Breakfast links: Montgomery County vows to totally eliminate greenhouse emissions by 2035
Montgomery County adopts “climate emergency” rules
The County Council unanimously declared a climate emergency and upped its climate goals to eliminate 80 percent of all greenhouse gases by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. The council will decide on regulations to hit those benchmarks during the next six months. (Rachel Siegel / Post)
One result of the new I-66 tolls: everybody wants an E-ZPass
Sales of E-ZPasses toll transponders in Virginia jumped, even selling out in some locations. Drivers who want to use the I-66 HOT lanes in rush hour must buy an E-ZPass or an E-ZPass Flex for carpooling, since there are no toll booths on the road. (Lori Aratani / Post)
The release of the official LaHood Metro report brings no new consensus
Virginia Governor McAuliffe and Secretary Ray LaHood officially released a Metro study leaked in November. Nonetheless, the Metro jurisdictions are still deadlocked over how to fund the system and how to structure its governing board. (Max Smith / WTOP)
New residency requirement for homeless shelters are coming in DC
The DC Council passed a bill defining the documents needed to prove DC residency for individuals and families seeking homelessness services or emergency shelter. Homeless advocacy groups oppose it, saying it makes it harder to get aid. (Martin Austermuhle / WAMU)
DC shores up women’s healthcare against the possible repeal of the ACA
The DC Council voted to prevent insurance carriers in DC from charging extra for preventative women's health services like contraceptives or breast cancer screenings. Those additional fees are prevented by the Affordable Care Act, for now. (Rachel Chason / Post)
DC will issue tax exempt bonds to make up for those lost in the federal tax bill
The new tax bill may eliminate Private Activity Bonds, which are key for financing affordable housing. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the DC Housing Finance Agency will issue $500 million in tax exempt bonds to try to offset this loss. (Rachel Dovey / Next City)
DC housing sale fraud, with fake deeds and identity, lands a Georgia man in court
In 2015, Robert McCloud tried to take advantage of a hot DC real estate market by forging deeds for vacant properties to sell them. He was indicted for fraud after selling two houses in Northwest DC using fake deeds and a fake identity. (Nena Perry-Brown / Urban Turf)
A multi-building development will sit on top of Grosvenor Metro
The Montgomery County Council gave initial approval to a plan for a mixed-use development with 1600 residential units on land owned by WMATA at the Grosvenor station. The first building will be located in the current station parking lot. (Michael Neibauer / WBJ)
A plan for luxury condos in Reston is criticized for its lack of affordable housing
A 20-story luxury condo building in Reston is seeking Planning Commission approval, despite being shot down by the zoning committee for its lack of workforce units and refusal to contribute to a local athletic field. (Fatimah Waseem / Reston Now)
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