Breakfast links: What’s a public good?
Taking what’s not his
Trail advocate Ajay Bhatt used public land to build a private fence and is now fighting to keep it after being fined $500. The fence lies on part of the planned route for the Purple Line. (Post)
Omnipresent Internet
As neighborhoods like NoMA begin to offer free public outdoor WiFi, some wonder why it isn’t available elsewhere. Is access to the Internet a public good? (Post)
Parking for the people?
Sixties counterculture anti-establishmentarians went from protesting “the man” to protesting efforts to price parking. How did parking become the latest populist cause? Ben Ross discusses. (Dissent Magazine)
The rent is too high
There’s a growing gap between income and costs in the DC area because of rent. Even though per-capita income in the DC region has risen, real income has fallen because the price of goods and services has outpaced it. (City Paper)
But millennials are still coming
DC’s high median earnings and relatively low unemployment makes it a popular destination for new graduates. Developers are hoping to capitalize on this population with small, luxury apartment units. (WBJ, Urban Turf)
No gun necessary, use your car
Freakonomics identifies “the perfect crime,” to kill a person without consequence: hit them with a car. Only 5% of NYC drivers involved in fatal crashes with pedestrians were arrested.
Criminalized bike commute
Police in one Kentucky city ticketed a cyclist 3 times for legally biking to work. One police officer said he almost hit her with his car and officers claimed they were worried about safety. A judge threw out the tickets. (Streetsblog)
Feelings getting in the way?
Opponents of building at the McMillan Sand Filtration Site promise an “emotional” fight against the proposed development. The DC Zoning Commission began hearings Tuesday night on the project. (Washingtonian)
Red line woes
As Metro steps up repairs on its oldest line, Red Line riders try to cope with constant delays. One veteran commuter said the delays forced him to buy a car, while another protested, “it’s better than driving.” (Post)
And…
Phase 2 of the Silver Line got a federal TIFIA loan, the largest ever. (Post) … DC is experiencing a hotel boom. (City Paper) … Watch that street in Baltimore collapse and take several cars with it. (Post) … The National Mall needs a facelift, but the Park Service needs more money. (WAMU) … A driver hit a cyclist near Union Station. (NBC)