Breakfast links: Not welcome here

Barry wants ban on apartments

Marion Barry wants to ban new apartment buildings in all of Ward 8, saying renters “will allow drug dealers” in their neighborhoods. No word on what people who can’t afford a mortgage should do. (City Paper)

Park Police ruin a family’s 4th

A North Carolina family left their spot on the Mall on the 4th to see the Vietnam Memorial, told they could reenter. But at 9:03, the Park Police refused to let them in, and wouldn’t even let them retrieve their blankets and food. (Post, Steve O)  (Tip: Steve O)

Do we need a cyclist anti-harassment bill?

WABA proposes a law against intentionally harassing cyclists, which might apply to a person who wrote on the Ballston Patch that when encountering someone on a bike, she revs her engine “in hopes of scaring the sheets out of the offensive biker.”

Alexandria pushing wider roads for Mark Center

The Alexandria city council wants to widen Beauregard Street, to the Mark Center. Some residents argue that more capacity will mean more cars, and there should be more transit instead. (WAMU)

No tax breaks for facadectomies

The IRS is cracking down on tax breaks for historic façade easements. Homeowners promise not to change historic façades, donate the promise as an easement, and claim a cash value for the donation. But preservation rules already prevent historic façade changes. (Post, Alex B.)  (Tip: Alex B.)

London bike sharing turns one

Now one year old, Barclays Cycle Hire has been a big success, but “dockblocking” problems are still significant and most users are white men. However, an associated photo gallery includes testimonials from many people who aren’t white men. (Observer, Stephen Miller)

Metro morsels

Mike Barnes, recently-appointed WMATA Board member from Maryland, wouldn’t mind stepping down if it could make the board smaller (Post) … Metro installed a new escalator at Foggy Bottom, the first new one in 15 years (Post) … The new 7000 series rail cars will have fewer seats but space for more riders. (Examiner)

And…

Tysons Corner residents are worried a new Wal-Mart will bring more traffic (Fairfax Times) … It took the District almost a year to demolish a structurally unsafe house in Trinidad (District Curmudgeon) … A city in Spain gave residents free transit passes for life in exchange for giving up their cars. (Springwise)