SpotlightDC

ICYMI: Sloane Airey breaks down what last week's court ruling on Pepco's rate hike means for Washington City Paper, supported by SpotlightDC ⬇️

D.C. Attorney General Targets D.C. Slumlord With RICO Lawsuit, Alleging Corrupt Enterprise Across 70 Rent-Controlled Buildings Despite the AG’s lawsuit, another notorious slumlord has reappeared as a representative at a building in Razjooyan’s enterprise.

"The AG’s case confirms much of City Paper’s previous reporting, including accounts from tenants in multiple Razjooyan-managed buildings who endured months without heat, repeated flooding, inhumane conditions, and threats of eviction."

washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7794...

Washington City Paper Series Nails DC Slumlord and Prompts AG Fines - Reporters Suzie Amanuel and Alex Koma's reporting on the troubling practices of landlord Sam Razjooyan has led to increased scrutiny over the controversial property owner.

And thanks to @spotlightdc.bsky.social for its essential support of this reporting: spotlightdc.org/impact-story...

How a D.C. ‘Slumlord’ Scammed Tenants and Lenders to Build a Portfolio of Neglected Properties, According to Lawsuits and Tenant Accounts Ali “Sam” Razjooyan and his associates are accused of doctoring loan documents and tricking tenants out of their rights. While they get rich, tenants are displaced.

@wcp.bsky.social investigative reporter Suzie Amanuel has been reporting on Razjooyan and his associates since 2024, including his doctoring of loan documents and tricking tenants out of their rights as he has built a portfolio of neglected slums:

washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7541...

DC Council chair taps McDuffie staffer Doni Crawford to fill vacant seat D.C. Council Chairmen Phil Mendelson announced Monday he’s nominating Doni Crawford to fill the seat of Kenyan McDuffie, who resigned to run for mayor. Crawford is 36 years old and lives in Ward 5. Th...

D.C. Council Chairmen Phil Mendelson announced he’s nominating Doni Crawford to fill the seat of Kenyan McDuffie, who resigned to run for mayor.

We’re launching a health equity beat We want to hear from you: What D.C. health stories should we tell?

This story was reported with support from @spotlightdc.bsky.social. You can read more about what we're hoping to do with our new beat below. What health stories should we tell in 2026? 51st.news/health-equit...

Healthcare cuts hit 20,000 D.C. residents New Medicaid ceilings paired with soaring premiums risk punishing bills and loss of coverage for thousands.

When the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, accessing healthcare got more challenging (and expensive) for thousands of D.C. residents. In the first story on our new Health Equity beat, reporter Daniel Egitto explains how these changes are impacting our neighbors. 51st.news/healthcare-c...

See you in an hour! If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, don’t worry — it’s not too late to join us for free pizza and good conversation!

ICYMI ⬇️

Join SpotlightDC for an evening of collaboration at Sonny's Pizza! Our city has been through a lot this year. Throughout it, local journalists have doggedly covered on underreported subjects that hold the powerful accountable. That's why on Thursday December 11th fro...

Let us know you're coming by RSVPing to our Google form! Bring your friends, pitches, tips, and hopes for D.C. journalism.

RSVP: forms.gle/onuFE9iPfVJ2...

Our city has been through a lot this year. Throughout it, local journalists have doggedly covered underreported subjects that hold the powerful accountable.

So whether you work in a newsroom, are a freelancer, or you're someone who simply cares about the District, we would love to see you there!

Come for the love for local news, stay for the free pizza 🍕

On 12/11, SpotlightDC will be celebrating the people who bring important local stories to life: reporters, editors, and funders.

When DCist was shut down, it had 70,000+ subscribers.
The 51st is proud to carry forward the spirit with which DCist served our city.

But we can’t stop thinking about how most of those subscribers — our neighbors and friends — are just no longer receiving the kind of local news they signed up for.

When federal agents shoot people in D.C., there are few details – and little accountability D.C. police officers are held to one standard, federal agents another.

When federal agents shoot people in D.C., there are few details — and little accountability.

@maustermuhle.bsky.social reports, with support from @spotlightdc.bsky.social:

Dream City Podcast A podcast about money and power in D.C.

As of now, it's also available on other apps like Apple Podcasts and YouTube! You can read more info about where to listen and about the podcast here: www.dreamcity.news/p/dream-city...

Qatargate, D.C.'s Zohran Mamdani, and Trump Stadium

Their first episode is out today! Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. ⬇️
open.spotify.com/show/4o3bDXY...

Hosted by WAMU’s Politics Hour political analyst Tom Sherwood and Axios D.C. reporter Cuneyt Dil, Dream City will bring timely analysis of the most important stories in D.C. — and hold the powerful accountable along the way.

We’re excited to announce the latest SpotlightDC-funded project: Dream City, a new independent podcast that will explore the inner workings of D.C.’s political and business worlds.

DC renters face record eviction levels Last year, evictions rose to record levels, with 1,869 households removed from their homes. And these trends show no signs of slowing down.

The latest Spotlight-funded story is a collaboration between @streetsensedc.bsky.social and @51st.news: New data shows that D.C. is experiencing record eviction levels. Reporters James Jarvis and Taylor Nichols explain how our city got here ⬇️
streetsensemedia.org/article/d-c-...

As feds probe D.C. crime stats, some police eager to help build a case At the heart of the investigations by the DOJ and a House committee is whether there has been a widespread effort to intentionally downplay crime in D.C.

D.C. police officers are feeding information to the Justice Department as it probes accusations of manipulated crime data, according to the D.C. Police Union, and as public safety in the nation's capital continues to capture the president’s attention.

Tomorrow is the start of D.C.'s Homeless Crisis Reporting Project week! Follow Street Sense and other local outlets to stay updated and read everything throughout the week, or go to bit.ly/DCHCRP to see articles as they are posted.

Since 2021, DCPS has become D.C.'s leading sponsor of H1-B visas for its employees.

But some 200 teachers who took jobs under the expectation that the school system would sponsor a green card are now facing uncertain futures, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports.

51st.news/dc-green-car...

D.C. auditor finds data is missing from singles homeless program - Street Sense Media Rapid Rehousing for Individuals is missing key income data needed to gauge effectiveness, according to the Office of the D.C. Auditor.

D.C. is failing to collect critical income data for participants in one of its key homelessness intervention programs, raising concerns about whether the program is meeting its goals, according to a new alert from the Office of the D.C. Auditor.

https://bit.ly/3KB4gpC

New documentary dives deep into gentrification in D.C. We interview the filmmaker behind “Cracked Shells.”

The documentary "Cracked Shells" is "a tool against the erasure" of D.C. natives' rich culture, history, and capacity for resilience, its director tells @christurdisani.bsky.social.

Learn more about the film — including when you can catch a free screening next weekend:

DC phases out Health Care Alliance, impacting thousands Advocates say the elimination of DC Health Care Alliance, which insures 26,000 low-income residents, could have disastrous consequences.

“What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to afford it? I can’t.”

The first round of cuts to the DC Health Care Alliance go into effect this week. Advocates say the plan will have disastrous consequences over the next few years.

In Trump’s D.C. surge, helicopters hovered and surveilled day and night Park Police helicopters circled more often than they did in the same time period last year and at lower altitudes than other law enforcement helicopters in D.C. this August.

ICYMI: "In Trump's D.C. surge, helicopters hovered and surveilled day and night"

www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Commanders Promise to Preserve Some of RFK Stadium’s Heritage Trees The D.C. Council failed to enshrine those protections into law, but the Commanders have pledged to save the majority of the towering oak and elm trees on the 180-acre site.

After the Council declined activists' push to protect the heritage trees around the RFK stadium site, the Commanders pledged to save some of the towering oaks and elms.

Full story from @holaculturadc.bsky.social:

‘He Love-Bombed Us’: Urban Village Tenants Say They Were Duped By Affordable Housing Developers Tenants believed they would own 20 percent of the apartment community. But the two developers are now accused of turning a community jewel into a neglected property where “mold allowed to grow like…

Tenants in Columbia Heights were promised 20% ownership of their apartment community by two affordable housing developers. Three years later, they’re facing mold, rodents, disrepair, and drastically reduced equity. “He love-bombed us,” one resident says. Full story:

DC phases out Health Care Alliance, impacting thousands Advocates say the elimination of DC Health Care Alliance, which insures 26,000 low-income residents, could have disastrous consequences.

D.C. has one of the lowest rates of uninsured residents across the U.S.

Looming cuts to a city-funded healthcare program could change that — with disastrous consequences, advocates say.

What’s behind the decision, and what are the alternatives?

ICYMI ⬇️ From @19thnews.org, how increased ICE presence is affecting child care workers in DC.