Six ways we love working with you
We've been publishing for over a year now, and so many D.C. residents have informed our reporting.
Meet the Cathedral bell ringers! Plus, an explainer on the saga of RFK, and more.
Happy New Year!
We ended our year on a banger note thanks to all of you: We reached our goal of 2,000 paid subscribers, which means that we're now funded through the middle of the year! Considering this newsletter didn't even exist a few months ago, this coda to 2024 feels pretty monumental.
Still, the blank canvas of a new year is feeling more formidable than usual. We don't know what 2025 will bring for our city, but we do have big plans for our little newsroom. We’re hoping that with continued fundraising, we’ll be able to start working at this full time, ramping up the number of stories and newsletters we publish, and spending more time in the community connecting with you. (In case you missed it: George Kevin Jordan just joined the team as The 51st's first community connector. He'll be reaching out to neighbors in Ward 7 about what they want to see from local news.)
Whatever 2025 has in store, we're thrilled to be able to say we're here to face it with you. We hope to bring clarity, accountability, and some fun to what is likely to be, if nothing else, a very significant year.
To new beginnings, even the overwhelming ones.
Abigail Higgins
In late December, Congress approved a bill transferring control of the site of the former Robert F. Kennedy Stadium to D.C. This long awaited development will finally allow the city to use the sprawling campus for housing, retail, parks — and yes, a new stadium for the Washington Commanders. Whether the stadium comes to pass remains to be seen, but either way, the transfer of the parcel — one of the biggest in the city’s history — will offer D.C. a rare opportunity to create a whole new neighborhood along the banks of the Anacostia River.
A group of dedicated bell ringers has been practicing this old British art form in the central bell tower of the National Cathedral since the 1960s. We spent a Sunday learning (or, watching, rather) the ropes with them.
Stepping into Pho Viet is like entering a botanical haven. The patio is draped in cascading ivy and lush ferns, shading a few tables during warmer months. Indoors, vibrant orchids adorn the counters, enlivening the restaurant with verdant touches. For owners Phi-Nhung Nguyen and Minh Chau, affectionately known to regulars as Nina and Mike, these displays are about more than beauty — they’re a labor of love, a reflection of tradition, and a gift to the community.
Like many transplant journalists, reading outlets like DCist, Washington City Paper, and the Washington Informer is how George Kevin Jordan discovered who D.C. residents are and what they want. So, when The 51st wanted to pilot a new program focused on building relationships with community members, he couldn’t raise his hand high enough.
We hope you got a chance to unplug over the holidays. Here's some of the news you might have missed.
A place to highlight and discuss local gossip.
Meanwhile, this morning, the D.C. Council held its swearing in ceremony at the Convention Center. Ward 8's Trayon White, who has pleaded not guilty to federal bribery charges, apologized to D.C. after taking an oath of office for a third term. As we covered last month, his colleagues have made a recommendation to expel White from the council. An official vote is expected for February.
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, please let us know!
It's a slow start to public meetings this year but there are still ways to plug in, and some handy things to know.
Council of the District of Columbia |
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📅 All DC Council Meetings 🛠️ Sign up to testify |
Advisory Neighborhood Commissions |
📅 All ANC Events 🛠️ Look up your ANC |
DC State Board of Education |
📅 All DCBOE Events 🛠️ Sign up to testify |
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
📅 All WMATA Board Meetings 🛠️ Public Comment Procedures |
Metropolitan Police Department Authority |
📅 Discussions by district 🛠️ Look up your police service area |
DC Interagency Council on Homelessness Authority |
📅 All ICH Meetings 🛠️ Working groups: email ich.dmhhs@dc.gov |
DC Housing Authority |
📅 2024 DCHA Board Meetings 🛠️ Sign up to speak + 🛠️Watch |
All of the mayor’s Open Meetings |
📅 Commissions and boards and committees, oh my! |
City Service Hotlines |
Police, Fire, EMS: 911 Non-Emergency: 311 Mental Health: 888-793-4357 Shelter Access: 202-399-7093 |
We hope this newsletter helped start your 2025 off right. Take care of yourselves this week and see you next Thursday!
– Abigail Higgins
With your help, we pursue stories that hold leaders to account, demystify opaque city and civic processes, and celebrate the idiosyncrasies that make us proud to call D.C. home. Put simply, our mission is to make it easier — and more fun — to live in the District. Our members help keep local news free and independent for all: