Where to stay in DC for Biden’s inauguration? Craigslist offers apartments after Airbnb canceled all bookings
Those from outside DC and who wanted to attend President-elect Joe Biden's swearing-in were in for a rude shock when Airbnb reportedly blocked and canceled all reservations in the Washington, D.C. area for the inauguration day because of security reasons, especially after last week’s deadly riots that killed five - including one police officer. However, Craigslist has come like a ray of hope for supporters of the former vice president as the advertising company is giving one-bedroom apartments not very far from the Capitol for $250 per night, TMZ reported.
However, there is a catch - to book the place, you have to spend at least three nights there. The place comes with a full kitchen and since due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of food places are not open, the deal is not bad. It has also been reported that 600-square-foot apartments around 2.2 miles or a 15-minute drive from the Capitol are available for $90 per night for two people. As per the TMZ report, the reason for low prices is low demand. Also, the Biden administration has urged people to stay at home and watch the inauguration on their television screen. Even the National Mall, where people gather for every presidential inauguration, has been shut down due to heightened security.
But people who are still adamant to witness the special day and are traveling in big groups can rent larger places in Arlington, Virginia. They can rent a four-bedroom and three-bath homes there for $1,650 for three days. Arlington also offers five bedroom options.
Meanwhile, another report said that Biden’s inauguration rehearsal has been postponed because of security reasons. The rehearsal was postponed after FBI Director Christopher Wray said, “When we talk about potential threats, we have to say that we are seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter about a number of events surrounding the inauguration.” He added, “Right now we're tracking calls for potential armed protests and activity leading up to the inauguration. We're looking at individuals who may have an eye towards repeating that same kind of violence that we saw last week. My advice to people who might be inclined to follow in the footsteps of those [in last week’s riot] is to stay home.”
Biden was also briefed about the threats on Wednesday, January 13, by the officials with the FBI, Secret Service, and National Security teams. The 78-year-old’s transition team said, "In the week since the attack on Congress by a mob that included domestic terrorists and violent extremists, the nation has continued to learn more about the threat to our democracy and about the potential for additional violence in the coming days, both in the National Capital Region and in cities across the country. This is a challenge that the President-elect and his team take incredibly seriously."
While a Biden transition spokesperson said that an Obama administration Homeland Security adviser, Lisa Monaco, “will assist the President-elect and work with the incoming national security advisor, the incoming homeland security advisor, and current security and law enforcement officials, including with the United States Secret Service on their plans for the inauguration. Given the existing threats, Ms. Monaco’s temporary role will be focused solely on the period leading up to the inauguration.”