Renters at risk. A million-dollar bill for human fire alarms in a D.C. government building. Our latest newsletter turns up the heat with this summer's accountability reporting. Read the newsletter here: mailchi.mp/spotlightdc/...
SpotlightDC
@spotlightdc.bsky.social
The Capital City Fund For Investigative Journalism Website: spotlightdc.org Linktree: linktr.ee/spotlightdc
Does D.C. want robotaxis? Will Waymo kill jobs? On the Dream City Podcast, hear Waymo's responses to key questions in the D.C. debate around autonomous vehicles, including warnings about lost jobs.
Waymo's case for Robotaxis in D.C.
How the company responds to labor’s warnings about lost driving jobs in D.C. and accusations it is trying to "steamroll" the District.
spotlightdc.org
D.C. housing and tenant advocates are sounding the alarm about a 2025 bill that overhauled the city’s housing law and weakened protections for tenants. One key question: do renovated buildings count as "new" buildings? @51st.news reports, in a story funded by SpotlightDC.
D.C. Tenant Advocates Sound Alarm About a RENTAL Act Loophole - SpotlightDC
Tenant organizers fought to exempt renovated buildings from the sweeping housing law, but advocates say that isn’t working in practice.
spotlightdc.org
Days before D.C.'s primaries, President Trump threatened the District over its mayoral race. "Maybe we take back Washington" if Janeese Lewis George wins, Trump said. On the Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt Dil and @trsdc.bsky.social break down the home stretch of the race.
Podcast: Trump Just Jumped Into D.C.'s Mayoral Race - SpotlightDC
Dream City breaks down the president's threat to "take back Washington"
spotlightdc.org
The work of the DC Food Policy Council might seem a little wonky. But after all, as a Ward 7 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner points out, "Everybody has to eat everyday." Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed budget would eliminate the council. @51st.news explores what's at stake.
D.C. has a food access problem. Advocates say Bowser’s budget would make it worse. - SpotlightDC
The mayor proposed eliminating an office that has helped low-income students access food over the summer and made it easier to start farmers markets.
spotlightdc.org
As repairs dragged on in one of D.C.'s largest office buildings, the D.C. government spent more than $1 million on a team of contractors to manually watch for fire. It was supposed to be temporary. Taxpayers ended up footing the bill for almost a year.
D.C. Spent $1 Million Hiring Humans to Yell ‘Fire!’ in Government Office - SpotlightDC
Taxpayers paid $1,539,835 for a human fire watch and fire alert system repairs as the work dragged on for 11 months in the Marion Barry Building, which has been plagued by maintenance issues for years...
spotlightdc.org
Disputed charges. Mounting debt. Chaotic electricity bills. D.C.'s deregulated energy market has left some residential customers vulnerable to excessive charges and predatory practices. In @wcp.bsky.social, Suzie Amanuel reports on the third-party power market: spotlightdc.org/third-party-...
D.C. Third-Party Power Customers Paid 70 Percent More Than Pepco Rates, Costing Households Millions - SpotlightDC
Low-income customers faced even higher losses, while commercial users saved about $193 million, Department of Energy and Environment data shows.
spotlightdc.org
LIVE: We're hosting a debate between the candidates for D.C.'s delegate to Congress. Watch Trent Holbrook, @gregjaczko.bsky.social, Brooke Pinto, @robertwhite-dc.bsky.social, and @kinney4dc.bsky.social face off. Starts at 6 p.m. ET — with @washingtoninformer.com and @spotlightdc.bsky.social:
Live at 6 p.m. ET: D.C. Delegate to Congress Debate
Watch as the candidates in the Democratic primary for D.C.'s Congressional representative face off.
51st.news
D.C. hasn’t elected a new delegate to Congress since 1990. There’s a lot at stake this time. Join The 51st, @washingtoninformer.com, and @spotlightdc.bsky.social for a debate on May 16. The candidates: Trent Holbrook @gregjaczko.bsky.social Brooke Pinto Robert White @kinney4dc.bsky.social
DC DELEGATE TO CONGRESS DEBATE
Primary candidates for D.C.’s congressional delegate debate issues from criminal justice and the environment to public health and education.
eventbrite.com
What are you doing Thursday, May 14? Want to hear from the candidates to represent us as D.C.'s Congressional Delegate? We're partnering with @spotlightdc.bsky.social and @washingtoninformer.com on a debate at Sycamore & Oak. See you there? RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-delegat...
🎤 Thanks so much to everyone who attended our mayoral candidate forum this week — whether IRL at the MLK Library or virtually via the livestream! Big shoutout to our partners @washingtoninformer.com, @spotlightdc.bsky.social, and @dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social. Missed the fun? Here's the recording:
The 51st hosted a DC mayoral debate
We held the forum alongside The Washington Informer and Spotlight D.C.
51st.news
Dream City Podcast, a SpotlightDC awardee, dropped their latest episode yesterday with Brooke Pinto about her campaign for Congress. Watch below: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts70...
Brooke Pinto on Running for Congress, Trump, and D.C.'s Future
YouTube video by Dream City Podcast
youtube.com
ICYMI: Sloane Airey breaks down what last week's court ruling on Pepco's rate hike means for Washington City Paper, supported by SpotlightDC ⬇️
Sloane Airey 📰@sloaneairey.bsky.social · 5mo agoLast summer, I wrote about how DC utility watchdogs were suing the District over approving a $190 million Pepco rate hike. This week, courts agreed with watchdogs and vacated the rate hike approval. Read all the details @wcp.bsky.social washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7808...
"The AG’s case confirms much of City Paper’s previous reporting, including accounts from tenants in multiple Razjooyan-managed buildings who endured months without heat, repeated flooding, inhumane conditions, and threats of eviction." washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7794...
D.C. Attorney General Targets D.C. Slumlord With RICO Lawsuit, Alleging Corrupt Enterprise Across 70 Rent-Controlled Buildings
Despite the AG’s lawsuit, another notorious slumlord has reappeared as a representative at a building in Razjooyan’s enterprise.
washingtoncitypaper.com
And thanks to @spotlightdc.bsky.social for its essential support of this reporting: spotlightdc.org/impact-story...
Washington City Paper Series Nails DC Slumlord and Prompts AG Fines -
Reporters Suzie Amanuel and Alex Koma's reporting on the troubling practices of landlord Sam Razjooyan has led to increased scrutiny over the controversial property owner.
spotlightdc.org
@wcp.bsky.social investigative reporter Suzie Amanuel has been reporting on Razjooyan and his associates since 2024, including his doctoring of loan documents and tricking tenants out of their rights as he has built a portfolio of neglected slums: washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7541...
How a D.C. ‘Slumlord’ Scammed Tenants and Lenders to Build a Portfolio of Neglected Properties, According to Lawsuits and Tenant Accounts
Ali “Sam” Razjooyan and his associates are accused of doctoring loan documents and tricking tenants out of their rights. While they get rich, tenants are displaced.
washingtoncitypaper.com
D.C. Council Chairmen Phil Mendelson announced he’s nominating Doni Crawford to fill the seat of Kenyan McDuffie, who resigned to run for mayor.
DC Council chair taps McDuffie staffer Doni Crawford to fill vacant seat
D.C. Council Chairmen Phil Mendelson announced Monday he’s nominating Doni Crawford to fill the seat of Kenyan McDuffie, who resigned to run for mayor. Crawford is 36 years old and lives in Ward 5. Th...
nbcwashington.com
This story was reported with support from @spotlightdc.bsky.social. You can read more about what we're hoping to do with our new beat below. What health stories should we tell in 2026? 51st.news/health-equit...
We’re launching a health equity beat
We want to hear from you: What D.C. health stories should we tell?
51st.news
When the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, accessing healthcare got more challenging (and expensive) for thousands of D.C. residents. In the first story on our new Health Equity beat, reporter Daniel Egitto explains how these changes are impacting our neighbors. 51st.news/healthcare-c...
Healthcare cuts hit 20,000 D.C. residents
New Medicaid ceilings paired with soaring premiums risk punishing bills and loss of coverage for thousands.
51st.news
See you in an hour! If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, don’t worry — it’s not too late to join us for free pizza and good conversation!
SpotlightDC@spotlightdc.bsky.social · 8mo agoCome for the love for local news, stay for the free pizza 🍕 On 12/11, SpotlightDC will be celebrating the people who bring important local stories to life: reporters, editors, and funders.
Come for the love for local news, stay for the free pizza 🍕 On 12/11, SpotlightDC will be celebrating the people who bring important local stories to life: reporters, editors, and funders.
When DCist was shut down, it had 70,000+ subscribers. The 51st is proud to carry forward the spirit with which DCist served our city. But we can’t stop thinking about how most of those subscribers — our neighbors and friends — are just no longer receiving the kind of local news they signed up for.
When federal agents shoot people in D.C., there are few details — and little accountability. @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports, with support from @spotlightdc.bsky.social:
When federal agents shoot people in D.C., there are few details – and little accountability
D.C. police officers are held to one standard, federal agents another.
51st.news
We’re excited to announce the latest SpotlightDC-funded project: Dream City, a new independent podcast that will explore the inner workings of D.C.’s political and business worlds.
The latest Spotlight-funded story is a collaboration between @streetsensedc.bsky.social and @51st.news: New data shows that D.C. is experiencing record eviction levels. Reporters James Jarvis and Taylor Nichols explain how our city got here ⬇️ streetsensemedia.org/article/d-c-...
DC renters face record eviction levels
Last year, evictions rose to record levels, with 1,869 households removed from their homes. And these trends show no signs of slowing down.
streetsensemedia.org
D.C. police officers are feeding information to the Justice Department as it probes accusations of manipulated crime data, according to the D.C. Police Union, and as public safety in the nation's capital continues to capture the president’s attention.
As feds probe D.C. crime stats, some police eager to help build a case
At the heart of the investigations by the DOJ and a House committee is whether there has been a widespread effort to intentionally downplay crime in D.C.
wapo.st
Tomorrow is the start of D.C.'s Homeless Crisis Reporting Project week! Follow Street Sense and other local outlets to stay updated and read everything throughout the week, or go to bit.ly/DCHCRP to see articles as they are posted.
Since 2021, DCPS has become D.C.'s leading sponsor of H1-B visas for its employees. But some 200 teachers who took jobs under the expectation that the school system would sponsor a green card are now facing uncertain futures, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports. 51st.news/dc-green-car...
D.C. is failing to collect critical income data for participants in one of its key homelessness intervention programs, raising concerns about whether the program is meeting its goals, according to a new alert from the Office of the D.C. Auditor. https://bit.ly/3KB4gpC
D.C. auditor finds data is missing from singles homeless program - Street Sense Media
Rapid Rehousing for Individuals is missing key income data needed to gauge effectiveness, according to the Office of the D.C. Auditor.
streetsensemedia.org