Posts by Joanne Tang — Editorial Board
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Cemeteries are a matter of land use—and also a matter of justice
One of the most complicated (and perhaps uncomfortable) conversations people can have is about death. How will we choose to remember others or have others remember us? As urbanists, we can look at this topic from another lens too: the way we use land for our burial rituals, and how those practices might shift as our population grows and our housing shortage increases. Keep reading…
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Travelers and commuters saw hellish traffic around National Airport on Friday
People trying to get home after work and travelers heading to National Airport got ensnared in hellish traffic on Friday evening—so bad that some got out of their vehicles and walked. The chaos was the result of poorly-communicated Metro station shutdowns, rainy weather, long bus shuttle lines, and congested roads. Keep reading…
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Silverman, Elrich, and de Ferranti win. Here’s who else won local races near you.
At-large DC Councilmember Elissa Silverman beat back a challenge from Dionne Reeder, while Matt de Ferranti ousted incumbent John Vihstadt in Arlington. Marc Elrich will be the next Montgomery County Executive. GGWash also endorsed in 45 Advisory Neighborhood Commission races, and so far it’s clear 24 urbanist candidates will take their seats in 2019. Keep reading…
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Liberty at Lorton: How a notorious old Virginia prison got a new life as housing
In my previous post about the Lorton Reformatory in Lorton, Virginia, I went over the history of the prison complex from its beginnings in the 1910s to its closure in 1999. In this article, I turn my focus to the long road to redeveloping the prison site and its grounds into a place that the Lorton community could be proud of and see as useful. Keep reading…
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The old Lorton, Virginia prison is being turned into homes. Here’s its fascinating story.
The Lorton Reformatory is a prison in Lorton, Virginia that closed in the late 1990s. This May, it officially reopened as a sprawling complex of apartments called Liberty at Lorton about 19 miles outside of DC. The development is a great example of how a historical site can supply housing in a region that badly needs it, while still preserving a historical landmark with a storied history. Keep reading…
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Without accommodations, Uber and Lyft are leaving customers with disabilities at the curb
Ride-hailing services have integrated themselves into our cities so completely that in just a few years, “Uber” has become a verb and spotting license plates from afar has become a valuable skill. Uber and Lyft have gotten flack for not providing riders the same level of service if they have service animals or mobility devices — if they are served at all. Keep reading…
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Join our online book club to read Matthew Desmond’s bestseller “Evicted”
Here at Greater Greater Washington, we discuss and advocate for housing affordability all the time. It is also a driving force in Matthew Desmond’s bestselling book, Evicted. Join us this summer for our GGWash book club if you’re interested in reading and discussing this book! Keep reading…
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Two Arlington County Board hopefuls take different paths to similar conclusions
One seat on the Arlington County Board is up for re-election this year. Two Democrats, Matt de Ferranti and Chanda Choun, are vying in the June 12 primary to defeat independent incumbent John Vihstadt. We plan to speak further with both of them to determine our endorsement. Keep reading…
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DC remembers the 1968 riots 50 years ago today
Today, Washington, DC remembers the 50th anniversary of the 1968 civil uprising, which took place between April 4 and 8. Downtown DC, Logan Circle, Capitol Hill, Shaw, and Columbia Heights were at the center of the civic uprisings sparked by anger over Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and longstanding discrimination, becoming an indelible part of the city's history. Keep reading…
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Happy International Women’s Day, women of GGWash!
We at Greater Greater Washington appreciate all of the women who have helped build our community, and today we want to take a moment to expressly call out their contributions. Here is some perspective from Joanne Tang, an invaluable longtime volunteer to GGWash and senior member of our editorial board. Keep reading…