Opinion Posts
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A suburban development tests the limits of DC historic district designation
Ward 3 neighborhood Colony Hill’s nondescript historic district application will test the Historic Preservation Review Board’s minimum standards and raise further questions about preservation’s relationship to the history of racial segregation. Keep reading…
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Jaywalking decriminalization is coming to Virginia, a century after the auto industry helped make it a crime
Though it didn’t garner as much attention as other police reform measures during the special legislative session that ended this fall, a provision to decriminalize jaywalking in a pretextual policing bill from Delegate Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, means that come March 1, police will no longer be able to stop folks for the act of crossing the street outside of a marked crosswalk. Keep reading…
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Free parking seems like a great deal, until it isn’t
DC has dialed back parking enforcement during the pandemic. Avoiding a parking ticket feels great, but making parking easier comes with some troubling consequences. Keep reading…
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This regional plan tries to tackle climate change by 2030. Does it go far enough?
In November, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Board of Directors, comprising local elected official representatives, adopted a 2030 Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP), which lays out the strategies needed for the region to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. But how does the plan address the transportation-land use-climate connection? And how can the region strengthen its climate action in this sector as it makes important decisions on transportation plans and projects over the coming year? Keep reading…
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DC environmental groups ask WMATA to electrify its bus fleet
Sixteen regional environmental groups are calling for WMATA to help DC meet its climate goals by electrifying all of its 1,500 bus fleet by 2045. A Vision for Climate Leadership in DC, a report recently published by the group, lays out a case for the environmental, public health, and financial benefits of going electric Keep reading…
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Why do so many queer folks love urbanism?
For the vast majority of queer people, cities serve as the backdrop for the first time they find safety, community, and romance, but do we queers only flock to urban spaces for the relative acceptance they provide, or does our love affair go deeper — to the unique ways cities allow us to live, move, and connect. Keep reading…
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When the protests end, fixing cities will not begin or end with buildings
While most of the protests over the last few weeks have been peaceful and nonviolent, there has been some vandalism and looting. To understand everything that’s happening, however, we have to look at the historical context of violence against Black Americans and their communities. Keep reading…
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A wider W&OD trail is up for funding, but again faces opposition
A proposal to widen the Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Arlington has reached the next phase to potentially get funding. As with the last time it came up for public review, it’s also facing some pushback from people, under the banner of concern over trees and the environment. Keep reading…
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Making streets safer for people could also slow the spread of the coronavirus
In an ideal world, every individual would have the ability to stay home to protect themselves and their families from exposure to coronavirus. But this isn’t the case. There’s an even greater imperative for lots of space for people to walk, bike, and, if necessary, take transit, given the challenges posed by COVID-19. Keep reading…
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The coronavirus is robbing me of what I love about urbanism
Arlington, where I have lived since 2015 was the largest metro area I had ever lived in. My family had limited private space, but we embraced it because it pushed us out into the community. Spending so much time in the neighborhood has made Arlington feel like home. But social distancing has taken all of this away. Keep reading…