Breakfast links: Clarke, Bowser decry Metro shooting as part of national gun violence epidemic.
“Love thy neighbor” mural at the entrance to the Columbia Heights Metro station, a popular corner for street vending in DC by Elvert Barnes licensed under Creative Commons.
Metro shootings seen as part of national gun violence epidemic
Yesterday’s shootings on the Orange Line are being blamed by WMATA General Manager/CEO Randy Clarke and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser as a symptom of increasing national gun violence in public spaces such as transit. However, the Amalgamated Transit Union international president John Costa believes WMATA is not doing enough to keep its operators and other frontline staff safe. (DCist)
DC Council closer to decriminalizing street vendors and reducing their barriers to operation
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Brianne Nadeau introduced a bill to decriminalize street vending. With Mendelson’s newly earned support the bill could advance quickly to a council vote. Street vendors expressed that the bill would make it easier for them to support their families and reduce confrontations with law enforcement. (Hector Alejandro Arzate / DCist)
MoCo passes bill to make it easier to build affordable housing on county-owned land
The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed legislation that would create opportunities to build affordable housing on county-owned land. The bill would allow the council to co-locate affordable housing during capital investments in libraries, fire stations, and police stations. (Steve Bohnel / Bethesda Beat)
Ride On buses to have special Rosa Parks seat in honor of Transit Equity Day Saturday
Montgomery County will celebrate Transit Equity Day and Rosa Parks’ birthday on February 4th. All Ride On buses will reserve a seat to pay tribute to Rosa Parks. (Kiersten Hacker / Montgomery Community Media)
Fairfax County seeking federal funds to help multifamily properties, HOA developments, receive electric charging stations
Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is seeking federal grant funding to implement Charge Up Fairfax, an initiative to bring electric vehicle charging to multifamily housing and other neighborhoods under homeowners associations such as the Reston Association to site public charging stations. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXnow)
Crystal City adding another pedestrian plaza with nearby office renovation
A new pedestrian plaza in Crystal City will open this spring as part of an office building renovation. It will bring new retail, an early education center, and restaurants to the neighborhood. (Jo DeVoe / ARLnow)
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