Hot tip: Skip Sunday at Le Dip

Today I sent the Mayor a letter demanding that she respect the law and send the Council the FY26/Supplemental FY25 budget, both of which are 6 weeks overdue. It is disrespectful to the Council and the public. Read the full letter here or at ChairmanMendelson.com

NEW: We’ve released a new report on the state of the restaurant industry, and contrary to some of the doomsday prophesying, it’s grown since I-82 was passed. Key takeaways 🔽 🧵

There are more restaurant liquor licenses in Washington, D.C. now than there were when I-82 was passed. In October 2022, just before voters approved I-82 overwhelmingly, there were 907 restaurant liquor licenses in the city. In May 2025, there are 942, a 3.9% increase.

This data shows that D.C. workers in food preparation and serving related occupations, including workers in traditionally tipped positions, saw their annual income increase and at a rate higher than workers doing equivalent work in the region as a whole.

February 2025 employment in full-service restaurants in D.C. was the highest it has been for the month of February in at least 10 years. Preliminary data for March would continue the trend.

It’s outrageous that members of the DC Council want to deny raises to workers who are counting on them. A pause of I-82 = repeal, and union members will remember who voted to cancel raises when they head to the polls next year.

Our statement on tomorrow's vote to cut wages for restaurant workers:

Today’s vote was not the outcome we wanted. But our goal remains the same. Tomorrow, we organize, keep raising our voices, and keep pushing for real solutions that support our restaurants without compromising workers’ right to dignity and a living wage.

I’m disappointed that my fellow councilmembers voted to 8-4 to delay the tipped wage increase in I-82 from July to October. I joined fellow Councilmembers Frumin, Lewis-George, and Parker in standing with restaurant workers. Workers are angry, and rightly so.

Scoop: Dozens of congressional Democrats vow to boycott popular D.C. restaurants trib.al/Tn6PTnX

Dozens of Democratic members of Congress are boycotting Le Diplomate, Rasika, and other popular DC restaurants amid union disputes, Axios reports. axios.com/2025/06/05/sco…

NEW: Over 50 Dems have signed a pledge to boycott a half dozen of DC’s hottest restaurants over labor disputes. Restaurants include Le Dip, Rasika and Osteria Mozza. AOC, Pelosi, Warren, Sanders signed. So did Slotkin and Jared Golden. w/ Cuneyt Dil axios.com/2025/06/05/sco…

Respect the boycott!

damn i love rasika. well, they'll have to settle this before I go back.

The labor movement is united in demanding #FreeDavid and end raids NOW.

Why is Democrat D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto joining MAGA Republicans in crossing a picket line at Le Diplomate? There's a boycott at Le Diplomate endorsed by the AFL-CIO and 69 Democrats in Congress. eatfairdc.org