This week, we reported on the financial woes facing a long beleaguered government agency, plus a double-feature of artist profiles for you.
Let’s get into it.
Senior reporter Alex Koma reports on the $62 million budget shortfall facing the city’s public housing authority – and an apparent spreadsheet mistake that could cost it another $52 million more. It’s hardly the first time the agency has had budget problems. “It’s like Groundhog Day,” said Daniel del Pielago, who advocates for public housing residents with the nonprofit Empower DC. “Every year, we’re dealing with all the same issues.”
Meanwhile, senior reporter Elliot C. Williams profiles Nekisha Durrett, a Petworth-based artist who was handpicked to create a piece for the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. And The 51st reporter Sam Delgado spotlights Domo Wells, a D.C.-area native who went from designing custom merch for the Washington Spirit to signing a multi-year licensing deal with the National Women's Soccer League.
Sam’s story will appear in our first-ever print edition, which we’re dropping next Thursday at our two-year anniversary party! Come celebrate with us at Urban Garden Brewhouse, where you can sip on billionaire-free booze, snag some new 51st merch, and connect with fellow local news nerds.
We're working on a story about job loss in the city and hoping to hear from people who've been affected. Are you navigating the perilous D.C. job market? What challenges have you faced? What's giving you hope?
How much are the Kennedy Center’s financial issues, which were blamed for new layoffs, due to the president’s changes? Here’s the data, as well as a whistleblower report on the structural issues that were actually present. [City Cast, The Post, AP]
What happened to plans for a restaurant that was built as part of Franklin Square Park’s $21 million makeover? [WCP]
What pieces of the RFK master plan are residents most worried about? Parking and transit, gentrification and displacement, the development’s contribution to climate change, and … (at least for one resident who testified) pickleball court availability. [Washington Sun]
The Mystics played their high-stakes home playoff game in the league’s smallest stadium due to … a Jonas Brothers concert. [Axios]
Cannabis may be cheaper in our neighboring states, but a growing number of local “lounges” are betting on the experience economy, organizing events like comedy shows and yoga classes. [WCP]
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Alex Koma
