Muriel Bowser had some harsh words for the D.C. Council, which met today to talk about the budget. And this time, the mayor rolled deep, touring Shaw with Housing and Urban Development Secretary (and likely vice presidential candidate) Julián Castro.

Between the reporters, the staffers, and the umbrellas, LL couldn’t make out much of what Bowser said to the upwardly mobile cabinet secretary. There was an uncomfortable photo-op during the walk-through, which was meant to celebrate HUD’s 50th anniversary and what federal funds have brought to Shaw, as Bowser and Castro’s tour brought them past the wreckage of an eviction (pictured above).

“We’re going to say there’s progress here, but it has to be progress for everybody,” Bowser said at 7th Street NW’s Uprising Muffin Company.

Bowser’s affordable housing agenda hinges on spending $100 million in new affordable housing investments, along with spending more money to fight homelessness and replace the D.C. General homeless shelter. But the funding sources for Bowser’s plans are in jeopardy after Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans‘ committee ditched her proposed sales tax hike. Without the tax increase, which a new poll from the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute says 70 percent of respondents favored, Bowser warned that more city services would have to be cut.

“They would be hard-pressed to close gaps without cutting important services in the District,” Bowser said of the Council.

Photo by Will Sommer