Healthcare cuts hit D.C.’s undocumented immigrants

Happy Thursday readers,

This week, our lead story digs into the looming cuts to the DC Health Care Alliance, which insures 26,000 low-income residents. It will leave few options for undocumented Washingtonians who depend on lifesaving medications. 

“I’m really going out of my mind, just trying to understand — what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to afford it? I can’t. I just can’t,” one resident told us. 

Over at the Wilson Building, 51st reporter Martin Austermuhle explains how the economic climate has changed the focus for lawmakers, who are more used to debating how to spend rather than what to cut.

And many of you have expressed concerns and outrage about masked federal officers making arrests across the city. 51st contributor Sam Delgado dove into the legal landscape and the toll that anonymous feds are taking on the psyche of the city.

On a more hopeful note, we caught up with volunteers who are fighting non-native invasive vines and learned how easy it can be to help save D.C.’s trees.

Keep scrolling for a recap of the ice cream social hosted by our Ward 7 Community Connector George Kevin Jordan (also thanks to everyone who showed up to Ask A D.C. Native, Live! on Monday). And don't miss our roundups of weekend events and ways to get civically engaged, plus some news you may have missed this week.

Enjoy,

Christina

D.C. healthcare cuts set to impact thousands, hitting undocumented residents the hardest

The first round of cuts to the city-funded DC Health Care Alliance go into effect next week. Advocates say the city's plan will have disastrous consequences over the next few years.

As invasive vines threaten to strangle our trees, volunteers are fighting them back

Spending a couple hours cutting vines with your neighbors can give dozens of trees up to 15 more years of life

Wilson Building Bulletin: Over overspending

The slowing local economy has ended more than a decade of growing budgets. Now, lawmakers and city officials are being forced to be more disciplined about spending.

Anonymous federal agents in D.C. are eroding public trust 

President Trump’s thirty-day crime emergency may have ended, but life in D.C. is anything but back to normal. People are still reporting masked federal officers intimidating residents. And while it's legal for federal agents to hide their identity, the practice is leaving people afraid, angry, and mistrustful.

Connecting with the community, one scoop at a time

Over the weekend, The 51st team closed out the summer with our Ward 7 neighbors at an ice cream social. While downing cookies and cream ice cream and raspberry sorbet, we chatted with folks about what they love about their communities — and what they’d like to see change. 

12 things to do around D.C. this weekend

Gear up for a bike festival, a punk-themed dog fest, and a chance to check out some lowriders.

Paying senators a visit: Your weekly Civics Roundup

Lobby for D.C. on Capitol Hill, attend a workshop on economic justice, and more.

Here's some news you may have missed this week:

• Four District residents and a national organization are suing the Trump administration, claiming the feds have been illegally arresting immigrant residents. [ACLU]
• A 17-year-old is facing adult charges after allegedly shooting an off-duty D.C. firefighter during a Saturday night robbery. [WTOP]
• With an increased ICE presence in D.C., many immigrant child care workers are skipping shifts, deepening the industry’s staffing shortage. [The 19th]
• Mayor Bowser signed off on emergency legislation that lets licensed pharmacies give COVID shots to D.C. residents without needing a doctor’s note. [WTOP]
• Some Black D.C. residents have mixed feelings about this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Week. [Informer]
• Residents at a Columbia Heights apartment complex are reeling from what they say are broken promises from new owners. [WCP]
• A man was arrested and charged with a hate crime connected to the murder of 28-year-old transgender woman Daquan Johnson this summer. [The Post]

Until next time,

Christina