Reporter corners DC mayor with her own data on city's vaccine mandate hurting black students — but she denies it anyway



Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) erroneously rejected a reporter's question on Monday by objecting to data he cited and thus the premise of the question.

But the reporter was citing the city's own data.

What is the background?

All students in Washington, D.C., ages 12 and older are required to be inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine to attend school.

But if students are not in vaccine compliance, they cannot attend school in person. The decision, made by the D.C. City Council, is expected to disproportionately impact black students.

In fact, a report compiled by the Council Office on Racial Equity discovered that "enforcement of the [mandate] will exacerbate racial inequity by disproportionately removing Black students from school. This may result in increased learning loss, additional negative social and educational outcomes and in blocking students from vital school resources."

What happened with Bowser?

At a press conference, Daily Signal reporter Douglas Blair confronted Bowser over the impact the vaccine mandate will have on black students.

The exchange happened two weeks before students in the nation's capital will return to the classroom.

"Around 40% of black students in the district are unvaccinated and, therefore, under the district's current policy regarding schools, will be unable to attend school," Blair noted.

"Why is the district continuing with this policy when it seems to disproportionately impact black students?" he asked.

Instead of engaging the substance of Blair's question, Bowser dismissed the premise by questioning the data.

"I don't think that number is correct," the mayor responded. "We have substantially fewer number of kids that we have to engage with vaccination. And I explained why it's important. It's important for the public health of our students and that we can maintain safe environments."

\u201cI asked D.C. @MayorBowser how she could justify forcing 40% of unvaccinated black students to stay home from school. She said my numbers were wrong. They're her numbers.\u201d
— Douglas Blair (@Douglas Blair) 1660583431

Bowser, however, is wrong.

In fact, data released by her own government shows that only 61% of black teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and thus in compliance with the city's vaccine mandate for students.

By contrast, city data show that 99% of white teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, D.C. Department of Health spokeswoman Kelsey Felton contends that the vaccination figure for black teenagers is likely higher because the D.C. data only accounts for people vaccinated in the district.

"The actual percentages are likely higher because not all vaccines administered outside of the District are known to DC Health," Felton told the Daily Wire. "The race-specific coverage number is particularly likely to be an underestimate because the COVID-19 vaccination records DC Health does receive from outside of the District often do not include both age and race."

DC Mayor Bowser renews call for DC National Guard assistance amid influx of migrants



Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, is asking for the D.C. National Guard to be deployed to help the city contend with the influx of migrants arriving in the region, a request that comes after the city's prior request for D.C. National Guard assistance was denied.

"The District of Columbia writes to provide additional information to support our July 19 request to deploy the DC National Guard (DCNG) to help prevent a prolonged humanitarian crisis in our nation's capital resulting from the daily arrival of migrants in need of assistance," Bowser wrote in an August 11 letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

\u201cWe need help from our federal partners as we seek to stabilize and manage our operating environment in this critical moment.\n\nI have been honored to work with the men and women of the DC National Guard many times and today we renewed our request for their assistance.\u201d
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@Mayor Muriel Bowser) 1660253923

Month after month the nation's southern border is inundated by massive flows of migrants coming into the country.

But some migrants have been heading to D.C. from the states of Texas and Arizona, where the states' Republican governors have been busing migrants who voluntarily take the trip.

In a letter last month, Christopher Rodriguez, the director of the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, requested the help of the D.C. National Guard on behalf of Mayor Bowser. The letter declared that "the Governors of Texas and Arizona are making a political statement to the federal government, and instead, their actions are having direct impacts on city and regional resources in ways that are unsustainable."

\u201c9 days since @MayorBowser requested @SecDef @ @POTUS activate @DCNationalGuard DC has received no answer. @nbcwashington\u201d
— Mark Segraves (@Mark Segraves) 1659025732

That request was later rebuffed by the Defense Department, which is why Bowser is now trying again.

In the new letter requesting the D.C. National Guard, Bowser wrote that, "our hope is that the DCNG can aid in strengthening local efforts beginning August 22 and extending for the next 90 days. We need help from our federal partners as we seek to stabilize and manage our operating environment in this critical moment."

Far-left DC mayor requests National Guard to help with 'humanitarian crisis' of 4,000 illegals who've been bused to nation's capital — a sanctuary city



Far-left Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the National Guard to help with what she called the "humanitarian crisis" of 4,000 illegal immigrants who've been bused to the nation's capital — a sanctuary city — over the last several months.

What are the details?

Bowser, a Democrat, made the National Guard activation request in a July 19 letter to the office of the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and in a July 22 letter to White House aides, WRC-TV reported:

\u201c9 days since @MayorBowser requested @SecDef @ @POTUS activate @DCNationalGuard DC has received no answer. @nbcwashington\u201d
— Mark Segraves (@Mark Segraves) 1659025732

"The migrant crisis facing our city and our country through cruel political gamesmanship from the Governors of Texas and Arizona must be dealt with at the federal level,” the July 22 letter reads, according to WRC.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year began chartering buses to send migrants to D.C. and other sanctuary cities, the station said, but aid groups said there are not enough resources available for them in the nation's capital.

Image source: WRC-TV video screenshot

Bowser said the 4,000 migrants who've arrived so far in D.C. is a “humanitarian crisis” that has reached a “tipping point," WRC reported, adding that the city hasn't received a response to its National Guard request as of Thursday.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas agreed with Bowser's assessment in a Thursday tweet — and added a zinger for the mayor:

\u201cDC Mayor\u2014rightly\u2014calls massive influx of illegal aliens a \u201chumanitarian crisis.\u201d\n\nShe says w/ 4000 arriving in DC, we\u2019re \u201cat a tipping point.\u201d\n\nIf 4000 is a tipping point, what the hell do you call the THREE & A HALF MILLION illegal immigrants who\u2019ve crossed our southern border??\u201d
— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz) 1659026509

"If 4,000 is a tipping point, what the hell do you call the THREE & A HALF MILLION illegal immigrants who’ve crossed our southern border??" Cruz wondered.

Anything else?

Bowser also requested the use of the DC Armory — a multipurpose events venue — as a processing center, WRC said.

On Wednesday, immigration agents found 73 migrants living in houses operated by human smugglers in Northwest D.C., the station said, citing internal documents NBC News reviewed. WRC said it's unclear why so many migrants were being kept in what appear to be stash houses in D.C.

Serial shooter terrorizes New York City and Washington, DC



Police in New York City and Washington, D.C., are on the hunt for a serial shooter who has been attacking homeless men in both cities, murdering two and wounding three others so far.

Authorities said the lone gunman is a "cold-blooded killer" who has targeted sleeping homeless men in a series of shootings. New York Mayor Eric Adams and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said they were coordinating with federal authorities to stop the killer in a joint statement released late Sunday night.

"The work to get this individual off our streets before he hurts or murders another individual is urgent," the mayors said.
“As our law enforcement agencies work quickly with federal partners to locate the suspect, we are also calling on unsheltered residents to seek shelter. Again, it is heartbreaking and tragic to know that in addition to all the dangers that unsheltered residents face, we now have a cold-blooded killer on the loose, but we are certain that we will get the suspect off the street and into police custody.”
Joint statement from @NYCMayor and Washington, DC @MayorBowser on recent murders targeting individuals experiencing homelessness:pic.twitter.com/ESitpWNI2U
— City of New York (@City of New York) 1647229311
The series of attacks began on March 3, when the suspect shot and wounded a male victim on the 1100 block of New York Avenue in the nation's capital, the New York Post reported.
A second victim was shot five days later on the 1700 block of H Street, authorities said. These first two victims sustained non-life threatening injuries.
But a third victim was fatally stabbed and shot last Wednesday, according to police. The victim's body was discovered on the 400 block of New York Avenue.
At some point before Saturday morning, the suspect traveled to New York, where he attacked two more people with the same M.O., authorities said.
The first New York victim was a 38-year-old homeless man who was shot and wounded as he slept on King Street in Soho. The victim was hospitalized in stable condition, according to the Post.
About one hour later, the suspect was caught on camera fatally shooting a homeless man as he slept in a sleeping bag about 15 blocks outside of 148 Lafayette Street.
Disturbing video shows the suspect kick the sleeping man several times, check to see if anyone is watching, and then take out a firearm and shoot the man in the head.
WANTED for SHOOTING: Today, between 4:36 am & 6:00 am, in the confines of the @NYPD1pct and @NYPD5pct, the suspect approached two homeless individuals on the street and shot both of them, killing one individual. NYPD executives will provide an update live at 9:30 PMpic.twitter.com/JwoaWnKrzd
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPD NEWS) 1647135879
The video was first reported by WABC-TV.

Exclusive video of suspect wanted in shooting death of homeless man www.youtube.com

Ballistics found at the two crime scenes in Soho matched shell casings found in Washington, D.C., the New York Post reported.
NYPD has issued new patrol guidance after the attacks, according to the Post. Officers have been directed to "proactively engage with apparently homeless individuals," conduct wellness checks, and offer shelter services.
Police were also instructed to warn people about the shooter and show them wanted posters of the suspected gunman.

“Our homeless population is one of our most vulnerable and an individual preying on them as they sleep is an exceptionally heinous crime,” NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a statement Sunday night.

“We will use every tool, every technique and every partner to bring the killer to justice,” Sewell said.

DC mayor on carjacker who stole car from doctor, then killed him by running him over: 'probably didn't mean to kill anybody'



Democrat Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, D.C., appeared to minimize a shocking carjacking in her city that, once again, ended with the victim losing his life.

Police say 33-year-old Rakesh Patel, a D.C. area MedStar physician, was pronounced dead after at least one carjacker allegedly stole his vehicle and then killed him with it.

Dr. Rakesh Patel (Image source: WTTG-TV screenshot)

According to WTTG-TV, Patel stopped at his girlfriend’s house Tuesday night to drop off an item. As the couple hugged goodbye, Patel noticed his Mercedes sedan beginning to move. Police say Patel then pursued his stolen car.

At some point, the carjacker(s) struck Patel and continued driving. Patel was pronounced dead at the scene.

The next day, police located Patel's abandoned Mercedes E350 near the Maryland state-line, the Washington Post reported. The Washington Police Department also released a video of two persons of interest they believe are connected to the fatal hit-and-run, but have not yet made any arrests.

How did Bowser respond?

Bowser issued an incredibly tone-deaf response as captured by WTTG reporter Stephanie Ramirez.

On one hand, Bowser claimed "there is no more important issue for us right now than dealing with people who are committing crimes in our city." On the other hand, Bowser seemed to minimize the seriousness of Patel's apparent homicide.

“We saw one person, who probably didn’t intend to kill anybody, but did, and devastated a family,” Bowser said.

.@MayorBowser responds to Qs about Rakesh Patel, the 33yo @MedStarWHC doctor who was stuck & killed by his OWN car on Tuesday after someone had just stolen the car from him in Adam\u2019s Morgan. @fox5dcpic.twitter.com/E64cZ9qySn
— Stephanie Ramirez (@Stephanie Ramirez) 1646935193

Carjackings have plagued the nation's capital in recent years.

"Carjackings in the District spiked 200 percent from 2019 to 2021, and continue to rise this year. Auto thefts are up 9 percent in 2022. D.C. police and other jurisdictions have formed a carjacking task force with the FBI to confront the problem," the Washington Post reported.

The most notorious incident happened last March when two teenage girls carjacked Mohammad Anwar, a Pakistani immigrant who moved to the United States to make a better life for his family. During the course of the carjacking, Anwar remained connected to the car as the girls sped away. Just seconds later, the car crashed, flipped on its side, and flung Anwar's body into a building; he later died from his injuries.

Both teenage girls received plea bargains in which they pleaded guilty to felony murder. They were both sentenced to remain in care of D.C. juvenile officials until they reach the age of 21.

CNN hosts scramble to cover for DC mayor's blatant mask hypocrisy, claim she wasn't actually violating her own mask rules



Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser had quite a weekend of partying and merry-making as the people under her control were forced to step backward into COVID-19 rules they mistakenly believed were history.

First, Bowser declared that she would be re-imposing an indoor mask mandate upon the vaccinated citizens of the nation's capital first thing Saturday morning — which conveniently was scheduled to start hours after a long-planned Friday night birthday bash for the mayor.

Then, Saturday evening — the day the mayor's mask mandate went into effect — the mayor officiated an outdoor wedding and then was caught celebrating at an indoor reception with hundreds of unmasked guests, as reported by Washington Examiner reporter Tiana Lowe.

The mayor denied being in violation of the rules, her office said, claiming that the mayor did wear a mask indoors and was in full compliance with the mandate.

But apparently, for CNN's morning hosts, the mayor's defenses for her own behavior didn't go far enough — so they offered some of their own.

What's all this then?

During Monday's episode of CNN's "New Day," show co-hosts John Berman and Brianna Keilar went out of their way to cover for Bowser.

"She wasn't actually, as far as we know, violating the new rules, correct?" Berman asked Keilar.

Keilar responded, "I think that that is fair say, but I think it might also be about, is she violating the spirit of it? I don't know."

In an attempt to explain Bowser's clear misstep, Berman said, "It's hard for me to remember what we're all supposed to be angry about, because it wasn't that long ago where we were criticizing politicians for wearing masks still where the science was telling them, oh, they didn't need to be."

"We kept on asking the White House, 'Why is Joe Biden still wearing a mask when the mask guidance has changed?'" he continued. "And now, of course, we're saying, 'She should be wearing a mask even though she was following the guidance.'"

Berman added that he didn't know if she did something wrong "functionally, policy-wise" and noted that maybe she was eating or drinking — an excuse the mayor's office did not actually offer.

Keilar offer that maybe the mayor was maskless during the toast, which, again, was not an excuse the mayor or her office offered.

CNN’s @JohnBerman & @Briannadefend @MayorBowser violating her own mask mandate: “She wasn’t actually, as far as… https://t.co/VnnNgefkvi

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) 1627901402.0

Anything else?

The Washingtonian, a D.C.-based outlet, attempted to undermine Lowe's reporting for the Examiner by pointing out that Lowe wasn't actually invited to the wedding or reception.

Interestingly, one CNN reporter, Kate Bennett, actually did attend the wedding in question as an invited guest. But so far, she has remained silent about the entire affair.

Since they dragged @KateBennett_DC into it, maybe she can share some photos of ppl wearing masks indoors? https://t.co/07VyTRShFc

— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) 1627930207.0