Today, we have a profile of Alexander Esquivel, a D.C. resident detained by ICE last year whose family is still reeling from the ordeal. The story was reported by Santiago Campos, a senior at D.C. International School who accepted a major scholarship from CBS at the News Emmy's last night. He used the opportunity to slam the recent direction of the network, which critics say has jettisoned journalistic ethics to curry favor with the Trump administration.
“As corporate elites take hold over the very pipes through which our information flows, journalism that serves people becomes increasingly harder to come by, yet ever more crucial, and what the people want is the truth," Campos said to applause, and reportedly some surprise.
The program is subsidizing D.C.’s richest and failing to diversify the candidate pool. Our city can take inspiration from Seattle's democracy vouchers.
Here are some stories you may have missed this week:
D.C. allows residents to choose their own energy supplier, which is supposed to lower costs through competition. But predatory practices are rampant. [City Paper]
Speaking of local music history: A new novel goes deep on D.C.’s early 2000s punk scene — and local band Hue’s music brings together go-go, post-hardcore, and metal. (It works!) [Washingtonian, City Paper]
“There’s no intersection in the District of Columbia, or in the region, as far as I know, that looks like this.” Local cyclists are pushing back on DDOT’s plans to reconfigure the bike lanes on 11th Street SE. [HillRag]
Another potential scandal from the D.C. government’s Marion Barry Building (which you might remember from the elevator breakdowns). The city spent $1 million paying seven contractors to watch for any potential fires in the building for almost a year. [City Paper]
As part of this month’s Anacostia Mural Festival, the city is unveiling dozens of new murals celebrating D.C. residents and culture, including one featuring The Washington Informer and another portraying NeeNee Taylor, co-founder of Harriet’s Wildest Dreams.
From August through March, MPD received 25% more complaints from residents — and the highest number of the 100+ complaints specifically involving federal agents came from Ward 5. [The Post]
OK, yes, as a treat click here to see the National Zoo’s new baby porcupine. [WTOP]
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