🗑️ Was your trash bin stolen?

What's CITY Talking About?

Metro Ridership Up, Fare Evasion Down

Metro says people are taking the train again, with ridership up 14% in March. They also reported that fare evasion is down 50% after installing gates at 33 stations and enforcing fare evasion punishments more severely. [WTOP, City Cast DC 🎧]

Teachers Oppose Early Educator Fund Cut

Teachers throughout the city are concerned about Mayor Muriel Bowser’s decision to slash the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund from her 2025 budget. The fund is used to bring early childhood teachers’ pay rate up to K-12 standards. Councilmember Christina Henderson is a vocal opponent of the cut, saying "it feels as though we are trying to balance the budget on the backs of Black and Brown women and the childcare sector." [ABC7]

City Official Under Investigation

Assistant city administrator Chris Rodriguez is under investigation after his ex-wife reported that Rodriguez broke into her home, shouted, and refused to leave until authorities were called. Rodriguez was arrested for domestic violence in November, and was suspended by Mayor Bowser until the charges were eventually dropped. [NBC4]

Where Is It?

First, what was last week’s photo?

If you guessed the set of Ari Aster’s cinematic nightmare “Midsommar,” you were incorrect, but I don’t blame you. This lovely patio greenhouse is in Calico's urban backyard. I hear they have good adult juice boxes to go with the vibes.

🏆 Congratulations to Vicky H., Geoff D., and Mitra P. for guessing correctly.

Now, onto this week’s challenge:

This week we’re going for a more chill outdoor vibe. Do you know where this little moment of zen is located?

What To Do

Today on City Cast

The Fight Over U Street's Future

There’s been a crazy fight going on about whether to erect an apartment building on the site of an old firehouse on U Street — and it’s a fight worth watching because it says a lot about what it takes to actually build anything in D.C. Paul Schwartzman from the Washington Post has been covering it and is here to walk us through the wild details.