Opinion Posts
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Top posts of 2021: Pit bull bans are a housing issue
Op-ed: One barrier to finding pit bulls loving homes are breed-specific laws and housing restrictions, which were intended to protect people from unsafe dogs, but have long failed to do so. Keep reading…
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Top posts of 2021: The Fair Oaks Mall could be converted into a walkable mixed-use community, if Fairfax County can reimagine its streets
Fairfax County has an opportunity to transform one of its largest shopping malls and the area around it into a walkable community with access to regional transit. Success depends in large part on whether the county changes how it designs its streets. Keep reading…
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Top posts of 2021: Which neighborhood in Greater Washington has the highest density? Hint: It’s not in DC.
What does the US Census Bureau’s new census tract density map tell us about the region’s neighborhoods? Keep reading…
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Top stories of 2021: Residents of a rich Montgomery County neighborhood provide a helpful list of places where cheaper homes can go
As Montgomery County combatted a housing crisis, some residents tried to keep affluent neighborhoods from opening up to new homes and new people. Keep reading…
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Why we should increase the number of Ward 5 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions
The DC Council will soon take a final vote on new ward boundaries, setting the stage for part two of the process: redistricting Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. Keep reading…
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Here’s what it will take for Greater Washington to cut climate pollution from cars and trucks fast enough
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s draft findings of its Climate Change Mitigation Study show that the region needs to cut per-person driving by up to 20% and meet or surpass national electric vehicle goals. Keep reading…
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Here’s a list of “shovel-worthy” projects in the region fit for federal investment
To maximize our collective benefit from the recent passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the region needs to make sure our capital investment programs include “shovel-worthy” projects. Here are 10 projects that fit the bill. Keep reading…
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How these six ‘spokes’ could make Washington a model biking region
A summer-long project by Master’s students at Georgetown University’s Urban and Regional Planning program mapped out strategies to achieve an ambitious goal: to make Greater Washington the best biking region in the country. Keep reading…
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The National Underground is a bad idea that should be buried
A private group called the National Mall Coalition is proposing a large concrete structure between the Smithsonian Castle and the Museum of Natural History. The lowest level would serve as a cistern, storing stormwater that’s either detained temporarily or retained to irrigate landscaping in the area. Above that would sit multiple levels of bus and car parking and a visitors center. Keep reading…
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How the Washington region can get the most out of federal infrastructure investments
Opinion: To maximize the region’s return on federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, regional leaders must focus on five key strategies. Keep reading…