Breakfast links: Bowser ahead early

Bowser ahead in early poll

With 43% of the vote in a new poll, Muriel Bowser is clearly ahead of David Catania at 26% and Carol Schwartz at 16%. (Post)

Area economy not faring well

The Washington metro area was the only one of the top 15 by employment to see a decline in gross regional product between 2012 and 2013.  (City Paper)

Olympics march builds up

Local sports business leaders are increasing their efforts to encourage the US Olympic Committee to choose Washington as the US host candidate for the 2024 games.  The other finalists are Boston, LA, and San Francisco.  (Post)

Metro to the playoffs

The Nationals still haven’t agreed to pay to keep Metro open late for playoff games, but Tommy Wells says elected officials will make sure of it even if they have to twist arms with the owners, the Lerner family, personally. (WTOP)

Art needed for Purple Line

Maryland is looking for artists to design projects for the Purple Line. The winning applicants will be paid a stipend to design work for the 16 stations. (Post)

Arlington streetcar moves forward

Arlington County staff are recommending that the same company that planned and helped build the H Street streetcar line also do the early design work on the Columbia Pike streetcar. (ArlNow)

Redevelopment starts in Glenmont

Plans have called for transit-oriented development in Glenmont since 1998, but none had happened until his week.  A 1960s-era apartment complex is being replaced with denser development. (TPSS Voice)

Non-retail retail?

There isn’t enough foot traffic on Rhode Island Ave. for most retail businesses, but people want walk-in retail. The solution? Businesses which serve both walk-ins but also a wholesale or manufacturing part of the business. (City Paper)

Where the US is like Scotland

Scotland will vote today on whether to become independent as part of a general trend toward more local control in the UK. The US could use more local control devolved to metro areas and cities, too. (Brookings)

And…

Hyattsville Library’s flying saucer will survive planned renovations after all. (Gazette) … The Mayor of Chevy Chase wrote a vitriolic letter to the editor denouncing the Purple Line.  … The Urban Institue has released a new mapping tool that shows the racial impact of the housing boom and bust.