Eric Falquero
@ericfalquero.bsky.social
1K followers 1.3K following 170 posts
Local journalist in D.C. serving my community: ericfalquero [at] 51st [dot] news. Appalachian, Llanito, bird nerd. Co-founder of the worker-led nonprofit @51st.news, with past professional lives at WAMU/DCist and Street Sense Media.
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Reposted by Eric Falquero
laurie-merrell.bsky.social
video of people being snatched by ICE at a laundromat shows an intersection between housing and immigration enforcement. if your unit and building don't have (working, available) laundry, that's one more errand where you have to spend significant time in potentially vulnerable public space
ericfalquero.bsky.social
One of the most unexpected parts of my journey helping start @51st.news was learning about and joining the international co-op @footballclubgroup.com ⚽ . We (members) approved the leadership's choice of team earlier this year and our first game is now! Go Terminio!! 🐉 www.youtube.com/live/j6xivkC...
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Reposted by Eric Falquero
abigailhiggins.bsky.social
Evictions in DC hit record levels last year, with 1,869 households removed from their homes. We don't have final numbers for this year yet but avg. monthly evictions are the highest they’ve been in six years. New investigation from @51st.news @streetsensedc.bsky.social 51st.news/record-evict...
Evictions rising in DC as housing costs increase
New data shows evictions have surged past pre-pandemic levels, fueled by shrinking aid, high rents, and weakened tenant protections.
51st.news
Reposted by Eric Falquero
olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social
"Something interesting happened in the D.C. Council on Tuesday. But there’s only so much I can tell you about it – because much of it happened behind closed doors...this year the council passed an emergency bill creating a significant loophole [for secret meetings]."

51st.news/wilson-build...
Wilson Building Bulletin: Curfews and closed doors
The D.C. Council rejected a bill extending the youth curfew. Until it didn't.
51st.news
Reposted by Eric Falquero
maustermuhle.bsky.social
New story in @51st.news: After a years-long battle with D.C. regulators and courts, this was supposed to be the last week that ride-hailing app Empower could operate in the city. But it's now digging in its heels again, and says it's not going anywhere. 51st.news/empower-dc-u...
Ride-hailing app Empower may finally shut down in D.C.
The company, which claims to provide a better service than Uber or Lyft, has been defying regulators for five years.
51st.news
Reposted by Eric Falquero
lispizza24.bsky.social
Support local news!!!
51st.news
When people in the highest levels of our government are leaning on narratives about D.C. that we know aren’t true — but could influence our political future, our independent journalism is even more vital. Will you support it?

51st.news/signup
Reposted by Eric Falquero
stevemullis.net
Please support independent and nonprofit media. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
51st.news
When people in the highest levels of our government are leaning on narratives about D.C. that we know aren’t true — but could influence our political future, our independent journalism is even more vital. Will you support it?

51st.news/signup
Reposted by Eric Falquero
Reposted by Eric Falquero
maustermuhle.bsky.social
If you've ever driven through the intersection at Georgia and Missouri Avenues NW, you've gone through Alan's Oasis, where a homeless man has been giving out free bottles of water for more than three years. This is a such a great profile of Alan: 51st.news/dc-alans-oas...
For 1,250 days, Alan has given out free water at a busy Brightwood intersection
He’s built a community that stood up for him when the threat of eviction loomed.
51st.news
Reposted by Eric Falquero
51st.news
This article is part of @streetsensedc.bsky.social's D.C. Homeless Crisis Reporting Project, in collaboration with other local newsrooms.

See more from the project here: bit.ly/DCHCRP
Reposted by Eric Falquero
51st.news
Looking for plans this weekend?

Our picks: Watch Palestinian films, pick from one of 800+ board games at @labyrinthdc.bsky.social, celebrate Spooky Season with a dog costume contest benefiting @cdckrescue.bsky.social, and more:
14 things to do around D.C. this weekend
The shutdown continues — but our local arts and culture scene is going strong.
51st.news
Reposted by Eric Falquero
samuelashworth.bsky.social
I drove past Alan every weekday for four years. This is the article that got me to subscribe to @51st.news.
51st.news
For 1,250 days, Alan has given out free water at a busy Brightwood intersection.

He calls it Alan's Oasis — and his constant presence has built a community that stood up for him recently when he seemed to be facing eviction.
For 1,250 days, Alan has given out free water at a busy Brightwood intersection
He’s built a community that stood up for him when the threat of eviction loomed.
51st.news
Reposted by Eric Falquero
hanaatameez.bsky.social
This story — which asks what happened to all of those newsroom DEI jobs, committees, and promises from 2020 — is the hardest one I've ever worked on. I hope you'll spend some time with it today.

www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...
From reckoning to retreat: Journalism’s DEI efforts are in decline
Diversity-related newsroom jobs haven't totally disappeared — but they also haven't stuck.
www.niemanlab.org
ericfalquero.bsky.social
This social media monetization tracking tool is cool:

"Understanding who gets paid by platforms, how much, and for what, is crucial to making sure that social media companies compensate authentic content creation and don’t incentivize harmful and illegal activity."

www.monetization.wtf
Who Makes Money From Social Media?
Investigate platforms' revenue redistribution schemes.
www.monetization.wtf
Reposted by Eric Falquero
nhannahjones.bsky.social
Literally been asking myself this question.
dandrezner.bsky.social
At what point does a governor call up their National Guard to oppose the deployment of an out-of-state National Guard?
Reposted by Eric Falquero
justinhendrix.bsky.social
"The hundreds of billions of dollars companies are investing in AI now account for an astonishing 40 per cent share of US GDP growth this year... In a way, then, America has become one big bet on AI."
America is now one big bet on AI
It’s seen as the magic fix for every threat to the US economy
www.ft.com
Reposted by Eric Falquero
propublica.org
Although border czar Tom Homan has repeatedly said he recused himself from any “involvement, discussion, input, or decision of any future government contracts,” ProPublica obtained records showing he has had at least some involvement in contracting conversations.
Trading on Tom Homan: Inside the Push to Cash in on the Trump Administration’s Deportation Campaign
A Pennsylvania businessman who had Tom Homan on his payroll led companies to believe his connections to the future border czar could help advance their bids for government work, industry executives sa...
www.propublica.org
ericfalquero.bsky.social
"The top 10% of Americans added $5 trillion to their wealth in the second quarter as the stock market rally continued to benefit the biggest investors, according to new Federal Reserve data."

www.cnbc.com/2025/10/03/t...
The wealth of the top 1% reaches a record $52 trillion
All wealth groups saw gains over the past year, according to recent Fed data. But the growth has been fastest for those at the very top.
www.cnbc.com
ericfalquero.bsky.social
"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared changes would be coming to the department’s inspector general office...after it was disclosed OMB effectively defunded an office that supports and trains oversight employees who root out waste, fraud and abuse governmentwide." www.govexec.com/oversight/20...
Hegseth, Vought actions heighten fears about continued inspector general independence
Lawmakers from both parties and good government groups have argued that recent moves by the Trump administration will chill whistleblowing and watchdog offices.
www.govexec.com
ericfalquero.bsky.social
"At least 15 gov oversight websites were down—and with them, access to watchdog reports and required hotline and whistleblower links—as of Wednesday evening ... OMB is withholding funds from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, or CIGIE"

www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
Trump administration knocks out at least 15 oversight websites, saying IGs 'lied to the public'
It's not a shutdown issue: the White House is withholding funds from the umbrella organization for the government's inspectors general.
www.nextgov.com
Reposted by Eric Falquero
51st.news
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maustermuhle.bsky.social
It was a year ago today that @51st.news sent out its first newsletter. Since then, my colleagues have been working to build a sustainable local news operation to cover D.C. the way we always wanted to cover it. Thanks to everyone who has read, subscribed, and donated! Onwards!