🏛️ Why have 120 public defenders been furloughed?

What's CITY Talking About?

“8 Big Ideas” To Rejuvenate Downtown

The Gallery Place Chinatown Task Force has pitched “8 Big Ideas” to revitalize the neighborhood, including walkable streets and more housing. While many of these ideas are longer term, we could see more frequent festivals and a night market within the next year. The task force expressed interest in community calls to keep the “authenticity” of the neighborhood, even mentioning the possibility of an Asian grocer. [WTOP, City Cast DC 🎧]

GW “Unable to Manage” Encampment

GW president Ellen Granberg said the university is “unable to manage” the pro-Palestinian student encampment. The president called the encampment “illegal” for breaking university policy and trespassing in a space reserved for law students. The encampment remained largely peaceful, despite counter-protests and allegations that a university Provost “violently attacked” a student when trying to grab their phone. [GW Hatchet]

• Related: GW’s encampment follows many others at universities throughout the country, but how has D.C.’s response been different? [City Cast DC 🎧]

120 Public Defenders Furloughed

Budget issues have forced the D.C. Public Defender Service to furlough 120 attorneys every Wednesday between mid-June and mid-September. The furlough will mean more delays to the court system and a drop off in service for the city’s “most vulnerable.” Congress could be PDS’ only saving grace if they decide to provide more funding for the group. [NBC4]

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Today on City Cast

RFK’s Demolition, Legal Weed Patios, and Traffic Crackdowns

Washington Business Journal’s Drew Hansen joins the City Cast DC crew to explain RFK Stadium’s demolition, a new way to smoke weed outside this summer, and ticketing crackdowns on cars and mopeds.