Afternoon links: Stand up and…
Be counted
We got our census form yesterday. Fill yours out right away before it gets buried in a pile of other mail. Here’s DC’s Census info page. BTW, how is “Vietnamese” a race but “Dominican” a kind of Hispanic ancestry that’s not a race? And what do you do if you’re half-Hispanic? Anyway, fill it out.
Meet in public
Muriel Bowser introduced a bill strengthening the open meetings law. In particular, it would forbid the Council’s behavior last year when it negotiated measures to close a budget gap almost in secret except for Mike DeBonis (who live tweeted the details) and a couple others. 8 Councilmembers cosponsored this time. (City Paper)
Get off the road, mate
Bike hate isn’t just an American problem. 60 Minutes Australia looks at the conflicts between drivers and cyclists every day on the roads down under. (Jaime Fearer) (Tip: Jaime Fearer)
WMATA’s “TOD nerd”
The new head of real estate joint development (development on WMATA property around stations) wants to jump-start more TOD and change the process to ensure Metro does more to steer good development. (WBJ)
Pie in the Skyland?
Skyland Town Center, at Alabama Avenue and Good Hope Rd SE, had the promise to revitalize a decrepit strip mall, but the property owners didn’t agree. A long eminent domain court battle raises the same issues in the Supreme Court’s landmark Kelo case: is it right for governments to take private property for a bigger private development with more public benefit, and what’s the risk that the development just won’t ever materialize, which is what happened in New London? (DCmud)
Size matters
The I-270-370 interchange is about the same size as the entire Woodmont Triangle section of Bethesda. Which does more for our region? (The Straight Line)
Federal government to John Cook: You’re wrong
Allison points out that the federal policy statement on walking and bicycling being equally important as driving sounds almost directly aimed at Fairfax Supervisor John “bicycling is not transportation” Cook: “Consider walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes … Walking and bicycling are efficient transportation modes for most short trips … walking and bicycling should not be an afterthought in roadway design.”