City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
💰Bowser’s proposal to ‘Grow DC’
May 28, 2025 · 💌 Kaela
Hey, neighbor! If you were a summer reading challenge fiend as a child (a.k.a major loner), boy have I got the thing for you. D.C. Public Library opens its Summer Reading Challenge on June 1, with options for kids and adults. You can win D.C. United tickets, Nando’s gift cards and more.
🚆Psst! ICYMI Metro’s "Tap. Ride. Go." program is launching at all Metrorail stations today (buses later), so you can swipe in and out using a credit card!
What's CITY Talking About?
Bowser’s 2026 Budget Dropped
Famously unsexy, but very important: the Mayor’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal dropped yesterday. It focuses on attracting business, creating jobs, and patching up the $1 billion revenue shortfall. Highlights include:
- $681M for RFK construction + $171M for Capital One Arena.
- $2.8B (a $123M increase) towards D.C. Public Schools.
- Repealing Initiative 82 and making sales tax holidays for restaurants.
- $30M increase for MPD to hire more officers and invest in equipment.
- $97M increase to cover increased Medicaid cost. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Youth Crime Crackdown
Mayor Bowser said she will propose emergency legislation to expand D.C.’s juvenile curfew, bringing it forward from midnight on weekends and 11 p.m. on weekdays to as early as 7 or 8 p.m. [Washington Post 🔒]
- Meanwhile, two forced personnel departures from D.C.’s new youth crime division are stoking criticism. [Washington Post 🔒]
Queer Bar Vandalized Leading Up To WorldPride
The Adams Morgan queer bar Sinners and Saints was broken into and vandalized with a homophobic slur over the weekend, during Black Pride. There has been an outpour of community support, and have raised for $7,800. [NBC4]
The Black Bears Are Back
A black bear in Prince George’s County was tranquilized and relocated after wandering into a Memorial Day BBQ. [WTOP]
- Bears are not uncommon this time of year in the DMV. Here’s what to do if you see one. [City Cast DC 🎧]
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What To Do
Wednesday, May 28
- 🔊 Tunes: Bomba Estéreo Astrotipical Tour at The Anthem (The Wharf)
- 💪 Wellness Wednesdays at Milian Park (Mount Vernon Triangle)
- 🎤 Tunes: Wet and Julie at Union Stage (The Wharft)
- 🖨️ Lino Block Print Workshop with Rose Jaffe (Brightwood Park)
Thursday, May 29
- 🏳️🌈 After Hours Pride Party at the Capital Jewish Museum (Judiciary Square)
- 👀 Profs & Pints: Dark Skies over the South China Sea at the Old Naval Hospital (Eastern Market)
- 🎶 Tunes: Cameron Knowler / Adeline Hotel / Small Sur Show at Rhizome DC (Takoma Park)
- 📚 “Along Came Amor” Author Event at East City Bookshop (Capitol Hill)
Sponsored Content
WorldPride International Choral Festival
50 concerts. 25 venues. 30 choruses. 16 days. WorldPride 2025 is coming and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC is presenting an International Choral Festival that will be the Arts & Culture Marquee Event for WorldPride. Free daily pop-up performances. For the full schedule and more information, visit GMCW.org.
🚇 🏃 We’ve got a new Metro speed run in the books, folks! Clocking in at 15:35 hours for all 98 Metrorail stations, it’ll be a hard record to beat.
Free · 5 days a week