Posts by Canaan Merchant — Elections Committee
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These “road diets” would make streets safer and barely affect traffic. Why do people oppose them?
Recently, some local projects to calm traffic and increase safety for all road users have been met with a surprising amount of resistence. Worse, regional officials seem to be prioritizing voices of opposition over actual studies, and it’s keeping our communities unsafe. So what can these incidents tell us? Keep reading…
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At a Reston forum, 5 supervisor candidates range from hostile to cautious about development
The Reston Citizens Association hosted a forum on April 23 for candidates vying to represent the Hunter Mill district, which covers Reston and Vienna in Fairfax County. Most of the questions focused on issues specific to Reston, which is in the midst of a heated debate over new development, zoning code updates, and the future of the community. Keep reading…
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A Fairfax County police officer hit a cyclist, and then gave him a ticket
This past weekend, a Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) officer hit a cyclist with their car at an intersection as the officer was turning right at a red light. The cyclist was taken to the hospital to be treated for his minor injuries, but his bad day didn't end there. After the collision, the FCPD gave the cyclist, 55-year-old Thomas Crawley of Alexandria, a ticket. Keep reading…
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Video: Supermarkets can teach us about road design
Streetsblog posted this video from Norway which shows an aggressive driver using his techniques in the supermarket with his cart. Keep reading…
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New candidates entered the Fairfax County, Providence, and Hunter Mill Supervisor races
New candidates have entered the Fairfax County, Providence, and Hunter Mill Board of Supervisors races since we last wrote about them. Here’s a rundown of who else has tossed their hat into the ring. Keep reading…
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A tiff over a halal butcher shop highlights how zoning laws can be used to discriminate
Alexandria just approved a proposal for a Halal butcher shop in an industrial part of the city. Normally, an industrial business opening in an industrial zone isn't news, but this particular shop sparked an outcry. Nearby business owners and other residents fretted over parking, smells, and more. Keep reading…
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Reston’s routine zoning update is on ice for now, following an outcry
Reston's debate over a routine but nonetheless controversial zoning change may be over for now, as the Fairfax County Board deferred action on the matter earlier in March. Opponents feared the update would lead to Reston changing too much, but the zoning rule at the heart of the debate was never meant to address the issues many thought it did. Keep reading…
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Four candidates for Supervisor fight for distinction in Fairfax County’s Providence District
Fairfax County's most urban district will be getting a new supervisor this year. It's at the center of some of the county's most dynamic changes, and has every candidate talking about transit and land use. Keep reading…
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How bikesharing could be more family-friendly in DC
Capital Bikeshare was one of the first successful bikesharing systems set up in the United States, and is still one of the largest systems in the country. Now the system has added electric bicycles for the first time as dockless bike and (especially) scooter sharing has grown over the past year. Keep reading…
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Battle of Braddock: Dems want to flip a Republican-held seat in Fairfax County
In case you haven't heard, there are some important elections coming up in Fairfax County. The county's Board of Supervisors will have a lot of open seats up for grabs, and candidates are already lining up. In the Braddock District, that includes a race between two Democrats looking to flip one of the Board's two seats held by Republicans. Keep reading…