Breakfast links: Votes and taxes
Online voter registration?
Tommy Wells wants to allow online voter registration in DC. Today, residents can download forms online, but must print and mail them. Maryland and 11 other states have online registration. (DCist)
Commuter tax for DC gov workers?
Jack Evans proposed a commuter tax which would only apply to newly-hired local government workers who live outside DC. Public employee unions oppose the idea. (Examiner)
Norton skeptical of autonomy referendum
Eleanor Holmes Norton appears cool to the autonomy referendum idea from the DC Council. Would a referendum stymie the effort for DC budget autonomy in Congress? (Post)
Bag fee helps clean up Anacostia
DC’s 5¢ bag fee has greatly reduced trash in the Anacostia. The fee has raised far less than expected because more people are eschewing disposable bags. Much trash still comes from Prince George’s, which couldn’t get state approval for a fee this year, while Montgomery instituted one. (WTOP)
Finish the trail
WABA wants DDOT to complete the Met Branch Trail past Brookland, especially around Fort Totten, but officials say it could be years or more because they’re busy and it’s hard. Some Silver Spring groups oppose the planned route. (WAMU)
Corcoran interior a landmark?
The DC Preservation League nominated the interior of the Corcoran for historic designation. The interior has some impressive elements, and now until there is a hearing, the Corcoran can’t change anything. (City Paper)
DC’s offices the fullest in the nation
Washington DC’s office vacancy remains the lowest in the US, at 9.5%. Is this a compelling reason to loosen the height restriction and allow office supply to expand? (Housing Complex)
MARC World Series?
If the Nats and Orioles both make it to the World Series, would people call it the MARC Series? Maybe not on weekends, when MARC doesn’t run, though ACT asked the MTA to add service on weekends if this happens. (City Paper)
And…
Bike sales in Italy surpassed car sales for the first time since 1945. (Telegraph, charlie) … The Dupont Metro station’s south entrance reopens this month. (Post) … Temporarily closing LA’s Route 405 didn’t bring much congestion. (Streetsblog) … Tricycle-based food trucks will serve ice cream sandwiches. (City Paper)