Public Policy
Photo by Raul Pacheco-Vega licensed under Creative Commons
The many local governments in the Washington region take actions every day that affect our downtowns and neighborhoods and the quality of life in our cities and counties. Greater Greater Washington writes about the public policies that influence our region and how they promote (or prevent) a growing, inclusive region with walkable urban neighborhoods.
Many different types of public policy influence where and how people live, work, and play. Education, which is one of the biggest reasons people choose a place,can help ensure the success of the next generation. And the environment is vital to preserving a livable region for our descendants.
Public safety and social justice issues affect how people of different backgrounds interact in our public places and whether people feel welcome. Health, food, and jobs are all vital parts of making our region thrive. And our governments make many budgetary and fiscal decisions that shape all of this.
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For ANC in northern Ward 6
Northern Ward 6 contains the rapidly-growing Mount Vernon Triangle, NoMA and H Street areas. These are some of the most dynamic in DC and very likely will see the greatest amount of change in the near term. Development is coming to the rail yards north of Union Station, a number of vacant lots in NoMa and the Mount Vernon Triangle are getting filled in, a streetcar is coming to H Street,… Keep reading…
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Metro security on the radio
The Center for Public Integrity’s John Solomon and I discussed Metro security on the Kojo Nnamdi show today. We didn’t quite get time to get into the photography angle, but both agreed that resources are best spent on police officers and investigators to catch potential terrorists, not on “security theater” (or as John called it, “sugar pills”)… Keep reading…
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For ANC in Ward 8
Ward 8, the poorest ward in DC and often the most misunderstood or overlooked, needs a voice. It needs strong community leaders who want to devote their energy to improving the ward’s neighborhoods and building consensus among residents. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Governors versus transit
Purple Line money’s there, just not there; Christie cancels ARC, again; Another near miss on Metro uncovered; Where will Ward 8 go?; What to do with Bruce Monroe?; How to make ANCs lean less anti; Old Town Alexandria meters get cheaper; Use a car tire to inflate a bike tire; And…. Keep reading…
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Suspected terrorist no reason to fear photography
Yesterday, the news broke that an Ashburn, Virginia man was allegedly planning to detonate explosives on the Metro. The alleged plotter, Farooque Ahmed, was arrested for providing material support to a terrorist organization. According to the FBI, the public was never in danger. Apparently, agents of the Bureau posed as members of al-Qaeda as a part of the investigation. The… Keep reading…
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Afternoon links: What Congress might do for you
Transit will soon be second class again for feds; Puerto Rico on the Potomac; Nascent Metro bomb plot foiled; Fare hike probably affecting bus ridership; No minimum parking means affordable housing, open space; Early voting means less voting?; Montgomery’s eruvim; And…. Keep reading…
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For ANC in Ward 5
Some wards divide up their ANCs by neighborhood. Ward 5, already a geographically large ward, is carved into only three ANCs, each containing a whopping 12 single-member districts and even splitting Brookland up between ANCs. Keep reading…
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For ANC in southern Ward 6
Ward 6 has more contested ANC seats than in any other ward, and between streetcars on H Street NE, development around Union Station, bike lanes on M SE/SW, and bike sharing at Lincoln Park, there are plenty of transportation and development debates to go around as well as issues around retail, development and more. Starting in the south, we’re most excited about the candidacy… Keep reading…
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Metro safety presentation still doesn’t prioritize
WMATA will hold its first meeting of the new Safety and Security Committee tomorrow, split off from the previous Customer Service, Operations and Safety Committee. The staff presentation still needs more information to help the board oversee safety, including a sense of priorities. The presentation lists the status of NTSB recommendations and the cost to complete each. That… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Go and stop on HSR
90 minutes to Richmond; No HSR for Palo Alto; Columbia for transit; Safe bike parking at school; What is the “area” for affordable housing?; Zoning marathon in PG; Potomac Yard neighbors protest taxes; Fight graffiti with art; And…. Keep reading…