Recent Posts
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Breakfast links: Who to hire?
Gray picks public safety chiefs, Lanier to stay; WMATA needs drivers; Capital region commuters drive less, ride more; Housing harder to afford; Transit backlog thanks to ICC; MWAA will likely drop closest Dulles station proposal; Adams Morgan hotel gets support; Va. Beach light rail hits a snag; And…. Keep reading…
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Don’t use the incoming mayor’s name in vain (on signs)
On his first day as mayor, Vincent Gray should advise his agency directors and direct reports not to put his name on anything that doesn’t require it. Mayor Gray should issue clear guidance from the start in order to save the District money and avoid easily preventable criticism. He can send a message that progress for the city is more important than promoting the name of the… Keep reading…
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Zimmerman leaving WMATA Board, bag checks starting
Today’s WMATA Board meeting revealed several surprises, both disappointing. Chris Zimmerman is stepping down from the board. Also, WMATA will begin random bag checks. Zimmerman, the member from Arlington for 13 years, was one of the best members, both in transit knowledge and in his responsiveness to riders. Apparently even fellow Board members were unaware of Zimmerman’s… Keep reading…
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Support local charities this holiday season
The season of giving is upon us, and many of us make meaningful contributions to charitable organizations at this time of the year. When thinking about what groups to support, please consider helping out some of our local nonprofits which work to improve the lives of people in our region and create better communities. Here are a few nonprofits which our contributors listed as some… Keep reading…
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Greenbelt advocates educate bus riders on changes
On Monday, residents of northern Prince George’s County will wake up to completely new bus routes. Transit Riders United of Greenbelt is working to make sure that everyone knows how to get where they need to be. Prince George’s County and WMATA have been working for several months on a plan to restructure bus service in Greenbelt. These changes have left almost no… Keep reading…
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Urban hipster? Long-time resident? We all need an affordable place to live
How does a growing city ensure that affordable housing is available to its population? As DC gains population for the first time in decades, we must take advantage of creative new tools and cross class and cultural boundaries if the city wants to be affordable for all. Tuesday’s Coalition for Smarter Growth forum, “Urban Hipsters and Long-time Residents Unite! Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Things change, things stay the same
Taking on the Height Act; “Urban plaza” proposed for Tysons; Twinbrook TOD stuck in neutral; Signs, they are a-changin’; Federal government increases telework options; DDOT portal more cool, less useful; Community radio held up by commercial lobby; Breathing your neighbor’s smoke; And…. Keep reading…
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Then and Now: General Post Office to Hotel Monaco
She’s a grand old lady, an exquisite neoclassical landmark, and Washington’s first all-marble building. But the old General Post Office between 7th, 8th, E, and F Streets NW, nevertheless is not well-known and hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. It is now leased out as a boutique hotel because the government couldn’t summon the wherewithal in the… Keep reading…
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Letter: DC already adequately represented on NCPC
Lisa MacSpadden, Director of Public Affairs for NCPC, sent along this response to a recent article: In your December 2 post, “How Can Obama Do More for DC?” you mentioned that the President, directly or indirectly, controls half of the 12 seats on the National Capital Planning Commission. You recommended that President Obama appoint a District resident to the Commission… Keep reading…
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ACS shows Ward 6 growing fastest, while Ward 1 shrinks
Census estimates released yesterday reveal that the population of DC’s Ward 6 grew by 9% during most of the last decade. More surprisingly, Ward 1, widely expected to have grown, actually shrank by 3%. Yesterday the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey released its five-year demographic averages for every neighborhood in the nation. Though… Keep reading…