Washington, D.C
Dozens in need of temporary housing after Columbia Heights gas explosion
“We are basically homeless now. We’re homeless.”
It’s been nearly two weeks since a gas explosion forced Angel Requeno from his Columbia Heights apartment, and he says many of his neighbors are worried about what’s next.
“We have only had enough time to take out personal belongings, like clothing, medications,” he said
The blast on September 20 left the apartment complex too dangerous to be inhabited.
And in the days following the explosion, Requeno and his 16-year-old pitbull, Peggy, were forced to sleep in his car, and his beloved birds left out in the elements.
District leaders say dozens of families were forced from their homes.
Wednesday evening, those residents got some answers about what’s next, with reps from several agencies holding a town hall.
The District says currently 100 displaced residents are staying in hotels, and they will cover those rooms until October 17.
“Where can we go? You know a lot of places we go, the rents are from 1800 to over $2000 and you know for us to provide that type of rent, we are going to have to literally work day and night,” Requeno said.
The Department of Buildings says it is the owner’s responsibility to make those repairs, but damage to the complex is so bad, it will take months before it’s safe enough to turn on utilities. That’s if the landlord doesn’t appeal, and officials say they have been “less than responsive.”
“We have rights as tenants, and they pointed that out,” Requeno said. “However, the landlord is not responding.”
In the meantime, the District is helping residents with supplies and transportation to move their stuff into storage, as well as a long list of resources to find temporary housing.
Requeno says thankfully, he and Peggy are now staying in a hotel. But he says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do once that time is up.
“Only God knows,” he said. “Only God knows.”
Washington, D.C
Jack Schlossberg look-alike contest held in Northwest DC – WTOP News
Following a trend of celebrity look-alike contests across the U.S. — and in the most D.C. fashion — one honoring a political legacy baby happened in Northwest on Sunday.
Following a trend of celebrity look-alike contests around the nation — and in the most D.C. fashion — one honoring a political legacy baby happened at a Northwest park on Sunday.
Hundreds of college-aged D.C.-area residents came out for a Jack Schlossberg look-alike contest being held at Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights.
The appeal is obvious: people crave community.
A scion of the famous Kennedy family, Schlossberg has been called the “people’s princess” for his pretty-boy good looks, an appeal to young Americans and the playful new energy he brings to politics.
His occasional public appearances, often in support of political causes, have led to comparisons to his grandfather, former President John F. Kennedy — both in terms of appearance and charisma.
In front of the James Buchanan Memorial statue, some 10 contestants stood in front of the massive crowd. Done up in plain button-up shirts and black ties — or one contestant who decided to strip in the 50-degree weather — the diverse group of contestants did their best to emulate the Kennedy grandson.
One by one, the crowd yelled in approval of which contestant they thought looked most like Schlossberg.
“I think he’s the perfect look-alike subject for D.C. He’s from a political family and he’s a political leader himself. … D.C. loves a handsome man in politics and we’re glad we picked him over any old senator. That would have been way less fun,” said event organizer Georgia Parolski.
Though Schlossberg hinted he would be attending the event, Instagram stories made outside a Tesla location in New York proved otherwise.
“I am a little disappointed. But he has a certain mystique to maintain,” Parolski said.
Co-organizer Ruchika Sharma said they could have never expected the turnout: “We were originally supposed to be in Dupont Circle, and the RSVP response was just incredible. We had to move it.”
They said over 1,200 people RSVP’d to attend the event.
After about half an hour of bracketing out the crowd-favorites and asking Schlossberg trivia questions, a winner was crowned — taking home a $50 cash prize, a $100 Zipcar gift card and a $100 gift card to the restaurant Salazar.
“I’m way too online and I’m way too into politics,” said winner Daniel Bonomo, a 25-year-old graduate student at Georgetown University.
Bonomo elicited jeers from the audience after announcing he was, unfortunately, not single. But standing in a tiara in front of the hundreds of oglers, he said he would always “commit to the bit.”
Organizers Sharma and Parolski said they don’t intend to host another event, citing the quick cycle of online trends.
“When (Sharma) texted me about a look alike contest, I said, ‘We need to do it as soon as possible, because it’s going to leave the cultural zeitgeist in a week anyways,’” Parolski said. “And I think we sent it out with a bang.”
WTOP’s Abigail Constantino contributed to this report.
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Washington, D.C
WATCH: DC names Jack Schlossberg look-alike in local contest
WASHINGTON – Hundreds gathered in Northwest D.C. Sunday to crown one person the doppelganger of Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s only grandson.
Schlossberg, a political correspondent for Vogue, spoke at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year.
Sunday’s look-alike contest at Meridian Hill Park is the latest in a trend of look-alike contests in major cities throughout the country. Timothee Chalamet himself showed up to his look-alike contest in New York City last month.
Watch the moment the winner was crowned below.
Washington, D.C
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