THE NEWS:

Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans apologized on his last day of public office.

“I know I have made some mistakes during my service to the city and I’m leaving the Council having learned important lessons that I will carry with me into the next chapter of my life,” Evans wrote in a newsletter he sent out on Friday. “I want to apologize to my constituents, my staff, and the residents of the city.”

An investigation requested by his colleagues on the Council concluded that Evans violated multiple ethics rules, and had he not resigned, he would have been the first councilmember expelled from the body. 

Evans also managed to introduce a bill with 24 minutes left to spare in public office. It’s a bill that’ll provide financial support to D.C. Pride. 

“Evans has often pointed to his support for gay rights as evidence of his progressive bona fides, though critics have taken issue with his cozy relationships with the business community,” writes City Paper’s Mitch Ryals of the bill. “It was those relationships that ultimately led to Evans’ undoing.”

While Evans has been heralded by some as an ally, it should also be noted that Evans often worked against legislation that LGBTQ groups believed would help marginalized queer and trans individuals, including a bill that would decriminalize sex work. 

It’s unclear what will come of D.C. politics now that the long-serving councilmember is gone, but there are plenty of articles musing on this, from the Post to WAMU. And might I recommend this Twitter thread on eulogies to Evans? —Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? Email agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez:

  • Mayor Muriel Bowser puts pressure on Council to reach her affordable housing goals. [DCist]

  • Here’s why the redevelopment of the D.C. Housing Authority headquarters matters. [WAMU] 

  • The pro-gun rally around Virginia Capitol wasn’t violent as expected. [Post]

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

  • ICYMI: The National Archives blurred parts of images that were critical of President Trump. [Post]

  • Climate conscious homeowners clash with historic preservationists over solar panels. [Post]

  • D.C. Council bills go unfunded. [Blade]

  • A former councilmember goes to Jamaica, changes mind about marijuana. [Twitter]

  • The US Conference of Mayors is in town this week, and is keeping Mayor Muriel Bowser busy. [EOM]

  • WMATA lapel pins worth $87,000 sat unused in storage. An appraisal valued two of the 14 karat gold pins between $400 adn $750. [DCist]

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

  • Cranes, combining Japanese and Spanish cuisines, opens Feb. 8 in Penn Quarter. [WCP]

  • The owner of Urban Butcher and El Sapo in Silver Spring appears to be in financial distress, per court documents and a recent report. [WCP]

  • Petworth Citizen to close, merge with next door bookstore to form new business. [Petworth News]

  • Six new restaurants to try this month. [Washingtonian]

  • Chain Bartaco is taking over the former Busboys & Poets space in Mount Vernon Square. [PoPville]

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

  • Theater J’s drama Shelteredlacks a sense of place as it tells a disjointed story about rescuing Austrian Jewish people. [WCP]

  • William Rosenau traces the 1983 bombing of the north wing of the Capitol building in his new book, Tonight We Bombed the U.S. Capitol. [Washingtonian]

  • Visitors to the National Museum of African American History and Culture learn about black history and assess the progress of Martin Luther King’s dream. [Post] 

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

  • Bradley Beal is now fourth on the Wizards’ all-time scoring list, passing Hall of Famer Wes Unseld. [NBC Sports Washington]

  • Next month, DCPS will officially transfer its management of Duke Ellington School of the Arts’ athletic field to DPR, a move that community members largely oppose after the controversial Jelleff Recreation Center deal. [WCP]

  • Washington Spirit star Andi Sullivan is one of two players on the U.S. women’s soccer Olympic qualifying roster that did not play in the World Cup last year. Mallory Pugh, who recently got traded from the Spirit to Sky Blue FC, was a surprise omission from the roster. [NBC Sports]

  • Pro athletes are reaching out to former NBA player Delonte West offering to help him after disturbing videos surfaced of West being attacked in D.C. [Yahoo]

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

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