A guide to fighting eviction in D.C.

We're thrilled to be back in your inbox for our second week. We've got your weekend plans, your favorite Circulator memories (the heroic driver who saved Lamby the stuffy might make you cry), and scroll all the way to the bottom for your civics download – a handy guide to public meetings in the city.

In heavier news, evictions in D.C. are on the rise. We spoke to lawyers, tenant organizers, and housing advocates about what to do if you, or maybe your neighbor, receives an eviction notice. Tenants have a lot of rights in this city – but if you don't know them, they're hard to use. We hope this piece is a helpful start.

So many of you came to our launch party last night! If you missed it (RSVP's filled up in 11 minutes!), don't fear, there are more IRL events on the horizon. Seeing so many people who donated to our crowdfunding campaign, who subscribe to this newsletter, and who pitched in volunteer hours to make The 51st happen reminded us what community journalism looks like.

We could not do this without you (literally).

Happy reading!
Abigail Higgins

What to know if you get an eviction notice in D.C.

Showing up to court, in person or virtually, is one of the most important first steps.

Evictions are on the rise in D.C., with an estimated 1,493 people currently set to be forcibly removed from their rental homes — the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic, and close to pre-pandemic levels when much less emergency rental assistance was available. 

Housing and legal advocates fear the problem will deteriorate further after the D.C. Council unanimously passed a bill last week weakening the eviction protections of the city’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), an initiative designed to help low-income residents pay their rent in an emergency.

“Facing forcible displacement can be one of the most traumatic things that they might face in their life,” says Adam Marshall, an attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services Program’s Housing Unit, of their clients.

But D.C. has some of the most robust eviction protections in the country. If tenants know what their rights are, they can better use them to stay housed – or at least get a more favorable outcome. We’re not lawyers and this isn’t legal advice, but we rounded up tips from lawyers, tenant organizers, and housing advocates for when you or a neighbor are facing an eviction.

1. Never ignore an eviction notice. Always show up to court. 

Too often, tenants don’t show up to court. Sometimes they can’t get the day off or find childcare, or maybe they’re scared or assume they’re already doomed, says Sierra Ramírez, an organizer with the Woodner Tenants Union. As a result, a large percentage of cases are ruled in the landlord’s favor by default.

Today, renters can show up to court in person or attend virtually. The court mails a hearing notice with both the physical address and call-in information and you can attend however you feel most comfortable. 

Perhaps counterintuitively, showing up (virtually or in person) can actually slow the eviction process down.

Farewell to the Circulator, and to some heroic drivers

The Circulator may be ending, but our memories of it will last forever.

As you’ve probably heard by now, on January 1, 2025, the wheels on the Circulator buses will go round and round no more.

Citing low ridership, Mayor Muriel Bowser cut Circulator funding in the fiscal year 2025 budget, ending nearly 20 years of service. To the dismay of riders — and to the detriment of hundreds of staff members who now face losing their jobs — a service phase-out has already begun.

To bid those big, red buses a dignified goodbye, we wanted to know: how will you remember the Circulator?

Many of the stories we received revolved around a particularly kind driver retrieving a lost item, waiting a few seconds for someone at a stop, or just going the extra mile on a difficult day. So this is, yes, a eulogy for a bus. But in many ways... it's a big thank-you note to the Circulator drivers who kept the system running for 20 years.

“My most harrowing Circulator story [is] of nearly losing my daughter’s beloved stuffy, Lamby. We left it on a circulator bus in 2019, and after taking to Twitter and calling the Circulator dispatch, we finally were reunited the next day. All of the staff I talked to were so kind and the bus driver went out of his way to meet up with me. My daughter is eight now, and Lamby is still a part of the family!" — Jenny Harper

12 things to do around D.C. this weekend

There’s a bit of everything in the event rolodex this weekend: craft festivals, craft beer, cultural celebrations, comedy tours, a chess master in residence, and even a Q&A with the Metro GM. Start planning now!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

Moda, Mercado + Música | A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in DC

Hispanic Heritage Month is almost over, close it out at this celebration at the Ven at Embassy Row. The event includes a pop-up marketplace with Latin American vendors, a fashion installation, live painting from Mexican interdisciplinary artist Alana Guzman, and a dance performance from Ferocity Dance Company. You’ll also get a goodie bag and a complimentary glass of sangria when you arrive. This is a ticketed event, so move fast! (The Ven at Embassy Row; 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; $20)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

Metro Brew: Meet and Greet with Randy Clarke, WMATA’s GM

Have some * thoughts * about Metro’s train frequency or bus service? Well, here’s your opportunity to air them out. WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke will be hosting a meet and greet at metrobar where he’ll answer some questions and get some feedback. You have to register to attend and there are limited spots available! (metrobar; 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.; FREE)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Final Weekend)

It’s the final weekend of this play’s run at Arena Stage and tickets are going fast. The comedy “unravels the complexities of cultural identity, assimilation, and the pursuit of the American Dream within the African immigrant community,” following a group of women in a hair braiding salon. This production was directed by Whitney White and premiered on Broadway. (Arena Stage; Various dates and times; $230)

What I ate around D.C. this week

In our recurring Arts & Eats series, we’ll tap a plugged-in local to take us on a D.C. tour de food (or arts). This week, food writer and content creator Cornelia Poku went high and low — with a fine dining experience and a nostalgic chicken sandwich.

I took it easy at the top of this week because I was mentally preparing for Thursday. As a content creator, sometimes I get the gift of having two events in one day.

On Thursday, I was invited to meet up with Lydia Chang — the daughter of restaurateur and chef Peter Chang — at their Dupont restaurant, Chang Chang. We talked about her father’s immigration story and tasted some new menu items, including the mala beef tendons, which were spicy and tender, and the pickled chili wood ear mushroom, which had a pleasantly chewy texture.

After an hour or so, I hopped on the Metro and headed to Wharf for dinner at Hell’s Kitchen, a two-story fine-dining concept from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

Our team is mighty but small; we can't cover it all! Here's what you might've missed this week...

• D.C. photographer Shedrick Pelt spoke with 730DC about covering local organizing in support of Palestine. [730DC]
• Allegations of cheating and fraud, secret recordings, and threats of lawsuits – all while the kids are just trying to play baseball. [Defector]
• Police officers who attended the Jan. 6 riot and a D.C. lieutenant connected to the Proud Boys triggered an audit. The results are 'nigh. [Washington Post]
• City Paper's The People Issue is here! Get to know some of D.C.'s iconic characters.

This week we're participating in the 2024 D.C. Homeless Crisis Reporting Project in collaboration with other local newsrooms, here's a few of our favorites from this week.

• Public assistance is based on income, which means that when salaries rise recipients can suddenly lose critical benefits. [Street Sense Media]
• In D.C., 2,600 public school students are experiencing some form of housing insecurity. This program might help. [Washington Informer]
• In D.C., 28 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. [Washington Blade]
• Advocates laud new Foggy Bottom shelter, The Aston: D.C.'s first with private space for individuals. [GW Hatchet]

The Washrag

A look at D.C. mess – either IRL or online.

Big if true.

Meet our team: Colleen Grablick

It takes a village to make The 51st. We’ll occasionally dedicate some space in this newsletter to introducing a member of the team.

What’s your relationship to D.C.? Are you from the area and, if not, why did you move here?

I'm originally from Pennsylvania and I moved to D.C. for school. As it goes for many people, I ended up staying long past that. I bid the city a very teary (but never permanent) goodbye this past August to start graduate school, and I miss it every day.

What do you love about local news and why did you decide to become a co-founder of The 51st?

I first started working in local news as an intern with DCist, and I saw how it can create such a dynamic and passionate sense of place. I watched my coworkers edit a fun story about some hilarious, delightful, or genuinely bizarre local phenomenon — and then turn around the next day and publish an in-depth investigation. I think both types of stories are necessary to understanding the world around you. I became a co-founder of The 51st because I missed doing that type of journalism; as I watched sites like Hell Gate and Defector succeed, I realized a worker-led newsroom was the place to do it.

Your civics download

You’ll find this handy guide to public meetings at the bottom of every edition of The 51st. We’ll refine and improve along the way! So if you think we’re missing resources or you have trouble making sense of something we’ve included, please reply to this email with your suggestions or questions.

The D.C. Council hasn't yet released an agenda for its Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, but there are a few other meetings and hearings to know about. And as always, see the links in the chart below for a more complete list!

• The District Department of Transportation is holding a pop-up event Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Uptown Farmers Market to share new plans for the Georgia Avenue NW Bus Priority Project. The project "aims to improve bus travel times and reliability, while also making critical safety improvements along Georgia Ave from Barry Pl NW to Eastern Ave NW," according to DDOT. You can provide feedback on the DDOT website until November 15.
• The D.C. Council's Committee on Housing will hold a public oversight roundtable Tuesday, Oct. 22 on the city's housing authority, which has been beset by a number of troubling failures in the last several years.
• The D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety will hold a hearing Wednesday, Oct. 23 on staffing shortages and other issues at the Office of Unified Communications, which handles the city's 911 calls. This agency, too, has faced sharp criticism for low staffing and mistakes that have sent emergency responders to wrong addresses.

That's all we wrote! You can head to our website to read all of these stories in full. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share with a friend. We can't wait to see you next week!

Take care,
Abigail Higgins