☕ Compass Coffee union vote gets paused

What's CITY Talking About?

Compass Coffee Union Vote On Hold

Compass Coffee workers voted this week on unionization. However, the process stalled after union organizers and Compass Coffee representatives challenged 101 of the ballots. This comes shortly after the union accused Compass of hiring dozens of new anti-union employees to dilute the vote. The issue will now go to the National Labor Relations Board. [Washington Post 🔒]

A COVID Comeback

President Biden isn’t the only one down with COVID. Cases are up significantly in the DMV. Wastewater data shows Maryland is one of seven states experiencing “very high levels” of coronavirus cases, while Virginia is experiencing “high levels.” [WTOP]

DC Wins Black Culture Preservation Grants

The Ira Aldridge Theater at Howard University and the Masjid Muhammad Mosque, one America's oldest Black Muslim congregations, will each get a $150,000 grant to preserve African American culture in the U.S. They are two of 30 sites in the U.S. chosen by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. [Axios]

Park Removes Six Trees Following Tragedy

The city will remove six trees deemed dead from Garfield Park in Capitol Hill as the dry heat can cause an increase in limbs falling. DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division inspected every tree in the park after a fallen limb killed someone last week. [City Cast DC 🎧]

What To Do

DC Insider Trivia

First, Let’s Answer The Last Question:

Roosevelt Island is a popular nature area between D.C. and Virginia. Which of the following does NOT describe the island at any time in history?

1. It was a cotton and corn plantation.
2. It was a home for the Nacotchtank Indians.
3. It was a U.S. Army training camp.
4. It was the old site of the National Zoo. ⭐

Yes! Roosevelt Island has been many things, but it was never the site of the National Zoo.

The Nacotchtank Indians are the earliest known inhabitants of the island. The tribe was forced there in the 1660’s after John Smith and early settlers pushed them out of their home in Anacostia. It was then bought by the Mason family, who built a mansion and operated a cotton and corn plantation there.

When the Civil War started, the island became a U.S. Army training camp called Camp Greene where the First U.S. Colored Infantry trained. It wasn't until 1931 that the Roosevelt Memorial Association purchased the island and made it into a memorial/park.

Learn more about the history of the island.

🏆 Congratulations to Brad P., Kristen L., and María Elena C. for getting it right first!

Now Onto This Week’s Question:

Which of the following celebrities was NOT born in Washington, D.C.?

1. Samuel L. Jackson
2. Bill Nye
3. David Grohl
4. Kerry Washington

Today on City Cast

Melted Metro Rails, RIP Silver Spring, and Local Olympians

The City Cast DC team is here to talk about the hot hot heat and the not-so-hot future of Silver Spring. And the Olympics are about to start! We’ve got a list of who you should be cheering extra hard for.