Posts tagged Dc
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Make North Capitol Street a true gateway
North Capitol Street, framed by the Capitol dome and used by hundreds of commuters and visitors, stands as an oft-overlooked example of a highway mentality misapplied to an urban setting. To rectify this longstanding gash in the city’s fabric, DDOT should look into reshaping of the less appealing highway-like portions of North Capitol Street around Rhode Island and New York… Keep reading…
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Got any big ideas for the DDOT budget?
DC faces huge budget gaps, and every agency is being asked to make cuts, most of which take a little from everything. For DDOT, do you have any ideas for bigger cuts that should be considered, or revenue increases to look into? The DC Council held a marathon hearing yesterday to listen to feedback on closing DC’s massive budget gap. Most of the witnesses just asked for specific… Keep reading…
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College students deserve a voice in local government
In a city as disenfranchised as DC, it seems especially important to make sure that all residents have the opportunity to cast a vote. But one group is systematically denied a voice in local decision-making: college students. It’s true that students at schools like Georgetown, Howard, and Catholic are, in a sense, not permanent residents, and many of them may be unfamiliar… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Big steps for Metro
Metro recommends Red Line fix; Metrobus changes coming; More open data in DC; Evans wants to bring ‘Skins back; Fairfax ponders road takeover; Federal pay freeze would add up in DC; Alternate Metro map poster for sale; DC owed millions in property taxes; And…. Keep reading…
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Lost Washington: Childs fast food restaurants
On Massachusetts Avenue at North Capitol Street NW, close to Union Station, stands a rather striking SunTrust bank building. How did this stately little building with its big windows and rough, pumice-like walls land on this corner, and why is it put to such nondescript use? It’s lived a number of lives through the years. Designed as a restaurant, cheery and inviting, it… Keep reading…
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How can DC fix the liquor license process?
A number of businesses’ recent tangles with DC’s liquor license process has clearly shown the need for reform. The long saga of Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle clearly demonstrates the flaws as well as some strengths of the current system. Back in 2005, Jamie Leeds wanted to open a restaurant on Q Street NW just east of 17th Street. However, a number of residents… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Stop the harassment
Metro PD harasses photographer; DC Council considers bullying law; The plan changed, comprehensively; Are parks a “public good”?; Chesapeake Bay states wrestle with clean-up; The latest anti-bike screed; Melbourne bike share failing; Rich giving up the American dream. Keep reading…
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Should DC dump the sales tax?
DC should consider getting rid of the bottom tier of the sales tax and replacing it with a higher income tax. This could stimulate business, help the working poor by removing a regressive tax, and retain more money within the District by taking advantage of federal deduction rules. Replacing this part of the sales tax with an income tax on higher earners would transform the bottom… Keep reading…
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NoMA has no parks thanks to flawed upzoning
When DC officials rezoned the land north of Union Station to create NoMA, they triggered the creation of a brand-new neighborhood. Unfortunately, they forgot to leave space for a park, and created an economic dynamic that virtually ruled out any parks. Last week, Tommy Wells introduced a bill to try to fix this glaring omission. As Michael Neibauer explains in a Business Journal… Keep reading…
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How do you choose a DC public school?
Every parent wants the best for their children. But how do you find the best public school for your child? If you are considering where or whether to live in DC, how do you know if your nearby schools are any good? The growing pile of data can add to the confusion, since in many cases it isn’t clear how achievement is being defined and what these numbers mean for students. In DC,… Keep reading…