East of the River Magazine – September 2020 by Capital Community News

SEPTEMBER 2020

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE S EPTEMBER 2020 NEXT ISSUE: OCTOBER 7

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 10

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Renters Seek Financial Relief: DC Determined to Reach Affordable Housing Goals by Keely Sullivan

IN EVERY ISSUE

The Deepening Digital Divide: Lack of Devices, Connectivity and Support Hamper Remote Learning by Eva Herscowitz

Opinion / The Old Man of Anacostia: Defunding Police? I Don’t Get It by Philip Pannell Our River: The Anacostia – Escapng to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by Bill Matuszeski

The Numbers: A Failure to Address Childcare Crisis, DC Council Underfunds in Wake of COVID-19 by Alyssa Noth

The Bulletin Board

What’s on Washington The Crossword The Classifieds

Terence Nicholson: A Polymath Walks Among Us by Phil Hutinet

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY 38

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

by Kathleen Donner

ON THE COVER:

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 30

Meet Your Neighbor: Claudia Herrera, Small Business Analyst

Terence Nicholson - Artist, musician, martial arts expert. See story on page 34. Image Courtesy of the artist

by Anthony D. Diallo

Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of: Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com www.hillrag.com

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2020 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N Photo: Courtesy of the US Botanic Garden

WITHLOVEDC’S YOGA FROM THE GARDEN On Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., through the end of October, join WithLoveDC as they continue the USBG’s weekly community yoga class. Typically offered on-site at the USBG Conservatory or outdoor gardens, the Botanic Garden is supporting an online yoga class to continue the program for community health and well-being. During this class, an instructor from WithLoveDC will guide you through a one-hour meditation and yoga practice. Space is still first-come, first-served; only the MARCH ON first 500 yogis to log in will be able to practice. Find WASHINGTON the link at usbg.gov/programs.

FILM FESTIVAL Cartoon: Colin Connor

A TOAST TO FOOLISH FRIDAYS The esteemed company members of Faction of Fools present a 12-week series chock full of dynamic, short, fun videos released every Friday. Foolish Fridays are meant to provide a little Commedia dell’Arte amuse bouche featuring company members, guest stars, and more. The style of Commedia is characterized by its use of masks, improvisation, physical comedy, and recognizable character types—young lovers, wily servants, greedy old men, know-it-all professors, boasting heroes, and the like. New videos are released on YouTube (youtube.com/user/factionoffools) and Facebook (facebook. com/factionoffools) every Friday through Oct. 23. factionoffools.org.

The March on Washington Film Festival is held every year in Washington, DC and serves as a national platform to tell, celebrate, and increase awareness of the untold events and heroes, known and unsung, of the Civil Rights Movement. The Festival uses film screenings as a platform for panel discussions featuring filmmakers, academics, and activists and brings together an audience that is diverse in age, class, and ethnicity. This year’s festival is online from September 20 to 27. There is an all-access pass for $20 (purchase by Aug. 31); a student/educator pass, $12; and a pay-what-you can pass. marchonwashingtonfilmfestival.org.

SUNSET CINEMA AT THE WHARF Reserve a cabana for Sunset Cinema at the Wharf on Thursdays, 8 to 10 p.m. (seating from 7:30 p.m.). Groups of two to six must reserve a private cabana at Cantina Bambina in advance. Sept. 3 movie is Crazy Rich Asians; Sept. 10, Dirty Dancing; Sept. 17, Hidden Figures; Sept. 24, Jumanji: The Next Level. Cabana reservations are $10 per person, which includes a serving of popcorn and a Pacifico Beer. Drinks, Grazie Grazie sandwiches, Union Pie and Lupo Marino pizza, and more are all available to purchase. The cabanas have a $20 minimum per person, which includes the $10 reservation fee. All guests must be 21+. wharfdc.com. 04

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Edgar Degas, Dance Examination, 1880, pastel on paper, Lent by the Denver Art Museum, 1941.6. Photo: akg-images

NGA’S DEGAS AT THE OPERA An exuberant display of fecund imagination and keen observation, Edgar Degas’s renowned images of the Paris Opéra are among the most sophisticated and visually compelling works he ever created. Celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Opéra’s founding, Degas at the Opéra, on exhibition through Oct. 12, presents approximately 100 of the artist’s best-known and beloved works in a range of media, including paintings, pastels, drawings, prints, and sculpture. Timed passes are required for entry and will be released each Monday at 10 a.m. for the following week. To reserve free, timed passes and for all visitor guidelines, visit nga.gov/reopening.

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Photo: Teresa Wood

SIXTH & I NEED A DRINK

READ A SHAKESPEARE PLAY AS A GROUP Gather some friends to read aloud a Shakespeare play. The Folger has done all the work to figure out who should read which part. You just need to assemble your actors. Folger.edu/character-breakouts-shakespeare-play-reading-groups shows the scene-by-scene breakdown of which actors should play which characters. Most actors (if they are not the leads) will play multiple characters throughout the play, just as they often do in professional theater companies. Some Shakespeare character lists can look intimidatingly long at first, but the plays are designed to let actors double up on roles. The full text of each play is available on the link above. folger.edu.

In this virtual happy hour series, notable figures from DC’s culinary scene share how their businesses have been impacted during a challenging time for the restaurant industry, what creative solutions they’ve found to thrive and what spirits have kept them in good spirits. Four episodes are produced a week and are available indefinitely at facebook.com/sixthandi.

PAPER ROUTES– WOMEN TO WATCH 2020 Through Jan. 18, Paper Routes, the sixth installment of NMWA’s Women to Watch exhibition series, showcases the transformation of this ubiquitous material into complex works of art. Artists use paper not merely as a support for drawings, prints, or photographs, but as a medium itself. Ranging in size from minutely detailed, small-scale works to large, sculptural installations, this exhibition explores artists’ ability to transform paper into a surprising array of shapes and structures. National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW, is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $10; $8 for seniors/students; free for under 18. nmwa.org. Paola Podestá Martí, VergarPalace Cornice, 2010; Foam core, aquarelle paper, and stainless steel, 82 ⅝ x 118 in.; Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Calipsophotography

SMALL THEATRE FOR UNUSUAL TIMES The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s fall programming is a gift to their audiences. They are offering free-of-charge, brief high-quality shows with small casts while wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and adhering to Alexandria safety regulations. Here’s the lineup: Love Letters, Sept. 11 to 27; Mixed Doubles, Oct. 2 to 18; Belle of Amherst, Nov. 6 to 22. The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s is at 600 Wolf St., Alexandria, VA. Thelittletheatre.com. Image: Little Theatre of Alexandria

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Photo: Historic Congressional Cemetery

SKELETON CREW 5K The Skeleton Crew 5K on Saturday, Oct. 3, 6 to 8 p.m., is a bare bones race at Congressional Cemetery for dead serious runners who want to stay one step ahead of the ultimate Repo Man. The race starts with a toll of the funeral bell, continues throughout the cemetery and onto the Anacostia Trail for a ghostly evening full of spooky music and fun. Runners will be masked. There will be no kids’ fun run this year. Registration is $40. (All this is subject to change if DC regulations change.) Historic Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org.

NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL During the weekend of Sept. 25 to 27, virtual stages at loc.gov/bookfest will offer on-demand videos, live author chats and discussions, options to personalize your own journey through the festival with particular themes, and book buying possibilities through the festival’s official bookseller, Politics & Prose, with a limited number of commemorative book plates signed by authors. The 2020 Library of Congress National Book Festival will also include a new entry point for the first time a national television special on PBS stations. PBS stations will broadcast “The Library of Congress National Book Festival: Celebrating American Ingenuity,” a two-hour program featuring some of the nation’s most renowned authors and literary voices, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 6 to 8 p.m. loc.gov/bookfest. John Grisham, master of the legal thriller, will discuss his latest books, “Camino Winds” and “The Guardians.”

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COVID-19

• Mask Donation • Provision of Nutrition with Food for All • Access to General Health Services • Screenings Including: Covid-19 Testing • Virtual Youth Arts Programs

WELLNESS ON WHEELS UNITED MEDICAL CENTER MOBILE UNIT COMES TO WARD 7! • STI Testing • Covid-19 Testing • Wellness Checks • Treatments & Referrals The UMC Mobile Unit will parked EVERY WED starting September 9th. Accepting patients from 10am-3pm. The Faunteroy Center: 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave., NE 20019 *You MUST bring Insurance & ID

MASK PRODUCTION • FCEC Mask Making Initiative for donations to Ward 7 & 8 residents • Commercial Custom Mask Production - all proceeds will go back to mask production for donations

• Provides non-perishable groceries • For more information or to sign up visit us online faunteroycenter.org or call 202-397-5454

PARTNERS:

SUPPORTED BY: DC HOPE I DC ARTS I DMPED

202-397-5454

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LIMITED SERVICES INCLUDE: • Holds Pickup • Returns - All Materials • Borrow Grab & Go Materials • Access to public computers (45-minute sessions) • Apply for a Library Card • Print Services

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The Deepening Digital Divide Lack of Devices, Connectivity and Support Hamper Remote Learning

by Eva Herscowitz

s a working parent and parents of young children, virtual learncandidate for Ward 8 State ing often means helping their children Board of Education, Lanavigate not just content, but digital platJoy Law (lajoylaw2020. forms. This became routine for parent com) is dependent on the Grace Hu, who leads the Digital EquiInternet. To stay connected in her home, ty in DC Education (w6pspo.org) coaliLaw has for the last couple of years relied tion, and her elementary school daughter. on a hotspot. However, when the pan“I had to be involved to help her acdemic moved both her daughter’s charcess documents and then upload her ter school and her job online, the need schoolwork,” Hu said. “That’s just really for a faster, more stable connection behard as a working parent.” Some parents came urgent. may not have the technical skills to help, Law eventually secured affordable, or may not be English speakers which high-speed access from Comcast’s Intercan making helping their child very difnet Essentials program (Internetessenficult if not impossible. tials.com). She hopes her story encourages others to reach out for help. Schools Doing it Right “There’re some families where Despite the myriad of problems, some children were going to school on their schools and community members have phones,” Law said. “I know how hard it successfully bridged the digital divide. was to not have internet, because I was They serve as models for others facing trying to figure it out.” technology challenges in the era of virtuWith public schools and charter Student and teacher: A student at Eagle Academy Public Charter School works with a teacher. al learning. schools opting for online instruction Photo: Karen Alston Eagle Academy Public Charter this fall due to COVID-19, the District’s School (eagleacademypcs.org) serves digital divide is deepening across racial, net-enabled devices and digital literacy resources. Accordchildren in grades pre-K to third at two campuses. Since economic and geographic fault lines. According to a new ing to the Washington Teachers’ Union (wtulocal6.net), up 2012, the school has issued an iPad to each student for study conducted by the Alliance for Excellent Education to a quarter of public school students didn’t have a device classroom use loaded with educational software and age ap(All4Ed), the National Indian Education Association, the or WiFi by the end of the school year. DC Public Schools propriate content, Chief Marketing Officer Karen Alston National Urban League and UnidosUS, DC has the sec(DCPS) pledged to provide devices for students who do said. Like most schools have since March 2020, Eagle Acadond largest gap nationally for high-speed internet access benot have them for the 2020-2021 school year. emy has navigated an uncharted educational landscape. But tween white students and Black and Latino students. While The District’s current education budget is too small years spent bridging the digital divide placed the school 27 percent of Black students and 25 percent of Latino stuto supply every DCPS student with a device, according to “ahead of the curve,” Alston said. dents lack home Internet, only five percent of their white Ward 7 State Board of Education Candidate Eboni-Rose Eagle has “always been a high-tech school,” said Joe peers are similarly disadvantaged. Thompson (ebonirosedc.com). While a student may have Smith, Eagle Academy’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief In the District, the need for equitable device distribuaccess to a device, it may be shared with siblings, she points Financial Officer. Over 80 percent of its students were comtion, internet access and tech support has never been greatout. Even if there is access to a device, it may be unsuitable pletely set up for online instruction within the first week er. Despite the difficulties, some schools and advocates have for attending virtual classes or completing homework. of the switch to remote learning last spring. This relatively managed to begin to bridge the divide. “The city is assuming every charter school is one that’s smooth transition was built on a strong technological foungiving away laptops,” Thompson said. “That’s not true.” dation and extensive device distribution. In addition, District student access to the internet varThe Digital Divide iPads are effective for both teacher-guided learning and ies widely. According to a report released by All4Ed (all4ed. The District’s digital divide is greatest in Wards 5, 7 and 8, independent exploration, Smith said. Students often come org), 20,278 children lack high-speed home Internet in DC, upon news articles or math websites on their own. From where resident median household income is lowest. These and 77 percent of those students were Black. home, teachers can assess and support students through the wards are also home to most of the District’s Black resiEven if a student has a device and broadband access, same platforms utilized in a classroom environment: Fast dents, many of whom lack broadband internet access, interthey and their parents may run into technical issues. For 10

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ForWord, a reading intervention software; Zearn, a digital and hands-on math tool; and short lessons from Khan Academy, among other programs, Eagle Academy Director of Education Sabrina O’Gilvie said. At Eagle, speech therapists, physical therapists, reading specialists and even art teachers easily shifted their services online. Guaranteed Internet access for parents and students supported the school’s success. For years, Eagle Academy has assisted families in securing inhome hotspots. As the school year approaches, the institution has worked to establish socially distant, Internet-enabled spaces for students to complete work. Additionally, five full-time tech support employees ensure the school’s robust tech network runs smoothly. Upon graduation, Eagle gifts every third grader an iPad. “When they go on to fourth grade, they are computer fluent,” Smith said. “They know the programs and where to go to help them grow.” “The children take to technology,” Smith said, “like ducks to water.” Eagle Academy has tackled the problems of the digital divide head on: device provisioning, broadband access, parental and student technical support and curricular integration. Doing so has allowed students to continue learning amid the unprecedented educational challenges of the pandemic — a feat that has not been universally achieved in other District schools.

Supporting Students and Parents

At a July 27 town hall, DCPS Office of Data Systems & Strategy Chief Colin Taylor promised to offer parents and students tech support through a dedicated call center. The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) is responsible overall for the District’s technology initiatives. According to Chief Lindsey Parker, OCTO (octo.dc.gov) wants to unite organizations “across the public, private and non-profit sectors” working to increase technology access and support. “ “We want to bring these folks together around a singular focus on digital equity to give DC residents a fair shot,” Parker said. OCTO is “currently looking for federal dollars, private grant opportunities, and philanthropic funds,” she added. Anticipating that these efforts might prove inadequate, former OCTO Program Manager John Capozzi decided to create a non-profit, youthled community help desk. Intended for students, families and senior citizens, DC Community Help Desk (DCCHD) also connects DC youth to employment opportunities. “If you want us to help you, describe your prob12

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A student at Eagle Academy Public Charter School connects to class with an iPad, which the school distributes to all students. Photo: Karen Alston

lem, we’ll give it a try and go from there,” Capozzi said. The DCCHD can be reached by calling 202-7887201 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Email assistance is also available at helpdesk@onramps-dc.org or by completing a web form at https://onramps-dc.org. But with the sheer number of students learning virtually, can all of these efforts provide District students with a bridge to cross the digital divide?

Looking Forward

Thompson, the DC State Board Ward 7 candidate, believes the hurdles to tech equity are largely monetary. “I am really concerned we have a missed opportunity in this budget to address some of those issues,” Thompson said. “Unlike a lot of social ills where it takes a lot of policy and changing hearts and minds, the digital divide can actually be solved with dollars. And we have not yet chosen to make that investment.” For now, parents, even those with more access to devices and tech support, face tough choices. Law, the Ward 8 Education Board candidate, is choosing to continue remote learning for her daughter, who is especially vulnerable to COVID-19. She encourages school districts to “meet families where they are” and pursue creative solutions to support those in a variety of situations. With “grace and compassion,” Law hopes the current challenges will push leaders to work toward closing the digital divide. “It’s time we come up with creative solutions about what we should do,” Law said. “We don’t have to go back to the way things were. We can create a new normal.” Eva Herscowitz is a journalism student at Northwestern University currently interning with the Hill Rag. She writes for Northwestern’s student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern. You can reach her at eva@hillrag.com ◆

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Renters Seek Financial Relief DC Determined to Reach Affordable Housing Goals by Keely Sullivan

hough the District still reports dozens of coronavirus cases daily, many beauty salons, fitness centers, restaurants and other nonessential businesses have cautiously reopened, welcoming back their employees. It’s a big relief for thousands who have spent months under months-longon furloughs, even though returning to work runs the risk of accelerating the virus’ spread. But it leaves some, like 32-year-old Trish, a bartender and parent, with no easy answers. Wrestling with the pandemic’san impossible catch-22., Trish is forced to decide between a stable income and the safety of her child, who is at high-risk case for Covid-19. Until the situation improves, she says she cannot go back to work in good conscience. “Six months later, I’m still in the same situation,” Trish said, who has been providing for herself and her children

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through weekly unemployment checks. “Dealing with unemployment has been difficult. It’s scary.” The single mother lives with her two children in a twobedroom apartment in Congress Heights, one of the area’s most heavily impacted by the virus. As a whole, Ward 8 suffers disproportionately from the coronavirus, reporting in May the highest per capita rate of virus-related deaths in the city. ResidingLiving in one of DC’s highest concentrations of affordable housing units, many of whose residents are seniors in close quarters, the neighborhood’s inhabitants choose frequently between staying safe and making rent. “Some employers are asking our people to come back to work,” said Congress Heights ANC Commissioner Mike Austin. “Folks have said, ‘So can I file the Family and Medical Leave Act to not go into work? I’m afraid.’

They’re trying to get creative because they want to protect themselves, protect their families.” For some, the worst of the crisis is behind themsome, but east of the Anacostia River, Trish and many of her neighbors do not see the end. According to Trish, trouble making rent is nothing new. But Tthe coronavirus crisis is exacerbatingexacerbates existing problems in Ward 8, including systemic high unemployment and the lack of availability and assistance for low-income housing. “These are conversations that were before Covid,” Trish said. “Nobody really cares that you can’t make rent when it’s just you that can’t make rent,” Trish said.. “But when damn near your whole building can’t make rent, that’s when you start to pay attention and figure out what to do.” Mayor Bowser committed last year to adding 12,000

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units of affordable housing stock by 2025, a response to the long-term housing crisis brought on by years of dramatic economic growth and the steady drain of federal affordable housing dollars. The full extent of the pandemic is still unknown, yet it has already tightened the city’s budget and threatened the progress of existing housing programs. It’s in anticipation of an unprecedented affordable housing problem that DC city officials and nonprofits have advocated for its preservation and continuation in Ward 8 and beyond.

Affordable Housing Landscape Pre-Covid

The District tackles affordable housing construction and maintenance through a partnership between the city government, nonprofit and for-profit developers and the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), an independent federal agency almost completely funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). DCHA, the largest landlord of affordable housing stock, controls and manages approximately 8,000 affordable housing units. It is led by an eleven-member board of commissioners, five of whom are nominated by the mayor. Two are appointed by the Metropolitan Central Labor Council and the Consortium of Legal Service Providers, and the remaining four are elected by the public housing community. Throughout the city, there are nearly 52,000 units considered affordable, which is classified by the city government as housing for families making anywhere between less than 30 to 80 percent of the Median Family Income (MFI). In DC, the MFI for a family of four is $126,000. Within the mayor’s cabinet, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) contributes to the supply and maintenance of affordable housing. It also delivers rental assistance both directly to tenants and through project-based means, in which vouchers are tied to affordable units. These services intersect with vouchers administered by DCHA. Nonprofit and for-profit developers add affordable housing stock and often receive financial assistance through bonds and tax credits offered by DHCD and the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCFHA), an independent entity dedicated to offering subsidies for rental housing development. Some organizations nonprofit developers like Housing Up, based ina Ward 4-based nonprofit developer and affordable housing program administrator, commit exclusively to serving low-income communities within their own properties and through case management services. Christina Peay, Housing Up’s director of philanthropy and communications, considers housing as a determinant for health, education and overall standard of living. “Without stable housing, it’s like scooping out the ocean with a tablespoon,” Peay said of delivering assistance to low-income DC residents. “Being able to still have the coalition of government, nonprofit and for-profit be as 16

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committed and more committed post-Covid and through Covid than they were before is key. Because we really do need all three of these sectors working for affordable housing. And that’s how most projects happen.” The city has previously reported widespread gaps in affordable housing services. According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the city will need to add 277,500 affordable housing units by 2030 to keep up with the growing population. Existing units lack funds for maintenance. DCHA told East of the River more than 2,600 of their units are in “extremely urgent” condition, citing decades-old infrastructure. The agency also said approximately 40,000 people were on the general waitlist for housing.

Responding to the Crisis: Immediate and Long-Term Recovery

As the Covid crisis began to unfold and DC declared its state of emergency, the rent moratorium took effect. Yet many landlords still asked forcollected paymentsrent. Between February and April 2020, DC’s unemployment rate dipped plummeted from 5.1 percent to 11.7over six percent. Some of the earliest income assistance programs came through DHCD, which developed a federally-funded $1.5 million Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA) from federal funds thato pay covers rent forward for families living in smaller units. DHCD estimates this fund can assist 400 families over the next six months at minimum. “We decided in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic that we knew there were going to be issues, given the shutdown of rental payments,” said DHCD director Polly Donaldson. Following federal and local laws, DCHA did not evict residents. This moratorium is still in effect until DC’s health emergency expires on October 9, after which evictions will not be processed for another 60 days. The agency has been accommodating residents’ financial situations by adjusting income information, according to a statement to East of the River, which can lower monthly rent payments. On the federal level, the sweeping CARES Act passed by Congress included approximately $12 billion to resuscitate the nation’s affordable housing stock. It financed extra dollars for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which pays overdue rent for tenants earning up to 125% of the federal poverty level. It also bolstered funding for the District’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), from which for housing rehabilitation, neighborhood revitalization and economic development. Notably, DHCD took $6.2 million from the CDBG for crisis recovery viafinanced a new the Covid-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP). CHAP, a $6.2 million programwhich that launched in June, offers assistance to families earning 80 percent MFI or lower. According to DHCD Director Donaldson, 88 applicants have applied since July for $124,000, which can help families with $4,000 on average over the next three months.

“Our goals remain the same, our values remain the same, and we have to get even more creative in how we use tools,” Donaldson said. In fact, DC’s 2021 budget, approved late July by the DC Council, offers an optimistic outlook for the city’s housing priorities. It earmarked $50 million, an increase from last year’s $24.5 million, to address maintenance repairs for critical DCHA units. The Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP), another stimulant for low-income families, also received additional funding to serve 300 units. On the production side, the Housing Production Trust Fund received an additional $9 million, as well ascoupled with $88 million to build new, affordable units withvia federal Section 108 funds. s “We were happy to get the $50 million,” said Councilmember-at-Large Anita Bonds of DCHA maintenance funding, who noted extenuating difficulties in this year’s budgeting process. “No particular entity wants to give up the dollars and the programs they’re implementing. You try very hard to make sure what dollars you are allocating are dollars well spent.” Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White affirmed his and the Council’s commitment to closing the preexisting housing gap. “Too many residents have and will be displaced,” Councilmember White said in an email. “This issue is personal to me and one of the reasons why I fought so hard for housing affordability.” Housing eexperts like the DC Fiscal Policy Institute’s Eliana Golding are still skeptical about the unavoidable budget cuts. One pPrograms takingtaking the biggesta back seat isare the Housing Preservation Fund (HPF) for maintenance, whose budget was cut by nearly $10 million from last year, and the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) for project financing, which received $16 million less than initially budgeted. Golding notes that Mayor Bowser has previously stated $250 million would sufficiently address its needs – a stark contrast to its budgeted $100 million. “I want to emphasize that the HPTF actually has requirements for how much of that money should be going to producing housing for folks earning zero to 30 percent of the MFI, and it has never met those goals,” Golding added. “It’s challenging without sufficient funding to be able to do that.” For Trish, these budgetary nuances will not change her situation in the immediate future. She knows a couple of herknows some friends who have have sought outtried city-funded programs, though but she sees remains committed to getting by on her unemployment checks until the situation becomes saferas her best option. “Just because of my problems with unemployment, I haven’t even tried for rental assistance,” Trish said. “If unemployment is backed up, the rental assistance program, it’s probably tapped out.” “I felt like, if I’m going do something like that, I’ve got my eviction notice on my door.” u

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/ Opinion: The Old Man of Anacostia /

Defunding Police? I Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Get It by Philip Pannell

he "34th-n-EAT" block party was an annual affair promoted widely on social media with the promise of food and drinks. It was advertised as a "drama free" event. On Saturday, Aug. 9 hundreds of people gathered on Dubois Place SE and videos showed many mask-less people partying shoulder to shoulder. Midnight came and the party was in full swing and thirty minutes later the event was no longer drama free. A dispute erupted, guns were fired, 20 persons were shot and one killed. Eleven women were wounded, one off-duty officer critically, and yet another DC teenager was killed. The event should have never happened. It was in violation of the Mayor's COVID-19 restriction on gatherings over 50 persons. The organizers should be held accountable. I was not there but like most watched the televised news reports. In the aftermath of a crime scene that stretched for several blocks with, according to police reports, over 100 bullet casings, there was no shortage of opinions of Dubois Place residents. Several said that the police should have stopped the party. Police were there when the event began, but according to Police Chief Peter Newsham there were not enough to stop the event and they eventually withdrew. And that is when the shooting began. The cops were put into a damned-if-theydid or damned-if-they-didn't position. If they had tried to stop the party, most likely an incident would have occurred. Cops trying to stop a good time with liquor flowing was a scene ripe for problems. If more police had been called to stop the event, most likely there would have been some outcries about "over policing." The continuing violence in DC -- particularly east of the river -- must be considered in any discussion of "defunding" the police. In my opinion, the word "defunding" is a poor word choice and the Republicans have used it continuously during their national convention.

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The â&#x20AC;&#x153;defunding the policeâ&#x20AC;? advocates have given Donald Trump rhetorical ammunition in his quest for reelection. I, like many feel, that there are certain occupations in our society where the workers are underpaid (and sometimes underappreciated). Among them are the nurses, teachers and police. According to Chief Newsham, pay and benefits constitute 91 percent of the police department's budget. Defunding would certainly lead to a reduction in force and have a chilling effect on salary increases. A few weeks ago in a move to defund the police, the Seattle, Washington city council voted to cut the police force by 100 officers and reduce the pay of its chief. Chief Carmen Best, an African American woman who served on the force for three decades, abruptly resigned as a result of the city council's action. Can you blame her? Her salary cut resulted in her pay being lower than that of her immediate white, male predecessor. There should be a middle ground between imprudently defunding the police and unconditionally defending them. The Black Lives Matter movement has made a valuable contribution.by spotlighting the disproportional police brutality against African Americans. However, it is unfair and irrational to demonize all police officers because of the murderous actions of a few. In my opinion, rogue cops no more represent the totality of police offices than the few pedophile teachers and preachers represent all educators and the clergy. Policing is an honorable profession and we in DC should encourage and support young people who are considering it as a career. Yes, Black Lives Matter. Also words should matter. There is no way that "defunding" is an acceptable synonym for reforming. Or is it that I just do not get it? Maybe a dead beat dad is engaging in defunding or reimagining parenthood. Philip Pannell is a long time Ward 8 community activist. He can be contacted at philippannell@ comcast.net. u

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Our River: The Anacostia Escaping to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by Bill Matuszeski

n these times of isolation and limits on things to do, we should think about those special places where we can get away, places that give us a sense of freedom, natural beauty and relaxation while we can still abide by the rules. One such place along our Anacostia that should rank high on your list is the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a National Park Service facility located between the River and the Anacostia Freeway up near the Maryland line. It is a set of water-based flower gardens of many sizes, all connected by grassy paths to wander among the tall lotuses and other blooms. There is also a boardwalk that takes you out over the largest remaining tidal marsh in the DC area. And the entire area is blessed with a wide array of bird and animal life in the air, on the ground and in the water. Exactly how much is open will depend on where we are in the covid recovery; the boardwalk provides the greatest constraint on movement and maintaining distance, but the rest should not be a problem. Call 202-692-6080 for the current hours, openings and limits if you want to know before going. Or check on-line. The Gardens have an interesting history. In the 1880’s, Walter Shaw, a Civil War veteran, purchased 30 acres of wetlands from his in-laws and began to plant water gardens that

Pink Lotus Pond at the Aquatic Garden. Photo: Mary Procter

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reminded him of his native Maine. He protected the areas from Corps of Engineers “improvement projects” in the River, and with his daughter Helen built a nursery business selling the plants. After his death in 1921, Helen continued and expanded the business and became a well-known advocate for these kinds of gardens. In the 1930’s, the ponds and the adjacent marches were purchased by the Federal government and added to the Anacostia River Park. The Park Service added 32 acres of wetlands in the 1990’s, has kept the gardens in good repair and has restored the tidal marshes. When you visit, you first spend time walking the paths connecting the set of water gardens of various sizes, then take note of the variety of plants in the ponds – from giant lotuses towering overhead to countless water lilies spread along the water surfaces, and occasional outbursts of color from hibiscus and other plants along the edges. From there you can walk out on the boardwalk over the tidal marshes if it is open. These marches present their own variety of floating and rooted plants. And everywhere there is wildlife – 257 species of birds alone have been identified at the Gardens– including a range of herons, egrets, eagles, hawks, geese and ducks. There is a wide selection of fish and amphibians in the ponds and marshes, and turtles, frogs and mammals are on the land and in the water. All this makes the Garden a magnificent place for snapping photos and even setting up an easel to paint nature in its many forms. It is especially nice as a place to take small children. They can run along the paths, collect the bugs and chase all the animals. And since the blossoms are nearly all high up on large plants or out in the ponds, they can be seen but not picked. Just be careful of all the channels and low spots in the land separating the ponds. For those wanting to participate in even more activities on an ongoing basis, there is the Friends of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (friendsofkenilworthgardens.org), a volunteer organization that supports a variety of programs – volunteer gardening help on-site, education and interpretive programming, partnerships and fund-raising – even a photo contest! Even getting to the Gardens has its thrilling moments. By car, take the Anacostia Freeway to Burroughs Avenue and go west (left if coming from the south) through the lights, then bear right (following the yellow sign to the Gardens) onto Lee St., which becomes 40th St NE before coming to an end at Anacostia Avenue. Turn right and follow the Avenue to the entrance (maybe a half mile). A possibly quicker but less interesting route would take the Freeway to Eastern Avenue, then turn back south along the Freeway (stay off it) and right on Quarles to Anacostia Avenue and left to the entrance on your right. By Metro, take the Orange Line to Deanwood and the footbridge over the Freeway to join Douglas St., which takes you to Anacostia Avenue near the entrance. Or you can take the Anacostia River Trail by bike or walking. Right short of the Amtrak and New York Avenue overpasses there is a marked trail that takes you to the Gardens along a series of ponds filled with flowering plants. There is a plan to add a bridge to the Arboretum from the River Trail, which means you could spend the whole day out there with the trees and birds and flowers on both sides of Our River. Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River, and the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of Friends of the National Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia. u

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/ The Numbers /

A Failure to Address Childcare Crisis

DC Council Underfunds in Wake of COVID-19 by Alyssa Noth

hildcare is a critical part of our economy. A parent who can drop their child off in a quality childcare setting has peace of mind that their child is safe and well cared for. Having childcare as an option gives parents an opportunity to earn a living, contribute to their family, and provide for the child. Children who attend childcare programs develop emotional, academic, and social skills that improve their academic readiness. While parents and providers alike understood the importance of quality childcare environments before the pandemic, stories of the losses our children face without it have reinforced just how integral it is to our city and our society. Over the past five months COVID-19 has devastated the District’s already fragile childcare system. The pandemic-induced shutdown forced centers to close across the city, and because childcare centers typically operate on the margins without significant savings, some providers may not be able to reopen. In fact, the District is at risk of permanently losing 6,500 childcare seats, or 20% of the total slots available pre-pandemic, according to the Cen-

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ter for American Progress. Additionally, childcare centers will face steep public health costs in reopening. Keeping children and families safe will require smaller class sizes, more staff, higher cleaning costs, and facilities adjustments—leading to an increase in expenses during a time of fluctuating attendance and decreased revenue for centers and providers. Others may struggle to recruit students given mass layoffs of parents forced out of work by the pandemic. Black and Latinx families—who are already bearing the brunt of COVID-19—are at particular risk of losing access to childcare. Even before the pandemic, families of color were less likely to have access to affordable, highquality care, which is out of reach for many low and moderate-income families. In DC, center-based childcare for infants and toddlers is more expensive than in-state tuition and fees at a public university. Unfortunately, this fiscal year DC lawmakers passed a budget that failed to properly aid the city’s childcare industry. The Council approved $5 million in emergency grant funding in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 supplemental budget that will be made available through the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Additionally, through partial repeal of a tax credit for high-tech companies, DC Council approved $1.4 million in emergency grant funding through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) for FY 2021. The total $6.5 million investment falls short of the minimum $10 million the Under 3 DC coalition estimates is needed to stabilize the industry (Figure 1). Affordable, quality early learning environments are fundamental to the well-being of young children. Access to strong

fig. 1

fig. 2

early learning programs can reduce the difference in school readiness between low-income toddlers and their higherincome peers. Children who receive quality care also grow up to earn more money as adults. The Child Care Subsidy/Voucher program, administered by OSSE, provides families with vouchers that they can use at licensed providers. However, childcare subsidy payments are not enough to cover the full cost of care and as a result, early childhood educators—predominantly women of color—are vastly underpaid compared to their peers in K-12 education (Figure 2). District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), which serves students ages three and above, recently announced that school will be virtual-only for all grades for at least the first term of the 2020-21 school year. Parents of three, four, and five-year olds may need in-person childcare due to the unfeasibility of digital learning for the youngest students. This means there will be even greater demand for childcare at a time when availability is dwindling without a cohesive plan to support working parents, especially those in essential jobs that are often done by people of color and are least likely to be done from home. As economist Betsy Stevenson wrote, “Childcare is not a personal issue, it’s not a women’s issue; it’s an economic issue.” Childcare is an economic issue because we know that investments in high quality care in a child’s early years can result in increased parental earnings and higher future earnings for children. At a time of unprecedented economic crisis, the DC Council failed to add any funding to the childcare subsidy for the first time in several years. Without significant public investments in childcare, there is no way the District will be able to equitably recover from the crisis. Alyssa Noth is a Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia and increase opportunities for residents to build a better future. DCFPI is a member of the Under 3 DC Coalition. ◆

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Congressional Cemetery Community Yard Sale

Anacostia Arts Center Reopens The Anacostia Arts Center has reopened. The hours of operation are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You must wear a mask when visiting. The Arts Center opened in 2013. It is 9,300 square feet; includes a 1,000 square feet Black Box Theater; space for five galleries/boutiques; a short-term exhibition gallery called Blank Space SE, a café, and an 800 square feet lounge area. While the Center is new, its parent organization, ARCH Development Corporation, has been working in Anacostia since 1991. For much of its history, ARCH has focused on neighborhood small scale business development and general business support. anacostiaartscenter.com. An original photo of Erykah Badu by Victoria Ford will be auctioned at the DC Artists East Auction. Opening Party, on Sept. 10.

The Congressional Cemetery Community Yard Sale is on Saturday, Sept. 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., along Potomac Avenue and E Streets, SE, in front of the cemetery. A 10’ x 10’ space can be reserved for $25. Set-up is between 6 and 7:30 a.m. Bring your own tables, chairs, tarps, etc. The sale will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Read more at congressionalcemetery.org.

The DC Fray fall schedule is open. Signup for basketball, bocce, cornhole, flag football, kickball, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and yoga at dcfray.com.

DC Artists East Auction Opening Party

DC Artists East Auction kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m. at the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. The public is invited to attend in person (masked) or online. The auction then concludes in late September. Original work from Victoria Ford, Terrence Sloan, Zsudeska Terrell, James Terell, Luis Peralta Del Valle, Terrence Nicholson, and Isaiah Aladejobi will be auctioned on the new auction platform until late September. Read more at eventbrite.com/e/dc-artistseast-auction-tickets-117797123367. 24

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Bid at honfleurgallert.com/auctions. dcartistseast.org/artists)

Wellness on Wheels

Residents in Ward 7 now have easy access to critical health screenings, COVID19 testing, and more via the United Medical Center Mobile Unit parked in front of the Faunteroy Community Enrichment Center, 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE, every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to COVID19 testing, UMC medical professionals will also conduct adult wellness checks and screenings for HIV, kidney disease and more. For those in need of follow up care, UMC professionals will connect patients to primary care physicians, specialists, social workers, and other community resources. united-medicalcenter.com.

Some East of the River Public Libraries Reopen

Anacostia, Bellevue, Benning, Capitol View and Francis A. Gregory libraries are now open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed daily for cleaning from 2 to 3 p.m.). Customers are able to return materials, check out items, use a limited number of public computers and remote print at the open locations. As each library will require some reconfiguration to accommodate the need to social distance, these services may look differently at each library based on the location’s space layout. Additionally, some of the

Do you need mortgage assistance due to the effects of COVID-19? DC MAP (Mortgage Assistance Program) COVID-19 is here to help District homeowners stay in their homes during this pandemic. As businesses in the Washington, D.C. region have had to close or reduce staff, the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) recognizes the need to provide assistance to those impacted by the pandemic. DC MAP COVID-19 provides zero- interest monthly assistance loans up to $5,000 for up to six months for qualified homeowners.

Borrower Qualifications: • Must be borrower’s primary residence and must be located in the District of Columbia • Must have been current as of the March 1st payment (prior to being affected by COVID-19) • Must be able to document income affected due to COVID-19 • Borrower must be the borrower on the home loan, not just a member of the household • Must show proof that the borrower is not eligible for forbearance or other types of relief offered through the servicer and/or Hardest Hit Funds • If borrower is still affected after the CARES Act ends, then relief may be offered at that time (See additional terms)

For a full list of borrower qualifications and loan terms, visit

www.dchfa.org/homeownership

DC MAP COVID-19 financial assistance will be granted on a first come, first served basis until the program allocation has been exhausted. Homeowners seeking assistance through DC MAP COVID-19 should call 1-833-429-0537 to begin the process of applying. Questions regarding DC MAP COVID-19 may also be emailed to DCMAP@dchfa.org.

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public spaces in libraries may be needed as staff space to ensure materials are handled safely and staff can social distance. Masks are required. dclibrary.org.

Ward Seven “Slow Street” Lineup

METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, DC

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HOMICIDE VICTIM

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

VICTIM’S NAME

Charnice Milton LOCATION

2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE DATE/TIME

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

9:40 PM

CONTACT

Detective Chanel Howard (202) 437-0451 Detective Robert Cephas (202) 497-4734 Homicide Branch (202) 645-9600

(cell)

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at approximately 9:40 pm, Ms. Charnice Milton was shot and killed in the 2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE. The Metropolitan Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in gathering information regarding this homicide.

(cell) (main)

H O W TO H E L P O U R I N V E S T I G AT I O N

This case is being investigated by the Department’s Homicide Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the detective(s) listed above or the Command Information Center (CIC) at (202) 727-9099. Anonymous information may also be forwarded to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. COMMAND CENTER 202 727-9099

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TEXT TIPS

The new Slow Streets initiative gives residents more space to social distance while moving around outside. Slow Streets are restricted to local traffic only and the speed limit is set at 15 miles per hour to support neighborhood-based safe social distancing while walking, running, or cycling. Drivers should only use a designated Slow Street if their destination is within two blocks of that street. Residents, emergency vehicles, deliveries and trash collection vehicles still have access. The Ward Seven Slow Streets are: B Street, between Benning Road and 54th Street SE; Fairlawn Avenue between K Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE; K Street between Fairlawn Avenue and Randle Circle SE; Grant Street NE between Minnesota Avenue NE and 46th Street NE. ddot. dc.gov. DDOT will not install Slow Streets in Ward 8 at this time, pursuant to an amendment to the Connected Transportation Network Emergency Act of 2020 and the Connected Transportation Network Temporary Act of 2020.

Rental Assistance for those Impacted by COVID-19

The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) provides up to three months (maximum of $4,250) of rental assistance for eligible DC tenants who have been affected by the public health emergency. For fastest results, schedule an appointment online at octo.quickbase.com/db/ bfpwsjvi2?a=nwr. CHAP appointments also may be requested by calling HCS at 202-667-7339 or sending an email to chap@housingetc.org.

DC-Licensed Insurers to Cover COVID-19 Testing for High-Risk Residents

Mayor Bowser has mandated that all DClicensed health insurers cover COVID-19 testing with no cost sharing for certain high-

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risk residents. This requirement, to be administered through the DC Department of Insurance Securities and Banking (DISB), runs through the duration of the public health emergency.

Keeping your Home during the COVID-19 Health Emergency

The non-profit Housing Counseling Services is conducting free webinars every Wednesday at 2 p.m. in September to provide information about available options for people who are having difficulty paying their mortgage, condo fees or property taxes. Registration is required. Register at www.housingetc.org. If you have questions, call the Foreclosure Prevention hotline at 202-265-2255.

Free eWaste Recycling Events in DC

DC residents, small businesses and nonprofits can recycle electronics without cost at e-waste recycling events throughout 2020. Upcoming events are: Sept. 12, Fort Greble Rec Center at MLK Ave. and Elmira St. SE; Sept. 19, Rose Park Rec Center at 2600 Dumbarton St. NW; All ewaste recycling events are held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Covered electronic equipment includes: desktop and laptop computers, tablets, E-readers, smallscale servers, portable digital music players that are battery powered, computer monitors, mice, keyboards, computer speakers, desktop printers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, DVRs, signal converter boxes, cable and satellite receivers, and gaming consoles used with TVs. A complete list of events and acceptable items can be found at rlgamericas.com/DCecycling.

Trans Support Group: Via Zoom

The Trans Support Group is intended to provide emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/ expression to join in community and learn from one another. They welcome all who identify under the trans umbrella or are unsure, and seek to continually reinforce their principles of respect, acceptance and protection through ongoing input from their attendees. Due to COVID-19,

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Encore for Older Adults Virtual Choral and Enrichment Programs

Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, begins a fall semester of its virtual Encore University on Sept. 8. The program, conducted over Zoom, will include 15 weeks of enriching classes, choral and rock & roll singing, and the opportunity to participate in a virtual holiday concert. It is open to men and women over 55 and no prior music experience is needed. Courses, held Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., include Music Theory and Vocal Technique, ear training with solfege, musicianship, shaped note and more. Music history classes will feature Great Divas, Musical Theater, Romanticism to Modernism, Legendary Songwriting Teams of Broadway, the British Invasion and more. encoreuniversity.org.

Washington School of Ballet SE Campus is Open for Enrollment

Arches Completed Over New Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge The arches on the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge have been completed. Construction will now begin on the new bridge deck, where cars, bikes, and pedestrians will cross the Anacostia River when the new FDMB is completed in late 2021. The new bridge is being constructed approximately 100 feet from the current bridge. The new design includes three above-deck arches that capture the District’s arch history, two piers that will appear to float in the river, and four pedestrian overlooks. The new bridge is part of the South Capitol Street Corridor Project, which includes two phases: (1) replacement of the 70-year-old bridge; and (2) reconstruction of the Suitland Parkway/I-295 interchange. South Capitol Bridge Builders-a joint venture of Archer Western Construction, LLC and Granite Construction Company--is the contractor for Phase I of the project. AECOM is the lead designer and HNTB is assisting DDOT with program and construction management. the DC Center Trans Support Group meets remotely, via Zoom, twice monthly on the second Tuesday and fourth Friday, from 7 to 9 p.m. For security reasons, they ask that community members send a quick email to supportdesk@ thedccenter.org for more information.

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New DC Rules for Employee Safety During COVID-19

On July 28, the DC Council passed the Protecting Businesses and Workers from COVID-19 Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 which sets forth mandatory workplace safety requirements. It also protects employees from retaliation for refusing to work or serve customers during high risk situations for COVID-19 transmission. DC employers must implement social distancing and worker protection measures in line with current Mayor’s Orders on mask wearing. Mayor’s Orders can be found at dcregs.dc.gov. Additional information for nonprofits and small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic is at the DC Bar Pro Bono Center’s Coronavirus Legal Resources section at probono.center/NPSB.

The Washington School of Ballet’s state-of-the-art SE Campus at THEARC is now open for enrollment and has gone 100% virtual for auditions and for classes. The Pre-Ballet Division will have a free trial class via Zoom on Friday, Sept. 11; 4 to 4:45 p.m. for ages five to six and 5 to 6 p.m. for ages six to seven. Creative dance for ages three and a half to four; pre-ballet for ages five, six and seven are also offered. Children ages eight and older can schedule a placement class. Reach out to Kayla DeShields at kdeshields@washingtonballet.org for the free trial class link and with any registration questions for the SE location. All ages and experience levels are welcome. washingtonballet.org.

DC’s COVID-19 Hotline

District residents who are homebound due to CO VID19 can request support from the District for food and other essential items. Call 1-888-349-8323 or visit coronavirus.dc.gov/gethelp.

Mayor Bowser Issues Order on Masks, Extends Public Health Emergency

Mayor Bowser has issued Mayor’s Order 2020-080 to clarify and extend requirements related to wearing masks indoors and outdoors. She has also extended the public health emergency through October 9. Under the Mayor’s Order, people must wear a mask when they leave their homes if they are likely to be in contact with another person for more than a fleeting moment. Eexceptions include: children under the age of three; a person who is in an enclosed office that no one else is allowed to enter; a person who is actively eating or drinking; and a person who is engaged in vigorous outdoor exercise and is maintaining social distance of at least six feet from other people. The full Mayor’s Order on masks can be found at coronavirus.dc.gov/maskorder.

Enjoy the 2020 Fort Dupont Park Summer Concert Series Online Join the National Park Service on Saturdays through Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. for the the 2020 Fort Dupont Summer Concert Series. Here’s the lineup: Aug. 22, We Are One X-perience Band and The New Soul Searchers with sounds by DJ Lance Reynolds; Aug. 29, Big Daddy Kane and DJ Kool with sounds by DJ Scientific Beats; Sept. 5, Maysa and Cecily with sounds by DJ Classix; Sept. 12, Kindred and the Family Soul and Aztec Sun with sounds by DJ 2-Tone Jones; Sept. 19, Backyard Band and Black Alley Band with sounds by DJ Lance Reynolds. The free, live-recorded R&B, hip-hop, jazz and go-go concerts will be available online through Sept. 30 at fortdupontparkconcerts.live.

Circulator Hours Extended

The following Circulator routes now operate weekdays 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Union Station to Georgetown; Rosslyn to Dupont Circle; and Woodley Park to Adams Morgan to McPherson Square. Routes still ending at 9 p.m. include the Congress Heights to Union Station route and Eastern Market to L’Enfant Plaza. Service on the National Mall route remains suspended during the public health emergency. dccirculator.com.

Heat Emergency Info

When the forecast of the temperature or heat index in DC is 92 degrees or higher, District Government, through the Department of Human Services, Homeland Security and the Emergency Management Agency, activates a heat emergency and opens cooling centers for residents to seek relief from the heat. If you or someone you know needs transporta-

tion to a cooling center, call the shelter hotline at 202-399-7093.

DC FACES Working Group Formed

Mayor Bowser has announced the creation of the District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions Working Group (DC FACES) to evaluate named public spaces in Washington, DC and provide recommended actions, including removing, renaming, and/or contextualizing the building, public space, or monument. The internal government working group will review the legacy of namesakes of District assets to determine if the individual, in an individual capacity or as part of a group, participated in the oppression of African Americans and/or other communities of color, or contributed to the nation’s history of systemic racism and other biases. mayor.dc.gov/dcfaces. ◆

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east washington life

Meet Your Neighbor Claudia Herrera, Small Business Analyst

here has rarely been a time in Claudia Herrera’s life that where she could not imagine being successful, prosperous or making a name for herself. The businesswoman and native Washingtonian pursues her goals while residing in her Fort Dupont/Greenway community in southeast. She was pointed in the right direction by her father, an immigrant from El Salvador, who told her that if she ever left their U Street, NW home, she could not go and rent. She had to buy something and own it. Thus, the enterprising Latina made the unconventional commit-

by Anthony D. Diallo

ment to become a homeowner at a young age, unlike most of her peers. She did the necessary research, employed a real estate agent and, taking advantage of first-time homebuyer initiatives and other DC programs, became a homeowner at age 25. Herrera, now 32, has never regretted the decision to buy or to move to her southeast neighborhood. “I knew [positive] change was coming to the Minnesota and Benning Road corridor before I moved around there. I was impressed by the neighborhood development and the fact that the price of the house fit my budget,” said Herrera on why she bought her first and current home in Ward 7 East of the River. “This area is accessible to downtown, 695 and practically everywhere.”

Business Lover

Claudia Herrara at the Lit in DC Awards in May 2019.

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Buying a house is perhaps the biggest investment a person will make in their lifetime. For Herrera, purchasing her house proved to her that she had a business acumen. Today, Herrera works an employee at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and serves as a Program Analyst within the local government agency’s Small Business Resource Center. She meets one-on-one with customers to advise, navigate and, occasionally, motivate them through DCRA’s regulatory process. Herrera is also assigned to outside speaking ventures and developing web and paper content to share with residents coming to the government agency or via social media. In the past she has earned the distinction of being the DCRA Employee of the Month. Herrera has received notable recognition from the mayor’s office and various civic/community Claudia Herrara loves traveling, seen here in Brazil. associations for being an upcoming business leader. The native and fluent Spanish speaker, who has Latin twist.” a passionate love for go-go music, has a few busiHerrera was an honoree in May 2019 at the Lit in DC ness aspirations that may include investing in commerAwards and recognized for being an influential person in cial ventures with two other individuals and one day bethe business arena. The Lit in DC Awards is a multiculcome a restauranteur “of an American restaurant with a

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IT'S WHAT WE DO.

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tural event that celebrates all walks of life in the District of Columbia, southern Maryland and northern Virginia region. The annual event, which was partnered with DC Natives, also includes a spectacular after-party and was organized by Ronald Moten, a long-time community activist known for his prior work with Peaceoholics.

Bright Future

Herrera graduated from Trinity Washington University after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication and Media. Herrera has never fallen short of confidence, said alumna and friend Collete Winston who obtained her graduate degree with Herrera 10 years ago. According to Winston, Herrera’s position at DCRA gives her a unique platform to help a myriad of people now and post COVID-19. “She is very business savvy. She is knowledgeable about local business and how to help someone get started whether for profit or nonprofit. Claudia will steer you in the right direction and have the information for you without having to read it from a book,” said Robert Manley a one-time co-worker of Herrera who has known her for 12 years. Herrera continues to represent DCRA and work remotely from home while still serving the community. Like most people, the travel enthusiast has had to put travel plans on hold during this COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her fitness training at Kenilworth Recreational Center. As for the future, Herrera envisions herself being a great wife, mother and entrepreneur and sharing her favorite cuisine with her family—Buffalo chicken wings and pupusas, a Salvadorean staple of cornmeal griddle cakes stuffed with cheese or meat. She says she looks forward to cutting her own lawn, a happy domestic life, having children and fulfilling her dreams. u

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Terence Nicholson A Polymath Walks Among Us

by Phil Hutinet

hat sign are you?” saxophonist Steve Coleman asked Terence Nicholson. “A Virgo” Nicholson replied. “You guys are good at starting things but not good at finishing them” Coleman declared assuredly. “That was just the thing to say to me to keep me going!” said Nicholson laughing. He had just discovered martial arts, a sport that would become his lifelong passion. The year was 1994. Nicholson, a 26 year-old Anacostia native and budding lyricist, found himself touring nationally and internationally with a progressive jazz band. Nicholson recalls that Coleman frequently played martial art films in the background when they travelled between sets. Intrigued by what he saw, Nicholson decided to find a studio in DC’s Chinatown and take classes between tours. Ultimately, Coleman’s veiled insult motivated Nicholson to deepen his martial arts practice. Now a Fourth Duan, 19th Generation Disciple of Wudang Longmen (Dragon’s Gate) lineage of the Tian Shan Pai style of Kung Fu, Nicholson’s mastery of the martial art not only shaped his worldview and philosophical outlook but gave him the discipline he needed to pursue and succeed at several artistic disciplines all of which, like Kung Fu, require repetition to achieve prodigious results. A true polymath, Nicholson not only excels at Kung Fu, but also fronts local DC hardcore band Thayobleu. He also has a thriving practice as a visual artist and, more recently, has begun to flourish as a curator at the Anacostia Arts Center, Katzen Arts Center at American University Museum and the Hirshhorn Museum.

Terence Nicholson. Courtesy of the artist

Thayobleu at the 9:30 Club. Photo Credit Roxplosion

Early Influences and Education

Born in Washington, DC and raised in Anacostia where hzHigh School in northeast DC. Nicholson reminisces fondly about his education at Archbishop Carol and believes it laid the groundwork for his love of learning. Nicholson then attended Corcoran School of Art from 1987-1991 where he received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts. His Fine Arts education provided him with the basics for what would become his critically acclaimed installation and sculptural work. It also connected him with many teaching artists and created a network that he relies on as he advances in his career as a visual artist, installer and curator.

Nicholson’s Musical Journey

Nicholson’s musical odyssey began as a lyricist traveling with a progres-

sive jazz band in the early 1990s. He then formed Opus Akoben, a Hip-Hop group with two other members. The group produced two albums after landing a record deal with BMG France and toured throughout Europe in the late 90s. While much has been written about Opus Akoben by local and national media, one of Nicholson’s greatest experiences came from his time as US State Department cultural ambassador. The US employs “soft power” to create bonds with foreign nations using culture to shape how the US is perceived oversees. During the Iraq War, the US’s image problem sustained some rifts around the world, particularly in the Middle East. “Send in the musicians, the diplomats aren’t doing the job!” Nicholson joked when describing how Opus Akoben received grant funding to tour as Cultural Envoys in 2005 and 2006 for the American Music Abroad program. “We need you guys to go to Bahrain,” Nicholson recalls a State Department official telling them. The Hip-Hop group subsequently traveled to the Gulf State then to Jordan, Egypt, Palestinian Territories and Israel. “We would do workshops and connect to the local hip-hop scenes.” Later in 2006, the group toured eastern Russia, Mongolia and China. In 2007, he returned to Bahrain and visited Suriname. Nicholson’s touring ended when his wife Sarah became pregnant with his son Gabriel later that year. The group eventually dissolved in 2008. However, Nicholson’s musical career would not end there. In 2009-2010, after attending a Queens of the Stone Age and Stone Temple Pilots concert, he decided to change musical genres altogether. He switched from Hip-Hop to Hardcore and founded Thayobleu, a band which he still fronts as its lead singer and bassist. The band plays at venues throughout the DC region.

From Honfleur Gallery to the Hirshhorn Museum

While no stranger to East of the River’s art scene—Nicholson has shown work at Honfleur Gallery—a twist of fate found him installing work at the same art space where his work had once hung. Little by little, as several gallery positions were vaE ast

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cated, he was strongly encouraged by former Anacostia Arts Center Director Kate Taylor Davis to apply for the Creative Director position. From 20162018, as Creative Director, Nicholson was able to do more than just install work, but actually curate it. He credits Duane Gautier, CEO of ARCH Development, which runs and operates Anacostia Arts Center and Honfleur Gallery, to “allow me to test and spread my wings.”

His curatorial work at Honfleur led Nicholson to connect with people he knew at Katzen Center at American University Museum. In particular he was involved in hanging the work of former teacher, mentor and friend Michael Platt. Platt died suddenly in January 2019 and his exhibition at Katzen Center became something of a posthumous retrospective in which Nicholson played an important role in installing and presenting the work.

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Terence Nicholson, Our Lady of Perpetual Servitude, 2018. Mixed media, 96 x 64 in. Image courtesy of the artist.

He has also worked at Hirshhorn as an installer. While the position did not allow him the free reign he was given at Honfleur to curate exhibitions as he envisioned them, it did allow him to connect with world renowned artists and master his technique as an installer.

It Takes Many Years

While an entire article could be devoted to Nicholson’s practice as a visual artist, one recent work exemplifies Nicholson’s methodology as a whole. He waits patiently, sometimes for decades until he can fully realize his ideas and bring them to fruition. “Our Lady of Perpetual Servitude” shown recently at a group exhibition at Katzen Center, came from many years of research, painting and sketching. Nicholson’s eight foot tall sculpture of the Virgin Mary seems to appear from the wall, draped in blankets, dark purple in coloration and bearing baby bottle nipples on her hands, neck and torso. “When I was younger at Archbishop Carroll, I used to have medals. I had scapulars. My mom and I were really into Catholicism.” During this time, Nicholson recounts that he had a “preoccupation with the image of the Virgin Mary and her apparitions seen around the world.” Over the years he drew many sketches of the Virgin but never created any finished work from his studies. However, in the last few years, he found those “images [of the Virgin} started kicking in again.” Several summers ago, he saw two Latina women, a mother and daughter, working rigorously to clean and maintain the appearance of a building near his home. Describing what he calls “a memory flood” he drew an immediate comparison between these women and his mother, a nurse whom he rushed home to every night after school to catch before she left for her evening shift at DC General. “I made these parallels with domestic workers. When do these caretakers take care of themselves?” Nicholson’s rendition of the Virgin has baby bottle nipples which represent women who give and give of themselves without regard to their own wellbeing. “It’s a monument to caretakers. It memorializes them. How much do the people who give of themselves actually take time for themselves?” Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, DC’s alternative art source. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com. u

Changing Hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list,based on the MRIs, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. NEIGHBORHOOD

CLOSE PRICE

517 13th St NE 1524 E Capitol St NE 1116 K St NE ANACOSTIA 423 K St NE 1327 Maple View Pl SE $677,500 4 1522 D St NE 2502 West St SE $531,000 4 408 Tennessee Ave NE 1815 Good Hope Rd SE $285,000 3 543 23rd Pl NE 1233 G St NE BARRY FARMS 218 17th Pl NE 2649 Bowen Rd SE $320,000 4

CAPITOL HILL EAST 3 Bruce Robey Ct NE 4 Bruce Robey Ct NE 119 15th St SE

$1,099,000 $1,059,000 $1,045,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3405 Wheeler Rd SE 1232 Barnaby Ter SE 3001 7th St SE

$485,000 $400,000 $370,000

DAKOTA CROSSING 3296 Theodore R Hagans Dr NE $644,000 3272 Robert Clifton Weaver Way NE $600,000

$1,321,300 $1,195,000 $1,175,000 $1,005,000 $900,000 $884,000 $785,000 $775,000 $769,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS 4 4 4

2443 25th St SE 1614 26th Pl SE #2 1924 Trenton Pl SE 3468 24th St SE

5 4 4

SW WATERFRONT

4 4

$815,000 $515,000 $420,000 $385,000

1378 4th St SW

$551,000

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 6 4 5 4 3

TRINIDAD 1328 Queen St NE u

$849,997

DEANWOOD 1005 50th St NE 220 57th Pl NE 5020 Lee St NE 1021 51st St NE 4208 Gault Pl NE 5362 Hayes St NE 1118 51st St NE 4434 Hunt Pl NE

$526,000 $515,000 $470,000 $461,965 $454,000 $399,000 $300,000 $275,000

5 4 4 4 4 3 4 3

FAIRLAWN 1609 23rd St SE

$800,000

FT DUPONT PARK 4464 Alabama Ave SE 1825 41st Pl SE 3330 B St SE 4615 G St SE 4344 F St SE 410 Burbank St SE SE

$560,000 $545,000 $370,000 $470,000 $400,000 $312,000

H STREET CORRIDOR 711 10th St NE 638 Orleans Pl NE

$1,490,000 $1,030,000

HILL CREST 2951 Fort Baker Dr SE $963,000 2926 W St SE $930,000 2340 Q St SE $595,000 2704 Minnesota Ave SE $577,000 3619 Austin St SE $447,825 2833 S St SE $410,000 KINGMAN PARK 2017 Gales St NE $483,750 MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5212 D St SE $510,000 5509 C St SE $510,000 5350 B St SE $300,000

OLD CITY #1 726 4th St SE 1377 Independence Ave SE

$1,600,000 $1,340,000

4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 5 4 3 5 4

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by Kathleen Donner

Flights of Fancy Story Time: Mission to Mars For the last few months, the Air and Space Museum Early Childhood team has been writing and illustrating original stories and reading them as part of their virtual Flights of Fancy story time series. Your little ones will love “Mission to Mars,” which tells the story of three friends as they imagine what it would be like to plan a trip, build a rocket, and travel on a mission to Mars. Watch at airandspace. si.edu/virtual-story-time. Image: Courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum

Mount Vernon’s Patriot Run Festival

On Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m., Mount Vernon will host an optional, socially distanced Patriot Run Festival. They invite participants and their families to come by the estate that day to pick up participant t-shirts and medals, enjoy music, Mount Vernon Inn concessions, an opportunity to have your photo taken at the Patriot Run Finish Line, and participate in a live, socially-distanced, yoga class! Participants may enter for free and family/friends may attend by purchasing discounted tickets at $12 for adults; $7 for kids; free for five and under. To participate, you need to have entered and completed their virtual race by Sept. 12. mountvernon.org.

Welcome to Minerva’s Kaleidoscope

The Library of Congress’s Minerva’s Kaleidoscope is 38

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a single source for parents and caregivers to find materials to spark kids’ imaginations and to get updates on programs for families at the Library. The blog is led by a newly formed team, the Informal Learning Office, whose mission is to connect kids, families and teens to the collections and resources of the Library and to inspire you to use the Library for your own creative purposes. Blogs.loc.gov/families/2020/07/welcome-families.

Air and Space’s Udvar Center Reopens

The Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA, is now open from daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visiting the museum requires that each visitor to reserve a free timed-entry pass and to follow the COVID-19 safety requirements. Due to ongoing construction

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LOC National Book Festival Children and Teens Author Lineup

Chelsea Clinton’s fifth children’s book, published in April 2019, is Don’t Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe.

During the weekend of Sept. 25 to 27, virtual stages at loc. gov/bookfest will offer on-demand videos, live author chats and discussions, options to personalize your own journey through the festival with particular themes, and book buying possibilities through the festival’s official bookseller, Politics & Prose, with a limited number of commemorative book plates signed by authors. Subscribe to at updates.loc.gov on plans for the festival. Children’s authors are Sophie Blackall, Dan Brown, Veronica Chambers, Chelsea Clinton, Jerry Craft, Jessica Curry, Parker Curry, Angela Dominguez, K.A. Holt, Deborah Hopkinson, Kwame Mbalia, Megan McDonald, Connie Schofield-Morrison, Frank Morrison Peter H. Reynolds, Barb Rosenstock, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Jon Scieszka, Nic Stone, Don Tate, Steven Weinberg, Mo Willems and Kelly Yang. Teen book authors are Becky Albertalli, M.T. Anderson, Tonya Bolden, Mike Curato, Jo Rioux, Lucinda Robb, Rebecca Boggs Roberts, Aisha Saeed, Nic Stone and Sabaa Tahir. loc.gov/bookfest.

to repair the Boeing Aviation Hangar roof, some parts of the Udvar-Hazy Center will not be available during your visit. Admission is free; parking is $10 (free after 4 p.m.). airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center.

National Zoo Reopens

The National Zoo has reopened. The Smithsonian releases 5,000 daily passes. Visitors may reserve as many as six passes up to 30 days in advance by visiting nationalzoo.si.edu or by calling 800-514-3849. Some walk-up passes may be available in the afternoon. Masks required for ages six, up. New Zoo hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. nationalzoo.si.edu.

Donate Your Old Golf Clubs

Have an old set of golf clubs packed in the corner of your garage? Donating equipment is another way to help support the DC area’s The First Tee. With the 2nd Swing Club Donation Program you can put your old equipment to great use and make a huge impact. The value of your used clubs and equipment is sent to The First Tee DC as a cash donation.

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Imagination Stage Launches Fall Online Classes Registration has opened for Imagination Stage’s popular theatre and creative arts classes. The Fall 2020 semester moves online with a full selection of creative and interactive experiences. With six and ten-week classes in acting, creative drama, musical theatre, dance, filmmaking, and early childhood, this online fall semester features new classes specifically designed for the online format as well as reimagined family favorites. Classes for ages one through eighteen begin September 21. Families interested in registering can learn more and sign up at imaginationstage.org or by contacting the registrar at registration@imaginationstage.org.

The First Tee’s mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Read more at firstteedc.org.

KIDZ Virtual ArtJamz: Dog Days

Wednesdays at 3 p.m. through Sept. 29, Unleash Your Inner Artist! at home with a jamming Virtual Guided Paint Class with one of their jamming local artists. Need art materials? Add an ArtJamz At-Home Paint Kit available for pick-up or delivery. After registration, you will be sent a Zoom code and link. Please make sure you have Zoom set-up on your phone, tablet or desktop. artjamz.co. ◆

Photo: Jeremy Rusnock Photography LLC.jp

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www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

XWORD “Computer Beginnings?” by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Like extreme opposites 6. Nonplussed 11. Online windows, with pop 14. Neat 18. Butterfly 19. Whale show 20. Nautical guy 22. Stat start 23. Relating to the promotion of longevity through diet 25. Certain cookies 27. Two-dimensional extent 28. English queen 29. 0s and Xs 31. Eccentric 32. Bluenose 33. Attack 34. Dickens’ character 35. Young kids 39. Removable locks 42. J.M. Keynes subj. 46. Backslide 47. Night of poetry 48. World’s smallest republic 51. Dixie pronoun 52. Record label abbr. 53. ___ Tweed 54. Letters after Q 55. Robotic thinking? 61. Not healthy 62. Basketball backboard attachment 63. Diner order 64. Driveway type 67. White wine aperitif 68. Lures 72. It once billed itself “The most trusted name in television” 73. End of the year month, for short 74. Gradually narrow 75. Northerly land area named after a Canadian PM

84. Ready follower? 85. Attach, in a way 86. Range units: Abbr. 87. Abound 89. Put down 91. Letter ender 92. “The girl from ____ goes walking” 95. Part of N.A.A.C.P.: Abbr. 96. ___ fly 98. Extended musical composition 99. The Beatles’ ____ in the Life 102. “Shallow ___” (Jack Black film) 103. Barely beat, with “out” 104. Resulted 106. Hydrocarbon 108. Spring time 109. V.I.P.’s opposite 113. Some kind of a nut 115. “The Prince” writer 118. Elongated slit 119. ‘’Gilmore Girls’’ girl 120. Not one of the majors 121. Water balloon sound 122. Saga 123. Work for eds. 124. Chucks 125. Irk

Down:

1. Cotton fabric 2. Actor Sharif 3. Tie up 4. India tourist city 5. Australian jumper 6. Fatuous 7. Beachwear 8. Fully satisfy, desire 9. Longtime record label 10. Bidding locale 11. Letters at Camp Lejeune 12. Sch. groups 13. Cul-de- ___ 14. State ranger 15. Pancake maker

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 16. Contradict 17. Attention getters 21. Connecticut university 24. Reveals 26. Sheila singer, Tommy 30. Post-E.R. place 32. Pizzazz 33. Oktoberfest souvenir 34. Painter Matisse 35. Be nosy 36. Paper quantity 37. Queen of scat 38. Toiletry item 40. One of 150 41. ‘’Duke of ___’’ (1962 doo-wop classic) 43. Sewing group 44. Beginnings 45. “__ a chance!” 47. Issue

49. Soviet fighter 50. Ending for an enzyme 52. “So ___” 53. Next in line? 56. Exclamation of surprise 57. ___ bit 58. Foootball org. 59. Prank 60. Peacock Network 64. Hosts 65. Urchins 66. Fundraising gp. 67. Wail 68. Wilts 69. Prefix with ‘’center’’ or ‘’cycle’’ 70. Moliere’s ‘’L’ecole ___ femmes’’ 71. Website symbol 73. Part of LED

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74. Demolition compounds 76. Metric wts. 77. The Giants’ Manning 78. Like pecan pie 79. Last letters 80. Encourage 81. ___ time 82. Poet’s contraction 83. Moore of “G.I. Jane” 84. Act passed to protect rights of people with disabilities 88. Cold war figure 90. Out 91. Of a hymn 92. Incongruous results 93. Italian food 94. Swallowed up 97. Quaker pronoun 98. Like some wonders 100. Defective firecracker 101. On ____ with (equal to) 104. Tra __ (singing sounds) 105. E.P.A. concern: Abbr. 106. Haughtiness 107. Baseball player for the Giants 108. Screens for bulletin boards? 109. LePew of cartoons 110. Popular fashion magazine 111. One of five Norwegian kings 112. Evening, informally 113. Colo. is on it 114. Soccer fan in the family 116. It makes men mean 117. Insurance company for vision, abbr.

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East of the River Magazine – September 2020

Articles inside

The Numbers: A Failure to Address Childcare Crisis, DC Council Underfunds in Wake of COVID-19 by Alyssa Noth

Renters Seek Financial Relief: DC Determined to Reach Affordable Housing Goals

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

Terence Nicholson: A Polymath

Meet Your Neighbor: Claudia Herrera, Small Business Analyst

Our River: The Anacostia – Escapng to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by Bill Matuszeski

Opinion / The Old Man of

The Deepening Digital Divide