City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
Should DC pay reparations?
September 19, 2023
Hello! This is Natalia Aldana, an editor at City Cast, filling in for Kaela today.
Celebrate the final days of summer with a new gelato flavor at Dolcezza: All Things Conesidered, the special flavor inspired by the NPR flagship show. It’s got flecks of hazelnut and wafer, and will be available through Nov. 1 at six locations 🍦
What's CITY Talking About?
City Constructs Tunnel to Prevent Flooding
The Northeast Boundary Tunnel is completed after six years of construction. The tunnel adds 90 million gallons of storage to reduce water and sewer backups and ultimately prevent dangerous flooding on Rhode Island Avenue NE. [WTOP]
- Related: Flooding in Northeast has been top of mind since a tragic flood killed 10 dogs at a doggie day care last month. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Tree Equity in D.C.
The federal Inflation Reduction Act is funding the planting of thousands of trees in Black and brown neighborhoods that don’t currently have tree canopy. The federal money will pay for community outreach, planting 10,000 new trees, and maintaining 30,000 young trees. [DCist]
New Home for Controversial Confederate Statue
Virginia’s governor has asked the Virginia Military Institute to house a Confederate statue that the Army is removing from Arlington National Cemetery. Critics say the statue whitewashes slavery and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. The Defense Department would have to approve the statue’s move to VMI and it’s still unclear who would pay for the transfer. There’s also an ongoing legal effort to keep the statue in Arlington Cemetery. [Washington Post 🔒]
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What To Do
👏 Leslie Jones | Wednesday | 7 p.m.
Catch the SNL alum in conversation with journalist Tiffany Cross at Sixth & I. Virtual tickets are also available. [$12 - $40, Chinatown]
🎤 Portrait of Ludmilla | Thursday | 7:30 p.m.
Experience this tribute to legendary singer Nina Simone at the Embassy of France. [Free, Foxhall Village]
😆 Comedy Night | Thursday | 8 p.m.
Head to Town Tavern to see some of the best comics in the DMV. [Donation-based, Adams Morgan]
⚖️ Voices for Liberty Symposium | Friday | 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Listen to keynote speeches on the role of freedom of speech in advancing civil rights at this all-day conference, followed by a cocktail reception at the Antonin Scalia Law School. [Free, Arlington]
Today on City Cast
After slavery, D.C. paid financial restitution to former … enslavers. Now, D.C. Council is considering a task force to explore paying reparations to the descendants of enslaved people.
The Washington Post’s Michael Brice-Saddler is on the podcast explaining how this would work and if it’s likely to pass.
Did you love this newsletter, or what?! If so, forward it to a friend who you know would also love stories about ice cream and carousels to start their day 🎠
– Natalia Aldana
Today’s newsletter was edited by Priyanka Tilve. News was written by Susannah Broun.
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