is determined by income and amount of debt, but luckily, there’s no application process, so once the debt is bought and canceled, eligible residents will just get notified. [DCist]
Dems Against Ranked Choice Voting
D.C. Democrats have come out strongly against the bill to adopt ranked choice voting for the District. The party expressed concern that it would make voting too complex and harm voter turnout. They also described the campaign as an “agenda to erode the influence of the strong Democratic base” in the District. That’s not necessarily true. Here’s how ranked choice voting really works. [Twitter / City Cast 🎧]
Orange Line Closures
Four Orange Line stations will close this Saturday through Sunday, June 25 to allow for rail replacement. The stations closing are Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, and East Falls Church. There will be a shuttle bus service during the closure period. [ARLnow]
Sponsored Content
Fray Summer Nights Free Outdoor Concert Series
Enjoy the sounds of summer with DC Fray + District Fray. On select nights, join Fray for these five free outdoor concert series happening around D.C. and Northern Virginia. Soak in the summer vibes with live performances from local artists, food trucks, giant lawn games and family fun.
What To Do
🌱 Backyard Edibles | Thursday | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
No, not that kind of edible. Learn how to ethically harvest wild plants, ID common edible plants, and take home some foraged goodies. [$22, Mt. Pleasant]
🚀 Poem for Europa | Thursday | 7 - 8 p.m.
Poet Laureate Ada Limón will read her poem that will be engraved on the outside of NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft. [Free, Library of Congress]
🎥 Hunt Movie Viewing | Friday | 7 - 9:30 p.m.
Directed by and starring Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae and partly set in D.C., this Korean thriller is screening at the Freer Gallery of Art. [Free, National Mall]
🎙️ City Cast DC Live Taping | Saturday | 1 p.m.
Join us for a live podcast interview with beer historian Kimberly Bender at Right Proper's Brookland Production Room & Tasting House! [Free, Brookland]
Today on City Cast
Farewell to D.C.’s Police Chief
D.C.’s police chief is moving on after just two years. It’s a moment of rising crime, Congressional meddling, and lingering worries about policing. We’re talking with Washington City Paper’s Mitch Ryals about Robert Contee’s legacy and how the city might replace him.
Calling all strong opinions: There’s a lot of buzz about a potential condo development in Shaw at 1515 9th Street NW. Do you live in Shaw and have strong opinions on whether it should be built? We are looking for someone to join us on our podcast to discuss. Shoot us an email!
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