Posts about Opinion
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CVS stores that should have apartments above them, ranked
The District has more than 50 CVS stores, and most of them are in one-story buildings. While the city would benefit from new housing above each and every one, some are more worthy than others. Keep reading…
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Permit renewal for Eckington asphalt plant raises questions about air quality, health
Fort Myer Eckington asphalt plant is situated, unusually, near a lot of people, schools, and recreational facilities. With the plant’s operating permit up for renewal, a neighbor took a deep dive into what that proximity means for a growing population. Keep reading…
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What would you name your Single Member District? We mapped our ideas for all 345 of them
The work of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and the Single-Member Districts that make them up have major local relevance, but their alpha-numeric titles make them seem remote and non-human. What if they each had a name based on a neighborhood, school, park, or other landmark? Keep reading…
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Company town: Is Crystal City, part of Amazon’s “National Landing,” a “place”?
A city is more than just an urban form; it’s a collection of residents, properties, business owners, and developers crafting a place together, over time. Crystal City delivers a kind of urbanism at a large scale, as a kind of product. Keep reading…
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Understanding car culture ‘denialism’ can help safety advocates respond
Opponents of change sow confusion with fake experts, logical fallacies, impossible expectations (moving goalposts), conspiracy theories, and selectivity (cherry picking). We can fight back. Keep reading…
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Washington region employers will compete on transit ridership this spring. Is yours on board?
Transit can be a three-pointer for sustainability, opportunity, and regional mobility. Ride for the Region is a new challenge themed along the lines of a certain March basketball tournament, to get regional employers competing on staff transit ridership. Keep reading…
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Energy costs can imperil Black homeownership. DC legislation could help
DC’s Healthy Homes Act is designed to help 30,000 low-income households upgrade their homes with clean energy, cutting utility bills and making housing more affordable. Keep reading…
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Fear and “loathing” in DC: Local news cutbacks and recalls are a dangerous mix
2024 has kicked off with waves of misinformation and attempts to divide the public in DC, with worrying implications for good policymaking. Facts and analysis are two of the best antidotes, but with local news coverage under serious threat in the Washington region, we may be in for a rougher ride. Keep reading…
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The Chevy Chase DC historic district application fails on the merits
A group in Chevy Chase DC is applying for historic preservation status (again), which would require meeting a series of specific criteria to be approved. Like every place, Chevy Chase DC has history. But it doesn’t clear the bar laid out by the law. Keep reading…
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How Maryland could make this deadly state road safer
Since 2015, twelve people have been killed in traffic collisions on a single stretch of road in Montgomery County. That road, Veirs Mill Road, is both a state highway and the main corridor of my neighborhood. This spring, Maryland could take a big step towards making it safer. Keep reading…