Breakfast links: Back to school

DC students want to be heard

DC now has nine student ANC commissioners who believe the city is ripe for changing town-gown relations. Rory Slatko (ANC-3D) hopes the city will reconsider the Residential Parking Protection Act and discounted Metro fares for college students. (City Paper)

Howard in trouble?

Is Howard University financially stable or is it teetering on the edge of closing?  Decreased enrollment and hospital revenues and the canceling of the Howard Town Center have left Howard in a tough financial position. (City Paper)

Virginia drivers spend more to own car

Virginia is the 9th most expensive state to own a car. Drivers in Virginia spend more on gas, insurance, repairs, taxes, and fees than most. Maryland ranked 29. (WBJ)

Odd logic used to block UberX

DC Taxi Commission claims that blocking UberX will ensure street hail taxis are available in under-served areas but does this logic add up? (Slate)

Will Gray sign living wage bill?

The living wage bill passed by the DC Council last month has not reached Mayor Gray’s desk for a final decision. Once received, Mayor Gray has 10 days to veto or sign it, but his decision is still unknown. (Washington Times)

Illegal apartment becoming legal

A four-story, eight-apartment building illegally built in a single-family residential zone is being turned into multi-level, two-apartment building. Would you rent here? (City Paper)

Transportation Alternatives announced

15 local projects will receive Transportation Alternatives funding, including repaved bike paths near the Jefferson Memorial, wider sidewalks in Takoma Park, and expanding CaBi to Fairfax County. (TheWashCycle)

Can we improve IZ?

Should DC change its Inclusionary Zoning program? Should the city just buy affordable housing instead? Or allow residents to keep the profit when they sell? (City Paper)

Safe streets?

Fire departments often insist that emergency vehicles need wider streets, which encourage faster driving. But motor vehicle accidents kill more people annually than fires. (Streetsblog)

And…

Capital Bikeshare in Montgomery County nears opening day. (TheWashCycle) … The Dunn Loring Metro station gets more parking. (Post) … A fisherman caught two bull sharks near Point Lookout State Park. (SoMdNews)