Breakfast links: Who’s on the Council

Committees are out

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson assigned committees for the next Council session. David Catania will head a new education committee. Tommy Wells gets judiciary, while Mendelson kept oversight of planning and zoning. Transportation stays with Mary Cheh. (Post)

Silverman runs

Former City Paper and Post writer and DCFPI policy analyst Elissa Silverman has announced her candidacy for April 23rd at-large special election, joining a crowded field of 9

10 other candidates. (DCist)

Politics for all

DC and federal government employees may be able to participate more fully in local DC politics, after revisions to the federal Hatch Act. ANC commissioners will now be allowed to run for other positions during their terms, and federal employees will be able to run in local elections. (DCist)

Windshield Washingtonian

After getting a ticket at a bike signal, Washingtonian magazine’s president and publisher says DC shouldn’t have the L Street bike lane. After all, William Faulkner talked of how much Americans love cars in 1948.

UDC president fired

UDC’s board of trustees fired the university’s president Allen Sessoms after 4 years. Mayor Gray criticized Sessom’s decision to move the community college from North Capitol to the main Connecticut Ave campus. (Post)

Officer reluctant to ticket driver

A driver who hit a 9-year-old boy crossing in a Bethesda crosswalk didn’t get a ticket until the family of the victim launched a campaign to get police to investigate. (Bethesda Now)

McDonnell commits to 460

Governor McDonnell signed a $1.4 billion deal to build the controversial US 460 toll highway bypass in Hampton Roads. Critics say projections show it’s not needed while Northern Virginia is starved of transportation funding. (Post)

A very desirable house

A house on 4th Street NE near H Street received 168 bids before being sold for more than double the list price. The median sale price for DC homes has risen 14% in the past year. (Post)

And…

Bike commuters crossing Chain Bridge face a difficult path. (Post) … Miami Heat basketball star Lebron James has been attracting media attention for his frequent bike commuting. (Sun Sentinel) … Kwame Brown is opening a consulting business. (Post)