Posts by Ron Thompson — Former Policy Officer
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When will we say not another?
Kids are being killed on DC’s streets — both by shooters and drivers. Wheeler Road SE reminds us that we need to see the interconnections between gun and traffic violence to create safe streets. Keep reading…
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Public transit as a public good: Three local approaches to fare-free transit
See how fare-free transit is taking root in the region. Keep reading…
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What a crash reveals about the role of police in traffic enforcement
In theory, police officers exist to dissuade people from engaging in bad behavior. So what happens when police officers engage in the bad behavior they’re said to be preventing? And what does that mean in a time when many residents are calling for a better way to provide traffic enforcement, that keeps all people safe? Keep reading…
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Here’s what GGWash’s advocacy team asked the DC Council to pay attention to during its performance oversight hearings
Right before the District’s budget season, the DC Council holds performance oversight hearings, where councilmembers question the agencies they oversee, including the District Department of Transportation, the Office of Planning, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. GGWash’s Advocacy team provided testimony at several key hearings. Here’s what they had to say. Keep reading…
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After two years, the DC Council will likely fill DC’s second seat on the Metro Board of Directors
Two years ago, Mayor Bowser nominated her Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure, Lucinda Babers, to fill an open seat on the WMATA Board of Directors. But the Council didn’t take action until last month. So, what took so long? Keep reading…
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Transportation advocacy in DC is getting a new voice dedicated to equity
DC Transportation Equity Network (DC TEN), a coalition of Greater Greater Washington and more than a dozen DC-based organizations, will advocate for transportation policies that achieve mobility justice. Keep reading…
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What’s it really like to ride the bus while Black?
Historically, how has transportation been used to advance systemic racism? What has COVID-19 revealed about the ties between the Black community and bus transit? What changes are needed to advance racial equity? We discussed these questions and more during GGWash’s recent “Riding While Black” panel discussion, which focused on making the bus better for every rider. Keep reading…
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When the protests end, fixing cities will not begin or end with buildings
While most of the protests over the last few weeks have been peaceful and nonviolent, there has been some vandalism and looting. To understand everything that’s happening, however, we have to look at the historical context of violence against Black Americans and their communities. Keep reading…
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SNAP was designed to make access to food easier for people. So why can’t people get hot meals?
In a time when a simple activity for most people, like purchasing groceries, is made more complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing, and safety concerns, people participating in public food assistance programs, like SNAP, can’t even purchase hot meals. But why? Keep reading…
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The Wharf closure highlights the complexities of social distancing and shame culture
Against the backdrop of a pandemic, pictures and videos of crowds at DC’s Maine Avenue Fish Market, commonly known as the Wharf, circulated over the weekend. On the surface, it was painfully obvious social distancing guidelines were not met. However, it is important to understand that the complexities of life that existed before this pandemic for some of our neighbors have grown more complex in the midst of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Keep reading…