Posts by Canaan Merchant — Elections Committee
-
DC’s Housing Production Trust Fund isn’t working as it should, audit finds
A new audit says that due to poor management, the trust fund DC uses to build affordable housing is spending money on all the wrong things. Keep reading…
-
One day in April, you’ll be able to enjoy part of beautiful Skyline Drive without a car in sight
If you're looking for a weekend getaway, part of Skyline Drive, one of our region's great treasures, will be car-free one Sunday in April. It's part of an effort to showcase how parks and the outdoors can help make you healthier. Keep reading…
-
In Chicago, you can charter your own L train
A ride on the ‘L’ Train in Chicago normally costs $2.25, but what if you don’t want to wait or share a car with strangers, or you really want to have a party on a moving train? For a cool $2,000, an ‘L’ train is all yours. Keep reading…
-
Commutes take longer for District residents east of the Anacostia River
People who live on the eastern side of the District, especially those east of the Anacostia River, have longer commutes than those on the west. Job locations and the river itself are probably big reasons why. Keep reading…
-
If Republicans crippled the Census, we’d all be more ignorant
Since Donald Trump took office, there has been a lot of concern about his administration restricting government agencies from collecting and publishing data. Now, Congress is pushing to keep federal dollars from being used to collect data about housing and racial disparities in the US. Is this a precursor to an attack on one of the most important functions of the United States Census? Keep reading…
-
Red light, or green light? Drivers take their pick at this intersection.
An intersection I frequently walk through has an odd combination of traffic signals. The result is that drivers often overlook the red light meant for them and instead follow a green light that's behind it. Keep reading…
-
Nestle is moving into 1812 North Moore Street in Rosslyn
The Washington region's tallest office building, 1812 North Moore Street in Rosslyn, has been vacant since it opened in 2013. That won't be the case for much longer, though, as Nestle announced on Wednesday that the building will soon be home to the food and beverage company's US headquarters. Keep reading…
-
Can Alexandria breathe new life into a “dead mall”?
In the West End of Alexandria, there are plans to replace a defunct shopping mall with a neighborhood where people can live and do some of their day-to-day errands without having to get into a car. The redevelopment promises to provide new opportunities for the area, but new buildings alone cannot ensure a successful place to live and work. Keep reading…
-
Should the federal government move jobs out of Washington?
Last week, Vox’s Matt Yglesias wrote a column arguing that the federal government should move jobs out of the Washington region to places around the US that have lower costs of living and need the job growth. But that assumes the majority of federal employees live here (they don’t) and that such a move wouldn’t hurt our region (it would). Keep reading…
-
Three ideas to make it easier to bike to and from the Mosaic District in Fairfax
Merrifield is a growing part of Fairfax County with a number of bike routes. I’ve got three ideas for making them easier to use. Keep reading…