Breakfast links: The end for Kwame
Brown resigns
Kwame Brown resigned from the DC Council after being charged in with bank fraud for lying about his income on loan applications. He will likely plead guilty on Friday. (Post)
Chair Mendo?
The council has to pick an interim chair from among the at-large members until a likely November 6 election. All signs point to Phil Mendelson, who already got an endorsement from the Post. (City Paper)
Reactions
Mayor Gray is “shocked.” Rep. Jason Chaffetz says it’s “harder” to give DC autonomy with scandals. The police union’s head suggests a federal control board. Bob McCartney notes it’s not the same as in the Barry days. (DCist, Post, Washingtonian)
Silver Line union preference gone
Facing threats from Governor McDonnell to pull funding, the airports authortiy has dropped its preference for Phase 2 Silver Line contractors who use union labor. (WAMU, Tyler)
Metro works way out of way out problem
WMATA will work to fix the problems with emergency exits uncovered earlier this week and will implement an online tracking tool for problems later this month. (Examiner)
GU and neighbors agree
Georgetown University and its neighbors have finally come to an agreement regarding the university’s 10-year campus plan, though details of the plan are still being ironed out and will likely be released later today. (Patch)
Anacostia’s value and brand
Anacostia’s low housing values for existing stock, thanks in part to vacancies and appraisal practices, make it hard for new properties to sell. But it’s still the most recognizable brand east of the river, causing real estate agents to use the name even outside the neighborhood. (City Paper)
Bradbury foresaw future without pedestrians
In 1951, Ray Bradbury, who died on Wednesday, wrote a short story entitled “The Pedestrian.” Did his dystopian vision of a city where no one walks foreshadow the present? (Atlantic Cities, Matt’) (Tip: Matt')
And…
VRE may start using smartphone tickets in addition to paper ones. (Examiner) … The College Park Metro is now more pedestrian friendly. (PlanItMetro) … The first building of White Flint’s new sector plan breaks ground. (DCmud) … In an effort to relieve congestion, buying a car in Singapore costs as much as a house in the US. (Bloomberg)