Weekend links: Empty promises

ICC costs more than money

The Intercounty Connector has ruined neighborhoods but hasn’t done much to help east-west surface traffic, which anecdotal reports say is almost as heavy as before, thanks in part to high tolls. (WAMU)

Reconciliation takes time

Councilmember Barry’s comments on Asian-Americans and their stores expose the cultural and racial fault line between the African-American and Asian-American communities that has existed for years — a fault line that is slowly healing. (Post)

Traffic cameras not raking in the bucks

Riverdale Park is getting less revenue than expected from its speed cameras, because people are speeding less. Officials say revenue wasn’t the point, and they’ll make up any budget holes elsewhere. (Patch)

Stores get a surprise

DC officials suddenly told secondhand stores, which have operated for years, that they have to get the same kind of license as pawn shops. They have just 7 days to comply, and the new license costs hundreds extra. (City Paper)

Capitol Hemp alleges injustice

Under a deal with prosecutors, Capitol Hemp will close its stores despite insisting their innocence to selling drug paraphanelia. The reason? They think they’d go bankrupt challenging the case even if they won. (Washingtonian)

Push the primary

Councilmembers and local politicos were dissatisfied with this year’s primary date, and many want to see it changed to a later date. Holding the primary in April brings problems of long lame-duck periods for losing incumbents, as well as lower exposure for potential challengers through the holidays. (DCist)

The biker blame game

The cycle of blame and recrimination between cyclists and drivers hides from all parties the mutual benefits of bike lanes, forcing cyclists and drivers into unsafe, and avoidable, situations. (NPR)

The slow attrition of car use

Jane Jacobs addressed transportation in her seminal work, arguing that a city can accommodate as much or as little traffic as it wants; the rest will disappear. (Human Transit)

And…

This week 44 years ago, DC burned, and it was captured on video. (Left for LeDroit) … H Street’s retailers close up with big roll-down security, deadening the streetscape for nightlife patrons, but perhaps not for much longer. (Post)