THE NEWS:

Mayor Muriel Bowser spent Tuesday in South Carolina campaigning for Mayor Mike Bloomberg ahead of the Democratic presidential debate. She did several media hits, cheering Bloomberg and criticizing frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. 

The mayor has spent a lot of airtime answering for Bloomberg’s record with people of color and women. Last night proved no different. 

When asked if Bloomberg has done enough to release women who complained about his behavior while serving as CEO of his namesake company from nondisclosure agreements, Bowser told the press pool a story similar to those from past media appearance: “Mike has made it perfectly clear that he has sent a clear message to our corporate—our corporations across the country that we shouldn’t be using NDAs and we should make sure our workplaces are free of harassment and discrimination. Mike has made clear that allegations against him were three and they involved language that was crude which we could all imagine that happened on Wall Street 30 years ago, and that those women would be released from those agreements if they want to be.”

Bowser is also using her time to publicly campaign against Sanders. She went after Sanders’ record on gun control during Tuesday night’s debate. Afterward, Bowser told several media outlets that the Democratic Socialist is unelectable and is a liability to down-ballot races. 

Since endorsing Bloomberg for president 28 days ago, Bowser has traveled outside the District to campaign for the candidate at least five times, per NBC4 Mark Segraves’ count. (She travels again this weekend for Bloomberg.) But the mayor’s office has not been forthcoming about campaign travel. Bowser’s public schedule made no mention of Tuesday’s plans in South Carolina. (City Paper reached out to the mayor’s office for comment and will update if we hear back.)

The mayor’s campaign travel also isn’t always sitting well with residents, particularly progressives voting for Sanders. —Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? Email agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)  

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez:

  • D.C. extends shuttle service for students experiencing homelessness until the end of academic year after public outcry. [WAMU]

  • Safeway workers plan for union strike amid stalemate with management. [WTOP]

  • Lack of late-night Metro service is hurting D.C. workers and the local economy, per major-sanctioned study. [Post]

  • Op-ed: District leaders have left the city’s millions of archival documents unorganized, suggesting they do not care about preserving local history. [730]

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals(tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • WMATA considers charging more for using cash. The agency is holding a public meeting tonight on its budget and proposed changes. [WAMU, WMATA]

  • D.C. Council considers a bill to give PTO for voting. [DCist]

  • D.C. officials say more cash needed for Reservation 13 development. Residents inpatient with delays. [WBJ]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • What to expect at the Navy Yard location of Maxwell Park opening March 2. [WCP]

  • Business is down 50 percent at the Rockville branch of Peter Chang. [Washingtonian]

  • The struggles of a gig economy chef who finds jobs through various staffing apps. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall(tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Studio Theatre is getting a $20 million redesign. [Post]

  • This architect has quietly built a long resume of local projects. [Washingtonian]

  • Actor Mikéah Ernest Jenningschats about his role in the powerful play Shipwreck, at Woolly Mammoth to March 8. [DC Metro Theater Arts]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • American University men’s basketball star Sa’eed Nelson can make school history tonight. The senior guard is just two points away from becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer. [AUEagles.com, WUSA9]

  • The Caps gave Alex Ovechkin a tribute video for joining the 700 goals club before last night’s game, and he promptly rewarded them with a regulation and shootout goal in the Caps’ 4-3 win over Winnipeg. [Russian Machine Never Breaks]

  • Don’t let the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal take away from what the Nats accomplished last year. [WCP]

  • Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee, told the Associated Press that the Tokyo Olympics could be canceled if the coronavirus outbreak proves to be too dangerous during the summer. [AP]

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full To Do This Week newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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