Breakfast links: You’re fired
Falling Starr
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr will resign on February 16, several months before the end of his contract. He had lost support from the school board, and didn’t ask for his contract to be renewed. (Gazette)
Coming out of retirement
The Armed Forces Retirement Home is preparing to open its property to development. Residents may oppose growth on the property not far from the controversial McMillan site. (City Paper)
A representative scofflaw
Councilmember Jack Evans has repeatedly parked illegally near his Georgetown home using his council placard, which is only legal to use on “official business.” He regularly parks at the corner in a no-parking zone. (WUSA)
Gentrification in Ward 8
Suburban-style homes under construction in Congress Heights are selling — a sign of revival? (City Paper) … But the neighborhood has many condos elsewhere worth under $50,000, and others have fallen in value. (CHOTR)
Wells’s environmental vision
Tommy Wells, DC’s new Department of the Environment director, laid out his vision for urban agriculture, cleaning up the Anacostia, increasing the tree canopy, and improving parks. (Elevation DC)
An urban state?
Marijuana legalization has again put DC statehood in the spotlight. Congress often pushes anti-urban legislation, and issues like the height limit and parks could be dealt with better if the District were its own state. (Next City)
Rail smash
Tuesday evening, a packed Metro-North commuter train about 20 miles outside of NYC crashed into an SUV on the tracks at a crossing. The crash and ensuring fire killed six people and injuring at least a dozen more. (Post)
More housing for NYC
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is proposing higher density in several neighborhoods. New buildings will have to include affordable units and existing tenants will get legal representation to prevent displacement. (NYT)
Google that ride
Google is planning start its own ride-hailing service like Uber. Update: Or maybe it isn’t. Meanwhile, Uber is working with Carnegie-Mellon to develop its own self-driving car technology. (Bloomberg)
And…
White Flint is now a dead mall. (WBJ) … How much did Muriel Bowser’s inauguration party cost? (Post) … A new building could greet people crossing the 14th Street Bridge. (WBJ) … Marion Barry University? It could happen. (Post)