City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
🥊 DC Council might sue the mayor
January 3, 2024
Hey, neighbor. City Cast DC team lead Priyanka Tilve here. Kaela’s still in cozy, winter break mode, but I’m here in the workday trenches with you. And the year’s kicked off with a literal earthquake, so who knows what 2024 has in store for us all.
What's CITY Talking About?
DC Council Suing Mayor
D.C. Council is considering suing Mayor Murial Bowser over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Starting Jan. 1, the mayor was supposed to boost the program that addresses food insecurity and poverty, but the D.C. Council says she’s illegally blocking funding. [Fox5]
Rare Win For DC Crime Lab
D.C.’s crime lab FINALLY has partial accreditation back after three years without it. This accreditation goes towards the forensic units responsible for DNA analysis, blood testing, and drug testing. [DCist]
- Related: A working crime lab is crucial for fighting crime. D.C.’s Attorney General has previously blamed the lab’s impotence for failed prosecutions. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Shooting at Embassy Suites Hotel
D.C.’s first homicide of 2024 took place only hours after midnight on Jan. 1. Police are still searching for the subject who shot and killed an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Friendship Heights. She was attending a party with about 10 others when the shooter opened fire. [NBC4]
- Related: D.C. ended the year with a grim record: most homicides since 1997. The city is making big moves to tamp down on crime in 2024. [City Cast DC 🎧]
New Year, New Park
Loudoun County is getting a new 85-acre public park. Cattail Regional Park will be the 36th park in the NOVA Parks network. It’s unclear when exactly it’ll open. [DCist]
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What To Do
Wednesday, Jan. 3
- 🍽️ Mapo Tofu Cooking Class | 6 - 8 p.m. | $119 | Arlington
- 😂 Underground Comedy at Hotbed | 8 p.m. | Free | Adams Morgan
Thursday, Jan. 4
- 🌿 Class: Thirsty Terrarium | 6:30 p.m. | $26 | Alexandria
- 🪕 Bluegrass & $3 Beers | 7:00 p.m. | Free | The Wharf
- 🧘 Meditation & Music Medicine | 7:00 p.m. | $30 | Downtown
- 🎤 Dry January Comedy Show | 8 - 10 p.m. | $8+ | H Street Corridor
Friday, Jan. 5
- 🎵 Music and Movement | 10:30 - 11 a.m. | Free | Mt. Pleasant
- 🎉 New Year, New Friends | 6:00 p.m. | $20 | Dupont Circle
- 🎭 Drunk Shakespeare | 7:00 p.m. | $69 | Downtown
- 🎤 Garden Open Mic | 7 p.m. | $10 | Columbia Heights
- 🎲 New Year New Me Game Night | 6:30 p.m. | Donation | Arlington
- 📽️ ‘How To Be a Korean Woman’ Play | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | $50 | Dupont Circle
Today on City Cast
Need new year’s resolution inspiration? Here’s one: Invest more in D.C.’s local musicians. Christopher Naoum started Listen Local First to support D.C.’s homegrown music scene, and he shares his tips and tricks for making the most of it.
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New Member Shoutouts
We're so grateful for these founding members of City Cast DC:
Kyo Freeman ● Eugene Morris ● Christine Lightner ● Bryn Bogan ● Jamie Gale ● Stephanie Newman ● Ian Spear ● Timothy Lee
Still mad about the Caps and Wizards potentially moving to Alexandria? There’s a protest brewing for Jan. 15. Stay tuned.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Bryan M. Vance.
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