Mayor Bowser visits Mexico City as Bloomberg bucks flow into D.C.
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The two in 2020. Photo: Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Mayor Muriel Bowser wasn't here this week to welcome the pandas. Instead, she flew to Mexico City for a Bloomberg CityLab summit with mayors across the world.
The big picture: Bowser and Mike Bloomberg are tight — she endorsed his presidential run in 2020 and nary misses his confabs.
Bloomberg bucks have flowed into the city.
- In 2021, Bloomberg Philanthropies gave D.C. a grant to set up an innovation team to improve the city's digital footprint.
- A $9.5 million gift this year helps the city train high schoolers for health care careers.
- Millions have also gone to city nonprofits and Howard University's medical school.
This time, Bowser didn't have a headline speaking spot at CityLab — D.C. has played host twice during her mayorship — but engaged in sessions about "bringing amenities to lower-income neighborhoods," her office told me.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies covered the cost of the visit, "with the exception of one staff flight" covered by taxpayers, the mayor's office says. (Chief of staff Lindsey Parker and deputies Tomás Talamante and Lindsay Quarles were in tow.)
Mayoral travel is surely a perk of the job, but how Bowser funds her trips is often scrutinized.
- Bloomberg generally picks up tabs for mayors, though a full accounting of her trip to the UN Climate Conference in Dubai last year was never released.
- In the spring, Bowser jetted to Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters, thanks to the largess of a D.C. developer, City Paper reported at the time.
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✍️ Bowser, put down that pen! Bowser and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott made a friendly bet ahead of the Commanders' loss to the Ravens and now she's on the hook:
- Herroner is supposed to proclaim a "Baltimore Club Music Day."
Yes, but: There's nothing friendly about how Charm City treated Washington fans!
- By now, you've probably seen video of a Ravens fan attacking two Commanders fans on the streets of Baltimore after Sunday's game.
Bowser already partially fulfilled the bet, urging Washingtonians to visit the Baltimore National Aquarium.
- But please, Madam Mayor, don't suffer D.C. the shame of also honoring Baltimore Club music!
💭 A better idea: Honoring Darrell Green, the Washington football legend who Bowser will present the key to the city on Saturday. Town Talker is a weekly column about money and power in Washington. Send your fantasy football tips to [email protected]