🤔 Should DC tear down Cap One Arena?

What's CITY Talking About?

Metro Funding Crisis Averted?

Mayor Bowser has pledged an $200 million to WMATA on top of the District's 2024 operating subsidy to the agency, to help it close its massive budget deficit. Maryland has offered $150 million, and Virginia $130 million. These funds should hopefully help avoid catastrophic service cuts this year. [X, formerly known as Twitter]

• Related: Metro chief Randy Clarke told us the agency is working towards a sustainable, long-term solution to the annual budget shortfall. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Charles Allen Recall Update

The campaign to recall Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen has already raised $54,000 from 400 individual donors in a two week period. The organizers accuse Allen of being soft on crime. The D.C. Board of Elections will decide on Feb. 13 whether to authorize petitions. [X, formerly known as Twitter]

Police Shooting Footage Released

MPD has released the body cam footage of a Jan. 24 incident where an officer shot and killed a man in a mental health crisis. The footage shows Officer Claude Jackson shoot the victim six times from close range after the man runs towards him holding what appears to be a tire gauge. Jackson has been placed on administrative duty while the U.S. Attorney's Office investigates. [DCist]

• Related: When dealing with people suffering from mental health crises, the police are not always the right people to call. D.C. has been experimenting with alternative emergency responses instead. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Protesters Block Traffic to Call for Ceasefire

Pro-Palestine protesters blocked multiple major roadways in D.C. on Thursday morning, causing standstill traffic throughout the DMV. Participants hoped to disrupt “business as usual” on Capitol Hill to encourage representatives to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. [ABC7]

New Plans for Arena

Mayor Bowser wants to redevelop Capital One Arena if the Caps and Wizards actually move to Potomac Yard. The Chinatown task force met this week to discuss plans for the stadium and aim to have actions in place by September. [City Cast DC 🎧]

What To Do

DC Insider Trivia

Let’s start with last week’s question:

Rock Creek Park is over twice the size of Central Park, but exactly how big is it?

1. 215 acres
2. 852 acres
3. 1,754 acres
4. 2,344 acres

Sure, Central Park gets all the fanfare — but it’s only a humble 842.6 acres! D.C.’s Rock Creek Park’s main section is 1,754 acres, but when you include the other green areas the park administers, such as Meridian Hill Park, Glover Archbold Park, Palisades Park, and a few others, the park is actually more than 2,000 acres! So yeah, she’s really big and important. Also, alligators really love it there.

🏅 Congratulations to Hey DC readers Mike A., Sindy M., and Monica P. for being the first three readers to answer correctly! Extra shoutout to Monica P. who added that the park was officially established by President Harrison. Look at you knowing the facts! And to Patricia P. for knowing that there is an old spy station in the park!

We love a good spy story! Perhaps you and Patricia P. would love to know how to spy a secret agent in D.C. 👀

Now, for this week’s trivia:

In honor of Black History Month, do you know which high school in Washington, D.C. was also the first public high school for Black students in the U.S.?

1. Anacostia High School
2. Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown
3. Jackson-Reed High School in Tenleytown
4. Dunbar High School in Truxton Circle

Today on City Cast

Demolishing Cap One Arena? Plus, Deadly Carjacking Spree, and Wolf Trap’s Lineup

The Washington Post’s Emily Davies and City Cast contributor Dan Reed join us to talk about carjackings, whether D.C. should tear down Capital One Arena, and — even though it’s cold outside — the newest calendar of outdoor concerts once it warms up.