Breakfast links: LivingCheaply

DC gives LivingSocial big bucks

The DC Council unanimously approved $32.5 million in tax breaks to LivingSocial. LivingSocial give local students internships and require at least half of new employees to live in DC; the Council was not swayed by concerns that the deal has several large loopholes. (Post)

DC budget autonomy on hold again

DC officials asked a Senate subcommittee to pull a DC budget autonomy bill after Senator Rand Paul proposed amendments on gun laws, abortion, and unions in what DC Vote called “stunning hypocrisy.” (Post, DCist)

Wells is against private streetcars

Tommy Wells has expressed his doubts about the possibility of having a private company finance and build the DC Streetcar system. He worries privatization would lead to higher fares and fewer routes. (Post, City Paper)

McDonnell wants Loudoun to join Silver Line

Governor Bob McDonnell urged Loudoun County to keep its commitment to the second phase of the Silver Line. The project would cost Loudoun an initial $270 million and $10 million in annual operating costs. Loudoun will decide next Tuesday. (Examiner)

Walk a mile in a neighbor’s shoes

Few things better capture the tensions of gentrification than a pair of “letters” at Prince of Petworth spoof site Titan of Trinidad.

Beat back anti-bikeshare arguments

WashCycle tears down Reason’s reasons defending their bad anti-CaBi rant. … Patch commenters (some of whom are you?) effectively refute a letter writer fearing bikeshare in Alexandria.

A lot you didn’t know about Moses

Robert Moses is most famous for destroying neighborhoods with freeways, but early on he created pedestrian and bicycle paths and opposed intercity highways, thinking people should take the train. (WSJ, Arl Fan)  (Tip: Arl Fan)

Walk Score gets better

Walk Score has upgraded their algorithm. A new beta version considers walking “network distance,” so a location in a cul-de-sac doesn’t get credit for a place that requires a long and circuitous walk. Does your score go up or down?

And…

A Czech company is planning to build a flying bicycle. (BeyondDC)… Online commentators don’t like the Columbia Pike streetcar. (Post) … DC stops tours of the McMillan Sand Filtration site. (DCist)