Breakfast links: Profits, nonprofits, and no profits

Walmart donates $3 million for jobs

Walmart so far will not sign a community benefits agreement, but is donating $3 million to job-training programs for DC residents. (City Paper)

DC earmarks live on

Despite the ban on earmarks, several DC councilmembers including Thomas, Alexander, and Graham used an “independent” nonprofit to steer city money to favored projects. (Post)

The postman rings less

Despite the fact that mail volume has plunged 20% in 4 years and the USPS runs a $8 billion deficit, many residents don’t want their local post offices to close. (Informer) … The Postal Service proposes cutting its workforce by 20%.

PG weighs trade off in road project

A Prince George’s councilmember wants to stop overbuilding roads that create sprawl and induce even more traffic in the county’s southern rural areas, but a proposed medical center may leapfrog to Calvert County without them. (Post)

NPS fixing erroneous roadwork

The Park Service has halted renovation along Rock Creek Parkway after a resident noted it violated a 2006 environmental assessment. $10,000 in work (with few specifics in the story) will have to be undone. (WTOP)

Road designation hinders services

Seven Sandy Spring residents cannot get utilities delivered close to their dwellings.  Their homes are on an unofficial road on land that was part of a plantation where their ancestors were enslaved. (Examiner)

Gas tax will be next Congressional crisis

John Mica supports keeping the existing federal gas tax as is, but some Republicans want to block any extension, arguing that it does too much for subways in cities. (Streetsblog)

And…

A satirical critique of anti-gentrification arguments. (Atlantic) … Maryland is automating traffic reports. (Post) … An algae bloom on the Potomac is toxic. (TBD)