Breakfast links: What’s up elected officials
Brown is guilty
Former DC Councilmember Michael Brown pled guilty to accepting $50,000 in bribes, and will cooperate with investigations into moneyman Jeffrey Thompson. The FBI sting started when Brown asked an unnamed person to help him get money from contractors. (Post)
Taxi Commission still over-regulating
Mary Cheh thinks proposed DC Taxicab Commission rules for sedans (like Uber’s) are “heavy handed and not necessary.” They limit types of vehicles and have DCTC approve a company’s technology. (WAMU)
Who are you voting for, VA?
Virginia Democrats will select nominees today for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. One Prince William voter chose the people who will build more roads instead of “places.” (Post)
Fix the laws
A petition is asking the US DOT to make street standards that work for cities instead of just suburban arterials. … A bipartisan group of Congressmen want to keep the transit benefit equal to the parking benefit, permanently. (Streetsblog)
Housing prices keep rising
DC house pries rise 8.9% since May 2012; Prince George’s prices rose 18.8% year over year. Homes sell very quickly, too. (UrbanTurf)
Rail isn’t so necessary?
Being near a rail station isn’t as much of a factor in whether a TOD-type development succeeds, if it has bus service, shops within walking distance, and not a lot of parking, a recent study found. (Atlantic Cities)
Runway shifts, DC shrinks
DCA airport will move one runway slightly into the Potomac to make room for a safety buffer. That will actually slightly shrink the District’s borders, and slightly expand Arlington County. (WBJ, Twelve Mile Circle)