Alex The Journalist

  So NPR did a piece this morning on the “Replacement Theory” that we started to really hear about around Charlottesville. And since I’m in bed sick today I have time to share how this rhetoric has had a very real impact on my life. In a *very different workplace, I had a colleague who religiously watched programming that espoused and platformed this theory. And regularly after the shows would end, they would come out and pick a, “debate” with me. Mind you these discussions weren’t about work. And eventually they went from being overall social-political to all racially focused in some way. And this wouldn’t happen to anyone else. Just me the lone POC manager, in front of our colleagues. It didn’t take long for me to feel specifically targeted and antagonized because of my race. It got bad enough that others also could see the pattern. It got to the point where I demanded leadership and HR intervene. But it continued. Keep in mind this person was educated, seemingly level headed, oft

  Rayceen Pendarvis describes herself as the "Queen of The Shameless Plug, the Empress of Pride and The Goddess of DC." For decades, Pendarvis has been a force in the District of Columbia. From the 1963 March on Washington, to Black Lives Matter Plaza in 2020, Rayceen's dynamic presence has been a part of nearly every modern social and civil rights movement in Washington. More at WJLA.com

  This year was supposed to D.C.'s 40th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade. ABC7 covers the event every year, and in lieu of being able to do so this year because of COVID-19 limitations, we instead put together an hour-long special dedicated to Dr. King's legacy that aired at 4 p.m. Monday on ABC7 News. I had the honor of producing the program. Watch here. 

  A brutal cold winter for Washington, D.C. restaurants could be getting worse. "If this was a typical Friday night, I'd have about 12 to 15 employees, tonight I have two," said Keaton Fedak, General Manager of The Dirty Goose. In the face of surging COVID-19 cases, 7 On Your Side has learned that Mayor Muriel Bowser plans to ban indoor dining on December 23rd. Adding insult to industry for The Dirty Goose, the restaurant and bar on U Street, NW was vandalized Sunday night, with the fire pits in their 'streetery' being damaged. More on WJLA. 

  2020 is DC's deadliest year in 15 years, with 194 homicides reported so far. 11 of those homicide victims have been under 18-years-old, the youngest being 1-year-old Carmelo Duncan who was laid to rest Tuesday after being shot and killed on December 4th. Monday a forum was held bringing together community activist and health care professionals to discuss a relatively new theory, that gun violence should be treated as a public health emergency. More at WJLA.  

Hopefully it's not just "fluff." For 6 months now I've been seeking answers on why and solutions to the racial COVID-19 death disparity in the District of Columbia.  From researchers, to politicians to policy advocates all have pointed to longstanding racial inequalities.  With the recent passage of the REACH Act by the DC Council.  There is hope that things can change.  Read more at WJLA.  

 Today I talked with Virginia Senator Mark Warner about the lack of action from congress in getting another COVID-19 stimulus as the pandemic rages.  "I think it is possible that we'll get a package, I think the level of pain out there is just going to be too great, what frustrates the hell out of me is that we gotta go through this political dance of the back and forth rather than getting rational people in the room and cutting a deal." More at WJLA .