Breakfast links: By the numbers
Gray vetoes budget
Mayor Gray vetoed the 2015 DC budget because of its funding cut to the streetcar, the sales tax on exercise, and other factors. Gray says under the DC Council’s budget, the 22-mile streetcar system won’t be built until 2045. The original budget passed 12-1, and the council could override the veto with 9 votes. (WAMU, City Paper)
Pedestrian barrier for Route 1
Spurred by recent pedestrian deaths along Route 1 in downtown College Park, the Maryland State Highway Administration will install a barrier in the median to prevent pedestrians from crossing mid block. (WTOP)
How to pay for Phase Two?
After Dulles Toll Road drivers complained they were shouldering too much of the Silver Line’s costs, MWAA capped the s tolls. But with no more federal money for Phase Two, will there be enough funding? (Post)
Region falls behind in job growth
The DC area lost the fewest jobs during the recession, but now the area has fallen to 14th place out of the 15 largest metropolitan areas. Office leasing and housing sales are falling as a result. (Post)
Buy DC land, build affordable housing
A new bill before the DC council will require that new residential buildings on former public land include 30% affordable units. This will help create mixed-income communities around the city. (DCFPI)
Housing trouble in Chinatown
The owner of a Section 8 building in Chinatown, whose contract is expiring, demanded an exorbitant price from existing residents to avoid tearing down the building. David Catania wants to fix the loophole on an emergency basis, but Phil Mendelson won’t take action until the fall. (City Paper)
Milloy doesn’t back down
Courtland Milloy stands by what he wrote in his column. He’s not advocating violence, but is just warning cyclists about what might happen. He’ll also meet with David Alpert and go on a ride with Veronica Davis. (City Paper)
Like riding a bike
Tirana, the capital of Albania, used to forbid private cars. Now, over twenty years after the fall of communism, the streets are clogged with them, and pollution is the worst in Europe. Can cycling make a comeback? (Guardian Cities)
Can’t buy booze in New Hampshire
According to the letter of New Hampshire law, an ID from one of the 50 US states or a Canadian province is enough to buy alcohol, but not an ID from the District of Columbia or the US territories. (Concord Monitor)
And…
Denmark and Sweden consider connecting with an 8-mile bike-bridge-tunnel. (Citylab, Ryan S) … Negative perceptions of cyclists are similar to those of other “out-groups.” (Citylab) … Residents of a public housing complex in SE DC struggle against an allegedly corrupt but very-well-connected building manager. (Post) (Tip: Ryan S)