Posts by ThienVinh Nguyen — Fellow
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Opportunity Zones have gotten a lot of criticism. Could they promote equitable green development?
Opportunity Zone funding is a federal program created to drive economic development in “distressed” areas across the United States, including in DC. The program has been received with both criticism and excitement, but something’s been missing from the conversation: The potential to use this money for clean energy and green infrastructure projects. Keep reading…
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Grassroots groups and growers east of the Anacostia defy the ‘food desert’ label
There’s been a lot of discussion about the lack of grocery stores in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River in DC in the past few years. But it hasn’t always been this way, and there are a lot of people working to ensure their neighborhoods have access to high-quality, affordable food again. Keep reading…
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Deanwood residents are fed up with their frequently-shuttered library, playground, and pool
“Daddy, look! I’m swinging backwards!” On the warm spring day earlier this April, kids of varied ages were doing what they do best: Laughing and playing on the Deanwood Recreation Center’s outdoor playground’s swings and slides. Families lined up at an ice cream truck parked nearby. But this ordinary neighborhood scene was nearly two years in the making. The playground had been closed since at least August 2017. Keep reading…
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A bridge would connect the Arboretum and Kenilworth Park, but how will it impact the Anacostia River?
Many Ward 5 and 7 residents and other people who bike are excited about a planned pedestrian and cyclist bridge spanning the Anacostia River. It would give them the opportunity to walk or pedal from one side of the river to the other via a protected trail. However, some people are worried the Arboretum-Kenilworth Park bridge will obstruct river flow and visibility for boaters. Keep reading…
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Maryland joins DC in passing “clean” energy legislation. But is burning trash really clean?
Environmental activists are currently working to change a controversial provision in Maryland’s Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019 which includes trash incineration as part of the state’s renewable portfolio standards. The law, passed on April 2019, mandates that the state source half of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, and all of it by 2040. Keep reading…
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DC’s black-owned bookstores are thriving. But will high taxes do them in?
Despite fears of the death of bookstores, independent brick-and-mortar shops have seen a surge in popularity across the US over the past decade, including here in DC. But rising property values are taking a toll on some local shops. Keep reading…
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Meet Fred Tutman, the Patuxent Riverkeeper
Fred Tutman is the Patuxent Riverkeeper, one of a global network of 200 people who advocate for individual rivers. He’s also the nation’s only African-American Riverkeeper. Keep reading…
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It’s morel season! Here’s how to find edible plants and mushrooms in urban places
Since morel season is upon us—amidst a warm spell and blooming dogwoods and lilacs—I set out to learn more about this elusive mushroom. It is one of the few edible mushrooms that grow in the spring, and believe it or not, it's possible to find them in an urban environment. Keep reading…