Axios D.C.

September 20, 2023
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Today's newsletter is 928 words, a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Buying e-bikes just got more affordable
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
D.C. residents can soon get vouchers or rebates to buy and maintain electric bikes.
Why it matters: D.C. wants to make zippy e-bikes more affordable for lower-income riders as it tries to expand cycling accessibility in the city.
Driving the news: The D.C. Council yesterday unanimously approved the incentive program for bicycles purchased from retailers in D.C., following successful pilots in other cities.
How it works: For lower-income residents, the incentives could total $2,000 toward the purchase of a cargo e-bike and $1,500 for a standard e-bike.
- There's also up to $300 envisioned for a replacement battery, up to $250 for annual maintenance, up to $250 for add-ons to accommodate riders with disabilities, and up to $150 for a bike lock.
- For all other residents, the incentives are halved, which equals up to $1,000 for a cargo e-bike and $750 for a standard e-bike.
The big picture: Incentives to bring down the costs of e-bikes have been spreading nationwide.
- E-bikes are rising in popularity due to their rechargeable batteries that assist riders when pedaling — reaching speeds up to 25 mph and easing long climbs. Plus, they're cheaper and greener than cars.
- Denver's rebate program has helped spur adoption and slash emissions, Axios' Alayna Alvarez reports.
Zoom in: D.C.'s bill props up local bicycle shops by offering grants to train staff to become e-bike mechanics. The city is also offering $50,000 grants for businesses opening a shop selling or repairing e-bikes in Ward 7 or 8.
- The program will have $500,000 in funding.
What's next: It is anticipated to take effect later this year. The District Department of Transportation will need to decide whether to issue the incentives as rebates or vouchers.
- The bill's author, Charles Allen, prefers the voucher option to give residents, particularly lower-income people, purchasing power up front.
2. 🏀 Quote du jour: Bad bet
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
"It's pretty safe to say this has been the worst rollout of legal sports betting in the United States. It is the punchline of a joke at this point."— Dustin Gouker, a gambling media veteran, tells the Washington Post.
D.C.'s sports betting operator, GambetDC, is in the news again for all the wrong reasons.
- After a savvy former data scientist says he profited more than $100,000 exploiting the sportsbook's weaknesses, the District changed its rules to drastically curtail how users can place wagers, the Washington Post reports.
🍣 Driving the news: The 27-year-old, who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity, made his prolific bets at one of GambetDC's retail kiosks, located inside a downtown poke restaurant.
- Then, D.C. took "emergency action" to limit any user who spends a lot of time or money at kiosks.
The big picture: Now, other retail shops who operate kiosks are worried the change will hurt their businesses.
💰 Flashback: Despite GambetDC's issues, the small local firm behind the troubled app collected a lavish paycheck, as we reported in June based on correspondence Axios obtained.
- D.C.'s gambling operator, the Greek company Intralot, has paid at least $1.4 million annually to the owner of Veterans Services Corp. (VSC), according to documents and emails obtained via a public records request.
3. Around the Beltway: No rights on red
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
🚨 D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto is taking a tough-on-crime approach in a slate of public safety bills, including increased incarceration for violent crimes and controversial stop-and-frisk procedures for any person convicted of a gun offense who's on probation, release, or parole. (DCist)
🚦No more right turns on red for some Montgomery County roadways after the council unanimously voted to ban the move at busy intersections. Meanwhile, House Republicans want to ban entirely right-on-red in D.C. (WTOP)
🏢 Plans for D.C.'s biggest development just dropped thanks to zoning amendments that would allow an 80-acre portion of the Armed Forces Retirement Home campus to be developed into a mixed-use destination near Catholic University. (UrbanTurf)
4. RBG's iconic collar for sale
The 2018 Supreme Court Justice portrait. Photo courtesy of The Potomack Company
The late Ruth Bader Ginsburg's famous Supreme Court "Pegasus" collar is up for auction in Alexandria.
Why it matters: The fierce silver collar was RBG's chosen statement piece for a rare Supreme Court justice portrait in 2018 — her first day back on the job after recovering from a fall and fractured ribs.
What they're saying: "The collar sent the unspoken — but very clear — message that the justice was back in action and ready for duty," notes boutique Old Town auction house, The Potowmack Company.
Of note: Portraits are commissioned when new justices join the court (in this case, Brett Kavanaugh).

What's happening: The limited-edition Stella & Dot statement piece, hand-made of metallic feathers sewn into a silk organza cascade, is up for auction until 10am on Thursday.
- The collar is slated to fetch between $200K and $400K (current highest wager: $190K). Potowmack Auction will donate some of the proceeds to the American Bar Association's Ginsburg fund.
- Being simultaneously auctioned: a lace fragment from Martha Washington, which is "evocative of the lacy jabots worn more than 200 years later" by the Supreme Court's female justices (current bid: $2,250).
The intrigue: If the bids seem low, just wait until the countdown clock starts.
- "People wait until the last hour or so to hide their interest in something, they don't want to give it away," a Potowmack rep tells Axios.
Flashback: A gold collar of Ginsburg's fetched $176,775 in a charity auction last year.
Stay booked and busy
📅 Upcoming events around the city.
Rooftop Bingo at the Hi-Lawn every Wednesday:
- Enjoy six or more rounds of bingo with prizes every round. Enjoy exclusive food and drink specials at this incredible rooftop greenspace.
Commanders Night at Nationals Park tomorrow:
- Come watch the Nationals take on the Atlanta Braves in the Capital Crossover: Diamonds and Gridiron is a two-game series celebrating the Nationals and Commanders on each other's home field.
- Each night will feature special pregame and in-game activities and surprises that fans of both teams won't want to miss!
Hosting an event? Email [email protected].
5. Where's Go-Go ... revealed!
The site is also nicknamed "Waves and Gulls." Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios
Good eyes! Many of you correctly spotted that Go-Go was at the Navy and Marine Memorial in Lady Bird Johnson Park.
- The crashing wave and seven seagulls honor Navy and Marine service members who lost their lives at sea.
Congrats to reader Nick M., who was randomly chosen as the winner of this round! Til next time.
🏃🏻♀️ Anna is loving this running weather.
🥡 Cuneyt is laughing at this review of D.C.'s worst-rated carryouts.
Today's newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia and copy edited by Patricia Guadalupe.
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