Martin Austermuhle
@maustermuhle.bsky.social
Wandering reporter with @51st.news, Switzerland and D.C. Formerly of WAMU 88.5 and DCist.
Here's more details on the proposed D.C. ballot initiative that would freeze rents across the city for two years. The proposer is Ward 8 ANC @salimadofo.bsky.social, and the organization behind it includes @aeidinger.bsky.social, who has been involved in lots of initiatives over the last 10 years.
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Here's more details on the proposed D.C. ballot initiative that would freeze rents across the city for two years. The proposer is Ward 8 ANC @salimadofo.bsky.social, and the organization behind it includes @aeidinger.bsky.social, who has been involved in lots of initiatives over the last 10 years.
BIG: @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social says that the former owner of the rent-controlled Marbury Plaza in Ward 8 will pay tenants and the city $41 million for years of problems with housing conditions. Almost $30 million of that will go to repay tenants for 75% of rent they paid from 2017 to 2024.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
BIG: @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social says that the former owner of the rent-controlled Marbury Plaza in Ward 8 will pay tenants and the city $41 million for years of problems with housing conditions. Almost $30 million of that will go to repay tenants for 75% of rent they paid from 2017 to 2024.
There is also this critical question: If Qatar was somehow bribing Bowser with the trip, what was it getting in return? Qatar did invest in D.C.'s City Center development, but that was before Bowser became mayor. www.washingtonpost.com/local/qatar-...
November 6, 2025 at 11:15 PM
There is also this critical question: If Qatar was somehow bribing Bowser with the trip, what was it getting in return? Qatar did invest in D.C.'s City Center development, but that was before Bowser became mayor. www.washingtonpost.com/local/qatar-...
Here’s a statement from Bowser’s office regarding the investigation and underlying trip:
November 6, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Here’s a statement from Bowser’s office regarding the investigation and underlying trip:
Interesting: @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social has a new bill that would allow D.C. to offer three-year rent guarantees to small and local businesses so they can better compete with national chains when it comes to landing retail spaces. Allen says developers like chains since they sign long leases.
November 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Interesting: @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social has a new bill that would allow D.C. to offer three-year rent guarantees to small and local businesses so they can better compete with national chains when it comes to landing retail spaces. Allen says developers like chains since they sign long leases.
As @mayorbowser.dc.gov is speaking to the D.C. Democratic Party meeting in Ward 5, there’s been a few interruptions from protesters angrily criticizing her over the apparent collaboration between D.C. police and ICE. They call her “complicit.”
November 6, 2025 at 12:56 AM
As @mayorbowser.dc.gov is speaking to the D.C. Democratic Party meeting in Ward 5, there’s been a few interruptions from protesters angrily criticizing her over the apparent collaboration between D.C. police and ICE. They call her “complicit.”
Per a police source, the Felony Footlong patches (referring to Sandwich Guy Sean C. Dunn) are very real.
November 5, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Per a police source, the Felony Footlong patches (referring to Sandwich Guy Sean C. Dunn) are very real.
NEWS: D.C. activists are proposing a new ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, would impose a two-year rent freeze in the city (and again when inflation was high), impose a stricter income cap for affordable housing, and more.
November 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
NEWS: D.C. activists are proposing a new ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, would impose a two-year rent freeze in the city (and again when inflation was high), impose a stricter income cap for affordable housing, and more.
In her own letter to the council, @mayorbowser.dc.gov urges for the extension of the expanded juvenile curfew that was used during the summer.
November 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
In her own letter to the council, @mayorbowser.dc.gov urges for the extension of the expanded juvenile curfew that was used during the summer.
NEWS: After disturbances in Navy Yard on Friday night, @mayorbowser.dc.gov is instituting an emergency curfew of 11 p.m. for any kid under the age of 18, from tonight through November 5. She is also empowering the police to designate special zones where the curfew is 6 p.m.
November 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
NEWS: After disturbances in Navy Yard on Friday night, @mayorbowser.dc.gov is instituting an emergency curfew of 11 p.m. for any kid under the age of 18, from tonight through November 5. She is also empowering the police to designate special zones where the curfew is 6 p.m.
Interesting: Next Tuesday the D.C. Council will take up an emergency bill from @brianneknadeau.bsky.social clarifying a provision of existing law so that the Department of For-Hire Vehicles can continue going after ride-hail service Empower's drivers. There's *lots* of backstory here.
October 31, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Interesting: Next Tuesday the D.C. Council will take up an emergency bill from @brianneknadeau.bsky.social clarifying a provision of existing law so that the Department of For-Hire Vehicles can continue going after ride-hail service Empower's drivers. There's *lots* of backstory here.
Here’s Bowser’s statement:
October 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Here’s Bowser’s statement:
Confirmed: Next Tuesday the D.C. Council will consider a bill to decouple some of the local tax code from the federal one, in response to the GOP tax bill passed earlier this year. So, tips and OT pay will remain taxable, standard deduction for D.C. taxes won't change, etc.
October 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Confirmed: Next Tuesday the D.C. Council will consider a bill to decouple some of the local tax code from the federal one, in response to the GOP tax bill passed earlier this year. So, tips and OT pay will remain taxable, standard deduction for D.C. taxes won't change, etc.
Interesting: Ward 5 resident Karen Christian says two of her granddaughters have taken part in the teen takeovers. "The government should not have to act as a parent, but it must act as a protector," she says. But: she says curfews are a short-term tool.
October 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Interesting: Ward 5 resident Karen Christian says two of her granddaughters have taken part in the teen takeovers. "The government should not have to act as a parent, but it must act as a protector," she says. But: she says curfews are a short-term tool.
In her own testimony, Brenda Lee Richardson of the Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative raises a concern some councilmembers have raised: Will federal police and National Guard now around D.C. end up enforcing the curfew law if it is extended into the fall?
October 30, 2025 at 1:47 PM
In her own testimony, Brenda Lee Richardson of the Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative raises a concern some councilmembers have raised: Will federal police and National Guard now around D.C. end up enforcing the curfew law if it is extended into the fall?
In submitted testimony, Cerise Elaine Turner, Ms. Senior District of Columbia 2023, says she supports the expanded juvenile curfew, but that the curfew alone won't do it. "Once our youth are home earlier, we must ensure there is something meaningful waiting for them," she writes.
October 30, 2025 at 1:47 PM
In submitted testimony, Cerise Elaine Turner, Ms. Senior District of Columbia 2023, says she supports the expanded juvenile curfew, but that the curfew alone won't do it. "Once our youth are home earlier, we must ensure there is something meaningful waiting for them," she writes.
Update: The council *will* consider an emergency bill to decouple the city from some federal tax provisions on Tuesday. Below are the relevant provisions that D.C. would decouple on. Now, note that there's been no public discussion to date about this.
October 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Update: The council *will* consider an emergency bill to decouple the city from some federal tax provisions on Tuesday. Below are the relevant provisions that D.C. would decouple on. Now, note that there's been no public discussion to date about this.
Per the D.C. CFO, D.C. stands to lose $657.8 million in revenue from the federal tax code changes through 2029 if the city does nothing to decouple its taxes from federal ones.
October 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Per the D.C. CFO, D.C. stands to lose $657.8 million in revenue from the federal tax code changes through 2029 if the city does nothing to decouple its taxes from federal ones.
Interesting: Today @mayorbowser.dc.gov is cutting the ribbon on an affordable senior housing development in Friendship Heights, the first project west of Rock Creek Park built with funds from the Housing Production Trust Fund, the city's main tool for financing affordable housing.
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Interesting: Today @mayorbowser.dc.gov is cutting the ribbon on an affordable senior housing development in Friendship Heights, the first project west of Rock Creek Park built with funds from the Housing Production Trust Fund, the city's main tool for financing affordable housing.
Here's some background on the lawsuit:
October 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Here's some background on the lawsuit:
The report, conducted by the D.C. Office of Independent Juvenile Justice Facilities Oversight, was based on assessments of a sample of 17 kids at New Beginnings. All 17 came in with serious issues, and 14 ended up involved in crime again after being released.
October 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The report, conducted by the D.C. Office of Independent Juvenile Justice Facilities Oversight, was based on assessments of a sample of 17 kids at New Beginnings. All 17 came in with serious issues, and 14 ended up involved in crime again after being released.
There's been lots of increased concern in juvenile crime in D.C. in recent years, but a new audit of the city's New Beginnings center (where up to 60 youth are committed after committing crimes) finds that it is falling short in rehabilitating kids so they can reenter society.
October 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
There's been lots of increased concern in juvenile crime in D.C. in recent years, but a new audit of the city's New Beginnings center (where up to 60 youth are committed after committing crimes) finds that it is falling short in rehabilitating kids so they can reenter society.
Plenty of protest themes going on with Halloween decorations this year:
October 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Plenty of protest themes going on with Halloween decorations this year:
World’s coolest cake for the @51st.news one-year birthday party.
October 24, 2025 at 1:19 AM
World’s coolest cake for the @51st.news one-year birthday party.
Never doubt a parent, people. At an event with @mayorbowser.dc.gov and some elementary school kids, her staff were looking for good music to play for the kids. “Play anything from ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’” I said. Immediate party.
October 23, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Never doubt a parent, people. At an event with @mayorbowser.dc.gov and some elementary school kids, her staff were looking for good music to play for the kids. “Play anything from ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’” I said. Immediate party.