Breakfast links: Policy problems
Serving all vs curbing fraud
Past attempts to curb disability placard parking fraud in DC have failed, but Mayor Bowser still doesn’t want to charge. Other cities have seen a decrease in fraud after eliminating free parking for people with placards. (Post, LEW) (Tip: LEW)
Gas stations forever
A new DC law prevents owners from closing gas stations without special permission, an unheard of restriction of property rights for the benefit of drivers. The law could block three planned housing developments in Georgetown. (The Georgetown Metropolitan)
Working on the railroad
VRE will open a new Spotsylvania station and add a mobile ticketing app this summer. Other improvements, like rail extension, infill stations, and longer trains and platforms are part of a plan to double ridership by 2040. (Post)
Artistic vision
Arlington’s art support policy is out of date, and its art venues stumble from bailout to bailout without a clear vision. Should the county support the arts at all, given core funding needs? (ArlNow, Post)
Pay to play
The National Park Service started to take reservations and charge fees for use of the sand volleyball courts on the Mall, leading to an outcry from players who argue the fees will result in for-profit leagues getting the best times. (DCist)
No AP for you!
Despite studies that say college-level courses are helpful to all students, schools around the country still limit access to AP and IB courses. The DC area is an exception with many “challenging” schools. (Post)
Subsidy subversion
Mortgage interest tax deductions cost over four times what the nation spends on affordable housing. Meanwhile, the number of affordable units has fallen and the proportion of income spent on rent has increased. (CityLab)
Bike Blitzkrieg
In a new take on broken windows theory, Tampa police are ticketing minor biking violations. The effort has yielded some arrests, but has also bred mistrust and disproportionately targets the black community. (Tampa Bay Times, LEW) (Tip: LEW)
And…
These maps and graphs show how downtown DC has changed in the past 15 years and where new development is happening. (City Paper) … Meet the three tunnel boring machines that are fixing DC’s sewer system. (Post) … Harriet Tregonig, DC’s former Planning Director, is now tackling homelessness as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at HUD. (NationalJournal)