Breakfast links: Ethics and apathy

Ethics reform matters

DC’s BOEE, which investigates ethics violations by politicians and campaigns, admitted that current ethics laws “are not sufficient.” Eliminating constituent service funds and councilmembers’ second jobs didn’t fly with Mary Cheh. (Post)

Scandal? Who cares?

Global real estate investors don’t give a hoot about alleged malfeasance in the DC Council; the federal job machine as more important. (Post) … If city services revert to Barry levels, that’s different. (RPUS)

Orange line disruption botched

Metro needs to better handle unexpected disruptions like the recent Orange Line snarl at Clarendon. Board member Mary Hynes criticized the agency’s performance and CEO Richard Sarles has asked for a review. (Post)

Save money, share a stadium

DC United’s lease on RFK is costly and the team is considering moving to Byrd Stadium at the Univ. of Maryland.  The university could use some paying tenants to help maintain the stadium. (DCist)

Protestors create mini-city

Protest encampments at McPherson Square represent a microcosm urban planning ideas.  Different parts of the square see different uses by protestors. (City Paper)

AAA-OK with gridlock

DC is stepping up enforcement on drivers who block intersections downtown.  AAA spokesman John Townsend excuses the illegal behavior even though it creates terrible gridlock. (Examiner)

MetroAccess customers get ride coupons

WMATA’s IG found that the agency spent $9 million on travel coupons to customers whose rides were late or didn’t show up. The agency only gave such coupons on MetroAccess rides. (Examiner)

Norton supports realtor memorial

Even after admitting the proliferation of memorials, Eleanor Holmes Norton endorsed a fair housing memorial. The National Association of Realtors wants the memorial and has donated generously to Norton. (City Paper)

And…

People will always complain about gentrification and the lack of gentrification. (In Shaw)  … It turns out that photography is not a crime. (Post) … A Philadelphia-area school has banned trips to DC and New York since 9/11 because of terror fears. (PhillyBurbs)