Breakfast links: FTA inspectors find dark, watery tunnels and risks to Metro workers
Three months of FTA inspections find major Metro problems
FTA inspectors found rusted plates falling off of a catwalk, an electrical junction box lying on a path to an exit, pooled water near electrical equipment near L'Enfant Plaza, and deteriorating water seals. The most significant problems were on the Red Line. (Max Smith / WTOP)
Why is it on teams and organizations to keep Metro open late?
For the last 20 years, Metro's policy has been that if an organization or event wants to keep the trains running, they will need to pay for it. Last June, WMATA increased the price to stay open and added a condition that it would only stay open late 10 times a year. (Martin Austermuhle / WAMU)
Black DC residents respond to Washingtonian’s whitewashed campagin
Washingtonian's marketing campaign featured all young, white models wearing shirts saying “I’m Not A Tourist. I Live Here.” Black DC residents responded with their own “Native, I'm from here” shoot to push back against being excluded in representations of their own city. (Mikaela Lefrak / WAMU)
When did Prince George’s County become Ward 9?
The inner beltway of Prince George's County was coined Ward 9 by former DC mayor Marion Barry years ago. For some residents though, being called Ward 9 is insulting and brings up a painful history. (Sasha-Ann Simmons / WAMU)
Insurance company Kaiser Permanente is investing in housing
Doctors can't write a prescription for affordable housing, but Kaiser insurance can. The insurance giant will invest $200 million in affordable housing in the next 10 years in eight states and DC in cities where housing affordability has started to affect health care outcomes. (Kriston Capps and Benjamin Schneider / CityLab)
JBG Smith is launching an affordable housing effort
Developer JBG Smith will build or preserve between 2,000 and 3,000 workforce housing units over the next 10 years. Some point out that this initiative could help alleviate Amazon's concerns about the lack of affordable homes for its HQ2 workers. (Adele Chapin / Curbed)
Georgetown is one of DC’s archictecture and design hubs
Georgetown has a small share of DC's office spaces, but is home to 34 architecture and design firms. The combination of historic charm, walkability, thriving restaurant scene, and office affordability attracted many firms. (Joe Banister / Bisnow)
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