Public Policy
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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Does Fenty believe enough in our issues? Does it matter?
Adrian Fenty has aggressively reformed education, made the city more walkable and bikeable, added housing, attacked crime and more. He’s hired some great people (and some not so great people). Does he deserve reelection on that basis? One nagging thought in my mind is whether the Mayor’s support for Smart Growth or sustainable transportation is really heartfelt… Keep reading…
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DC primaries should be scrapped
Come the night of September 14th, DC’s primary election day, the identity of the city’s next mayor will be known. Barring some last minute write-in campaign, most campaigning will slow to a trickle and the victor will engage in a two month victory lap till November. This is true because of the District’s overwhelming Democratic population. Once the party… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Stay positive
Anacostia streetcar not running; In case you missed it; Gentrification goes to school; In the public input department; Not in my skyscraper’s back yard; What gives pastiche a bad name; Transit even conservatives can love; And you thought the Beltway was bad. Keep reading…
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Defeat poverty by investing early in our children
The surest way to break the cycle of poverty in D.C. is to start where it begins for so many in our city, at birth. We need to give our youngest and most vulnerable children the support and resources they need to thrive and have a bright future. As the mother of two young children, I can expound endlessly on why it is the morally right thing to do. But in this difficult economy, it also just… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Politics and public input
Standoff in the synagogue; Exclusionary zoning; Rate the road diet; Food truck finality; The next TOD hotspot; Corman in the mirror; Couches on wheels no more. Keep reading…
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Afternoon links: More for schools
Tops in schools; Metro twhining; Strong dissent; Breaking through the windshield; Stuck in the 90s; Transit fits; Standing on the right. Keep reading…
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Will bike sharing get a boost from TIGER II?
When Capital Bikeshare launches later this year it will have about 1,100 bikes. That’s going to be great, but how much better does a 3,600-bike system sound? On Friday the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) submitted a grant request through the TIGER II program to dramatically expand Capital Bikeshare. In addition to the 1,000 bikes in DC and 100 in Arlington that will… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: The wait is over
Report card; Tea party in the USA; Maybe the Tea Party is right; And on the ninth day; Manhattan on the Potomac; Improvements on track. Keep reading…
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Shake Shack should consider a park location
Shake Shack recently made the news when they announced they’d be opening a location in Dupont Circle, at the corner of 18th Street and Jefferson Place, NW. Shake Shack has received many accolades for its food. But what makes Shake Shack’s original location in New York City so iconic is not its hamburgers and milk shakes, but its relationship with the park in which it’s… Keep reading…
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Morning links: Back to school
Happy new year; Safer routes to school; Trucking along; WMATA’s on fire; I-95 lesson plan; Bullies in Tysons. Keep reading…