🚨 DC safety perception worsens despite crime drop

What's CITY Talking About?

Residents Worried About Crime Despite Drop

65% of D.C. residents think crime is a serious problem, despite a significant decline in violent crime this year. That’s up 9% from the same time last year. However, the perception of safety in D.C.’s suburbs remains largely unchanged.

• RELATED: Crime was concerningly high in 2023, leading the city to pass the controversial Secure DC bill earlier this year. [Washington Post 🔒, City Cast DC 🎧]

Hill Consultants Launch Right-Wing Media Company

Two political consultants are launching the Washington Reporter, a new conservative media company focused on challenging established outlets covering Capitol Hill. A group of business people, including some media heavyweights, have donated more than $1 million to the company. The founders hope to fill a gap in conservative reporting on the hill, especially with the possibility of a Republican House looming. [Axios]

Power Couple Draw Criticism in Ward 7 Race

Ward 7 Council candidate Ebony Payne is in hot water after her political consultant fiancé Chuck Rocha used his connections to upend the race. Rocha pulled out-of-state contributions and endorsements from Congress for Payne, drawing criticism from local politicos, who are historically wary of National political figures' involvement in city politics. Critics also point to Payne’s “fear-mongering” around crime and discrepancies in her campaign expenses. [Washington City Paper]

What To Do

DC Insider Trivia

It’s time for our weekly trivia! I’ll ask a question to test your D.C. knowledge and reveal the answer in next week's trivia segment. The only rule, no googling!

First, Let’s Answer Last Week’s Question:

D.C. has a lot of strange laws. Which of the following is NOT illegal in D.C.?

• Posting a public notice that calls another person a 'coward' for refusing to accept a duel.
• Small boys throwing stones, at any time, in any place in D.C.
• Fishing while driving across a bridge. ⭐
• Giving a false weather report.

I am not going to lie – I didn’t really expect anyone to know this. But if you guessed right, you are a D.C. wizard! Yes, ALL of these things are illegal in D.C. except for fishing while driving across a bridge. Seems inconvenient to me but knock yourself out!

Here are a few other weird archaic D.C. laws:

• You’re not allowed to dance for more than 12 hours in a single day.
• You cannot use Santa’s name or image to promote alcohol consumption.
• You can’t have more than one accordion played at a time in a D.C. establishment.
• You can’t marry your mother-in-law.

🏆 Congratulations to Hey DC readers Brad P., Quinn H., and Orest S. for being the first three to respond with the correct answer!

Now Onto This Week’s Question:

Which company currently produces Senate Beer?

• Old Heurich
• Senate Brews
• DC Brau
• Right Proper

Bonus points if you can tell me where the original recipe for Senate Beer came from!

Today on City Cast

Falcicchio Fallout, MD Senate Race, and a New Nats Owner?

Channel 4’s Mark Segraves joins us to talk about the last aftershocks — we hope — from a scandal in the mayor’s office, a Maryland race that just might be interesting, and whether the Nats are for sale, AGAIN.