Just got a poll pretty clearly based on Pinto’s oppo research on White.
It asked about several areas highlighted like his opposition to the RFK deal, his quote that he had “no ideology” and his support for “soft on crime” policies. Poll asked about White, Pinto and Zalesne (plus the mayor’s race)
Today, DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6), Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, is announcing legislation to allow the commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) offering rideshare services in the District of Columbia. Autonomous vehicles are a promising technology that could improve street safety on our roadways and the responsible adoption of this technology could reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. There are also potential downsides to AVs: increased traffic congestion and curbside use, displacement of the taxi and rideshare workforce, and, without guardrails, continued inequity across Wards in access for riders looking to use them - all of which can be navigated with the right policies in place. This Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026 paves the way for the commercial deployment of AVs while addressing many of the concerns that undermine confidence in the technology. Specifically, the bill:
• Requires AV rideshare services provide equal coverage to every neighborhood, including similar wait times, whether you live in Shaw or Congress Heights; • Clarifies legal liability for crashes and malfunctions to protect DC residents; • Requires operators to collaborate with WMATA on potential discounts when AVs connect directly to public transit; • Ensures first responders receive guidance from AV operators on how to safely respond to crashes involving an AV; • Ensures operators have redundancy plans in the event of a regional power loss; and • Establishes robust data reporting requirements so the District can evaluate impacts on traffic, safety, and rideshare industry employment. The bill charges AV rideshare companies a “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT) fee per vehicle and splits the revenue between new funding for WMATA and workforce development and support for current rideshare workers. The bill also proposes a discount on rides to and from a Metro station.
As the debate over Waymo rages on, @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social has a new bill that opens the door to legalizing AVs while addressing "concerns that undermine confidence in the technology."
That includes charging a per-mile fee on the companies devoted to Metro/a fund for rideshare workers.
I asked if the pair considered asking other candidates to cross endorse: they said no, saying their experience as Ward 1 ANCs set them apart from the others.
"We're just not a fly by night," Brown said. "We have been living in this ward, loving this ward and serving this ward."
Here in Mount Pleasant, @rashidabrown.bsky.social and Miguel Trindade Deramo are making their cross endorsement in the Ward 1 race official here.
There's no finer spited-based tradition than @newap-georgia.bsky.social Charity Bowl.
I gave $128 (+ fees) to celebrate James Franklin's career wins as he starts as VT's coach: the Hokies could only dream of such success recently. Good luck @edsbs.bsky.social @hollyanderson.bsky.social and co!
Turns out this merely a procedural move: Bowser’s office says they plan to resubmit these noms, only pulled them because council didn’t act on them in time and they were going to expire.
Bowser’s pulling Ted Trabue’s nomination too: that means neither of the commissioners who supported the rate hikes stands to be reappointed.
The question now: will she start fresh with new appointments or leave this for the next mayor to sort out?
Major utility news: Bowser has withdrawn her re-nomination of Emile Thompson as chair of the Public Service Commission. The utility regulators have come under major fire recently for allowing a series of rate hikes: Thompson’s term is expiring.
Bowser's argument has been: DC already has robust early childhood programs, such as free pre-K, and the city can't afford more
@brianneknadeau.bsky.social just derided those remarks as "self congratulatory."
"Wow, so you're proud you preserved Vince Gray's program from 10 years ago, huh?"
WASHINGTON, DC (April 22, 2026)—DC Action and Under 3 DC hosted a briefing today at the Wilson Building to present new research from Mathematica that illustrates the sizable economic impact and return on investment of the District's Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund (PEF). The briefing comes as the Bowser Administration's FY27 budget proposal seeks to eliminate the fund entirely—a $60 million cut that would devastate DC child care and result in salary cuts ranging from a few thousand to more than $20,000 for more than 4,000 early educators across the District. Mathematica's new report, Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund: Do Economic Returns Change Over Time?, includes an updated analysis of the Pay Equity Fund in FY 2024, which generated $93 million in total benefits compared to $76 million in costs, yielding a significant positive return on investment for the District, with:
• 78% of total program benefits accrued to families • • • • 13% of total program benefits to child care facilities • • • • 9% of total program benefits to educators • This research builds on an earlier 2024 report, Washington, DC’s Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund (PEF): Benefits, Costs, and Economic Returns, which established the long-term economic value of investing in early educators and demonstrates that the fund continues to deliver measurable returns for DC residents.
At the Wilson Building @wearedcaction.bsky.social is rolling out a new report arguing the childcare pay equity fund delivers way more in benefits than it costs: Bowser plans to eliminate it.
It also argues most benefits flow to parents (despite Bowser's assertions otherwise)
Several people sent me this post suggesting Rashida Brown-Miguel Trindade Deramo are cross endorsing each other in Ward 1.
www.reddit.com/r/washington...
I hear an official announcement is coming tomorrow. Sure seems like a sign the other top contenders are trying to overtake Aparna Raj.
We may be doomed to have curfew votes until the end of time. The votes were not, in fact, there for the emergency bill extending the curfew through the summer (even though it passed permanently) so it was tabled: we'll do all this AGAIN either next week or the week after.
If you're hoping for more details on where McDuffie stands on childcare/funding...well, so am I.
I worked with his campaign for two weeks for an interview. They invited me to an event last week to talk to him. I showed up, only to be told he wouldn't speak to me after all.
Lewis George clarifies she does NOT support new taxes on the wealthy, but prefers raising money strictly through the business activity tax for childcare.
FWIW, analysts expect the BAT would take years to implement, which is why some have recommended cap gains tax hikes to raise $ in the short term.
Both Crawford and Pinto say they’re happy with these changes and expect both curfew bills to pass. A rundown of some of the (very technical) changes made to get here:
New: Candidates up and down the DC ballot are pledging to expand childcare programs...as Bowser proposes slashing them
With a grim budget on the way, how can the next crop of DC leaders fulfill these promises if they're starting from a tougher place than their predecessors?
wamu.org/story/26/04/...
A pretty tame affair, all things considered. The biggest flashpoint between JLG/McDuffie: she attacks him for not signing onto her bill banning MPD collaboration with ICE. He counters “I don’t sign onto campaign tactics.”
In a letter to council, Bowser says she’s strongly opposed to this amendment, saying it would create “so many administrative hurdles that essentially prohibit the use of juvenile curfew zones.”
We’re getting rolling at the @51st.news mayoral forum: a very full stage with all the contenders present (and a packed room to see them)
Interesting stuff from At-Large CM Doni Crawford on the Politics Hour re: the youth curfew.
She expects a permanent version to pass next week, but she's working on an amendment of some kind to address some concerns she and other CMs have raised: wouldn't say what it was yet, though.
New: Bowser's budget, once again, proposes big cuts to environmental programs.
DOEE stands to lose $70m, mostly targeted at clean energy programs. A key funding source for home retrofits/Green Bank loses $20m. And she's pushing off energy standards for buildings by a year:
wamu.org/story/26/04/...
The full BSA is here, let me know if you spot anything else of interest we need to know about!
static1.squarespace.com/static/5bbd0...
Subtitle (VII)(G) – Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center Tax Increment Financing Act of 2026 Background The subtitle establishes the Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center TIF Area that consists of the area bounded by V Street NW to the north, 14th Street NW to the east, U Street to the south, Sonnet and Portner Flats apartments to the Southwest and Geno Baroni apartments to the Northwest. The developer, Reeves CMC Venture, LLC, plans to construct approximately 700,000 gross square feet of new development in the TIF Area, including office space, a hotel, ground-level retail, and an arts space. The subtitle also establishes the Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center TIF Fund (Fund) into which the District will deposit the incremental real property and sales tax revenues generated from the TIF area. The bill authorizes the District to issue up to $32 million in debt secured by incremental tax revenues and to use those incremental revenues to pay the debt service on the bonds. Bond proceeds may be used by the developer to pay development costs associated with infrastructure and public amenities., Incremental tax revenue from the TIF area is determined by deducting taxes collected in the base years, defined for sales and property tax as the respective tax year’s that precede the effective date of the subtitle. Any excess tax increment remaining in the Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center TIF Fund each year will be equally divided between the payment of outstanding principal on the TIF debt and transfers to the unrestricted balance of the District’s General Fund. The subtitle establishes the administrative and technical procedures for the bond issuance. Financial Plan Impact Before the OCFO authorizes issuance of the bonds, the OCFO’s Office of Economic Development Finance (EDF) will confirm that the projected incremental tax revenues from the development project will be sufficient to pay the debt service of the bonds. The debt service for the Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center TIF debt is in…
And Bowser is proposing a $32 million tax increment financing program for the long-stalled Reeves Center redevelopment.
My memory may be rusty, but I believe this is the first mention of a TIF for the project: basically an acknowledgement it needs some extra oomph to get moving.
Subtitle (V)(F) – Truancy Reduction Programs Amendment Act of 2026 Background The Truancy Reduction Pilot Program operated by the Department of Human Services (DHS) is authorized through the end of School Year 2025-202684 and is required to include ten participating schools, including one middle school, with truancy rates greater than 35 percent. Participating schools must refer students aged 14 through 17 to DHS no later than two school days after the accrual of 15 unexcused absences. Schools must refer students aged 10 through 13 to DHS within two days after the accrual of ten unexcused absences. The subtitle authorizes the Mayor to establish and administer a permanent Truancy Reduction Program (“Program”). It grants the Mayor the authority to set parameters for the Program via rulemaking, including the number of schools that must participate and the minimum number of unexcused absences required for a school to refer a student to the Program. Participating schools must still refer students within two days when the set number of absences are reached. The Mayor is required to publish a report on the Program describing the services provided and analysis on attendance and outcomes. Financial Plan Impact The subtitle replaces an expiring pilot program with a permanent program. The Truancy Reduction Program is budgeted in the DHS budget at a similar level to the pilot program.
Lots of interesting stuff in Bowser's budget support act (basically, laws proposed to implement the budget and a hodgepodge of other stuff she wants passed) now that it's out.
For instance, she wants to make her truancy reduction pilot program permanent:
No report yet from @kevinchavous.bsky.social among the at-large hopefuls...
In the at-large race @repoyedc.bsky.social raised $12k from DC donors with $213k on hand
@gregoryjacksonjr.bsky.social raised $7.5k, $147k on hand
@lisaraymondfordc.bsky.social raised $6.4k, $175k on hand
@candacefor202.bsky.social raised $1.8k, $56k on hand
Dyana Forester raised $796, $86k on hand
In Ward 1, @warriorforward1.bsky.social raised $7k from DC donors and has $136k in the bank.
@aparnafordc.bsky.social raised $5.7k and has $201k on hand.
@rashidabrown.bsky.social raised $4.5k, $111k on hand. @miguelward1.bsky.social raised $3.2k, $50k on hand.
Terry Lynch raised $375, has -$605.
Sifting through Friday's campaign finance reports and a few other notable results:
-In the at-large special election, CM Doni Crawford raised about $7k from DC donors. She has about $52k in the bank.
-Her chief opponent, @elissasilverman.bsky.social managed $4.8k from DC donors, has $153k on hand.
The DC chapter of the Sierra Club is out with its first report card grading the council: top scorers include Nadeau, Allen, JLG, R. White. It ranked McDuffie last.
And, probably no surprise, the group's PAC is out with a new website attacking his record:
www.factcheckkenyan.com
Evans says he is indeed switching over to a traditional campaign to continue his bid.
Now the attention shifts to his/Mendo’s dueling signature challenges