Why are local leaders resigning?

What's CITY Talking About

DC Police Chief To Step Down

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith is resigning at the end of this year, saying she wants to spend more time with her family. She took the position during a 26-year high in homicides, which has since fallen, but she has taken heat for collaborating with federal authorities since the Trump takeover. [Axios]

• Related: Smith is the third major D.C. leader to announce their resignation in the last two weeks. Why is everyone tapping out? [City Cast DC 🎧]

Dems Demand Park Police Stop Local Hiring Blitz

Democratic Senators are demanding the U.S. Park Police stop their D.C. hiring spree after their recent push to become the city’s “premier law enforcement agency.” Senators specifically accused the Trump administration of hijacking the force for its own purposes. [Washington Post 🔒]

The Last Cheesecake Factory

A blow to drunk American University students everywhere, the Friendship Heights Cheesecake Factory is closing on Jan. 24. That leaves only one in D.C., right across the street from the White House. [PopVille]

Graduation Rate Hits Record High

New data shows that 79% of D.C. students who started high school in 2020 graduated last year. It’s a record high for D.C. and 2.6 percentage points above last year, but is still lagging behind the national average. [Washington Post 🔒]

Metro’s Sweet Holiday Rides Just Landed

Metro’s holiday-themed trains and buses are here! Or as I prefer to call it, “the candyland express” (if you consider work candyland, that is). [Metro]

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