Photo by JanetandPhil on Flickr.

Cities on the radio

Kojo Nnamdi discussed the politics of skateboarding and the new Silver Spring skate park with skateboard activist sk8termom. Earlier, Diane Rehm discussed urban planning with Jan Gehl and other experts. (WAMU)  

Imagine the Mall

A group of UVA students presented some interesting concepts for the National Mall at this past weekend’s ASLA conference. (Housing Complex)  

Really, we’re one city

Courtland Milloy published a divisive column accusing Fenty of trying to make DC “plantation-style,” while Michelle Rhee called the loss “devastating” for children. Bloggers push back, arguing no, it’s not all a class or race war, and Michelle Rhee didn’t cause Fenty’s loss, Fenty did. (Post, Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Loose Lips)  

Inside a liquor license protest

A few neighbors, though not immediate neighbors, are protesting an expansion of Hank’s Oyster Bar at 17th and Q into the adjacent vacant building. 14th & You dissects their opposition and feels it is an abuse of the liquor license protest process.  

SEPTA gives back

Philadelphia’s SEPTA will install a regenerative braking system along a stretch of its highest ridership line, capturing energy from braking trains and feeding it back into the grid. (Wired, Stephen Miller)  (Tip: Stephen Miller)  

SmarTrip changes to be delayed

At yesterday’s WMATA board meeting, members discussed delaying dropping the price of SmarTrip cards based on concerns that riders could cheat the system and that the cards cost more than the board was told earlier this year. Also, the stock of cards may run out soon and nobody manufactures the same ones anymore. (WTOP, Post)  (Tip: Erik W)  

Protesting homeowners’ association rules

Residents in one Virginia neighborhood are painting their mailboxes yellow to protest a move by the Neighborhood Association to replace all the community’s mailboxes with matching ones. (Post, Eric Fidler)  (Tip: Eric Fidler)  

DC tour guide licensing

Professional tour guides in DC need a $200 license, passing a test on everything from architecture to aquariums. Do we need it? (Matt Yglesias, Gavin)  (Tip: Gavin)