Three of the top independent candidates for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council duked it out last night during the Office of Campaign Finance’s debate. Ed Lazere, Vincent Orange, and Marcus Goodwin traded blows and drew stark distinctions between each other while the other four candidates—Christina Henderson, Mónica Palacio, Will Merrifield, and Michangelo “Doctor Mic” Scruggs fought for some of the spotlight.

Goodwin claims his past as a real estate developer and his campaign contributions from business and corporate interests won’t sway his politics. He also flipped his positions on the streetcar expansion and eviction moratorium.

Orange said D.C. should repeal the universal paid leave program to help plug the anticipated 2021 revenue shortfall.

And Lazere, responding to opponents’ criticisms that his past lobbying to spend down the District’s reserve funds is “fiscally irresponsible,” defended his record and said, in fact, the District should spend more of the reserves right now!

Read a recap of the second of three OCF-hosted debates here.

—Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • As of Oct.1, D.C. reported one death related to COVID-19 and 32 new positive cases, bringing the total numbers of people to 628 and 15,358 respectively. [EOM]
  • Few school systems in the region, like Loudoun County Public Schools in Northern Virginia, are publicly reporting COVID-19 cases on campuses. D.C. has not shared its plans. [Post] 
  • Decades-old predatory loans are still harming Black residents of Prince George’s County. [WAMU] 

—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Meet the candidates running for the State Board of Education in Ward 8. [Informer]
  • Revised revenue estimates show a $211 million gap in fiscal year 2021, but the impact isn’t as bad for 2020. [CFO, DCist, Post]
  • The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club can’t agree on endorsements. So they’re not endorsing anyone. Not even Joe Biden. [Blade]
  • ICYMI: Mendelson and Bonds call foul on Mayor Bowser’s use of federal housing funds. [WCP]

By Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Try these three new hamburger options in D.C. [Post]
  • D.C. restaurant workers and owners are worried as winter approaches. [DCist]
  • How restaurant openings and gentrification are connected. [Eater]

By Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • DCPL has collected photos from local residents documenting the early days of the pandemic. [DCist]
  • Poet Kevin Young, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, is the new director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. [Post]
  • Five highlights from Pat Collins’ new memoir. [Washingtonian]

By Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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  • Relax, everyone. Bradley Beal buying a $6.8 million house in Los Angeles doesn’t mean he’s leaving the Wizards for the West Coast—at least not for a while. [Bullets Forever, NBC Sports Washington]

By Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

City Lights: Filmfest DC Starts Friday

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By Emma Sarappo (tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)