Well, this is interesting: I just learned that the public is asked to rise from their seats whenever the members of the D.C. Public Service Commission come into their hearing room. I've never seen that in any context other than the courts.

NEWS: Just in time for the June 16 primary, yesterday a D.C. judge dismissed a 2023 lawsuit filed by the D.C. Democratic Party trying to toss out the ballot initiative that was approved by voters in 2024 to bring ranked-choice voting and semi-open primaries to city elections.

D.C. BUDGET: With a week until the D.C. Council's first vote on the '27 budget, lawmakers are scrambling to restore funding for many programs that have been cut to close a $1.1 billion hole. But the sheer number of demands and what they would cost shows the challenge they face.

Interesting: @chmnmendelson.bsky.social is facing some pushback over his now year-long effort to change D.C.'s Open Meetings law to allow the D.C. Council to meet behind closed doors (without press or public) more easily. He's pushing to make what have been temporary changes permanent today.

In a letter to the D.C. Council, @mayorbowser.dc.gov slams the five lawmakers who have blocked an emergency bill to extend the teen curfew zones authority over the summer, until a permanent bill can take effect in late July. She also says she will "take necessary steps" in response.

Despite another push from @mayorbowser.dc.gov and also mayoral candidate @kenyanmcduffie.bsky.social, it looks like the D.C. Council won't be voting tomorrow on an emergency bill to extend the teen curfew zones authority over the next six weeks.

The @niskanencenter.bsky.social has an absolutely fascinating new report on policing and crime in D.C. It questions how many cops D.C. needs (and what they should be doing), and finds that the National Guard did help bring down some crime – but not in a cost-effective way.

Food delivery companies like DoorDash are rallying consumers against the 20-cent delivery surcharge proposed by @brianneknadeau.bsky.social for the 2027 budget the D.C. Council will vote on for the first time on June 9. It’ll raise $9 million over four years for food-access programs.

It's clear that @kenyanmcduffie.bsky.social is leaning heavily into public safety as his closing argument in the D.C. mayoral race. He's had two press conferences on the teen curfew zones, and this week his campaign sent out a memo on what he says is @janeese4dc.bsky.social's "weak on crime record."

Interesting: In recent weeks D.C. CFO Glen Lee has been warning councilmembers of an impending "fiscal cliff," a point in 2028 at which D.C. won't have cash left in reserves, which he says could pose risks to the city. The issue is more pressing now that the economy has soured.

NEWS: D.C. officials are preparing for new federal work requirements for SNAP food benefits recipients to go into effect on June 1. They estimate that out of the 133.5k individuals who currently get SNAP, roughly half could be impacted by new work requirements.

Interesting: Federal prosecutors want to introduce new evidence in Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White's upcoming bribery trial, specifically what they say are campaign contributions and proof of paid trips to the Dominican Republic that a government contractor allegedly provided White.

BUDGET NEWS: Now that the D.C. CFO has freed up roughly $400 million for the '27 budget (from decoupling and reserves), @mayorbowser.dc.gov is asking the D.C. Council to put it towards pay raises for union workers, remove childcare subsidy waitlist, restore paid leave component, HPTF.

Interesting: A local real estate broker is suing to stop a proposed initiative that would freeze rent in D.C. for two years (among other things) from being allowed on the ballot. He says it's unconstitutional and violates D.C.'s law on ballot initiatives.

It's interesting how the teen curfew zones have become something of a proxy for the broader fight over how to protect D.C. home rule and autonomy. And the leading mayoral candidates have staked pretty different positions on this that could tell you how they will govern.

So the guy who allegedly threw the beer keg through Georgetown Cupcake's window was identified by his own family. "Yea, his sister is upset about it," said Charles Joseph Ali's father to police. Ali had his first court appearance today; he's due back on June 11.

Wishful thinking, but FYI from the inbox: "Mayor Bowser Announces Outdoor Pools and Spray Parks Open This Weekend." Alternatively, just step outside today or tomorrow.

Can’t say I disagree with this plea.

NEWS: @mayorbowser.dc.gov has issued an emergency order reinstating MPD's power to declare 8 p.m. teen curfew zones. The order will remain in effect until June 6. She's used these 15-day emergency orders in the past when the emergency law lapsed (as it did in mid-April).

It looks like the newly renovated Freedom Plaza is getting even more new statues. The one on horseback was planned, but there are now a dozen more statues lining the northern and southern edges of the plaza.

D.C. budget woes: It's looking more likely that some 8,000 families will fully lose TANF benefits over the next two years. The D.C. Council hasn't been able to reverse a $44 million cut to the program; it phases people off benefits if they have gotten them for 5 years.

I asked @mayorbowser.dc.gov what she thinks of what mayoral candidates have been saying about running the schools. She says she hasn’t been paying attention, but calls schools a “litmus test” in terms of who will succeed her.

Interesting: D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee says he’s leaving his post at the end of the school year. (He came in 2018.) That will leave DCPS with an interim chancellor into the next school year; mayoral candidates say they would replace him regardless in 2027.

Big revelation in the City Cast D.C. poll: 72% of residents favor a teen curfew. And recall, this poll was done May 12-17; the Chipotle brawl was on May 16. I could see that incident alone moving people in one direction or the other.

City Cast D.C. also polled the D.C. delegate race and found Robert White with a comfortable lead over Brooke Pinto.

NEWS: In the first public poll of the D.C. mayoral race, @citycastdc.bsky.social finds that @janeese4dc.bsky.social has a five-point lead over @kenyanmcduffie.bsky.social, , just outside the margin of error. But: Ranked-choice voting could help McDuffie more; he's ahead voters' second rankings.

In response to @kenyanmcduffie.bsky.social’s just-concluded press conference at the Navy Yard Chipotle, @janeese4dc.bsky.social calls him a hypocrite and flip-flopper who opposed curfews in the past.

I didn’t have the Navy Yard Chipotle on my bingo card as a prop in D.C.’s mayoral race. But here we are, with @kenyanmcduffie.bsky.social criticizing @janeese4dc.bsky.social for “sitting on her hands and playing politics” by not supporting an extension of the teen curfew zones over the summer.

Interesting: Per a presentation Frumin gave, here’s how his proposed 3% tax surcharge would play out. Say you make between $100-150,000; you’d pay an extra $211 a year. Surcharge would being in some $85 million a year.

NEW THREAD: @brianneknadeau.bsky.social says she will propose a new surcharge (of 30 cents of less) on every food delivery in D.C. "So Uber Eats will be even more expensive?" says Parker. Some $9 million in revenue, to go to food-access programs facing cuts.

MONEY NEWS: @chmnmendelson.bsky.social says he's found an additional $420 million in revenue to put towards the 2027 budget, which has seen $1 billion in cuts. Some $270 million would come from decoupling from the Trump tax cuts; another $150 million would come from the city's reserves.

It's my first day over at @notus.com, officially relaunching as The Star in early June! I'll still be on the D.C. beat, so send over tips, questions, gripes, and curiosities. Signal is best, at maustermuhle.09, or email: martinaustermuhle (at) notus (dot) com.

NEWS: A federal judge has denied Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White's motion to dismiss the indictment against him on federal bribery charges, so the planned September trial looks to be moving forward.

Whoever succeeds Anita Bonds on the D.C. Council could be especially influential, @maustermuhle.bsky.social and @samdelgado.bsky.social report. The at-large councilmember was often a deciding vote in debates between more progressive members and centrists. Meet the 9 Democratic primary candidates:

MAIL BALLOTS HAVE ARRIVED! (This is my wife’s.) And if you’re thinking, “Damn, the ballot seems bigger this year,” you’re not wrong. Because of the number of candidates and introduction of ranked-choice voting, the ballot is 17 inches long. In years past, it was 14.

Inbox: @kenyanmcduffie.bsky.social has released a five-part public safety plan, including violence prevention (including fully funding his 2016 NEAR Act), retaining more first responders and hiring 1,000 more police, fixing 911 dispatching, and ending cooperation with ICE.

Interim At-Large CM Doni Crawford and At-Large candidate Jacques Patterson are forming a RCV alliance, asking their supporters to rank the other candidate second. It's meant to fight Elissa Silverman, also running. “D.C. does not need to go backwards to fix what’s broken,” says Crawford.

NEW: On the D.C. Council, four at-large lawmakers represent the entire city. For the last 13 years one of those has been Anita Bonds — who is not running again. Nine Democrats are running for her seat. @maustermuhle.bsky.social and @samdelgado.bsky.social interviewed them all:

There are nine Democratic candidates running for at At-Large seat on the D.C. Council, so we wouldn't blame you if you're feeling lost. @samdelgado.bsky.social and I chatted with all nine of them, trying to figure who they are and why they're running. In @51st.news: 51st.news/at-large-can...

I will always find it pretty unbelievable that WAMU's leadership insists its "commitment to local news remains strong" when it just laid off more people (including one of the best local editors) and still hasn't posted a job for a vacant Virginia reporter position.

NEWS: A D.C. judge just dismissed a lawsuit filed by mayoral candidate Vincent Orange seeking to gain access to a mayoral debate Georgetown and Fox 5 are hosting on May 18, for which they say Orange did not qualify.

An interesting component of the debate in D.C. on whether the council and next mayor should raise taxes on wealthy residents and businesses (to get more revenue for social programs) seems to boil down to process.

D.C.’s delegate to Congress job is open for the first time in 30 years — just as attacks on local autonomy have ramped up. @maustermuhle.bsky.social spoke to Democratic primary candidates Trent Holbrook, @gregjaczko.bsky.social, Brooke Pinto, @robertwhite-dc.bsky.social, and @kinney4dc.bsky.social.

As expected, Georgetown has filed a motion to dismiss Vincent Orange's lawsuit over not being invited to May 18 debate with Fox 5. The university says Orange doesn't cite any law that was broken, and requiring it to have him would violate their First Amendment rights.

Some good news for D.C. schools: Per the Education Scorecard produced by Harvard/Stanford/Dartmouth, D.C. led the nation in academic growth and reading between 2022 and 2025. But: A lot of gains came because of additional federal aid D.C. no longer has. educationscorecard.org/states/distr...

This is the first big ad I’ve seen from the D.C. Board of Elections ahead of the coming June 16 primary. Clear and to the point, plenty of information without being overwhelming. Extra points for patriotic color scheme, slight demerit for no incorporation of D.C. flag.

Quick update here: After a reminder by the court that Georgetown and Fox 5 have to be served the lawsuit ahead of a Thursday hearing, Vincent Orange says now tells the court they were served a physical copy on Monday evening — by his wife.

The D.C. Policy Center has a fascinating new report on what ails D.C.'s housing market, and how to fix it. In short: Change rules to allow more building in more places, trim back on bureaucracy that slows construction, unclog the eviction process, and more. dcpolicycenter.org/publications...

NEW: Will Janeese Lewis George raise your taxes? Did Kenyan McDuffie accept donations from Trump supporters? As the June 16 primary approaches, @maustermuhle.bsky.social fact-checked two more attacks that have come up between the Democractic mayoral front-runners.

CHECK YOUR MAIL, D.C.: Ballots are being sent to *all registered voters* in the city ahead of the June 16 election, which includes the primaries for citywide offices and some ward-based D.C. Council seats and a separate non-partisan special election for an At-Large council seat.