Breakfast links: DC mayor’s State of the District speech highlights affordable housing, Metro funding, education, and more
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Image by Ted Eytan licensed under Creative Commons.
DC mayor’s speech makes family leave and infrastructure funding top priorities
Mayor Bowser called for federal properties, like RFK Stadium, to be handed over to DC, support for DC to get statehood, more funding for bridges and roads, and better family leave and child care policy. She also reaffirmed DC's commitment to being a Sanctuary City. (Martin Austermuhle / WAMU)
Affordable housing is a priority in Bowser’s agenda
During her State of the District speech, Mayor Bowser encouraged support for affordable housing initiatives, including adding more than $100 million to the Housing Production Trust Fund. Affordable housing may also be the cornerstone of her reelection campaign. (Post)
$5 million in federal funding for WMATA may be coming soon
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed an emergency bill to create the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, which will have oversight of WMATA. This also means that Metro may get almost $5 million in federal funding that was held up pending the commission's creation. (Dan Menefee / Maryland Reporter)
DC’s new Medicaid home-care threshold leaves former beneficiaries in the lurch
DC adjusted its income threshold for Medicaid home-care, leaving many former beneficiaries without coverage. With daily home-care costs often totaling hundreds of dollars, these former recipients are looking for options. (Zach Rausnitz / City Paper)
Runners, lace up! Crystal City’s 5K races are back
Get ready to run! Weekly 5K races, organized by the Arlington Business Improvement District, begin again in April. The races are every Friday and are followed by bar and restaurant deals. (Chris Teale / Arlington Now)
“We’re glad you’re our neighbor” signs took a long journey to DC
The now-famous “we're glad you're our neighbor” signs seen in DC started in Harrisonburg, Virginia, when local pastors began handing them out. One of them made its way to DC, and after being featured on PoPville, the rest is history. (Mikaela Lefrak / WAMU)
The history of St. Elizabeths hospital is reflected in new exhibit
A new exhibit at the Building Museum sheds light on the history of mental illness treatment at St. Elizabeths hospital in DC and how the institution has reflected the nation's changing attitudes towards and treatment for mental illness. (Ally Schweitzer / WAMU)
DC drivers can’t put down their devices
DC drivers use their phones an average of 2.28 times a trip, far above the national average of 1.78 times. The findings come from usage data for an app called Life360, which lets family members keep track of one another, and indicate that DC is the fourth most distracted city in the country. (Frederick Kunkle / Post)