Renovated Eastern Market to Reopen June 26; Firefighters Sue Over Dismissals

Work continues on the $22 million renovation of Eastern Market. To see video of D.C. officials and merchants talking about the newly renovated Eastern Market, go to washingtonpost.com/dc. (By Hamil R. Harris -- The Washington Post)
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They claim they were targeted by supervisors because they are African Americans. They are seeking $3.7 million in damages.

District officials declined to comment yesterday, saying they do not discuss pending litigation.

-- Del Quentin Wilber

ECONOMY

Gandhi Predicts Higher Unemployment in 2010

The District's chief financial officer is predicting that the city's unemployment rate will increase to 11.5 percent next year.

In prepared testimony yesterday for a House subcommittee hearing, Natwar M. Gandhi said he expects that the city's economic conditions will continue to deteriorate as employment and wages decrease and office vacancies rise.

Still, he said, although the District's job base has been weakened by the nation's economic slump, it is faring better than most places.

The number of jobs in the District grew by 6,700 in the 15 months ending in March, thanks in part to gains in the federal government. But during the same period, Gandhi said, 15,000 jobs held by D.C. residents were lost, and unemployment grew from 5.8 to 9.8 percent.

-- Associated Press