Breakfast links: Distracted driving not fine
Not “fine,” even for Redskins
Redskins player Chris Cooley was driving while on the phone for a radio interview, drifted out of his lane because has distracted, and got pulled over. But he received no ticket, and brushed off his actions saying, “I don’t think there’s a real ticket you can give for that. Nonsense driving, maybe. It was fine. Everything was fine.” No, it wasn’t fine. (D.C. Sports Bog, Stephen Miller) (Tip: Stephen Miller)
Alexander hits cyclist
Former Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander hit a teenage bicyclist while driving in LA. (LA Times, Jess H) (Tip: Jess H)
Don’t talk to someone while they’re driving
A fairly creepy anti-distracted driving PSA from India targets the person on the other end of the phone. It shows of a man being sprayed with blood from his cell phone as if present at the crash in person. (Andrew Sullivan/The Atlantic, Steve S) (Tip: Steve S)
Fear not, aspiring U Street restauranteurs
The Zoning Commission has raised the bar and restaurant cap to 30% of linear frontage on the 14th and U ARTS Overlay on an emergency basis, again allowing new restaurants to open up in the area. They will consider the proposed change to 50% of each block in June. (DCist)
Stormwater fee or tax?
Federal agencies are refusing to pay a revised WASA stormwater fee that’s based on the size of properties. The feds have to pay certain kinds of fees but not taxes, and GSA is judging this to be a tax rather than a fee. (WTOP)
Don’t fear Smart Growth
Roger Lewis encourages residents of existing suburban neighborhoods not to fear Smart Growth, as it will increase property values, improve quality of life, and not bring the traffic some fear. (Post, Cavan) (Tip: Cavan)
Keep riding on instead of building big garage
ACT is fighting proposed cuts to Ride On, again suggesting Montgomery instead drop its $80 million plan to build a new garage in Bethesda. (Gazette)
And…
Only 30 percent of Nats fans drive to games (JDland) … Downtown doesn’t have enough housing (Housing Complex) … Two Senators are introducing a bill to remove DC’s right to regulate semiautomatic weapons. (Examiner)