The fight to keep Malcolm X open this summer

What's CITY Talking About

Neighbors Fight Malcolm X Park Lawn Closure

D.C. locals are pushing back on the National Park Service’s plans to close the upper lawn at Malcolm X Park from March through September. The petition — which already has almost 2,000 signatures — says the plan will strip D.C. of vital public space and requests a phased restoration instead. The group is also hosting a park demonstration this Saturday. [NPS/Change.org/Partiful]

Locking Up The Rat Buffet

Councilmember Christina Henderson introduced a new bill to make D.C.’s public trash and recycling bins rodent-resistant with lids and liners. According to The Economist, D.C. is one of the country’s fastest-growing rat hubs. Although anyone outside in D.C. at night could tell you that — eesh! [WUSA9/Economist]

DC Launches Long Awaited Autonomous Vehicle Study

D.C.’s Department of Transportation finally launched a study on autonomous vehicles, which could pave the way for Waymo to operate in D.C. The study was originally due in 2022 and has delayed Waymo’s hopes of expanding into the District. DDOT says it will propose recommendations on robotaxi deployment later this year. [Urban Turf/City Cast DC 🎧]

Trump's DC Is Outta Mussolini's Playbook, Says Architect Expert

Between the East Wing, the proposed Arc de Trump, and the Kennedy Center, Trump is going after D.C.’s image. We talked with Paul Goldberger, former architectural critic for the New York Times and the New Yorker, about the Trump effect and how it “will destroy" Washington. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Ex WaPo Food Critic Launches Newsletter, Reviews Noma

The Washington Post’s famous previous food critic Tom Sietsema is launching his new newsletter today with a review of Noma — one of the world’s most famous fine-dining restaurants that recently fell from grace due to allegations of abuse. [Page Six]

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